The Extravagant Love of God

This summer when I was in Germany I had a dream one of the first nights I was there. I don’t dream very often, so when I do I pay attention. In my dream Papa God was running towards me with His arms outstretched to greet me. He wore a long coat of many colors, like Joseph, with a rainbow of colors, glistening and gorgeous. As He wrapped His arms around me, the long, colorful robe came onto me. I admired the length of it on myself and smiled at Papa—still wearing the robe Himself. Then He lovingly placed some leather sandals on my feet, a thick wreath of colorful flowers on my head, and a red ribbon sash over one shoulder, like I had won a beauty pageant. He took an opal ring off His finger and put it on mine, with the biggest, most beautiful opal, full of fire and sparkle. I felt overcome by Papa’s love for me to give me such gifts. He kissed me on the head and said, “My child, I will give you everything you need, when you need it.”

Papa God placed a colorful wreath of flowers on my head.

When I awoke I still felt God’s loving presence, sweet and thick around me. I quickly wrote down every detail of the dream and thought about the verse, “God gives to His beloved in sleep.” On the flight to Germany I had read “Dream Language” a book by James Goll  about how God gives His people revelation and encounters with Him, even in our sleep, and we should be ready and even expecting to receive—and ready to write them down so we don’t forget them. In his book he cites the many stories in the Bible of God giving revelations to people in their dreams. After I wrote down my dream, I prayed and asked Papa to give me the full meaning of it.

A few days later, on August 31, 2012, I was privileged to attend a Global Legacy Conference put on by Bethel Church of Redding, California and hosted in Germany by the Duisburg Church of Christ (or as they say in Germany: Cristus-Gemeinde Duisburg) and translated by Pastor Martin Spreer. The speaker was Paul Manwaring from Bethel. I bought Paul’s newest book (It is excellent!) “What on Earth is Glory?” and asked him to sign it inside. As I greeted him I said, “I’m from Washington State—here in Germany for two weeks.” He laughed and said, “Wow! You traveled a long way to come and hear me speak!” Hahaha!

Paul spoke on the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. He said this is one of the most important texts of the whole Bible and the story should be renamed, “The Extravagant Father.” I did not put it together until he said it—this is my dream! I was like the son returning home AND the older son too. These verses have become the some of the most precious Bible verses to me because I came to realize My Papa loves me like that—with an extravagant love! Tears dropped on the pages of my Amplified Bible as the verses spoke straight to me.

Papa says…

“You are always with Me and all that is Mine is yours. You are My heir, My darling child. I have given you My robe of righteousness and you are perfectly sinless to Me and oh SO beautiful! I give you freedom from the law of sin and death to enjoy My love and abundant life now and forever. It is time to make merry, play music, dance, revel and be happy and rejoice in all I give to you! I love you dearly, My child.”