Last night I saw some friends I had not seen in months, it was so good to see them. I enjoyed seeing what God has done in lives, I loved hearing them sing, it just made my heart smile to get to spend that time with them.
I was thinking, if we get so much joy out of seeing a friend or family member we haven't seen in week or months, what will it be like when we get to heaven and see all the loved ones we are missing so much here? Can you even imagine the joy that will thrill your heart when you see that parent, grandparent or child that made it to heaven first? The overwhelming presence of love that will consume you will be amazing.
Surrounded by the mansions, the street of gold, the walls of jasper, the sights will bombard our senses, I don't think we could handle them if were not for our glorified bodies. Sensory overload will be an understatement, the tree of life, the crystal river, all of them are things I long to see.
But as blessed as we may feel to have that heavenly reunion, as awed as we may be by the sights that surround us, the most captivating factor in reaching heaven will be the pure unworthiness of being in the presence of the almighty God and to see the face of my precious Savior. Gordon Jensen wrote a song years ago that expresses a little of what I believe we will feel. "Jesus Will Be What Makes It Heaven For Me", so clearly tells that all the sights and people are not what our soul longs for most.
As I shared hugs last night with several friends, my thoughts turned to how a hug can lift our spirits, it can take away the loneliness and replace it with comfort. Sometimes the Holy Spirit gives us little tugs or comfort that can simulate that in our lives. Now I know that in heaven there will be no loneliness, sorrow or depression so the need for that type of comfort will be gone. But I believe the need for that closeness to the Savior will be magnified there.
I don't know how we will spend our days in heaven, some have painted verbal pictures over the years. Dangling your feet in the crystal river, touring the city to meet those that have led the way for us to be there, a large reunion with those that we love are all things I hope to do.
But the first thing I want to do is sit at Jesus feet, just absorb His love and holiness. It doesn't matter what He is saying, I want to be listening. It doesn't matter if He isn't talking, just being close to Him able to worship Him in ways that down you just aren't possible, that is what my heavenly picture would be.
We often think longingly of heaven, this world is getting more and more wicked and we just want to be gone at times. Even so come quickly Lord Jesus, is our plea. But do we think about that that plea really means? It means that so many will not be leaving here going to heaven. Some of those are people we love. We pray for Jesus quick return because it is an answer out of this world that is not our home. But do we also feel the urgency to win the lost that we should before He comes back?
Do we daily share the wondrous gift that God has given us with those we meet? Do we look for ways to minister to others? Are we searching for those that need to not just hear but see the love of Jesus? Or are we so busy with the cares of this life that we just long for home?
There is nothing wrong with longing for home. There is nothing wrong with being tired of the way this world is going. But as we wait on that call from the Father, it is our job but also our honor to share what God has done in our lives. While our eyes watch the Eastern sky for the Lord to step out on the cloud, we must focus on what our tasks are until that time comes. We are to share the Gospel, we are to love each other, we are to continue reaching out to bring others with us.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Are you ready?
Acts 2:2 "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting."
Last night I was in pain, my back hurt, I wasn't able to attend church at my church. I missed it, Wednesday night services are good, they allow you to hear and pray for requests and enjoy sweet fellowship. As I was laying in bed, I decided to watch the Periscope service from Restoring Hope. During the music there were some connection issues and also some folks who joined in that tried to get the conversation away from God and His awesomeness.
Once Aaron started to preach I understood why the devil tried so hard to interfere. Aaron preached about the Power and he preached with POWER! The devil can't stand the power of Jesus! When the Holy Ghost is moving the devil is ducking and weaving, he can't get a firm footing.
There was so much to feed us in that message but a word that Aaron focused on a bit was suddenly. I found myself using my concordance to see where else the word as found. There were many references but here are a few that spoke to me in addition to Acts 2:2. Just before we see the suddenly in Acts 2, the church- the body of believers, were all in one accord. They were in agreement, they were looking for something from God. They were seeking and they found God's power.
Acts 9:3 "And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven;. " Here God moved suddenly to get Saul/Paul's attention. Saul/Paul had seen the testimonies of the early Christians but he was stubborn, he believed that the religious leaders were right so the Christians must be wrong. He pursued them, the killed them. Then God suddenly put His light on Saul/Paul and caused him to see his own unrighteousness and the Righteousness of Jesus! Paul felt the power of God, the Holy Light of God blinded him. God had to blind him to get his attention. But when God's suddenly happened there was power! God was seeking and He showed His power!
