Promise for Today - Heaven's Reunion

There will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words. 

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 (MSG)

When I was young, I didn't really think about heaven that much. First, it seemed so boring—at least the way the world describes it. Second, it seemed like a long way off. And third, no one I knew was there yet. But I know a lot of people who are in heaven now, and I can't wait to get there and be with them.

In heaven, we're going to be reunited with our loved ones who love the Lord. Those who are in the family of God are all going to be there.

Who would you like to talk to first in heaven? Of course, you’re going to meet and worship the Lord first. But who are you excited to see next? Every believer throughout history will be there. Would you like to talk to Moses? You can! How about Abraham or Mary or Paul? I don’t know about you, but I definitely have some questions for Jonah. You’ll see famous people from throughout Christian history and scientists and world leaders and people from every tribe and nation. You're going to have all of eternity to talk with them!

The Message paraphrase says, "There will be one huge family reunion with the Master" (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Can you imagine how emotional, how joyful that's going to be? Then verse 18 says, “So reassure one another with these words.”

My mother is in heaven, my father is in heaven, my older brother, Jim, is in heaven, and my youngest child, Matthew, is in heaven. I have many dear people who served with me in ministry in heaven. The more of my family and friends who are on that side of death, the dearer heaven becomes to me.

Are you encouraged by the thought of being in the presence of Jesus and reunited with your friends and family? When we are grieving with someone, we should share that encouragement with them. If they and their loved one know Jesus as their Savior, then death is not the end. They will see them again!

This is God’s goodness to us: there is no greater hope in life than a big family reunion for eternity!

Talk It Over

How does knowing you will see fellow members of God’s family in heaven motivate you to share the gospel?

Who in your life needs to hear about God’s offer of an eternal home in heaven? What will you do about it?

What kinds of things do you think you will want to talk about in heaven, once you’ve left the world behind?

-by Pastor Rick

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Prayer (prayer for salvation, following the 'Reunion' prayer)

Father,

         Hold close the ones we love who have gone before us. Let their laughter bloom again in the gardens of Your kingdom, where no shadow falls, and no tear is shed. Keep them in the warmth of Your presence until the day our own steps take us through the gate of pearl. Grant us patience in the waiting, faith in the unseen, and hope that does not fade with the years.
      When the trumpet of Your promise sounds, may we meet again in the embrace of forever - no more parting, no more night - only the joy of reunion in Your everlasting peace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

****************Prayer for Salvation

Will you be part of the heavenly family reunion?

The Bible says you can only get to heaven by trusting in God through his Son, Jesus Christ. You cannot earn your way into heaven: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

If you’re ready to commit your life to Jesus, pray this prayer:

“Dear God, you have promised that if I believe in your Son, Jesus Christ, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess I have sinned, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died to take away my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Promise for Today - An Eternal Perspective

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. 

Psalm 23:6 (NLT)

To God, your yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows are all connected. It’s as if he says to every Christian, “I’ve got this great life planned for you. Goodness and mercy have been with you all along—and will continue to follow you through your whole life. But that’s not all of it! I’ve got something wonderful planned at the end!”

David explains how God connects yesterday and today with tomorrow when he says, “I will live in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23:6 NLT). David is reminding believers of how it all ends: We’re going to heaven!

With God, it just keeps getting better and better.

Paul says it like this: “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands” (2 Corinthians 5:1 NLT).

How long is forever going to last? Right - Forever!

One day your body will die, but you won’t. Your body will end, but that’s not going to be the end of you. You’re going to live forever in one of two places—heaven or hell. You were made to last forever; the only question is where your forever will be.

Why are Christians confident about the future? The Bible says, “We are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. . . . Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6, 8 NLT).

You’re going to die someday. And if you’ve accepted Christ, you’re going to heaven. You’ll be released from pain, sorrow, suffering, depression, and fear. God will remove all your sorrows, “and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” (Revelation 21:4 NLT).

As a follower of Christ, you can trust this truth: The best is yet to come!

Talk It Over

What things in your life will last forever?

How does an eternal perspective change everyday aspects of life like goals, plans, schedules, and relationships?

Is your confidence in your future with God evident in the way you live your life? Why or why not?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Praying the words of Laura Bailey, Help us to live with eternity in mind. Be with us as we focus on the eternal, shifting our perspective from temporary things that distract us from living a life for Your glory alone. Forgive us when we sin against You, and be with us as we pursue holiness.

