Awakening: The Deep Sleep (The Deep Sleep Trilogy Book 1) Read online

  With a thud, she landed on the ground. Turning to see what had tripped her, what she saw puzzled her. It was a rock!

  Completely surprised and bewildered, she looked all around it to see if someone had hidden behind it, but there was no one there … there was no one anywhere. Beloved stood alone in the field staring at an amazingly large rock in the middle of the vast field.

  “A rock? How could a rock grab me?” Beloved wondered.

  Attempting to convince herself she had, in fact, only tripped, she sat in the middle of the large, open field and stared at the rock. In her bemusement, she pulled up some stalks of wheat and threw them toward the rock. Suddenly, she felt an outburst of laughter flood the atmosphere around her.

  “Who’s there?” she demanded, nearly coaxed into laughter herself, much to her own surprise.

  Still and quiet, waiting to hear if someone were near her, she again heard nothing. She looked back at the rock and puzzled over it. Tilting her head to one side, she studied it curiously, noticing that she felt strangely drawn to it.

  Beloved sat for a moment, then cautiously reached up to touch the rock. When she did, she felt a sear of pulsating power go through her hand. The current went up into her arm and flooded her heart. It was an amazingly powerful sensation that made her feel tremendously alive.

  Surprised, she pulled her hand back and sat for some while trying to comprehend what was happening. Beloved wondered if she were just imagining what she felt, and reached up to touch the rock again. Once more, she felt the strong current of power flow into her hand, down her arm and into her heart.

  All at once, she thought she recognized the source of the power she felt and whispered, “Jesus?” Yes, she was sure it was Him. In any form, she could recognize His presence. Beloved threw herself on the Rock, embracing it with all her might, and tears began to flow freely.

  “Jesus,” she cried. “Oh, how I needed You!”

  She poured out her heart for some time until she felt Him speak to her spirit.

  “Dear one,” He said, “you were running through fields of grace and I had to stop you. I didn’t want you to miss it.”

  “Miss it, Jesus? Miss what?”

  “Precious Beloved, the field of grace you’ve been running through is one of the most powerful forces in My kingdom. I couldn’t let you continue to run through it and miss the treasures it held.”

  “Treasures, Lord?”

  “My grace holds a vast wealth of treasure that cannot be rushed through. You must walk in My rest to enjoy it all – trusting Me with your burdens. As you walk through it, you enjoy Me and I you, letting grace have its complete work in you.”

  “Do you understand now?” He asked.

  “Only that I need to take it easy and not rush Your work in me. Is that it?”

  “AND that you enjoy it. It is here to be savored. I love to watch you enjoy what I made for you.”

  “But... I just left...” she tried to interrupt Him and tell Him of the burdens in her heart.

  “I know, dear one, about the burdens you carry. But know that first they were Mine and if I had not wished it, they would not be yours now. You’ve grown so much, Beloved, and I am extremely proud of you, but you have more to learn. You are strong enough now to carry the load I’ve given you, but only with My help. We’ll have fun carrying it together. It’s a work for us to share.”

  Beloved heaved a huge sigh of relief. She felt His peace flood her, enabling her heart to enjoy time spent with Him. Soaking in His peace and the release she felt, she was overwhelmed by the Lord as He captivated her heart.

  And rejoice before the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name — you...

  —Deuteronomy 16:11 NIV

  IN HER ENCOUNTER with the Lord, Beloved learned to yield to His wishes for her and to enjoy the fields of grace. She walked more slowly now and took pleasure in her journey, letting the wheat brush against her as she moved through it. Captivated by the fresh, earthy aromas of the field, she was warmed by the sun’s rays reflecting on the golden crop.

  As she enjoyed the fields, they were having their intended affect on Beloved, just as the Lord anticipated. Little by little, she was being restored by grace. The worry and fear, pain and disappointment, all her bitter feelings were being swept away with every step in God’s treasured fields of grace. Much more at ease now, her spirit seemed to feel and see with a keener sensitivity than it had in the past.

  Thinking she was alone, her thoughts flooded her mind. Suddenly she looked ahead in the fields and saw several laborers. Beloved was so excited to see laborers working in the fields of grace.

  She knew they must have been there all the while, but she could not see them. Now, with the eyes of her spirit renewed and refreshed by the grace that sustained her, she watched them intently.

  They were lucent, spirit-like people, as if they were in another dimension. As Beloved watched them openly, they did not seem to notice her at all and continued to work vigorously in the fields.

  Beloved stood marveling at their work, but noticed they were dreadfully tired, and some seemed close to exhaustion. Their fatigued demeanor seemed out of place in such a peaceful place. She felt deeply burdened as she watched them work faithfully, almost methodically, gathering the harvest.

  As she stared, almost mesmerized by the workers, she felt jarred by the sense of someone watching her from behind. Turning quickly to see who it was, she marveled when she saw an impressive man dressed in royal attire.

  Catching her eyes in his, he greeted her as though he knew her. “Beloved,” he said as he smiled with delight.

  “Hello, sir,” she answered, and then asked, “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m following the laborers through the fields to hunt for the treasure they’ve left behind.”

