Total Eclipse Of The Heart A Lesson

Total Eclipse Of The Heart
Lesson One

There are many things that make me stop and think of God, His Word and His love. One of those things happens to be lyrics to songs. These songs were not written with the intent to praise God, but the words in the lyrics make me think about my relationship with Him and how He feels about me. Some songs make me feel like He is singing personally to me. Others make me feel like I am speaking to Him, either out of desperation and need of Him, or my love for Him.
The song, ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’ is not a duet, but as the singer sings, there is a voice that keeps responding, ‘Turn around’. That one little verse made me think of how God is there, where ever we are and no matter what we are going through, if we will just turn to Him we will make it through.
Let us read the lyrics of this song and my thoughts and questions alongside.

Total Eclipse of the Heart Lyrics written by Jim Steinman and sung by Bonnie Tyler
[Verse 1]
(Turn around)
Even before she sings a voice is saying to turn around
Every now and then, I get a little bit lonely
And you’re never coming ’round
Question; Do you ever feel lonely or neglected like the person in this song?
Can you think of people in the Bible who had felt this way?
Psalm 25:16-17 “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.”
(Turn around) I hear God saying turn to Me.
Matthew 28:20 “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Every now and then, I get a little bit tired
Of listening to the sound of my tears
Question: Have you gotten tired of your situation and pain?
1 Samuel 30:4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep.
(Turn around) Turn To Him. He will comfort you and give you strength.
Psalm 29:11 The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.

Every now and then, I get a little bit nervous
That the best of all the years have gone by
Question: Are you afraid that you have wasted your life?
1 Peter 1:17 ESV And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,
(Turn around) Turn to Him and no matter how you lived before, your life still has purpose.
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

Every now and then, I get a little bit terrified
And then I see the look in your eyes
Question what terrifies you or causes you to have fear or anxiety?
In the world we live in it is easy to have things that can cause you to be stressed, worried, anxious, and terrified. I have a constant battle with all of these things myself. The good news is that I know that thes are things that God did not give to me, so I can still have hope.
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
[Refrain]
(Turn around, bright eyes) Turn to Him and He will take care of your needs.
Psalm 22:26 The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise him may your hearts live forever!
Psalm 146:7 He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners.

Every now and then, I fall apart
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then, I fall apart
Question: Have you ever felt like you or your world has fallen apart?
I have more times than I can count, and I am even going through one of thos periods right now.
Question; So how do we get through these times?
[Verse 2]
(Turn around) We turn to HIm and trust Him.
Isaiah 41:10-13 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 11 Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. 12 You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. 13 For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
Psalm 84:11-12 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You!
Every now and then, I get a little bit restless
And I dream of something wild
Question: Do you ever get tired of where you are at?
Maybe you want to try to do something that might not be right for you because things might not feel like they are going in the direction you want them to.
(Turn around) Seek Him and pursue His direction for you even if for the moment you have to wait.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[b] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Every now and then, I get a little bit helpless
And I’m lying like a child in your arms
(Turn around)
Every now and then, I get a little bit angry
And I know I’ve got to get out and cry
No matter how you may be feeling it is okay, it is even okay to feel angry. Feelings are not wrong, but we need to be careful with our emotions. It is so easy to lash out at others when we are in pain. If you do this, don’t beat yourself up, just make sure to apologize and let the other know you did not intend to hurt them. There is a saying that is very true, ‘Hurt people, hurt people’.
(Turn around) Take what you are feeling to God and He will help you. You may have to keep doing this, because emotions can come at you like waves of the ocean. That is okay because He will always be there for you, no matter how you may be feeling.
1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV No temptation(emotion/my personal thought) has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Ephesians 4:26 ESV Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
Ephesians 4:31 ESV Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Every now and then, I get a little bit terrified
But then I see the look in your eyes
[Refrain]
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then, I fall apart
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then, I fall apart

[Chorus]
And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you only hold me tight
We’ll be holding on forever
And we’ll only be making it right
‘Cause we’ll never be wrong
We need Him every moment of our lives. He will never leave you, and will hold you in the palm of His hand. He makes all things right. With Jesus you will never be wrong.
Together, we can take it to the end of the line
Together with Him, wlaking the path He has set before you and walks with you, you will make it to the end of the line.
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time (All of the time)
He covers you with His love and is with you at all times.
I don’t know what to do and I’m always in the dark
Living in a world filled with darkness, we cannot always know what to do. So we turn to the One True Light and He will lead us through it.
We’re living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever’s gonna start tonight
Forever’s gonna start tonight
Forever starts the moment we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

The Lesson continues.
Recap
The song, ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’ is not a duet, but as the singer sings, there is a voice that keeps responding, ‘Turn around’. That one little verse made me think of how God is there, where ever we are and no matter what we are going through, if we will just turn to Him we will make it through.
Let us continue to read the lyrics of this song and my thoughts and questions alongside.