We love You, Lord; we are undeserving of Your grace and mercy but thankful that You freely grant us both. We ask that You strengthen and help us as we share the Gospel in a broken world. Guide our conversations, and direct our paths to those who need to experience the eternal hope of salvation. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - What On Earth Did You Do?

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 

Luke 16:10-11 (NLT)

If you think you’re going to be bored in heaven, think again.

You’re not going to sit around on a cloud doing nothing in heaven. God wired you and knows what you’re interested in. All your hobbies, skills, and talents come from him. He shaped you with your spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences. God didn’t make you extraordinarily unique just for Earth. He’s going to use your shape in eternity.

You will have work in heaven. But here’s the difference between work in heaven and work on earth: In heaven, you’re guaranteed to enjoy your work. You won’t experience any heartache or stress over your work. It will be meaningful, enjoyable, and fulfilling all the time. You’ll have your dream job forever!

I don’t know what your specific roles or responsibilities will be in heaven. But I do know that they will be based on how faithful you are with the roles and responsibilities God has given you on Earth.

God is watching you, and he’s testing you. Life is a temporary assignment, and God wants to see how responsible, faithful, and trustworthy you are with the responsibilities you have now.

What are you doing with what you’ve been given? If you make the most of what you’ve been given, then God is going to give you more in heaven. You’ll make it into heaven because of God’s grace, but your rewards and responsibilities once you get there will be based on how faithfully you served God on Earth.

God is watching to see how you manage your time, your relationships, your health, your opportunities, and your finances

The way you manage your money is a test of your faithfulness, and it’s going to help determine what you do in heaven. If God can’t trust you with worldly wealth—you’re always in debt, you can’t afford to tithe, and you’re not generous—then what do you think he’s going to trust you with in eternity?

God is watching how you handle your responsibilities, too—not because he wants to make you feel guilty but because he wants you to enjoy all the wonderful things heaven has to offer.

When you choose faithfulness in everything God has entrusted to you on Earth, then you will be entrusted with much more in heaven.

Talk It Over

What difference does it make when you see your work as a test of faithfulness?

What do you think God wants you to do with a job that does not feel fulfilling or meaningful?

How can you choose faithfulness in your work today?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for helping us to see that living here on Earth is not just something we have to put up with till we get to Heaven. Help us fully understand the importance of being faithful with all You have entrusted to us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Not In Heaven

Can you understand the mysteries surrounding God All-Powerful? They are higher than the heavens and deeper than the grave. So what can you do when you know so little, and these mysteries outreach the earth and the ocean? 

Job 11:7-9 Common English Version

When I was a little boy, we traveled to Disneyland for a family vacation. On the way there, my dad explained to me what it was going to be like. But no matter how he tried, there was no way for me to understand just how amazing that place was until I walked into the park for the first time. It far surpassed anything I had imagined it to be!

Heaven is a mystery that you will not fully understand until you arrive there. But the Bible does give important information about eternity, including five things that will not be in heaven.

In heaven, there will be no sickness. 

The Bible says, “This is how it will be when the dead are raised to life. When the body is buried . . . it is ugly and weak; when raised, it will be beautiful and strong” (1 Corinthians 15:42-43 GNT). There won’t be any sickness because you’re going to get a new, perfect body.

In heaven, there will be no sadness. 

God “will wipe every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4 NIV). God has kept a record of your tears and pain because he cares about you. But when you get to heaven, there will be no more broken hearts, rejection, loneliness, grief, or heartache.

In heaven, there will be no suffering. 

The Bible says, “‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat” (Revelation 7:16 NIV). Every one of your needs will be satisfied in heaven.

In heaven, there will be no sin. 

“God . . . will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault” (Jude 1:24 NLT). Jesus Christ died on the cross and paid for all your sin so that when you see him face to face, your character will be instantly changed to be like him.

In heaven, there will be no death. 

“There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” (Revelation 21:4 NLT). Heaven is glorious in many ways, but the best part is that you get to be in God’s presence—forever.

The Bible says, “We don’t know everything, and our prophecies are not complete. . . . Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don’t know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us” (1 Corinthians 13:9, 12 CEV).

One day, it’s all going to be clear. It’s all going to make sense. You’re going to be able to say, “So that’s why God allowed that in my life!” Until then, God wants you to trust him.

Talk It Over

Is it enough for you that in heaven God promises to take away all suffering, sickness, and sadness, even though you must endure those things now? Why or why not?

What are you most looking forward to about heaven?

In what ways can you become more like Christ while you are here on earth? Why is it important to do so?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

         Thank You for Your Word. Thank You that all of it is Truth and everlasting proof of Your love for us. Thank You for all the promises of Yes and Amen. Thank You for the hardships in this life that have shaped and molded us into Your desired image for us. Thank You that there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things will be gone forever! We look forward to that glorious day. Even so, Come, Lord. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - The Certainty of Forever

I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 

1 John 5:13 (NLT)

You probably have a picture that comes to mind when you think about what hell must be like. Your image likely has some red and black tones in it, a lot of fire, and maybe the devil looming over everything.

Hell is described in the Bible as a place of torment. Matthew 13:42 says it is a “blazing furnace, where the people will cry and grind their teeth with pain” (NCV). That description sounds terrible, but do you know what the worst part of hell is? Hell is total separation from God, which means hell is the exact opposite of everything God is.

The Bible says in 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (NIV). The opposite of love is fear. Living without love means you’re scared to death all the time. God is love, so there is no love in hell. God is light, so hell is complete darkness. God is good, so there is absolutely nothing good in hell. God is life, so that means hell is eternal death. God is gracious, so that means there’s no grace in hell.

Just think what eternity would be like without the joy of knowing God and being loved by him—an eternity without any joy at all.

It would be terrible—unthinkable, really. But that is the reality for anyone who does not choose to love and follow Jesus in this life. The Bible says, “If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be separated from God—lost forever!” (1 Corinthians 16:22 NCV).

If you go through your entire life saying, “I don’t want God in my life,” then that means you will also spend eternity without God. Whatever you choose on earth is your forever choice.

But there is good news! There is a way for you to be absolutely certain you’re going to heaven and not hell. The Bible tells you how to settle your destiny: “I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13 NLT).

You don’t have to guess or wonder about something that is inevitable and could happen at any moment. You can know for certain today that when you die, you will spend eternity in God’s presence. Don’t put it off any longer.  Settle your future today.

Talk It Over

Why do you think so many people put off deciding something so important when they know death could come at any moment?

What would you say to someone who thinks they have been good enough to get into heaven?

How do you live differently because you are certain about where you will spend eternity?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           Open our eyes to see Your Truth. Open our hearts to receive it. Open our minds to understand the importance of how we live to be certain of spending eternity with You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Heaven via G.P.S.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 (NIV)

Over the years, I’ve encountered people who want to deny the existence of evil. They think that people are basically good and by nature unselfish, and that they naturally put the needs of others before their own.

I always wonder if those people have ever read the news! You don’t have to look far to see that the world is filled with broken relationships, broken promises, and sin. Evil is all around you—from world politics to local conflicts, you can see hatred, bitterness, and corruption. And because sin and evil exist, hell also exists.

What was true in Noah’s day is still true today: “The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness . . . and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart” (Genesis 6:5-6 NLT).

When God looks at all the wrong, evil things that are done in the world, it breaks his heart—because he loves everyone and wants us to learn to love each other.

But God is also holy and just. He is perfect and cannot sin. So one day he will settle the score and right the wrongs: “He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with his truth” (Psalm 96:13 NLT).

Until then, God has given you free will so that you can choose to love him—and love involves a choice. That’s why this world is still broken by sin. But in heaven, there is no sin. It’s a completely perfect place.

If heaven is a perfect place, then that means only perfect people get to go there. Of course, that’s a problem—because you’re not perfect, and neither am I. No one is perfect! If you’re made to last forever and you’re not perfect, you can't go to a perfect place like heaven. So, where will you go? The Bible says hell.

But thank God! He has made a way—through Jesus Christ, his Son—for you to join him in heaven. [You need GPS - God's Perfect Son]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:16-18 NIV).

Hell is real. So is heaven. Choose Christ, and there is no condemnation. The choice is yours!

Talk It Over

Why is it important to be straightforward about the existence of hell when you talk to people about the gospel?

How would you respond to someone who asks, “Why do you believe hell exists?”

Do you think God can have love without exacting justice? Why or why not?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for making a way for us to stand before You holy and without sin, through Christ our Lord, according to Your Word. It is only in our choosing to follow Jesus and accept His atonement for us that we can make Heaven.  Give us Your strength to walk in righteous choices so that we have eternity with You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

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SPECIAL NOTE from Pastor Rick

Will you choose to spend eternity with God?
The Bible says, “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are” (Romans 3:22 NLT). If you’re ready to turn away from your sins and surrender your life to Jesus Christ, start by praying this simple prayer:

“Dear God, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is your Son. I believe that he died for my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust him as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at Rick@PastorRick.com and let me know. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.