Acts 16:26 "And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. " Paul, the person who had imprisoned and killed Christians, and Silas were in jail. You know that Paul had to think about that as he sat there. But at midnight Paul & Silas began to sing praises to God. Can you imagine being in one of the other cells? You usually hear moaning, cursing, pleading from the other cells but they began to hear songs. Not just any songs but songs that praised God! And suddenly God shook the foundations of the building. They were waiting and praising and God manifested His power!
In Mark 13:36 we see another suddenly, "Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping." Here we see that Jesus is coming back, we don't know when, no one does. Anyone that claims to know, the Bible says they are a liar because no man, not the angels or even the Jesus, no one knows but the Father. But we know He IS coming and it will be suddenly!
We are to watch, we are to pray, we are to be about our Father's business. We are to be sharing the gospel, preaching the Word, loving people to Jesus because when this suddenly happens grace is gone. Eternity will begin, there will be no more repentance. We must be ready when He comes. It could be today. Is so, are you ready? Is your family ready? Are the others you love ready?
Last night I was in pain, my back hurt, I wasn't able to attend church at my church. I missed it, Wednesday night services are good, they allow you to hear and pray for requests and enjoy sweet fellowship. As I was laying in bed, I decided to watch the Periscope service from Restoring Hope. During the music there were some connection issues and also some folks who joined in that tried to get the conversation away from God and His awesomeness.
Once Aaron started to preach I understood why the devil tried so hard to interfere. Aaron preached about the Power and he preached with POWER! The devil can't stand the power of Jesus! When the Holy Ghost is moving the devil is ducking and weaving, he can't get a firm footing.
There was so much to feed us in that message but a word that Aaron focused on a bit was suddenly. I found myself using my concordance to see where else the word as found. There were many references but here are a few that spoke to me in addition to Acts 2:2. Just before we see the suddenly in Acts 2, the church- the body of believers, were all in one accord. They were in agreement, they were looking for something from God. They were seeking and they found God's power.
Acts 9:3 "And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven;. " Here God moved suddenly to get Saul/Paul's attention. Saul/Paul had seen the testimonies of the early Christians but he was stubborn, he believed that the religious leaders were right so the Christians must be wrong. He pursued them, the killed them. Then God suddenly put His light on Saul/Paul and caused him to see his own unrighteousness and the Righteousness of Jesus! Paul felt the power of God, the Holy Light of God blinded him. God had to blind him to get his attention. But when God's suddenly happened there was power! God was seeking and He showed His power!
Acts 16:26 "And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. " Paul, the person who had imprisoned and killed Christians, and Silas were in jail. You know that Paul had to think about that as he sat there. But at midnight Paul & Silas began to sing praises to God. Can you imagine being in one of the other cells? You usually hear moaning, cursing, pleading from the other cells but they began to hear songs. Not just any songs but songs that praised God! And suddenly God shook the foundations of the building. They were waiting and praising and God manifested His power!
In Mark 13:36 we see another suddenly, "Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping." Here we see that Jesus is coming back, we don't know when, no one does. Anyone that claims to know, the Bible says they are a liar because no man, not the angels or even the Jesus, no one knows but the Father. But we know He IS coming and it will be suddenly!
We are to watch, we are to pray, we are to be about our Father's business. We are to be sharing the gospel, preaching the Word, loving people to Jesus because when this suddenly happens grace is gone. Eternity will begin, there will be no more repentance. We must be ready when He comes. It could be today. Is so, are you ready? Is your family ready? Are the others you love ready?
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
What did Ruth see?
Two young widows are faced with a choice, stay with their families, with what is familiar or go with their mother-in-law to a strange country. Now life had dealt them a hard hand. Naomi, her husband and 2 sons had moved to Moab. First, Elimelech, Naomi's husband died.. It was just Naomi and her sons.
Then her sons meet and married two women from Moab, Orpah and Ruth. Things seemed well for 10 years but then both sons died. Naomi had lost her husband and both of her sons. She wanted to go home! She wanted to go back to her country. At first Orpah and Ruth said 'we are going with you'. But Orpah's resolve was not that strong. They started on their way and Naomi told them in Ruth 1:8 - Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dad, and with me. She kissed them and told them to go back.
Orpah and Ruth said in 1:10 - 'Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.' But Naomi had a strong argument for them to go back to their mother's home. They were still young, they had the chance to marry again but in her country who would they marry? Naomi loved these girls, you can see it in her heart felt plea for them to do what is best for them from a human perspective. You can see it by the way she wept as they had to make this choice. She didn't tell them to go back because she didn't want them with her, she told them to go so they could have a future. She was setting them free from the vows of family now that her sons were dead.