[Post-Chorus]
Once upon a time, I was falling in love
But now I’m only falling apart
There’s nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
You made the decision to follow Christ and accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Then the trials and tribulations of this life knock you down and you start looking at the problems more than you are focusing on Him. The problems become giants and mountains that you begin to circle.
Once upon a time, there was light in my life
But now there’s only love in the dark
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of the heart
Now the mountains and giants block out His light and you don’t know what to do, and once again you feel lost and hopeless. You still know He loves you but all you can see is the darkness around you.
Question: What are the giants and mountains in your life that are eclipsing the Light of Jesus in your life?
Question: What do you do now / how do you defeat the giants and get over the moutnains?
[Interlude]
(Turn around, bright eyes) Turn to God and put your trust in Him
1 Samuel 17:44-46 David Slays Goliath
…44“Come here,” he called to David, “and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” 45But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.…
(Turn around, bright eyes) Turn you eyes and see the goodness of God and have faith.
Psalm 27:13 NKJV I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.
Matthew 17:20 NKJV 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your [a]unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

[Verse 3]
(Turn around)
Every now and then, I know you’ll never be the boy
You always wanted to be
Every now and then it is easy for us to forget who we are in Christ and forget whose image we are being made into.
(Turn around)
But every now and then, I know you’ll always be the only boy
Who wanted me the way that I am
God not only knows who you are but has loved and wanted you before you even knew who He is.
(Turn around)
Every now and then, I know there’s no one in the universe
As magical and wondrous as you
There is no other God, He is both Creator and our Heavenly Father, and He is truly amazing.
(Turn around)
Every now and then, I know there’s nothing any better
There’s nothing that I just wouldn’t do
There is nothing better than Him, and He gave us something no other would ever do. He gave the life of His only Son so that we are not only forgiven, but we have eternal life through Jesus.

[Refrain]
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then, I fall apart
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then, I fall apart
So if you fall down, fall apart, or even get lost along the way. He is there to find you, pick you up, and put you back together.
[Chorus]
And I need you now tonight (And I need you)
And I need you more than ever
And if you only hold me tight (If you love me)
We’ll be holding on forever
And we’ll only be making it right (And we’ll never)
‘Cause we’ll never be wrong
Together, we can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time (All of the time)
I don’t know what to do, I’m always in the dark
We’re living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever’s gonna start tonight
(Forever’s gonna start tonight)
[Post-Chorus]
Once upon a time, I was falling in love
But now I’m only falling apart
Nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
Once upon a time, there was light in my life
But now there’s only love in the dark
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of the heart
A total eclipse of the heart
A total eclipse of the heart

[Outro]
(Turn around, bright eyes)
(Turn around, bright eyes)
(Turn around)
(Ooh-ooh)
(Ah-ha, ah-ha)
(Ah-ha, ah-ha)
(Ooh-ooh)

Just like life the lyrics repeat, but the message and lesson remains the same. He will never leave you or reject you. If you fall down He is there to pick you up. If you feel broken and useless He will heal you and give you purpose. There is some things you will need to do, and that is turn to Him and give your life to Him. Love and follow Him. Listen to His voice and never be afraid of asking Him for help.
You may have noticed that I di not include as many scriptures in the second part of this lesson. The reason I did this is because your assignment is to share scriptures that the lyrics of this song inspired you to think of. Just my little way of encouraging you to seek Him in His Word.
Looking forward to reading the scriptures you have to share, and also share what inspires you.
God bless and prosper you and your loved ones.