  Beloved was quiet for a while. She could not understand how he would come to work in the fields dressed like a king. Then, a sudden thought sprang to her mind, “Could he be the man I’ve heard of?” She questioned him, “Are you the treasure hunter, sir?”

  The question seemed to delight him and he laughed a cheerful, hearty laugh. As he reached down into the mud and dirt of the field, he asked, “Well, Beloved, do you think I have found treasure?”

  He was holding a woman’s arm and gently pulled her closer to stand near him. Beloved was truly puzzled because she had not seen the woman at all, though she’d passed right by where the woman lay.

  Earnestly, he continued with his questioning and asked her again, “Is she treasure, Beloved?”

  Beloved was simply shocked by what she saw and stood almost paralyzed. She realized she knew the woman, who was a prostitute who lived in Beloved’s hometown. Beloved remembered her to be a forgotten person whose life was riddled with a heavy burden of shame, never experiencing even the simplest of joys that most people take for granted. She was someone Beloved had prayed for but out of fear had not actually talked to.

  Without waiting for Beloved’s answer, he asked her another question. “What about this one, Beloved. Is he treasure?”

  She suddenly saw a man standing at his side just as the woman had – she knew him, as well. He was a man she’d met when traveling with friends. They had picked him up and given him a ride. She remembered him to be extremely careworn and burdened by life. Beloved had tried to witness to him and wanted to lead him to the Lord, but felt she had failed him.

  “Yes!” she cried out in surprise.

  When she had last seen him, she had been very young and was neither bold nor strong. She had missed him in the field as well, but the treasure hunter found him.

  Beloved was all at once flooded with feelings of shock and relief, but the treasure hunter wasn’t done yet. “Watch, Beloved,” he said.

  Then he drew both the man and the woman into himself, holding each of them close in his arms. Pulling them into himself, he buried their heads in his chest. He held them there for some time and then released them to reveal them to her.
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  They were beautiful! He had restored them! The woman was very pretty and the man was full of life. The cares of their past lives had been lifted and grace and love were set in place.

  She looked at the treasure hunter again with fresh eyes and suddenly realized who he was. “Jesus!” she exclaimed.

  He had promised to journey with her, and had followed the burdens of her heart, searching to relieve them. He had made even the smallest gesture she’d attempted, a prayer or small offering, seem like a great work with enormous results.

  “Beloved,” He said as He reached out and grabbed her hand, “I have one more thing for you...”

  Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself.

  —Revelation 19:7 NLT

  AS THE TREASURE HUNTER held her hand, a vision unfolded before her eyes…

  She saw an elaborately adorned room in an extremely luxurious eastern-styled palace. Ornate carpets covered the floors, lovely ornamental tapestries hung on the walls and large, embroidered satin pillows covered the carpet around a magnificent golden table, richly laden with wonderfully bountiful foods of all varieties.

  At one end of the table, she saw a man and a woman dressed to equal the splendor of the palace. The gentleman, as rich in his spirit as he was in his attire, was sitting on the pillows awaiting a great feast.

  At first, Beloved thought the man was very pleased as he sat awaiting the banquet. But then she saw that, although he was delighted in the feast, the occasion and his apparent opulence, something seemed to trouble him.

  His attention was not on the banquet or the room. His full concentration was entirely engaged in the very beautiful woman who seemed to be asleep by his side.

  Lying on a sea of pillows near her cherished mate, she was breathtaking in her loveliness. Dressed like a queen in richly adorned frocks, she supported a heavy, golden crown atop her splendid auburn hair. Her bridegroom tried desperately to awaken her, but she remained asleep.

  The brilliant pair were meant to celebrate their wedding day with a glorious feast, and he anticipated her awakening. He had long dreamt of sharing this day with her and shook her gently to arouse her from her sleep.

  He surveyed the table intently, checking to see that every detail was secured to her liking. Each time he did, it heightened his anticipated joy in her enjoyment of the luxurious banquet they were to share.

  The man leaned down and gazed at his beautiful bride. He rested his head on a pillow near her face and smiled. Drinking in her beauty, he tried again to awaken her, but she remained asleep, unable to shake off her slumber.

  He decided to gather her in his arms and, holding her against his side, he held her up in an attempt to reveal the glorious wedding feast to her, hoping to dispel her repose. He waved his hand out over the table set before them and whispered, “Darling, our table is ready. All of this is for you, dearest. Please awaken, my love.”

  His cherished bride tried so hard to stir herself awake but, although she would open her eyes for a short time, her sleep remained. She was soon fast asleep reclining again on the pillows as she had before.

  Disappointed, but unrelenting, her bridegroom continued to try to revive her to show her the wedding feast in her honor…

  Deeply moved by the vision she had seen and with her hand still held in His, Beloved looked up into Jesus’ eyes and, muffling an empathetic cry, she asked Him, “She is Your sleeping bride, isn’t she?”

  Reassuring her with His gentle smile, He answered. “Yes, Beloved, she is My bride.” He continued, “We are waiting for you. Take care and finish your journey.”

  Matching His assuring smile with her own, Beloved turned back to the fields and continued on, but with renewed and even greater purpose.

