Happily Ever After

“In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. The trumpet will sound, and the dead in Christ will rise imperishable, and we will be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:52

“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body, and be at home with the Lord.“. 2 Corinthians 5:8

We are in the last days of this planet and we can see evil grow more every day and there are so many natural disasters such as earthquakes, fires and floods. Wars and unrest and extreme hatred. There is terrible pestilence such as Covid and cancer. We still need to be praying about these things but they have been forewarned. Are you doing all you can to finish your race strong? What more could you be doing to be all in? Have you asked for forgiveness for sins lately? Will you have regrets? Evil seems to be growing more each day and I am seeing things I could never imagine happening before that are becoming normal and accepted. The world could continue on for years or Jesus could return tomorrow but he will return when we least expect it. I am excited for heaven it is not called paradise for nothing. We won’t just be singing in God’s choir and playing harps all day there is so much to look forward to. I enjoy reading books about different near death experiences. Heaven sounds like a very exciting place. No more pain and no more tears. Perfect young bodies and understanding all things. It’s time to make sure you have your one way ticket ready. I know myself I have my momma and daddy anxiously waiting for my arrival. We have all lost friends and loved ones that we love and miss who will be waiting for us. When that last trumpet sounds and Jesus appears in the clouds it will be a great day because no more death. All those who have accepted Jesus and his precious gift of salvation will all get to meet him in the air. Returning to heaven with him at the same time and then spending eternity together never missing each other again. We will get to meet people like Moses and king David and getting to talk with people like Billy Graham. We will have all eternity to speak with so many different people especially Jesus himself. How could we ever get bored. But we need to be telling others that don’t know Jesus how much they are loved and what they are missing. By loving others into the kingdom so they will be coming with us. They won’t know all their missing if we don’t tell them. Knowing what awaits us in heaven makes it easier to tell others. God loves each person he made and wants to give them so much and do so much for them. He is our Father and loves us more than any natural father could because he is perfect. The more we follow his commands the more he blesses us. In heaven nobody can ever imagine all that is waiting for us. Even the little I’ve read about barely scratches the surface. God is only good and any good thing will be in heaven and we will get to spend eternity enjoying them. No evil either. We may enjoy time spent with friends and family here on Earth but not every day. Only once in a while but in heaven it will never end. There will be a huge reunion waiting for us when we arrive. The party will never end. I can just think about how I will feel sitting across from Jesus at the table in heaven. The more you think about it the more you will be ready to go. Just think about your very best vacation ever and it will be a million times better. And we’re almost there.

Good Isn’t Good Enough

“I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the father but through me.” John 14:6

There is nobody good except God. There is nothing we can ever do to make us good enough to stand before a Holy God. But his son was willing to give up everything to become a man, not just any man. He only did the work that he saw his father doing and that was a miracle considering he was tempted in every way that we are and yet he did not sin. He lived a perfect life. Without sinning. He was hated, abused, despised, and brutally murdered so that we would never have to be separated from our Heavenly Father. We can be joint heirs with him to all God has for his family. Oh, and God desires a really big family. This is why he allowed his son’s death. Oh, Satan thought he had won when he got Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus but it was the ultimate setup and Satan lost. I had a chance this week to hear Bill Weiss, an excellent speaker who went to hell for 20 minutes. What he saw would horrify anyone. You can google him I’m sure. It is well worth hearing. It is worse than you could ever imagine. The pain, the horrible smells, the isolation and darkness. Nothing good, only horror forever. He has spoken everywhere and even to atheists. One he spoke to said God won’t send me to hell because I’ve never done anything really wrong and I’m a good guy. And Bill told him a simple story. There was this guy, an average guy, but he had heard of this rich guy that had a really nice mansion on a beautiful estate. This guy longed to live there and be someone important. But do you think he could just drive up to this estate and knock on the door and they would welcome him in. No, I’m sure they would have extensive security. They didn’t know this guy. Well God wishes to make everyone members of his family and he even let his son die to see that happen. All he wants is for you to accept his son, which is the gift he has for you that is free. To have a real relationship and to ask for forgiveness for not being perfect, which nobody is, and not meeting Gods standards. Then serving him and living by the house rules, which by the way lead to the best life possible. And then when you die you get the mansion in paradise forever with all of his riches and love and then spend forever with a really big family that loves you.