At this point they were all weeping, these women loved each other. They had spent 10 years as family, whatever they chose at this point they were going to be leaving some of their family behind. Either they left Naomi to travel on alone or they left the family that had given birth to them and raised them. There were no easy choices here. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law and turned to go back to her family. I'm sure that as she turned to go Orpah looked back to Naomi several times.
But Ruth clung to Naomi, and said in verse 16 "Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for wither thou goest, I will go: and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: they people shall be my people, and they God my God:' Ruth had seen something in Naomi, I'm sure that Orpah saw it too. But for Ruth what she saw was enough to convince her that she should seek the God of Naomi.
As I read this story, I'm reminded of the story of Agrippa in Acts 26, in verse 28 Agrippa said to Paul 'Almost thou persuades me to be a Christian. Agrippa was so close yet he walked away, just as Orpah did. They were within steps of receiving what God had but in that last second they chose what the world offered. They decided that the known was better than faith. They may not have realized that is what they were doing but is what they did and both their stories are told in the scripture.
But how much more blessed is the story of Ruth! She saw and believed. She stepped into the unknown because she had seen God through her mother-in-law. She had seen love, unconditional love from Naomi and that love led her to be in the lineage of our Savior.
We don't know today what God has for us to do, what His call may be or whose life our following Him may impact. But it will have an impact. We have no control over the choice they make once we have that impact, our job is to show His love. But each day our prayer should be make me a light, let my impact lead others to receive and grow.
Then her sons meet and married two women from Moab, Orpah and Ruth. Things seemed well for 10 years but then both sons died. Naomi had lost her husband and both of her sons. She wanted to go home! She wanted to go back to her country. At first Orpah and Ruth said 'we are going with you'. But Orpah's resolve was not that strong. They started on their way and Naomi told them in Ruth 1:8 - Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dad, and with me. She kissed them and told them to go back.
Orpah and Ruth said in 1:10 - 'Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.' But Naomi had a strong argument for them to go back to their mother's home. They were still young, they had the chance to marry again but in her country who would they marry? Naomi loved these girls, you can see it in her heart felt plea for them to do what is best for them from a human perspective. You can see it by the way she wept as they had to make this choice. She didn't tell them to go back because she didn't want them with her, she told them to go so they could have a future. She was setting them free from the vows of family now that her sons were dead.
At this point they were all weeping, these women loved each other. They had spent 10 years as family, whatever they chose at this point they were going to be leaving some of their family behind. Either they left Naomi to travel on alone or they left the family that had given birth to them and raised them. There were no easy choices here. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law and turned to go back to her family. I'm sure that as she turned to go Orpah looked back to Naomi several times.
But Ruth clung to Naomi, and said in verse 16 "Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for wither thou goest, I will go: and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: they people shall be my people, and they God my God:' Ruth had seen something in Naomi, I'm sure that Orpah saw it too. But for Ruth what she saw was enough to convince her that she should seek the God of Naomi.
As I read this story, I'm reminded of the story of Agrippa in Acts 26, in verse 28 Agrippa said to Paul 'Almost thou persuades me to be a Christian. Agrippa was so close yet he walked away, just as Orpah did. They were within steps of receiving what God had but in that last second they chose what the world offered. They decided that the known was better than faith. They may not have realized that is what they were doing but is what they did and both their stories are told in the scripture.
But how much more blessed is the story of Ruth! She saw and believed. She stepped into the unknown because she had seen God through her mother-in-law. She had seen love, unconditional love from Naomi and that love led her to be in the lineage of our Savior.
We don't know today what God has for us to do, what His call may be or whose life our following Him may impact. But it will have an impact. We have no control over the choice they make once we have that impact, our job is to show His love. But each day our prayer should be make me a light, let my impact lead others to receive and grow.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
To Be My Father's Daugther
Those that know me, know that Daddy Bill (my grandfather) was my fatherly example in so many ways. He loved me. There is not a time I think about him that I do not realize that fact! He loved me! He disciplined me, he teased me, he taught me but more than anything he LOVED me! I never doubted that one day of my life. He loved my grandmother (Ma). Oh, there were times he was frustrated with her or with me but that frustration never led to actions that made me doubt how much he loved us both. He loved all of his family but I got to see the interactions with me and Ma on a daily basis.
He loved God, I remember seeing him read his Bible, I remember hearing him pray. He made sure I was able to go to church, whether I was living with him and Ma or with my parents. When they weren't in church, every service he would pull up to the door to take me to church. I am thankful for that heritage. I know so many that can't say they had a Godly example to see in the flesh.