Reminder - What's In Your Luggage

This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

Romans 13:11-14 NLT

While there are many different types of travelers, there are generally only two types of packers. Those who pack ahead of time and those last-minute packers... of which I am one.

Being a last-minute packer can be beneficial if you have back-to-back trips. You just leave some things in the suitcase and then throw in a few more depending on where you're going, and you're off on the next trip. And if you forgot something, don't worry, you can probably buy it at your next destination.

However, according to our Scripture passage today, in light of our final destination - Heaven - we need to be very intentional with what we have in our luggage. What preparation have we made for eternity? Remember, we won't be able to run out and "buy" whatever we missed. So, depending on where we want to go, we need to remove the dark deeds and immoral living. Get rid of the quarreling and jealousy so we can make room to pack the shining armor of right living. We also must clothe ourselves with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's going to need a serious amount of space. 

So, what's in your luggage? What do you need to get rid of?

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to guide us into all Truth and to help prepare us for this journey to You. Open our eyes to see what needs to be removed to make plenty of room for Your presence. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Realities

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
Colossians 3:1 NLT

In talking with most Christians, Heaven is the place to go after we die. The biggest idea of it in most minds is that their loved one who died is there and totally healed and has no more pain. And a very close second is no more tears. 

When was the last time you thought about the realities of Heaven - let alone set your sights on them? And made life changes to match the new life Christ bought for us?

I love the way this verse reads in The Message, So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.

Prayer:

Father,

           We want to see, know, and embrace life from Your perspective. Forgive us for being so earthly-minded that we're no Heavenly good. Keep us ever mindful to lift our eyes to the hills whence cometh our help. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Under Heaven

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

This is the well-known chapter that lists all the times we experience -  a time to be born, a time to die, et cetera. I can almost hear Solomon muttering, "Same old, same old. Every day, it's the same old thing."

As we read through this chapter, it seems as though Solomon's frustration with life glares back at us from the page. However, I believe it's all part of God's design to make us want HIM more. He tells us not to love the world and the things of it.

If we were totally satisfied by what we could find on planet Earth, we would never seek a relationship with the Lord, nor would we seek Heaven. We were never meant to be satisfied with only time for every purpose under heaven. Our goal is IN Heaven, not under it.

Prayer:

Father,

          According to Your Word, help us to forget everything that is past and stretch forward to what lies in front of us. Help us to fix our eyes on the goal and push on to secure the prize of Your heavenward call. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Colors of Heaven

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

Colossians 3:1-2 NLT

Have you ever given Heaven any real thought? Have you ever stopped to ponder what it will be like? Oh sure, we talk about streets of gold and gates of pearl, the 24 elders on their thrones, meeting Jesus face-to-face, and talking with our favorite persons from the Bible, but have we thought beyond those things?

It's not going to be all white dazzling lights and no color. There's going to be plenty of color! Ezekiel talks about a sapphire throne and the glory of the Lord - that the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. Revelation tells us that the foundations of the city walls are adorned with every kind of precious stone and John also said, At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it. The One seated there looked like jasper and ruby, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne. We're not going to be riding around on clouds and playing harps all day... 

We're not going to be angels. Angels are separate beings. We have a song of praise that the angels cannot sing because we have been redeemed. And I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but we're not going to have wings, either.

Are we guilty of letting Hollywood define our idea of Heaven? That cannot be good. Paul tells us to set our sights on the realities of Heaven. What are those realities? We need to search those out because we are now one day closer to our eternity than we were yesterday.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for all the incredible sights we have here on Earth. Thank You for the hope of Heaven. Help us to grasp all that awaits us in our eternity with You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Keeping the Vision

 Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed."

Habakkuk 2:2-3 NLT

She was born in San Diego on May 19, 1918. Florence May Chadwick had her first swimming competition win at the age of ten, and at the age of eleven competed in her first "challenging" competition,  a rough water swim.  She placed fourth in the event.

Chadwick's biggest contribution to swimming history occurred on August 8, 1950, when she crossed the English Channel in 13 hours and 20 minutes, breaking the then-current world record held by American swimmer Gertrude Ederle. Ms. Ederle was the first woman to successfully swim across the English Channel. 