  He had filled her with such fervency and tenacity, it increased her strength … she felt stronger than she had ever felt before. The longer she journeyed, the more she could sense His life flowing through her. She was beginning to realize who she was and her destiny in Him.

  Beloved was determined she would not fail Him.

  The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.

  —Luke 10:2 NLT

  AS BELOVED CONTINUED her journey through the fields of grace, the landscape gradually transformed from fields of wheat to rock-hewn hills and sand, framing a breathtakingly beautiful sea. By evening, she saw in the distance the shadow of a great mountain and was captivated by the reflections of the moonlight on the water, joined together as though they were created for each other.

  Nearing the mountain, she saw the moonlight reflecting off a tall and slender human figure moving back and forth at the base of the mountain. She could see, as she came near, that the figure was indeed a very tall woman who seemed to be lit up from within.

  The woman was riddled with anxious excitement and paced back and forth with great haste. Even though she was quite old, she was marvelously beautiful, as though her beauty was captured in time. She wore her splendidly gleaming silver hair loosely curled and flowing down her back.

  She was attired in an equally beautiful gown made of ornate, thick velvet. Quite heavy and dark, her gown was embroidered with an elegant, golden-embossed pattern, laden with crystals and decorated with amber and jasper.

  While eagerly pacing between the sands of the great sea and the base of the mountain, as if excitedly waiting for someone, she finally caught sight of Beloved and ran to meet her.

  Even though they had never met, she spoke as if she knew Beloved quite well. “Beloved, where have you been? I’ve been waiting such a long time for you to get here,” she scolded.

  She snatched Beloved by the hand and pulled her toward the mountain with great eagerness, but when she felt Beloved’s resistance, she paused.

  Suddenly, as if realizing her error, she spoke to Beloved with guarded patience, “Oh, I’m sorry, dear. We honestly have very little time. We must hurry. Everyone is waiting for you.” Excitedly, she added, “The Shepherd will be coming soon!”

  Time, as she was called, was excitedly waiting for a special assemblage of the prophetic host who were gathering there.

  Returning her excitement, Beloved suddenly realized who the lady was. “You are Time!” she exclaimed.

  With the sudden revelation of who this beautiful, benevolent creature was, everything began to fall into place. The woman had been pacing back and forth on the sands of time before a small, modest opening to a very large cave nestled in the glorious mountain before her.

  “Why, yes, dear. Of course I am, but you are very late and we must hurry,” she answered Beloved as she hurried her along.

  Realizing she had been led to the very mountain where the much desired host were meeting, Beloved was beside herself with relief.

  THE INNER ROOM

  Time slipped her arm into Beloved’s and quickly ushered her into the narrow entrance of the cave. As she squeezed through the crevice, it opened up to a beautiful, almost ballroom-like cavern with large artistic stalactites hanging from the ceiling like splendid icicle chandeliers.

  Amazed at the rustic majesty of the cavern, yet still somewhat bewildered, Beloved wondered, “Why is it we are in such a hurry?”

  Hearing her thoughts, Time stopped in her tracks and cried, “Why! How can you ask why? Did you not come through the fields of grace and see the workers there? They are almost out of time – they are exhausted, poor dears. And you ask me why we must hurry?”

  Beloved still felt unsure of her purpose there. But Time spoke to her as if she should already know all of what was to occur in their future and why she had been compelled to come to the mountain.

  Time’s rebuke made her feel chastised, yet she knew it was right. For she had seen the dilemma of the workers in the fields of grace – there were just too few workers, and those who were there were worn out from their heavy workl
oad.

  Time ushered her along toward the back of the cave and walked some distance through a long, rough corridor. At last they had finally reached a room nestled deep into the recesses of the great mountain.

  They approached a door set into the rock of the cave. It seemed out of place, but Time opened it confidently and ushered Beloved inside.

  Unlike the previous caves they had walked through, the inner room was warm and filled with a tangible, glowing amber light. It gave Beloved the feeling of coming home to her well-loved Grandmother’s little home.

  The room held what seemed to be an intimate group of people sitting patiently while their quiet conversations filled the room with anticipation.

  As Beloved entered the room with Time, everyone turned to welcome her and smiled as she entered. Without even letting go of the door, Time turned and addressed the gathering, “There now, she is finally here.”

  Motioning to the room, she countered Beloved’s curious look, “Ah, yes, dear. They will fill you in.”

  Giving Beloved one last hurried prodding, she turned to leave. “I must continue my watch. There are more to come!”

  With that, she was gone and the door closed after her.

  “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

  —Mark 1:15 NLT

  THE WELCOMING ROOM was filled with women and men of all races and nationalities, both old and young alike, all of whom possessed the same warm, welcoming quality that filled the room. They had been expecting Beloved and stared at her with curious delight.

  Beloved stood timidly as she sheepishly glanced around the room. Even though she felt she recognized some of the people in the room, she knew she had never met them. Nonetheless, she was taken aback when she realized they all seemed to know her and had been anticipating her arrival.

  The room was very bright, considering it was inside a mountain. It was filled with a warmth that seemed to penetrate her nerves and quiet her spirit. Beloved fell into an easy repose and knelt comfortably on the floor with the others.