“Send me,” Dream
In my dream, it was dark and there were two, dead, largemouth bass fish. One was a saltwater fish and the other from freshwater. They weren’t dried up nor were they deboned.
I thought how those around me didn’t know what they represented, nor did they care, but I knew they symbolized “fishers of men.”
A Thai massage spa was located across the street from our apartment. (In real life when we lived in Germany).
Dana, an American woman (who moved into our apartment when we returned to the states) came downstairs to get a Thai massage.
The owner of the spa in my dream was the same woman we had come to love while living there. A Thai man was standing by her.
I was talking with somebody in my dream about fish and telling them we have to let young people know what they represent. I stated that it’s the same with the younger generation in the United States who don’t know the words to the Star-Spangled Banner or the Pledge of Allegiance. “They need to know this.”
I remember my parents being in this dream and one of them saying, “vintage.” The picture I saw was a glimpse of past family photos with vehicles dating back to the 1950s. End of dream.
Interpretation:
Upon waking up, I understood this dream to mean “fishers of men.” Lost souls, living in great darkness, lifeless.
They weren’t dried up, symbolic for still fresh. No matter how dark our sin is, all mankind is redeemable.
Saltwater vs. freshwater fish: Both were largemouth bass, symbolizing that we “are all one in Christ Jesus.” The Passion Translation states, “And we no longer see each other in our former state—Jew or non-Jew, rich or poor, male or female—because we’re all one through our union with Jesus Christ with no distinction between us.” Galatians 3:28
All believers are called to be “fishers of men,” whether abroad or in their homeland, i.e., community. This dream reinforces to me personally the need to continue praying and seeking the Lord if we are to serve near (freshwater) or across the sea (saltwater).
Our Thai friends reinforce the importance of witnessing to those we know and those we don’t (the gentleman next to her). Also, they are Buddhist. Sharing the gospel goes beyond our borders. Spread the gospel to those from other countries (Dana who is American) and those who worship idols and other gods and are from foreign lands.
The older generation has a responsibility to train up the younger generation.
The prayer of this dream is a surrender of the heart to be willing to say “Lord, we will go here or there and to give all we are to you.
Parents reinforce ministry to those who are dead in Christ. Don’t look at the past.
God’s timing. Three years after I journaled this dream I “stumbled” upon this simply because the title caught my attention and aligned with Nancy Griffith’s Fisher’s of Men Dream.
I dreamt this in 2017 and the Lord brought it to the surface the last week of January 2020. Rick retired on January 31, 2020. What makes this personal for me is that retirement doesn’t mean retiring in service to the Lord.
God’s remarkable timing continually astounds me. After 35 years of employment, Rick received an email from a missionary inquiry he made a year ago on his last day in the office. This encouraged him to reach out to our home denomination for future possibilities.
Unbeknownst to Rick, I had copied this dream from 2017 into my blog folder to work on at a later date. Our life was at an impasse. “What now, Lord?”
Whether or not the Lord leads us in the direction to minister in-country or outside the United States, this dream isn’t about where God sends us. It highlights a willingness to obey the voice of Jesus when he says, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” Matthew 4:19
“Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8
We trust him to orchestrate each step just as he has done in the past. Our life is a blank slate and we are thrilled that God chooses to use us, whether near or far, as he does to all those who say, “send me.”
How this dream is a blueprint for prayer:
Praise and thanks for God’s timing:
Inquiries and activities occurred simultaneously, encouraging us to continue taking steps for future missions work.
Praise for God’s guidance with the same theme and messages from past dreams. Caribbean Dream Part One; Caribbean Dream of the Caribbean Dream Part Two
Lord, choose the community where we can use our spiritual gifts to reach those who are “dead in Christ Jesus.”
Prayer to be courageous and say, “Send us, Lord.”
Lord, choose the community where we can best serve local missionaries, pastors, and those currently ministering to the people.
Lord, orchestrate every detail.
Lord, thank you for the privilege to serve you. Our hope and trust are in you. In Jesus name. Amen.
Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash
