Shake, Rattle, and....(What the heck was that!?!?!)

455 am. I was having a cool dream too. I thought it was part of my dream, but when I awoke I realized I was living it, not dreaming it. It was an earthquake. My house was shaking like something fierce. I initially thought it was one of two things: a missile or bomb that hit really close, like in my neighborhood (which isn't much of a stretch), or a bulldozer going through my yard. It ended up being neither, just an earthquake. I have never experienced an earthquake before so this was a first. Needless to say, I didn't fall back asleep on this night.

The rest of the early morning I spent praying for the people who may have been affected by the jolt, since most people have mud houses out here and roofs collapsing are a possibility, and I also spent time praising God. When you experience a partial or a full blown natural disaster you get perspective on the mightiness of God real quick. So, I really spent time praising God for His glory, power, and might.

This is bad theology, at least I think it is...but, nevertheless, as I sat in my bed experiencing my first ever earthquake a thought came across my mind....

Is God trying to get our attention; is He trying to say something?

90%

Back in the U.S. I never got sick. My mother always said to me, “You are the healthiest person I know Grant!!” Yes, by the grace of God I had great health. He’s blessed me so much in this regard. I mean I hadn’t puked for at least 10 years, literally! However, ever since I arrived here I have been almost perpetually sick. If it isn’t one thing, it’s another here. The last bout was with food poisoning. It was nasty. I was up all night, my body was in chaos. I ached all over, you know, when you hurt so much that you can’t sit still…It was terrible.

I attribute this directly to the Enemy and to spiritual warfare. For instance, as most of you know, I tore the ligaments in my ankle, playing in my last basketball game, in the last 10 minutes of the game, a month before I was to head overseas. When I crashed to the ground, immediately I thought……Satan…...and I sat bedazzled, in a heap on the court. I was on crutches wondering if I was going to make my departure date. I have now battled fevers, giardia, colds, chest complications (from the terrible air here), diarrhea, extreme fatigue, aches, pains, and now poisoning….
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Spiritual warfare. I know this is what is happening. Like an author once said, "We don't understand 90% of what is going on around us." The Enemy attacks like this here. Health issues are very common in the expat community. Satan is doing everything he can to discourage, divide, and dismiss. Luckily, God has been close…and so have loved ones…He always keeps fresh on my mind that life is a gift…always.

Vision Adjusted

Dreams and visions. I've only recently in my life have had the pleasure of having the Lord speak to me using these avenues. It is definitely how I received my revelation concerning the ladies' gym that I hope to be opening in the near future here. But, this time God used two very close friends over here to speak to me...thru THEIR dreams and visions. Both told me about their individual circumstances within a couple days of each other.

One, my best friend here, said she envisioned a learning center along with the gym for ladies here. She is a teacher and desires to teach locals English and Truth. I pictured it in my head...Hmm...It could work.

Next, a lady here came up to me and said she envisioned a center for women that would include an education center, a gym, stores, etc. Ok. Now this is two people...something is going on here.

As most of you know, I have now started moving fully forward in my business plan. I needed clarity from the Lord about what He was saying to me, and to others. I prayed. I asked Him to invade my space. To give me clarity..after all, I needed to get moving on this. As His custom lately with me, He didn't wait long. That very night I had a dream, but I didn't recall much of it when I awoke, just that I received revelation. You know that feeling, right? When you wake up and say: I need to remember what I was just dreaming. I arose and spent the next 30 minutes praying to remember my dream. He answered, again, right away. He gave me one snapshot of the dream, one image.

A gym. But not an ordinary gym. It was a center! It was big! It had lots going on in it..not just fitness exercises. There were definitely other projects happening for women there. Thank you Lord.

Clarity. A change in vision now........
A center, more than just a gym, for the women of this country. I will keep you posted.