Your Old Men Will Dream Dreams

My parents, John & Bonnie Wilkerson

My father is 82 and suffers from severe dementia. Once an eloquent speaker and charismatic pastor for over fifty years, he rarely puts a sentence together anymore.

But when he dreams at night, I believe he’s in his right mind.

A few nights ago, dad was talking in his sleep. My mother woke up and began to listen closely to understand what he was saying.

He got up out of bed and stood in the center of the room. Dad pointed and said, “You pray.” Then, as if looking at another person in the room he said, “You pray.” Once again, he turned and said, “If you pray too, it’s like we have a prayer chain . . . the prayer of agreement. God will answer our prayers.”

Mom immediately said, “John, what would you like to pray about?”

Right then, mom said it’s as if Dad woke up. He didn’t know what she was talking about, and he was confused. Mom gently put him back to bed.

Acts. 2:17 says, “Your young men will see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” Perhaps my father is still on this earth to dream dreams. What if, in the spirit realm, my father is seeing future events? What if he is praying and interceding with the angels?

Another time my father sat up in bed and said, “We have to be united.”

What if he is prophesying as he sleeps?

My grandfather always prayed this scripture over his children, “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13) Sometimes I question why God doesn’t go ahead and take my father home to be with Jesus. But I have to trust that it’s God’s good will and pleasure to allow my dad to live with dementia. How comforting and encouraging to realize that my Dad is still able to minister during the night! What a powerful nighttime warrior against the enemy!

Two BIG Questions We All Need To Answer

What is the cause within you? What is your one big thing?

These two questions have been “in my face” lately. Let me explain.

This summer four teenage girls and I spent a week serving at the Los Angeles Dream Center. How did I end up there? Matthew Barnett, the founder of the DC, was on our show in 2011 to promote his book, The Cause Within You. While talking with Pastor Barnett in the green room, he and his brother-in-law really encouraged me to bring a short-term missions team to the DC. That conversation ignited a desire to go check it out.

The experience changed me.

The now mammoth Dream Center really started the day Pastor Barnett made one seemingly insignificant decision—he would go help people living on one block near his dying church in the crime-ridden area known as Echo Park. Meeting the needs of one person and one house at a time, he brought people groceries, clothing, school supplies, furniture, and even helped make small home repairs. Now the ministry has expanded and feeds 40-70,000 people a month, offers a 9 month men’s and women’s drug recovery program, restores girls escaping the sex-trafficking industry, houses homeless families . . . well, the list is endless.

When I got home, I began to read The Cause Within You again. Now that I’d been to the Dream Center, the stories came to life and carried a deeper meaning. This fall, my women’s group at church is going to read the book and ask ourselves, “Have we found the cause within us?”

Sometimes when God is saying something He puts an exclamation point on the end. Actually, this exclamation point was another question, “What is your one big thing?” Phil Cooke, author of One Big Thing, was on the show today. His book answers questions like, “What could I be the best in the world at doing? Where could I be remarkable? Where do I stand out?”

Phil says most of us are looking at our “job” to be our one big thing, but that’s not always the case. It has to do with what we’re most passionate about. In his book Phil writes,“. . . people respond to passion. Passion is one of the most contagious emotions on the planet, and people will line up to follow it, especially when the passionate person has credibility.”

I am on a quest to find my “one big thing”, a.k.a. my “cause.” I believe for ALL of us a core ingredient in our big thing or cause will be serving. How can I bless others? How can I love people?

Phil lists some questions to help you find your one big thing:

#1 What comes easy to you?
#2 What do you love?
#3 What drives you crazy? (Phil says, “The thing you hate the most could be the problem you were born to fix”)
#4 What do you want to leave behind? (Phil’s answer: a lasting legacy)

Now go find your cause and you’ve found your one big thing!

The "Dream Team"- Three in One Church's first youth missions trip

Mark Batterson's Big Fail

Recently, I interviewed Mark Batterson, author of The Circlemaker, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, and Wild Goose Chase*.  To those of us who are church planters, Mark is also the original "theatre church" pastor--he was gutsy enough to attempt church in a movie theatre!  That church is National Community Church in Washington, D.C., which now meets in 6 locations around the D.C. area.

It was important to me to ask Mark about his big "fail."  So many successful men and women in ministry have failed, but they're successful because they never quit.  I think its important that the rest of us hear stories like this and don't give up on our God-given dreams when things don't go our way.

*I highly recommend any or all of his books.  I've read some of them two to three times.  