One year later, Chadwick crossed the English Channel yet again, from England to France; this time, in 16 hours and 22 minutes, thus making her the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions, and setting a record for the England-France journey.

In 1952, Florence attempted to swim the 26 miles between Catalina Island and the California coastline. As she began, she was flanked by small boats that watched for sharks and were prepared to help her if she got hurt or grew tired. After about 15 hours, a thick fog set in. Florence began to doubt her ability, and she told her mother, who was in one of the boats, that she didn’t think she could make it. Unable to see the coastline due to the fog, she swam for another hour before asking to be pulled out. As she sat in the boat, she found out she had stopped just one mile short of her destination.

Two months later, Chadwick tried again. That time was different. The same thick fog set in, but she made it because she said she kept a mental image of the shoreline in her mind while she swam.

Sometimes, our lives can be just like that. We get in a fog, and can't see any way to get where we're supposed to be going. We lose sight of our destination. But let me remind you - our destination is Heaven. Can you see the gates of pearl? Fog or no fog, fix it firmly in your heart and mind. That's the goal. Jesus made the way.  Keep heading in the right direction. You're almost there. Don't give up! Don't stop now - we are SO close!

Prayer:

Father,
         Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, we press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Fix it in our hearts and minds, so that we are not taken off course. Help us to keep our eyes on our goal - eternity with You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Wow!

And the sound of weeping and crying will be heard in it no more. No longer will babies die when only a few days old. No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life.
Isaiah 65:19b-20a NLT

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Philippians 3:20 NLT

In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.”

Isaiah 2:2-3 NLT

My oldest brother passed away 6 weeks ago. However, I was privileged to spend the last few days of his time here on Earth in his home with him and with his immediate family. There are sweet, sweet memories to be held close, but as I was thinking about Ron today, I wanted to share a couple, and one in particular. 

It has been my experience with those I've had the privilege of being with in the days before their transition from this world to the next, that they often seem to have an eye on both places. They often 'see' or 'talk' to family or loved ones who have gone before. I can't explain that, I won't even try, but I know what I have witnessed. With Ron, he greeted Mom several times as though she had walked into the room - in the hospital, and again when he came home with hospice care... (Mom passed away 25 years ago.) He would be talking to us one minute and greeting her the next...and that was before he gave permission for pain medications. He told us he had to go. 

Two nights before he died, he woke up from a sound sleep and was looking beyond his daughter, his face animated as he exclaimed, "Wow! Wow! Do you see that? It's so beautiful! Can you see the mountain?!? Wow!! It's just so beautiful!! " The next morning, we were talking with him and he said we had to get dressed for the wedding and he was concerned that not everyone had the right clothes on to go to the wedding. I am convinced he was seeing Heaven and referring to the wedding garment of Matthew 22. Yes, I'd say 'Wow!', too!

Prayer:

Father,

         Thank You for the comfort You bring to us with the promises in Your Word. And thank You for the proof and Truth You provide of our loved ones' place in eternity. Send people to water the Word that has been spoken and planted and Father, give the increase as You have also promised. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

About Heaven

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
Colossians 3:1-2 NLT

What do you hope for? What are your dreams? On what have you set your sights? Is it the new house - the new car? The raise or a new job? Getting the kids through school? Being healthy? Retirement?

If it's true that our direction determines our destiny, where are we striving to be? Are any of your hopes, dreams or goals set primarily with the idea of moving you further along on your way to Heaven? There is a reason I ask. I had fallen into the abyss of "If I can just get through this... If I can make it to that... or till then..." I'd lost sight of our true goal, and I'm wondering if maybe you had, too.

Paul warns us in Philippians 3:19-20, that those who think only about this life here on earth are headed for destruction. And then he reminds us that we are citizens of Heaven. I had to ask myself, "Am I as homesick for Heaven as I was for Texas when I was working in another state?" I hate to admit that I'd never thought of it in that way.

For me, I need to refocus. I must stop judging people's actions and pray for their salvation. I have stopped looking at the bad that's happening in the world and set my sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ our Saviour sits in the place of honor at God's right hand.