How To Be Blessed

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8

Oh how powerful this simple verse is. The most important thing to God is our hearts because out of our hearts comes life or death. He knows our hearts, every crack and crevice. How we think, what we know and what we will do. He said that good and bad come from the overflow of our hearts. Every day we get more information to cram into that little heart. The secret is knowing if, one day, you want to see God? The answer will change everything you let into your mind and your heart for the rest of your life. To see God one day I will want to be pure. He knows everyone’s hearts and true motives. If you love the Lord and want to spend eternity with him, you will want to be intentional. I personally love to listen to praise music. It strengthens and lifts me up to listen to songs about my God. I don’t listen to much other music because it doesn’t do anything for my soul. I do like other music but what gives me peace and gets me closer to heaven? I don’t own a TV any more. I watch Christian movies all the time. Tv brings me down and I prefer being up. I might watch a Hallmark feel good movie occasionally but I do not miss tv. There is too much in life I don’t want to miss like friends and family. A beautiful sunrise or sunset. I’m retired so not having to work frees me up to do things I enjoy. I’m over complaining and just want to focus on living. Everyone needs to carefully examine what they allow into their lives. What I may do is not what you will do and that’s fine but guard your heart if you want peace. Throughout my day I can feel my spirit saying to do this or say that. Go here or try this. I always listen because I want the road I’m on to lead me home one day. Fifteen years ago I never thought this way but I also wasn’t a very happy person either. I just want my life to get better and I believe intentional living is the way to see that happen. I talk to God a lot. And I can feel his presence throughout the day. So I can talk to him just like I would my family throughout the day. I read the Bible and like to memorize scripture because it is kindling to keep that fire burning in my life. This little light of mine will burn brighter everyday for a lost and dying world. One day I will close my eyes for the very last time. And when I open my eyes, I will see Jesus.

Be Ready

“You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Luke 12:40

Whether you are a Christian or not we tend to assume that we have a long wait. I’m only five. I have 90 more years, right? Nobody thinks about maybe dying early. We are not promised another breath, we just expect it. Whether you die at birth or you live to be 100 we will all face the end one day. Do we need to be perfect? No, but how we live on earth will make a great difference. If you believe in Christ and have accepted him into your heart you have been forgiven for past sins. God knows you are not perfect and whether or not you want to, you will sin. When you realize you have sinned just come to God and tell him you are sorry. Clear the air and continue to seek his help. We can get very distracted in life’s concerns and problems but it is so important to your peace and full life to never stop seeking God and his advice. He is our focal point. I remember when I was pregnant going to childbirth classes. Like they could teach you to have a baby. Wasn’t that just instinct? Well when the pain consumes you, you have to focus on something so hard that it will get you through the next contraction. That is just like life, sometimes you just need to get through the next few hours. Focus on the solid foundation of Jesus. He loves you and will never leave you or forsake you. Remember how he willingly sacrificed his life so you could live a full and abundant life. To be assured of eternal life with him in heaven. We need to keep his commandments and to love others. But we can get busy with life and our needs and wants and lose our focus. If I said STOP right now, this very minute, and think about your relationship with the King of kings and Lord of lords. Are you ready for his return? Where will you spend eternity? Forever and ever. It will happen suddenly. It may take thousands of years to get here but will you grow cold waiting or anxiously be expecting him. I remember as a kid waiting for my grand parents or cousins to visit. Oh, I would get so excited and everything had to be perfect. I would keep asking, when will they be here? How much more excited should we be to see Jesus. We need to live every day just like it might be our last. Because one day it will be.

