Tag Archives: heaven

Lent, pt. 13

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As I mentioned yesterday, I want to share some thoughts on Mark 5.

Here are the verses:

“A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”” NIV Mark 5:24b-34

This is a somewhat familiar story. It might not rank with the feeding of the 5000 or David and Goliath, but it still has great meaning and potential for you and me.

This passage is multi-faceted so it will take a few days to get through it.

To start with, there is an overall aspect that is most important.

For the woman in the story, her goal was to get to Jesus.

Let that sink in.

Jesus was the goal.

For us, during this Lent season, Jesus should be our goal.

Whatever the pain, people, or problems that we encounter, Jesus is our aim.

As you sleep tonight, dream of that goal. That glorious goal of someday being with Jesus.

Ah, what a glorious day indeed.

See you tomorrow!

 

Is your couch comfortable?

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Last night, my wife and I purchased our first couch. Ever.

When we got married, we used her furniture because it was nicer and cleaner than the stuff I had. At some point, we inherited a couch and love seat from the in-laws. The green couch in the basement was purchased from some friends. We have never had a new couch. So, after 15 years of marriage, we decided that we were ready to get our own couch. It looks something like this:

couch

It was pretty cool because the whole order was 25% off. We are thrifty like that. So then I started thinking about a couch and why we have one. All you really do is sit down on it. Sure, there can be a nap or two but the primary reason for a couch is so a person has a place to sit. Sitting down. You know that feeling when you have a long day at work and you know that your favorite show is calling your name. After dinner and the dishes, after the kids go to sleep, after you pull weeds in the garden, after you check your email, after a quick, refreshing shower, you can finally sit down. Flick on the TV and enjoy your show while you sit on your nice comfy couch. Sounds pretty good, right?

At some point in the past, there was a famous person who sat down. The work was complete. The task finished. To-do list? Yep, checked off every box.

All that was left was to sit down. After all, isn’t that what you do when you are done working?

 

So who is this famous person? And why did they sit down? As I like do in almost every post, let’s let the bible answer these questions for us.

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” NIV

 

These verses are some of my favorite. This is how the book of Hebrews begins. When I quote scripture in my posts I will almost always use the New International Version or NIV. For those of you who are literature fans, I have included the same three verses but from the Kings James Version, KJV. I think I like it even better than the NIV.

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” KJV

 

There is a lot of theology in those words but this post is focused on just one of those words. Sat. Think about Jesus for a minute. He knows that his life is almost over. He has been hanging on that cross for hours now. The physical limits of the human body have been pushed way beyond their maximum levels.  It is my guess that the physical pain probably does not even begin to compare to the emotional and mental strain of having to take on the sins of the entire human race upon your shoulders. But Jesus knew that this was the way. And he stuck with it.

He loved us too much to call the angels for help.

He loved us too much to rip himself from that cross.

He loved us too much to call down lighting on his executioners.

He loved us too much to give in and quit early.

The text says that “after he had provided…he sat down”. God gave Jesus a job to do. Jesus completed that job and so know he gets to sit down right next to his father.

Do you think they have couches in heaven? Who knows? I wonder if they have the Ottomans that have storage as well as being a footstool?

 

Let me hit this home. So what are you and I doing about what Jesus did? Are we sitting on the couch waiting for God to miraculously move in the hearts of men and women? Do we sit around waiting for the Holy Spirit to motivate us into action?

As a follower of Christ, I must share the truth with you. I am compelled. If you have not placed your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, contact me and I will show you in the Word what needs to be done. But if you are a fellow follower, than get up and get going.

P.S. I think there are couches upon which we can sit when we get to heaven. =-)

 

 

 

 

Fireworks in heaven?

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Hi Friends,

I trust your summer is off to a smashing start. For me, I am camping again this weekend. My family of four will fit nicely into our camper. We don’t really fish or hunt. We shoot for more relaxed activities. Throwing a game of Bean Bag Toss is on the docket. Overall, pretty low-key. And then there are fireworks.

fireworks

I love fireworks. Actually, I love shooting off the fireworks. There is an adrenaline rush. The explosion. Even the smell is pleasant to me.

I wonder if there are fireworks in heaven.

When Christ returns for His church, will there be fireworks to celebrate? Or when a soul surrenders to God, do the angels light of some boomers?

For me, I think so. God is a creative God and so why not. Fireworks in heaven. Sounds cool to me.

Either way, I know I will be there someday, will you?

Swimming with Sharks and Eating Pizza at Midnight.

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I made it. I am back from my first ever cruise! Wow! It was one of the best vacations that I have ever taken! This is the route that our ship was on for the cruise.

cruise map 3

Where do I begin? Not just being optimistic here but there is nothing bad to say about the cruising experience. In fact, the only bad thing happened after we got back. We had our flight home cancelled. Obviously, we got home ( a whole day later) but that had nothing to do with the cruise. So I say to save your cash and book one today. Just be careful on which airline you want to fly. =-)

There were two highlights that I want to feature. In reality, the whole experience was a highlight though.

The food. More accurately, the access to food. It was great being able to eat, literally, anytime you like. We visited the cafe for pizza around midnight a few times. =-) I love to eat.

The sharks. I got to swim with sharks. One of the excursions took us snorkeling with nurse sharks. I guess the stingrays and sea turtles were bonus items! What a feeling to be almost weightless and have all these marvelous (yet scary) sea creatures floating all around you! Awesome!

Again, you should just book your cruise today.

So after having been back home for a few days, the question came to mind, “Are cruise ships similar to heaven?” I had no concerns. Everything I needed was available to me without having to leave the ship. There were numerous entertainment options. In fact, I did not even turn my cell phone on while we were at sea. I turned it off in Galveston before departing and it didn’t get turned on again until back in port.

If it is okay, I will answer my own question. Yes, cruise ships are similar but not the same as heaven. I read this morning from John 6. Specifically verse 40. It reads, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

From the verse, it seems that God desires all to see Jesus and believe. If that happens, eternal life is the result. That sounds like heaven to me. Eternal life with the Creator of the Universe…yep, that is heaven. Being on a cruise ship is a small picture of what that can be like. The bible talks about no more death and suffering. No more tears. My knees won’t ache anymore. While I was on that big boat, I felt like I was in heaven but I know that it is not real heaven.

Someday, when God decides that it is the right time, I will enter the real heaven and spend eternity with Him. The best part about it is that there is no return flight (that could possibly be cancelled) because I will already be home.

I have a few more ideas that I want to share about my cruise so stay tuned. See you next week.

Hope…Heaven!

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It all starts with Jesus Christ. He is the Person of Hope that will never let us down.

There is also a Plan of Hope which is the fact the Jesus is Coming. He will come back for us!

But right now…Jesus is Constructing. He is in heaven right now, the Place of Hope!

John 14:1-6 is a passage that is filled with hope. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Next week, I am going to look at heaven more closely. For today, let’s agree that heaven is real.

heaven

This picture may or may not represent heaven but it helps us to know that God has a fantastic place in store for us.

BUT WAIT, THERE IS A CATCH…

There is sin in this world and in our hearts. 

That sin must be accounted for before a person can go to heaven.

Jesus died on the cross. That death is sufficient to pay for the sin. The penalty is paid.

Our part is simple. We must accept this gift from God by faith. See John 3:16.

Now a person can walk through this life with Jesus. 

There is now a Place of Hope.

So for this week, dwell on heaven. Think about spending eternity in heaven with your Creator. That should put a smile on your face. =-)