Prayer:

Father,
            We do not want to be enemies of the Cross. Change my heart, O God, to think about the things of heaven, and not the things of earth. Forgive me for losing sight of the goal. Help me to remember that my real life is hidden with Christ in You. And when Christ is revealed to the whole world, we as Your children, will share in all His glory. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Realities

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
Colossians 3:1-2 NLT

Today, I attended the funeral of a teenaged girl who changed the lives of those around her with her incredible smile. She was a special needs child and non-verbal, but her smile spoke volumes. Tuesday evening, I will attend another funeral for one of my friends. I will miss the comfortable camaraderie and repartee of our relationship. The good news is I know where both of them will spend eternity.

Pastor Alan used our Promise for Today as the Scripture basis for today's service and I was struck by the phrase realities of heaven. Have you ever given Heaven any real thought? Have you ever stopped to ponder what it will be like? Oh sure, we talk about streets of gold and gates of pearl, the 24 elders on their thrones, and meeting Jesus face-to-face, and talking with our favorite persons from the Bible, but have we thought beyond those things? 

It's not going to be all white lights and no color. There's going to be plenty of color! Ezekiel talks about a sapphire throne and the glory of the Lord - that the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. Revelation tells us that the foundations of the city walls are adorned with every kind of precious stone and John also said, At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it. The One seated there looked like jasper and ruby, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne. We're not going to riding around on clouds and playing harps all day... We're not going to be angels. Angels are separate beings. We have a song of praise that the angels cannot sing because we have been redeemed. And I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but we're not going to have wings, either.

Are we guilty of letting Hollywood define our idea of Heaven? That cannot be good. Paul tells us to set our sights on the realities of Heaven. What are those realities? We need to search those out because we are now one day closer to our eternity than we were yesterday.

Prayer:

Father, 

           Thank You for all the incredible sights we have here on Earth. Thank You for the people You put in our lives to love us, to teach us, to be examples. Help us to learn all we can from them. Teach us to love them as You have loved us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Until Then

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
Revelation 21:4 NIV

Job 14:1 tells us, How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble! And some days, it's seems like that's all there is. Proverbs 13 acknowledges that Hope deferred makes the heart sick...

But our Promise for Today - no more death or mourning or crying or pain! Can we even imagine that?!? 

Stuart Hamblen wrote a great old hymn titled, Until Then, talking about life and the struggles we endure while on this earth. Great words of wisdom and encouragement, reminding us that "a heartache here is but a stepping stone..." and "this troubled world is not my final home."  And in the chorus, he wrote of what he would do until God called him home. 

"Until then, my heart will go on singing!
Until then, with joy I'll carry on until the day my eyes behold that City - Until the day God calls me home."

1st Thessalonians 4:16-17 NIV cheers us on toward that day with this faithful promise, For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Until then...

Prayer:

Father,
          Let us walk in the light of Your love, forgiving as You have forgiven us. Loving because You first loved us. Looking to the Christ - the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross. Help us to follow His example. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Setting My Sights

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
Colossians 3:1-2 NLT

What do you hope for? What are your dreams? On what have you set your sights? Is it the new house - the new car? The raise or a new job? Getting the kids through school? Being healthy? Retirement? 

If it's true that our direction determines our destiny, where are we striving to be? Are any of your hopes, dreams and goals set primarily with the idea of moving you further along on your way to Heaven? There is a reason I ask. I had fallen into the abyss of "If I can just get through this... If I can make it to that... or till then..." I'd lost sight of our true goal, and I'm wondering if maybe you had, too.

Paul warns us in Philippians 3:19-20, that those who think only about this life here on earth are headed for destruction. And then he reminds us that we are citizens of Heaven. I had to ask myself, "Am I as homesick for Heaven as I was for Texas when I was working in another state?" I hate to admit that I'd never thought of it in that way.

For me, I need to refocus. I must stop judging people's actions and pray for their salvation. I need to stop looking at the bad that's happening in the world and set my sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ our Saviour sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. 

Prayer:

Father,
          We do not want to be enemies of the Cross. Change my heart, O God, to think about the things of heaven, and not the things of earth. Forgive me for losing sight of the goal. Help me to remember that my real life is hidden with Christ in You. And when Christ is revealed to the whole world, we as Your children, will share in all His glory. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Keep It Moving

Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.
Philippians 3:13-14 The Message

Where are you going? I'm not asking about vacations or work trips. I want to know your destination in LIFE. Where are you headed? What's your goal? Are you in charge of your destiny? Think about it! Check your life.