What to Expect When You’re Expecting - Part 2 "The Good Stuff"

In my last blog I talked about what hardships you can expect in your life when you’re expecting to do a great work for God. I’ll admit, the post came off a bit “Debby Downer,” but if you’re like me, you don’t want things sugarcoated. Even Jesus told his disciples, “In this world you will have troubles, but take heart, I have overcome the world!”*

I’ve saved the best news for last. Let’s look at “the good stuff” in Nehemiah’s story. As you’ll see, when you obey God you can absolutely expect His help! 

God will send unlikely people to help you 

King Artaxerxes noticed that Nehemiah, his cupbearer, was “deeply troubled”* and asked him why. When Nehemiah explained how Jerusalem lay in ruins, the king asked how he could help. The king proceeded to give him time off, letters of recommendation, timber, and an armed guard. Did you see that--a heathen king helping his Jewish servant? That’s favor from an unlikely source!

Leaders will follow you

As Nehemiah describes the various people that helped build the wall, nine of the men were specifically referred to as “leaders.”* Why does that matter? Accomplishing a great work for God may require partnering with people of influence. “Influencers” can mobilize their followers. God will bring you “influencers” to help you raise the army needed to do the work.

People will be willing to work outside their specific talents to do the work that’s needed

A goldsmith, a perfume maker, priests, and merchants all became carpenters to help accomplish Nehemiah’s vision. One man even brought his daughters to help repair part of the wall, which back-in-the-day was considered “man’s work.” When you have a God-given vision, Spirit-led people will do whatever it takes to help you see it through.

You will develop a heart for the oppressed and even do something about it 

During a recent famine in Israel, the poor borrowed money at high interest rates from their wealthy family members just to survive. To pay back the debt, some were forced to sell their children into slavery! Nehemiah found out and was furious! He strongly rebuked those greedy relatives and demanded change. Because Nehemiah had proven himself a worthy leader, the people repented and changed their ways. What do you call that? A beautiful and unexpected side effect of obeying God!

My Nehemiah Experience

Just as my husband and I have experienced the difficulties of ministry, we’ve also seen God do all the “good stuff”. The unlikely people He’s sent our way to help, the gifted and talented leaders who serve alongside us . . . well, it’s miraculous. I’m always amazed how people will humbly serve to make our church plant succeed—getting up early to help transform our movie theatre into a church, helping with childcare, ushering, greeting, tearing down after service, etc. 

God also sent us an unlikely supporter--Joel Osteen. We’d only been a church for a few months when I produced a segment with the Osteen’s for The 700 Club. They found out I was a pastor’s wife, we talked about a few common friends we shared, and voila! Matt and I were invited to a private meeting with local pastors, given front row seats at his local “Night of Hope,” invited to become a Champion’s Network church and attend a CN pastors' conference at Lakewood Church. My husband and I eagerly attended and found ourselves laughing at the improbability of us being there. Looking around, pastors with mega-churches and multi-site campus churches surrounded us—and there we were, with our unknown little church plant of 200 people. Only God! 

My unexpected side effect of starting a church? I’ve developed a heart for women and children suffering from domestic violence. Before 3n1 Church, this cause was nowhere on my radar! While searching for some local community groups where our women could volunteer, I came across the H.E.R. Shelter, a temporary home for families escaping abusive situations. We’ve been working there almost 2 years, and I absolutely love these women and children!

I sincerely hope you will stick with the call of God on your life. It will be hard and you will be tempted to quit (BIG understatement). But if you will hold on to your God-given vision with the tenacity of a bulldog and the stubbornness of a mule, you will see God do unbelievable miracles. Keep expecting! 

* John 16:33
*facts taken from Nehemiah 2-4

What to Expect When You’re Expecting

Part 1. . . “The Hard Stuff”

Are you expecting God to use you in a powerful way? To do something significant? To help build the kingdom of God? Nehemiah also felt God’s call to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. His story gives us a sneak peak into the hardships we can expect to face when we attempt a great work for God:

The enemy will assign some “good” people to be your enemies.

Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official were well respected by the people of Judah. Tobiah’s father-in-law was a bigshot, and his son married a woman from an important family. Tobiah was even known for his “good deeds.”* Yet, these “good" men sent threatening letters, spread false rumors, tried to accuse and discredit Nehemiah, and plotted to harm him.

Scoffers and mockers will have some unpleasant things to say about you.

Sanballat ridiculed the work saying, "What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they're doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?" *

Tobiah also chimes in, "That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!"*

Be ready for a  fight.

Nehemiah quickly realizes the dangerous building conditions and encourages his people, "Don't be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!"*

People will complain that the work is not happening fast enough.

The people who were once working enthusiastically now whined, "The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves."*

The enemy will try to find your weak spot and expose it.