Total Eclipse Of The Heart

With the solar eclipse happening today I thought that this would be a good song to share. Listening to the lyrics made me think about how you have two people singing. Every time I heard the verse ‘Turn around’ it was like Jesus was speaking to us. He wants us to turn around and come back to Him. As the singer is singing about how she feels, like life has passed her by and she feels lonely and how she needs him. This part of the song speaks to me on how desperately we need Jesus and how we can only be right if we are with Him. When she says that he’s never coming ’round, you immediately hear the other singer sing ‘turn around’. So it is not that He isn’t there, it is up to her to turn around and He is there. Then when she sees him she know it will be okay. I could go on about how the lyrics speak to me, which I know was not the song writers message in this song, so I will end with this; We can all at one time or another feel our own eclipse of the heart for our own reasons, but no matter what we are going through or how we are feeling, Jesus will never leave you. HE is always there, you just need to turn around.

I hope you will enjoy this song.

Total Eclipse of the Heart/Bonnie Tyler: Lyrics
[Verse 1]
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit lonely
And you’re never coming ’round
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit tired
Of listening to the sound of my tears
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit nervous
That the best of all the years have gone by
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit terrified
And then I see the look in your eyes

[Refrain]
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart

[Verse 2]
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit restless
And I dream of something wild
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit helpless
And I’m lying like a child in your arms
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit angry
And I know I’ve got to get out and cry
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit terrified
But then I see the look in your eyes
[Refrain]
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart

[Chorus]
And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you only hold me tight
We’ll be holding on forever
And we’ll only be making it right
‘Cause we’ll never be wrong
Together we can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time (All of the time)
I don’t know what to do and I’m always in the dark
We’re living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever’s gonna start tonight
Forever’s gonna start tonight

[Post-Chorus]
Once upon a time I was falling in love
Now I’m only falling apart
There’s nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
Once upon a time there was light in my life
But now there’s only love in the dark
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of the heart
[Instrumental Interlude]
(Turn around, bright eyes)
(Turn around, bright eyes)

[Verse 3]
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I know you’ll never be the boy
You always wanted to be
(Turn around)
But every now and then
I know you’ll always be the only boy
Who wanted me the way that I am
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I know there’s no one in the universe
As magical and wondrous as you
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I know there’s nothing any better
There’s nothing that I just wouldn’t do

[Refrain]
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart
[Chorus]
And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you only hold me tight
We’ll be holding on forever
And we’ll only be making it right
‘Cause we’ll never be wrong
Together we can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time (all of the time)
I don’t know what to do
I’m always in the dark
Living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever’s gonna start tonight
(Forever’s gonna start tonight)

[Post-Chorus]
Once upon a time I was falling in love
Now I’m only falling apart
There’s nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
Once upon a time there was light in my life
But now there’s only love in the dark
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of the heart
A total eclipse of the heart
A total eclipse of the heart

[Outro]
(Turn around, bright eyes)
(Turn around, bright eyes)
(Turn around)

Ain’t no sunshine

It has been over 2,000 years since Jesus left this earth to prepare a new place for us who receive Him as Lord and Savior. So we have been waiting for His return for quite a while. When you are waiting for something you need or want it is easy to become discouraged. Life looks bleak and you can feel hopeless. Thinking about this I thought of this song and changed some of the lyrics. Without Jesus there is no light, there is no hope just darkness and despair. The hope I have is because I know Jesus is coming back to take us to HIS home. I don’t know when but HE will. even when I cannot see the sunshine because the sky is dark and grey, I know one day people will see HIM returning in the sky to take HIS people home. The other good news is HE gave us HIS Spirit and He never leaves us or forsakes us.

Bill Withers “Ain’t No Sunshine”

original lyrics lyrics when I think of Jesus
Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone Ain’t no sunshine when HE’s gone
It’s not warm when she’s away It’s not warm when He’s away
Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone Ain’t no sunshine when HE’s gone
And she’s always gone too long And HE’s been gone for so long
Anytime she goes away I need HIM everyday

Wonder this time where she’s gone I know where HE’s gone
Wonder if she’s gone to stay And HE’ll be back for me one day
Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone Ain’t no sunshine when HE’s gone

And this house just ain’t no home And this earth is not my home
Anytime she goes away Waiting for HIM to take me away

And I know, I know, I know, I know And I know, I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
I know, I know I know, I know

Hey, I oughtta leave young thing alone HE didn’t leave me alone
But ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone But ain’t no sunshine when HE’s gone
Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone Ain’t no sunshine when HE’s gone
Only darkness every day Only darkness everyday

Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone Ain’t no sunshine when HE’s gone
And this house just ain’t no home And this earth is not my home
Anytime she goes away Waiting for HIM to take me away
Anytime she goes away Take me away
Anytime she goes away Take me away
Anytime she goes away To HIS home one day

Thursday’s Child by David Bowie song and lyrics

Here is today’s song and it’s lyrics;

Thursday’s Child Lyrics
[Verse 1]
All of my life I’ve tried so hard
Doing my best with what I had
Nothing much happened all the same

Something about me stood apart
A whisper of hope that seemed to fail
Maybe I’m born right out of my time
Breaking my life in two

[Chorus: Holly Palmer and David Bowie]
Throw me tomorrow
Now that I’ve really got a chance
Throw me tomorrow
Everything’s falling into place
Throw me tomorrow
Seeing my past to let it go
Throw me tomorrow
Only for you I don’t regret
That I was Thursday’s child

[Post-Chorus: Holly Palmer]
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday born I was
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday born I was

[Verse 2]
Sometimes I cried my heart to sleep
Shuffling days and lonesome nights
Sometimes my courage fell to my feet
Lucky old sun is in my sky
Nothing prepared me for your smile
Lighting the darkness of my soul
Innocence in your arms

[Chorus: Holly Palmer and David Bowie]
Throw me tomorrow
Now that I’ve really got a chance
Throw me tomorrow
Everything’s falling into place
Throw me tomorrow
Seeing my past to let it go
Throw me tomorrow
Only for you I don’t regret
That I was Thursday’s child

[Post-Chorus: Holly Palmer and David Bowie]
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday born I was
Thursday’s child
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday born I was
Thursday’s child

[Outro: Holly Palmer]
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday born I was
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday born I was
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday born I was
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday born I was

I can really relate to the first verse of this song. No matter how hard I have tried things have not gone the way I have wanted and hoped for. Being good seemed to never be good enough. In the second verse I understand the loneliness and hopelessness we can feel and how easy it is to be discouraged, but the verse goes on and talks about not being prepared to see the smile on another’s face. To me this is the face of Jesus and it gives us hope. Then the chorus mentions having a chance now, and this to me reminds me of the hope we have in Christ. This song may not have been one of the more popular songs of David Bowie but it speaks to me, maybe it will speak to you.

Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2

Sunday Bloody Sunday Lyrics
[Intro]
Yeah, mm-hm

[Verse 1]
I can’t believe the news today
Oh, I can’t close my eyes and make it go away

[Refrain]
How long? How long must we sing this song?
How long? How long?
‘Cause tonight
We can be as one, tonight

[Verse 2]
Broken bottles under children’s feet
Bodies strewn across the dead end street
But I won’t heed the battle call
It puts my back up, puts my back up against the wall

[Chorus]
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Oh, let’s go

[Verse 3]
And the battle’s just begun
There’s many lost, but tell me, who has won?
The trench is dug within our hearts
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart

[Chorus]
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday

[Refrain]
How long? How long must we sing this song?
How long? How long?
‘Cause tonight
We can be as one, tonight

[Chorus]
Sunday, Bloody Sunday (Tonight, tonight)
Sunday, Bloody Sunday (Tonight, tonight)
Come get some

[Bridge]
Wipe the tears from your eyes
Wipe your tears away
I’ll wipe your tears away
I’ll wipe your tears away
[Chorus]
Sunday, Bloody Sunday (I’ll wipe your bloodshot eyes)
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday, oh
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday, oh
Yeah, let’s go

[Verse 4]
And it’s true we are immune
When fact is fiction and TV reality
And today the millions cry (Sunday, Bloody Sunday)
We eat and drink while tomorrow they die (Sunday, Bloody Sunday)
The real battle just begun (Sunday, Bloody Sunday)
To claim the victory Jesus won (Sunday, Bloody Sunday) on

[Chorus]
Sunday, Bloody Sunday, yeah, yeah
Sunday, Bloody Sunday

The song I chose for today is not an uplifting or joyful song, it does reflect the violence in this country and in the wars happening around the world today. The song’s title has roots in a real-life event. On January 30, 1972, British soldiers shot 26 unarmed civilian protestors in Northern Ireland, killing 14.

The verse, ‘when fact is fiction and TV is reality’ is true for today as well. We cannot trust the news or social media. There are so many who have lost loved ones to violence and hate and it doesn’t seem to be stopping any time soon.

I do like the last verse because it does give us hope; ‘To claim the victory Jesus won’.