Chosen

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of the darkness and into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Before the world began God already had a perfect plan. Everyone he created was chosen for a special purpose and each person would have an effect on everyone around them. God knew in advance those that would come to work for him and his purposes. Some may have strayed at one time or another and some strayed very badly. An example of that is the apostle Paul. He was a Jew and knew the law so he thought he knew better than Jesus. But he was God’s chosen man to reach out to the Gentiles. It was God’s very chosen people, the Jews, who he brought about to make an example for us. He would bring his truth to the people through a Jew. It was through them that we first learned about Jesus. The Israelites knew the law and God although they were a mixed up and often fickle people. They followed God’s holy days and rituals. Nobody is perfect and we all mess up but you see how much God loved them and always forgave them. He made a vow which he would never break. To love them, to care for them, and to bless them. At times he had to punish them for a while. As any good parent does, but he never gave up on his children. He used everyone just as they were and showed everyone that you didn’t have to be special or good to be used for a big purpose. He made everyone strong and courageous. David killed Goliath, Elijah took on the prophets of Baal, Samson the Phillistines and Gideon did great things for God. None were special but he used them mightily. The greatest Jew was his very own son. He died for the sins of the world. Saving all who would accept his precious gift of life. The Jewish people are still quite precious to him and he is currently drawing them back to himself. It takes time to help them to see the truth but until everyone that will accept him comes, he is not in a rush. He gives us plenty of time. One day Christ will be coming back for his chosen ones. Every precious one of them and he will gather them from every corner of the earth and bring them to their eternal home in heaven with him forever. Until that day arrives there is still time. Do you wish to be chosen? There is nothing like it.

Idolatry

“You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:2

Many consider idolatry a harsh word. Oh those awful Israelites serving their false gods deserved God’s punishment. Well idolatry is just putting anything besides God first in your life. The worst form of idolatry in our day is the idolatry of self. What I want! People serve their appetite for things, pleasure, friends, family and money. Our world is going downhill so fast because nobody worries about anything but me, myself and I. It is not acceptable to serve God, read the Bible or pray. God doesn’t care. Well this life won’t last forever. We all die one day. Will what you had to have save you from your tomorrow. What comes after this life? What really matters?

“But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only few find it.” Matthew 7:14

There is a very small remnant of people that will actually make it to heaven. Out of the Billions of people on this planet. Only a few million will actually walk through those pearly gates where they one day dreamed of living. Who you serve in this life does matter. If you are serving yourself it better be pretty great to sustain you forever. This world is not always easy but keeping my eyes always on my goal will keep me moving. I can relax once I am where I am meant to be forever. Then there will be more pleasures than I can imagine and forever to enjoy them.

Evil Abounds

The world was once very good. God doesn’t make anything but perfection. He didn’t want evil for us but man thought they knew better. Satan is alive and well and everything evil comes from him and his team. They only want to kill and destroy. They will do anything to hurt God and his children. You see at one time the devil was a beautiful angel singing and praising God. But he became proud and wanted power. He thought he could be better than God, the one who created him. God cast him out of heaven and many angels went with him. When Jesus came to earth they thought, oh boy now he is on our turf. Let’s destroy him. When they persuaded the religious leaders to get rid of him, they thought they were winning. But Gods precious son did not put up a fight. He went willingly to his death. Oh he could have. He could have had thousands of angels attending his every need in a minute. But when he died on that cross Satan thought he had won. I’m sure there was a celebration in hell. But that was God’s master plan. Sin could not be dealt with in any other way. Because God is Holy, something innocent had to die. And the only one that was perfect was Jesus. This was their plan even though it would be horrible . Jesus followed that plan perfectly. Three days after he died God said, ‘Got ya!’ I now hold the keys to sin and death. Now all my children can come live with me forever. The end of this world is coming soon and a new world is coming. We don’t know when that will be but we can see the signs and it’s soon. Evil will one day be gone for good. If you are one of God’s true children that should excite you because there will be no more pain, suffering, death, crying or evil. If you aren’t well evil is all you have left.