Nehemiah’s enemies threatened, "Before they know what's happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work."*

Physically, you will be stretched to the max.

Nehemiah records, “We worked early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men were always on guard . . . During this time, none of us—not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me—ever took off our clothes.”*When you don’t even have time to change your clothes—that’s serious!

My “Nehemiah” experience:

My husband and I started a church in 2009. We’ve experienced similar attacks from the enemy, although our “fight” never required us to hold an actual weapon and no one plotted “physical” harm against us. Instead, we’ve had to fight in prayer using God’s word.

Likewise, I’ve never had to work so hard that I couldn’t change my clothes—thank the Lord! But I have worked so hard that my body & mind began to break down, requiring extra trips to the doctor and to the counselor!

I never expected that planting a church would be so challenging. After all, we were obeying God’s call! Didn’t that assure us of His unlimited favor, blessing, and open doors? Instead, we felt blindsided by the insidious attacks of the enemy many times, and we questioned if we even heard God in the first place. Should we continue to fight for this church plant or should we give up?

For me, Nehemiah’s experience is a reality check. First of all, why should I think doing God’s work would be an easy thing? There is no great work accomplished in the Bible that didn’t require hard work, perseverance, and significant sacrifice—for instance, look at Noah, Moses, Esther, David, Mary, Stephen, Paul, etc. At the same time, I need to be like Nehemiah and trust that God will help us to build this wall and complete the work.

*all scriptures taken from Nehemiah ch. 3 & 4
Look for the follow up blog, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” Part 2, “The Good Stuff”

The Great Longing

We’ve all heard the stories that include the phrase, “If it wasn’t for the prayers of a praying mom,” “my parents prayed over 20 years for me,” “my grandmother was a praying woman—she never gave up on me,” etc. Usually those phrases are accompanied by a testimony with a happy ending. The common theme—don’t give up on a loved one who has lost their way.

Maybe you have a loved one who is not just lost, it’s as if they’ve gone into exile. An exile is “anyone separated from his or her country or home voluntarily or by force of circumstances.” Over the years I’ve watched people very close to me pray, grieve, cry, fast, quote scripture, and even pay thousands of dollars in the hopes of seeing their beloved come back to God.

King David banished his own son Absalom from Jerusalem to live as an exile in Geshur. The punishment was actually mild when you consider the crime Absalom committed. Out of revenge, Absalom had killed his half-brother Amnon for raping his sister, Tamar. David must have felt like a huge failure to have two unimaginable events happen in his own family.

Three years passed, and scriptures record how David ached to see his son.
“And King David longed to go to Absalom.”1
“. . . the king’s heart longed for Absalom.”2

God longs for your exile to return, and He understands how you long for that day too.

A wise woman came to David and cleverly told him it was time to bring his son home. She ends her plea with these words:

"Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But that is not what God desires; rather, He devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him."3

In other words, she tells David, “There’s no going back, what’s done is done. But God is always finding ways to bring the guilty ones back to him—He wants them back even more than you do.” She revealed God’s heart for the exiled ones, giving David permission to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem.

Here’s the good news—God is doing everything in his power to bring your loved one back from exile.

If you don’t believe me, I’m going to use a technique I used during my teaching-jr.-highers-who-don’t-always-listen-well days. I’m going to say the same thing 4 different ways, in this case using four different translations of 2 Samuel 14:14. Sometimes we need to hear something more than once, so that it gets deep down in our spirits.


He devises devices. . .

God “devises devices that the wanderer may not be forever expelled from him.” YLT

Picture an inventor trying over and over to make his invention produce the intended results. God is figuring out the perfect method to reach your exile, inventing new ways of reconnecting. He uses existing details about your loved one to formulate His tactics.

Another fact worth noting—the state your beloved is in right now is not permanent! You must believe it is only temporary; remember, their current state can change in the time it takes to breathe a prayer.

He plans ways. . .

“He plans ways that those who have been sent away will not have to stay away from him!” NCV

Do you know any planners? My daughter is always planning ahead for her birthday party, sometimes starting 5 months ahead of time! It drives our family crazy, but her birthdays always turn out wonderful and memorable—no detail is forgotten. God is already planning His and your reunion with the wayward one, working out the ways and means to make it happen. And like the prodigal son, your exile will be the guest of honor at the homecoming party!

He tries . . .we must keep trying too

"That is why God tries to bring us back when we have been separated from him. He does not sweep away the lives of those he cares about -- and neither should you!" NLT

God is committed to trying everything imaginable to reconnect your exile, are you? Chances are your exile feels so worthless and so separated from God. During this time, you must continue to love them, pray for them, and find your own clever ways to show them you still care.