Are we aiming for Heaven? Is that our goal? Are we actively taking steps and measures to get there? Is there activity that shows forward motion with Heaven as your destination? We can't move forward just for the sake of moving. Or are we just marking time - going to work, paying bills, mowing the lawn, trying to save for retirement? Are you working as diligently to get to Heaven as you are to succeed at work? Are we seeking God's "well done, good and faithful servant" above getting a raise at our job? 

The Truth is, if we have our eye on the goal, and keep pressing forward where God is beckoning us onward - to Jesus - all the rest of that stuff will be taken care of. Matthew 6:33 in the New Living reads, Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

I heard these pearls of wisdom from Alan Neel, "When we live without direction, we're living without a destiny." If we're not moving forward - toward Christ - seeking Him, serving Him, then we're living aimlessly, seeking our own satisfaction. That won't get us to Heaven. We gotta keep it moving... onward to Jesus.

Prayer:

Father,
          Forgive us for mindless living. Clear our vision to see our way to You. Renew the passion within us to keep moving toward You and to make intentional choices to keep us on our course. We want to finish well and hear You say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

No Debate

And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 9:6b-7 NKJV

If you turn on a radio, TV or computer, you know there is an overwhelming amount of debate over the current circumstances. I'm not seeing much reconciliation or attempts to go to someone in love to discuss differences. Here's what I DO know. I don't like what's happening in this country. I haven't for a long while. However, I am not going to be caught up in all the angst. I am a sojourner here. 

That's not to say that I don't love this country or that I won't pray for the world. According to 2nd Chronicles 7:14, if we want our land to be healed, we must do much more than pray. But our comfort should be that this world is not our home. Philippians 3:20 NLT ...we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

Luke 12: 22-26 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

For those of us who follow Christ - no matter where you live right now - here's the Good News that's not open for debate. It is simply the Truth. This world is not our final home. And there is NO corruption in Heaven because there is NO corruption in the Lord our God and King.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for being the Lifter of our heads - for lifting us above the circumstances of life. Thank You for the measure of faith You have given us to be able to believe in You and trust Your Word. You are God and we surrender to Your will. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Having It Your Way

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.  On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’  But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

Matthew 7:21-23 NLT

A fast food chain has built a thriving business on the motto, "Have It Your Way". In today's world, we want everything about life to go our way, too. 

For a lunch - that's good! For a lifestyle lived before God, not...

Too often, the story goes something like this. Someone makes the choice they want to eat at the marriage supper of the Lamb of God and so they walk down the aisle and read the Lamb's words written in red. Then they start to make their choices. Oh, blessings - yeah, I like blessings! Blessings are good, I want some of those. Total Obedience? No, I don't think so... can I just have a little of that on the side, please? Just enough to say I had some.  Health? Oh absolutely, I want good health and lots of it... Self-discipline? No, leave that off, okay? I don't wanna have to mess with that. Love? Of course, pour it on!! Can't ever have too much love. What? I have to give more to get more? No, never mind then. I don't want to pay the price for that...

You get the picture. Our walk with God is not picking and choosing what WE want or don't want to do. We want Heaven. Jesus said, Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.  It's your choice.

Prayer:

Father,

         You set before us life and death, blessing and cursing, heaven or hell. We choose life. We choose to actually do Your will, acknowledging it is only by Your grace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Gaining Entry

Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

Matthew 3:13-17 NLT

One of the tasks at my day job is to make sure my people know about and meet a contract’s required certifications to do the work for a client. There are safety trainings and certifications, as well as various mandatory drug and alcohol tests, and each has to be renewed annually. Once approved, they are also subject to random drug tests to prove that they are still in compliance with the requirements for entry to the facility.  

There is usually a grace period, but once that's over, there are no excuses, no exceptions. The contract is there - it's specific about the requirements. It doesn't matter how much you think you know about it - or what you learned years ago. Have you done what is asked of you? If you want in, do what's required of you. When you do, then you get the stamp of approval that allows you into the facility. They'll wave you through the gate because your name is on the list.

It reminds me a little of the requirements to gain access to heaven. It doesn't matter if you're a "good guy." It's not about what you know or how long you've known it. The only way to gain entry is through the Blood of Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus tells us that no one gets to the Father, except through Him [Jesus]. It's about training - aligning ourselves with the Word. It's about keeping the training current. 

Luke 9:23 NKJV tells us, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 

1st John 2:23b-25, ...But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.

In other words, when you do, you get the Father's approval. Is your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life?

Prayer:

Father,

          Please notify us of the changes to be made in our lives, so that we fully comply with Your requirement of us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen