In Heaven

Thinking about Heaven quite a bit lately.

I do not pretend to know what heaven is like...other than what it says in scripture;

which was a series I did last February (and here I am again almost the same time of year thinking on Heaven)

The Kingdom of Heaven

The Kingdom of Heaven #2

Jesus's Own Words/The Kingdom of Heaven #3

The Kingdom of Heaven #4 Final

There is a lot in scripture to help us understand a bit about Heaven, but then we still can not "really know" what it will be like when we are there. My series was to help us realize that we know enough.  We KNOW we will be with Jesus!  Do we need to know more than that?

The thought that occurred to me the other day while I was praying and thinking of those who have gone on to Heaven, was just a glimpse of what it may be like from our viewpoint.

We will be seeing through Jesus eyes...with his heart.  As much as we strive for that here on earth, it will be complete there.

📖 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12

Everything...everyone...we see or interact with here on earth is seen through our human eyes, and heart.

Even as we work each day to be more like Jesus and love everyone as He does.....we still are in our fleshly bodies, with our history and experiences. 

BUT in Heaven, in the presence of the Father and the Son .

every thing we encounter in Heaven, whether we recognize people, or know who they are;

we will be  "seeing" without bias or prejudice, without history, without hurt or pain.

CAN YOU IMAGINE!?!  Experiencing a situation, interacting with someone without any of that!

THAT IS HEAVEN!

and though it is difficult, that is what we should strive for every day.  

📖 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:19-25

To allow Christ in us to be bigger than all that in us.

📖 "He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30

We may not attain heaven here on earth, but we can try each day.

🎵 Less Like Me 🎵

🙏 I pray you see more of Jesus today❤

Why Water Into Wine?

This past Sunday I listened as a pastor friend sat at the bedside of a mutual friend who was dying as she encouraged her with the story of the Wedding at Cana.

📖 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside  and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. John 2:1-11

She asked....Why might He have performed His first miracle there? At a wedding, turning water into wine?

She continued...  For joy! To teach us the importance of joy.. He wanted the guests, His friends to have joy. The celebration would have dwindled had the wine run out...and the joyfulness they were sharing together would have ended when the refreshments were gone.

As I continued to think about that story more things came to mind;

The Master of the banquet was surprised that it seemed the BEST wine was saved until last!

If it comes from Jesus it will be the best...

📖 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Sometimes in our circumstances things don't seem, aren't, the best.  But Jesus is bigger than our circumstances. 

He can turn water into wine!

Sorrow into joy

Despair into hope 

Bitterness into love

Death into resurrection 

We can work through things and move forward..but until we surrender our..."water" to Him we will just be working....once we let Him change us ...we will see then what is His best.

📖 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

He desires us to have joy, in Him.

His very first miracle was for those celebrating a joyous occasion. Creating something good...the best of it's kind, out of something colorless and tasteless.

He is the living water...be filled with Him and let Him change what is in you to joy!

🙏My prayer for you today is that you can be filled with His Living Water, with His joy, regardless of your circumstances❤

Weren't We Just Here?

 Do you sometimes feel like you are living the game Chutes and Ladders?

You climb that particular ladder only to find yourself, somehow, back where you feel you have just been??

2021 didn't seem much different from 2020,...and now here we are rolling into 2022.  Maybe some of the specifics were different but similar struggles, similar tragedy, similar loss.

Similar is the key...not exactly the same. Every circumstance we go through is a learning experience. 

📖 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm.25:5

📖 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.  Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. John 14:23-24

We learn how to cling to the Lord in our grief, we learn how to let His strength carry us. We learn just how deep our relationship with Him is, and where it might be lacking.

Hopefully. 

Hopefully we also learn to be a better friend, a better listener, a better doer, a better servant. 

📖  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

So, was I just here? Maybe similar...but I pray I am different, that I have allowed God to work in me and change what needed changing. That my heart has learned what it means to be humble, compassionate, generous, loving. 

That though the world..life.. keeps throwing things at me, God has not changed, but He changes me daily ...therefore where I am is not the same.

📖  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

🙏I pray you have allowed God to change you for His purpose in every circumstance you find yourself in❤

Happy New Ear

 New Ear...not a typo!

Listening with a "new ear"

A resolution? A reprise of an earlier blog? Something I need to work on?

ALL of the above!

📖 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20

First; listening to what God has for me. Listening to God requires time..in His word, in prayer, being still. 

📖 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

Second; listening to those around me.

Not just to their words, but to their facial expressions,  body language, their tone. Because many times people will say "I am fine." "Everything is good." But their tone, or their face says otherwise. 

📖 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Listen with compassion, not judgement

Listen with interest not apathy 

Listen with love not hate

Listen actively not passively

📖 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 

❤Dear God, please give me a new ear....one that listens and hears all You have to say so that I may listen to those You bring into my path.🙏

HAPPY NEW EAR!!👂❤