Lord, I Love You/Face To Face

For 10 years after the vision, now and then Jesus would appear in my dreams. What follows describes two of my favorites.

Lord, I Love You

For months after my release from the hospital, I would ponder those incredible moments with God. Just when I was thinking He had abandoned me, He revealed Himself in ways beyond my ability to define, awakening the love I had for Him those years ago when life was easy. It made me regret the fact that I didn't tell Him I loved Him that morning when I had the chance.

Then one night, a little over a year later, I dreamt that I was kneeling at the feet of Jesus. I saw the scar on His foot and, ever so slowly, rose before Him keeping my head down. I gradually looked up, unsure whether I should look upon His holiness, and when I saw His face, I mouthed the words, "I love You." Immediately, He did the same. I saw His lips say to me, "I love you."

We stayed there together for a short while, neither one of us saying anything else. Finally, I motioned to Him and said in thought, "Well, back to the old grind." I laid back down, as though paralyzed, and woke up.

Don't misinterpret my love for God in Christ. It is a Fatherly love. But how could I love a Father Who allows such suffering? He answers me: "But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'" (Rom. 9:20 NIV)

Everybody loves something. Loving God and His Word are the only things that give me peace of mind. And just think of the possibilities if the Bible is true... I don't believe I'm special because Jesus appears to me. He is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34) He loves us all the same.

Face To Face

One Sunday morning in my sleep, I heard and felt a thunder-like sound in my head. It wasn't really painful but it sure got my attention. Suddenly, every paralyzed nerve went warm as though I'd been smothered with a big fat blanket. I kept my eyes closed in a sort of half sleep and as I suspected and hoped, the face of Jesus appeared in my mind. He had no expression but then I said, "I love you." His face was then filled with a pleasant smile. I woke up with the electric feeling of God's presence still warming every paralyzed nerve.

I went to church and was barely able to contain myself but I didn't tell anyone. It just didn't seem right. I never want to take the focus of the service from Christ. It was communion Sunday so I took the bread and fruit of the vine and my wheels never touched the ground all day. (Portrait by Ron Marsh)

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Eph. 3:14-21 NIV)

" For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 8:38-39 NIV)

HOME - A REASON TO LIVE

"LORD, I LOVE YOU"
by Jeff Leslie