Song and Lyrics/I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash

Today was clear and sunny so this fits in more than one way. First the weather was beautiful and it was so nice to see a clear sky and the sun shining. The lyrics of this song also speak to me about how God is working in my life. My life’s storms have not yet passed but I know God will see me through and I am seeing more clearly today than yesterday and will continue to become even clearer. I am in pain today but all the pain I feel will be gone. All of the bad feelings left by the abuse that I lived through will be gone. Every day in His kingdom will be bright, clear, and we will be in the presence of The SON, who is the Light of the world.

I Can See Clearly Now Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright, bright sun shiny day
It’s gonna be a bright, bright sun shiny day

[Verse 2]
I think I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that rainbow I’ve been praying for
It’s gonna be a bright (Bright), bright sun shiny day

[Bridge]
Look all around, there’s nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead, nothing but blue skies

[Verse 3]
I can see clearly now; the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright, bright sun shiny day
It’s gonna be a bright, bright sun shiny day

I Won’t Last A Day Without You Song by The Carpenters

As I listened to the words of this song I could not help but relate the lyrics to my life with God. The title of the song alone says it all, ‘I won’t last a day without you’. This is so very true. It does not mean I have had an easy problem free life, it is actually quite the opposite, but I would not still be here today if God did love me. He has been with me before I even knew who HE is. He sent His Son Jesus to save us and give to anyone who receives Him eternal life. So no matter who bleak and dark this world can be we have hope because the Light of Jesus overcomes the darkness, and we have life in Him. So this song is right, I can’t last a say without Him. I am thankful that He is and will always be here for us.

Lyrics;

[Intro]
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

[Verse 1]
Day after day
I must face a world of strangers
Where I don’t belong
I’m not that strong
It’s nice to know that there’s someone I can turn to
Who will always care
You’re always there

[Chorus]
When there’s no getting over that rainbow
When my smallest of dreams won’t come true
I can take all the madness the world has to give
But, I won’t last a day without you

[Verse 2]
So many times when the city seems to be without
A friendly face, a lonely place
It’s nice to know that you’ll be there if I need you
And you’ll always smile, it’s all worthwhile

[Chorus]
When there’s no getting over that rainbow
When my smallest of dreams won’t come true
I can take all the madness the world has to give
But, I won’t last a day without you

[Bridge]
Touch me and I end up singing
Trouble seems to up and disappear
You touch me with the love you’re bringing
I can’t really lose when you’re near (When you’re near, my love)

[Verse 3]
If all my friends have forgotten half their promises
They’re not unkind, just hard to find
One look at you and I know that I could learn to live
Without the rest, I’ve found the best

[Chorus]
When there’s no getting over that rainbow
When my smallest of dreams won’t come true
I can take all the madness the world has to give
But, I won’t last a day without you
When there’s no getting over that rainbow
When my smallest of dreams won’t come true
I can take all the madness the world has to give
But, I won’t last a day without you
(Won’t last a day without you, without you)

Should we share our dreams and visions?

There are less than a handful of people that I have trusted in sharing certain things, especially some visions and dreams. Main reasons for this is not that I was afraid of what I saw or how real they were. It is because I don’t want everyone thinking I have lost my mind. Funny because I have no problem sharing that I can audibly hear God speak to me. So now I sit here and wonder if now is the time. So I guess I will share one dream and one vision and hope you don’t think I am crazy.

When I had this vision I was sitting on my porch in front of my last apartment. I saw at as clear as seeing my hands type these words. A person in soldiers clothing stood in my little yard and spoke to me. They said ‘I know that you would die before you would deny Jesus, but would you to save your child and grandchild?’ Then my daughter was brought before me and the person holding my daughter by her hair with a sword above their head, and they asked, ‘Will you deny Him now?’ That was it. I sat there stunned. I looked up and spoke to God and said, ‘They are right, I would die before denying You, but I don’t know if I would be strong enough to watch my child or any child be tortured or killed in front of me. I pray to be able to refuse to deny You, because I know it is better to die for you than live denying You. I pray if that day comes You will strengthen me, and I will not bow to the enemy’. That isn’t a very long vison or prayer, but a few years later I went to this thing called the ‘Apocalypse Experience’, at the Capernaum a replica town here in Texas that is used as both a studio set and for hosting experiences that take you through scenes of the Bible. The ‘Apocalypse Experience’ takes people through what the tribulation would be like. You walk through and the actors interact with you. At one point soldiers come running through and capture a woman and her son right in front of us. They hold her son down in front of her just like my vision, and ordered her to deny Christ and save her son. She refused and they were both shot (not for real) and killed.

I was shocked to see this scene played out right in front of me, even though I knew they were actors, seeing my vison play out in front of my eyes got to me. I couldn’t share what was going on with the friend I was with because I knew she would not understand. Yet this was not the first time something I had a vision or dream of played out in front of my face. Somehow things that played out in my mind somehow another person who I have never met or even spoken to managed to produce and I was able to see. You see when I was in my early 20’s which is back in the 90’s I had this dream. To my surprise in 2015 the movie ‘San Andreas’ was released which I did not see until I rented it and from the comfort of my couch began to watch my dream play out on my T.V. Not the actors and the earthquake in my dream took place in Los Angeles and spread to the Antelope Valley. Every natural disaster from the earthquake to the tidal wave that filled the cities turning the city of L.A. into Venice, Italy. Yet instead of ‘The Rock’ in a boat searching for his daughter in the movie. I was the one in the boat going from building to building looking for survivors, to get them to safety. So take out the actors and leave the natural disasters in this movie and you can see my dream if you watched this movie, you have seen my dream.

Now I know both vision and dream were played out in front of me were acts and were not actually real, but it never kept me from wondering if the day would come along when it would become reality. You see I have had some things I had dream actually happen. Nothing major, like going to a house I had never been to and doing exactly what I did there in my dream. I know the ability to dream and have visions and interpret them is a gift from God, and that scriptures speak of dreams and visions in the end times ( which I am not saying it is) but I believe why Joseph and Daniel have always been people from the Bible I can relate to. Joseph more than Daniel but that is another subject. When others have shared their dreams with me I have seen them play out in front of me as if on a movie screen, and God seems to give me their meaning most times.

I don’t know if I will share my other dreams and I am sorry that I am not giving my dream or vision’s interpretation but these two seem to be self explanatory. Hope you don’t think I am too crazy for what I have shared but as much as I would have liked to continue keeping them to myself I felt led to sharing them tonight, even though my hands are screaming at me for typing this long. But obedience is better than sacrifice.

ANSWER to ‘What does this picture make you think of?’ 1/29/2024

I have received some wonderful answers to my previous post. When I painted this painting some years back I had no idea what I was going to paint. I just had the colors impressed upon me. To be honest my best paintings are spiritually inspired where I just have what colors I will be painting with, then I just start painting. As if I am the brush in the Master Artists hand, When I saw the woman emerge from the water I loved her. She hung on my living room wall, until the day that God inspired me to donate it to a fundraiser being held at the church I was attending. I never found out who purchased her and I was sad to see her go, but I was happy to give her to a good cause. The photo of this painting does not do her justice, but she is still beautiful to me. Resting peacefully as she floats in the water. It reminds me of Psalm 23:2; He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. Even though the scripture says laying down in green pastures, it is the still water, that I relate to. In a world and life filled with troubles, and feeling as if under constant attack, the still waters, reminds that Jesus calms the storms in our lives.

Art by Reiko Chinen/Julie Sheppard

Here are some of the answers others have shared;

Tom January 29, 2024 at 10:33 am Edit

Hi Julie, This painting makes me think of Psalm 69:1-2 – Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.

ropheka January 29, 2024 at 12:42 pm Edit

A woman in water

chozehconnections January 29, 2024 at 2:37 pm Edit

Isaiah 43:2 When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! (TLB)

joyindestructible January 29, 2024 at 4:37 pm Edit

Jonah

Anadelia Yamilex January 30, 2024 at 3:06 am Edit

I think of when we face hard times and it seems like we are drowning and waiting on God and Jesus to rescue us and just when we are at the very verge to completely go under they come and help us out!

I want to thank all of you for sharing your thoughts with us. God bless each of you.

What do you see? 1/30/2024

When you look at this photo, what do you see?

Something I have liked doing since I was a child is looking at things like clouds and seeing what shapes they remind me of. I could see faces in grains of wood. The shapes of clouds is even more because of the wide variety of shapes they form. So I ask two questions; 1) What do you see? 2) What does it make you think of?

Looking forward to reading your responses.

Thanks, and God bless!