Daddy Bill showed me one thing clearly - proud or angry, happy or sad, depressed or joyous - he showed me love. It was unconditional love. There were times I disappointed him, there were times I made him angry. Still I saw his love no matter what was going on.
So today as I think of my Heavenly Father, I have something to help me understand my Father's love. When I read Matthew 7:11 "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?", I get it. Daddy Bill was human and yet I never doubted his love, how much more can I trust in my heavenly Father's love?
Now I know many folks do not have that benchmark in their lives that they can say 'I saw love by my daddy, my mother or my grandparents'. Because there were people in my life that I should have been able to trust, that didn't show that love, I get that too. Trust is hard. It takes a leap of faith on your part. I remember jumping into Daddy Bill's arms on more than one occasion, I didn't doubt he would catch me. But I know many of my friends took those leaps toward people who turned their heads, they walked away, they just refused to catch you. I've had those people in my life too. I know how that hurt. I know how confused it makes you feel.
I wish I had the words to express how confident that you can be that our Heavenly Father will never walk away, I wish I had the ability to describe the complete confidence that you can feel in His ability to catch you no matter what the circumstance. I wish I could articulate the breadth of His love for you.
In Hebrews 13:5, He promises never to leave you, that was something even Daddy Bill couldn't promise me. He left me, he took his last breath and that day changed so many things in my life. But God will never take a last breath. He will never be on life support. On our darkest day, He can shine the light that will illuminate every part of our life. He is faithful.
I knew of God's faithfulness, I had seen it demonstrated over and over again but knowing and fully trusting it aren't the same thing. God stands with His arms open, wanting us to take that leap but often our fear holds us back. I John 4:18 tells us "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." God's love can overcome fear! God's love does overcome fear!
But that doesn't mean that satan will not try to bring the fear back, he is the master of bringing up the things that hurt us, the things that control us, the things that cause us to fear. But each time he brings up those fears, we can take it to the cross and find the perfect love that casts out all fear. I am my Heavenly Father's daughter. I am an heir. I am who He has made me to be! There is nothing that will cause Him to turn His love from me. Each day I want To Be My Father's Daughter and show His love to those around me.
He loved God, I remember seeing him read his Bible, I remember hearing him pray. He made sure I was able to go to church, whether I was living with him and Ma or with my parents. When they weren't in church, every service he would pull up to the door to take me to church. I am thankful for that heritage. I know so many that can't say they had a Godly example to see in the flesh.
Daddy Bill showed me one thing clearly - proud or angry, happy or sad, depressed or joyous - he showed me love. It was unconditional love. There were times I disappointed him, there were times I made him angry. Still I saw his love no matter what was going on.
So today as I think of my Heavenly Father, I have something to help me understand my Father's love. When I read Matthew 7:11 "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?", I get it. Daddy Bill was human and yet I never doubted his love, how much more can I trust in my heavenly Father's love?
Now I know many folks do not have that benchmark in their lives that they can say 'I saw love by my daddy, my mother or my grandparents'. Because there were people in my life that I should have been able to trust, that didn't show that love, I get that too. Trust is hard. It takes a leap of faith on your part. I remember jumping into Daddy Bill's arms on more than one occasion, I didn't doubt he would catch me. But I know many of my friends took those leaps toward people who turned their heads, they walked away, they just refused to catch you. I've had those people in my life too. I know how that hurt. I know how confused it makes you feel.
I wish I had the words to express how confident that you can be that our Heavenly Father will never walk away, I wish I had the ability to describe the complete confidence that you can feel in His ability to catch you no matter what the circumstance. I wish I could articulate the breadth of His love for you.
In Hebrews 13:5, He promises never to leave you, that was something even Daddy Bill couldn't promise me. He left me, he took his last breath and that day changed so many things in my life. But God will never take a last breath. He will never be on life support. On our darkest day, He can shine the light that will illuminate every part of our life. He is faithful.
I knew of God's faithfulness, I had seen it demonstrated over and over again but knowing and fully trusting it aren't the same thing. God stands with His arms open, wanting us to take that leap but often our fear holds us back. I John 4:18 tells us "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." God's love can overcome fear! God's love does overcome fear!
But that doesn't mean that satan will not try to bring the fear back, he is the master of bringing up the things that hurt us, the things that control us, the things that cause us to fear. But each time he brings up those fears, we can take it to the cross and find the perfect love that casts out all fear. I am my Heavenly Father's daughter. I am an heir. I am who He has made me to be! There is nothing that will cause Him to turn His love from me. Each day I want To Be My Father's Daughter and show His love to those around me.
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