Wake Up!

I dreamed the most frustrating dream last night/early this morning. It seemed everything I was doing was either not working or multiplying problems. I was readying for work, trying to feed children, shaving, carrying a conversation with my wife, and several other tasks. The longer I tried to shave the less my razor was working, the children were becoming louder and more impatient, I was getting more angry by the second, and the lights in the bathroom weren't working! On top of all this turmoil, my face had nicks and blood on it from a dull razor....and the bathroom mirror was getting covered in moisture.

I awoke this morning to the clock radio and felt a great relief! I know dreaming in any form is good because it means I have fallen into a sound sleep. I also know the stress one experiences during a dream probably affects blood pressure and heart rate along with cortisol levels. The old fight or flight predicament is fully engaged in some dreams.

Have you ever dreamed those dreams that made you appreciate the alarm? Dreams can be troubling; they can be wonderful.

How about these dreams listed here in Matthew 2:

Matt 2:12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Matt 2:13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” ..... .......Matt 2:19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt

Matt 2:20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”.... .......Matt 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,

While my episode last night made me glad to awaken, the dreams that came to the wisemen and to Joseph were instructional and helpful. These dreams probably brought a certain level of angst to them, but they used the dream message and were obedient to God's instruction.

Have you ever dreamed those dreams that helped you make a decision? Would you be willing to admit it if you have?

For my stressful dream occurrences, it's about reducing chaos in my life and avoiding caffeinated drinks after 5 PM. Prayer is a means to calm the soul and direct thoughts toward godly peace.

Prayer. Hmmmm, it could be in the busy-ness of this Christmas season, I have been neglecting the most influential tool to reduce stress......