He works out ways. . .

"But God does not take away life. He works out ways to get the exile back." The Message

I have several people in my life whose words I trust completely. On occasion, I’ll ask them for help with something and they say, “Don’t worry, I’ll work it out.” I don’t ask how or press for details; I just know it will happen.

That’s what God is saying to you. “I’ll work it out, I’ve got this.” Right now He is at work, whether you know the details, the time frame, the cost, the people involved, etc. He will work it out—your exile is coming home.


12 Sam 13:38.
22 Sam 14:1
32 Sam 14:14

God, I'm Mad at You!

During a recent Sunday morning service, I was lifting my hands during worship, and I told God something that might sound schizophrenic. In my heart I said, “God I love you, You’re my Lord, You’re sovereign, and I will always serve you. But I want you to know I’m very mad at you!” Now, I won’t go into the situation, but I will say that I can relate to Jacob who wrestled with God. Unfortunately, I was losing.

I left service that morning determined to hear from God. During a time of fasting and prayer, I found great encouragement in the following story.

Soon after Jesus completed his forty-day fast in the wilderness, his ministry took off and the crowds quickly became multitudes. Back in Jerusalem, the apostle John’s ministry ground to a halt after being imprisoned by Herod. John sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the coming One, or do we look for another?” Perhaps John thought it would be a subtle way to bring attention to his predicament, you are the Messiah—get me out of here!

Jesus confirmed His deity to John’s disciples, adding these peculiar words, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”1 This seems like an odd thing to say, so what does it mean? Perhaps Jesus was really saying, John, I am who you say I am, but it is not in God’s plan that I stop what I’m doing to set you free. Whatever you do, please don’t let your dire situation present a stumbling block to your belief in me.

Jesus says that to us today. Like John, some of us might be trapped in a grim situation, and we can’t understand why God doesn’t rescue us immediately. Perhaps God is not answering our prayers for a loved one, a marriage, a sickness, a financial crisis, etc. We feel abandoned in our suffering, and we wonder why God doesn’t answer our desperate cries for help.

In times like this, our reaction is everything. First, we must simply trust Jesus. His ways are higher than our ways. His understanding of the big picture is something we can’t even begin to comprehend yet. In the meantime, we can’t allow ourselves to be offended by the only One who loves us unconditionally. He alone can “work all things together for good.” Once a human being like us, our savior truly understands and feels compassion for our situation.

Let’s look at this scripture again--“Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” In this case, the word blessed means “for a long duration you will be happy, so much so that congratulations are in order.” As one can see, it is clearly to our benefit NOT to get mad at God. Don’t be offended by what Jesus isn’t doing for you at the moment. Don’t be offended at the prayers He’s not answering.

In the time of Jesus, an “offense” was “a bait-stick of a trap” used to catch an animal. Metaphorically, an offense is something that will “cause to stumble.” The enemy would love to trip you up. Satan does NOT want you to fulfill God’s calling on your life.

As John’s disciples walked away with their answer, Jesus talked to the multitudes about John and his role in the kingdom. He finished with another unusual thought, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11:12)

Righteous anger is another healthy reaction to obvious attacks from the enemy. Let’s face it, Satan will stop at nothing to destroy you—he plays dirty! When sorrow seems to add to more sorrows, it’s time to tell the accuser of the brethren, “It’s on!”

When I was a senior in high school, I came home one day to find out that my older sister Lynne was in the psychiatric hospital after trying to overdose on pills. I didn’t know what to do, so I put my running shoes on and took off to have a long talk with God. I was so angry that the enemy had tried to take my sister’s life. I prayed for my sister, but I also told the devil, “For this one life you tried to take, I will take 10,000 souls from hell!” In other words, it’s on!

“The violent who then take it by force are people of keen enthusiasm and commitment who are willing to respond to and propagate with radical abandonment the message of Christ.”2 Are you radically abandoned to serve God no matter what it might cost? For John, he would die in prison, his head cut off and served on a platter at one of King Herod’s dinner parties.

Serving Christ will cost you everything. Sometimes it will cost you so much that you will get mad at God (understatement). The enemy’s voice will whisper in your ear the words of Job’s wife, “Curse God and die.” In times like these, remember the words of Jesus, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”


1 Matthew 11:6- I read this verse during my quiet time; simultaneously, I was reading Mark Batterson’s book The Circle Maker. He talks about a couple in his church who had every reason to be offended at God; I knew God was trying to get my attention when I came across this verse twice. Don’t you love how God speaks to us—He always confirms His word too.
2 Spirit-filled Bible study notes