How Much

“You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 NIV

We are so loved. How much? Well let me try to tell you. At one time the world was formless and void. All was dark and there was nothing. God wanted something very special and we were on his mind. Someone who could love him, respect him and enjoy all he is. He began by creating things we would need and want. Every detail was thought out in advance. it had to be perfect and to be able to sustain us for thousands of years. It would fulfill so many needs. He made man as much like him as he could. Able to communicate, think, reason and understand. Not just to exist, but to really live. To leave a legacy for future generations. Everything he made was special just for us. Unique and different plants and animals. Things that we could enjoy but that we could learn about and discover gradually. He walked with the man at first enjoying his companionship, and all was as it should be. No death, no evil, and no wickedness. But we were given the will and freedom to make our own choices. Something an imperfect people will screw up in time. God told man to do only one important thing , but Satan used that one simple thing to put a wedge between us and God. The tree of life. There were tons of different trees all around, yet that wasn’t enough. We always seem to want what we shouldn’t have. Might be missing something. Well from the day that sin came into the perfect garden God had to banish man from the garden. But God did not give up on us. There would be a way for us to be together again and many years later this plan was perfected. Jesus was born on earth to a poor, young couple and began to show us what love really was. He was born for one reason and that was to redeem us. Where we could be perfect once more and he could spend eternity with us. This is how much we meant to him. Though even though we were all messed up sinners his son would come to earth and live a perfect life showing us just how to be perfect and love all. But being human he would understand all we go through, yet still not sin. Then he would willingly be arrested, ridiculed, beaten and murdered for us. Dying in our place he would sacrifice himself for all mankind. What a price. But he did it gladly just imagining that day years away when so many who had accepted this priceless gift would be together with him forever. In a place that was perfect. No pain, no tears, just joy continually.

Do you understand how much he wants you?

Communion

“This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24-25 NIV

Communion is a very serious matter. Not to be taken lightly. Back when Moses helped to free the Israelites from the oppression in Egypt he went through so much to see God’s power. Ten times they we’re almost freed but Pharaoh hardened his heart and God showed his power. Finally he struck down the first born throughout Egypt. The Israelites were to put blood on their door posts so that the angel of the Lord would pass over their homes while destroying the first born in all homes. Passover was celebrated regularly afterwards and what they had come through was remembered. Jesus is the ultimate Passover lamb. A pure and spotless lamb who went to his death so we could be free. When we were dying in our sins and not very lovely he loved us and died in our place. Every time we take communion we need to remember what one innocent man did just so we could be saved from sin and death. Are we doing all we can to say thank you for this selfless gift? Are we doing all we can to let others know of this gift? To be a Christian is such an amazing gift, we are saying I want to be like Christ. Each day we should look in the mirror and see that we are becoming more like Jesus. So many think that they just need to say the sinners prayer, and their insurance policy is set in place. They no longer need to do anything. That may get you thru the gates but abundance of life will not be theirs. You will always struggle to get by, and to be blessed coming and going takes a sacrifice of our own. Doing what he has asked and living life his way will open so many more doors to abundance and fulfillment. His ways are good because he is good. He only wants what is best for us, but he won’t make us do anything. It doesn’t matter how good it is. We have to want it bad enough to do what God asks of us.

Is communion just a snack to you?

Be All You Can Be

“Do you not know that all the runners in a race run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to win the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV

“Thus, since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1 NIV

Are you living to your full potential? Very few people really give it their all. They care more about doing more than most or good enough compared to others. Many people will work hard to be successful. Have money or fame. That will surely make life good. Then they will be happy. Do you realize that we only have 70-90 years to enjoy this life and many don’t make it that long. If you are going all out to get rich, working long hours. What things will you let slip by you. We don’t live on earth all that long, but what about eternity? Where do you plan to spend eternity? That’s a very long time, forever, compared to just 70+ years. After I had my stroke I realized that I came very close to dying and I had wasted a lot of time. I was 45 but I was not the person I really wanted to be. I did have a husband of 25+ years, three wonderful children and a loving family, but was I a good person? Did my life matter? I started reading the Bible every day. I knew of God and I knew there was good advice in the Bible, but was I following it? I wanted to know more. I loved reading. So I started reading every religious thing I could get my hands on. I went to Savors and bought second hand books for near nothing and came home with bags of books. Time was all I had since I couldn’t do much. After seven years I made a vow to get to know God as much as I could by reading my Bible and praying, going to church and being as good as I could be. That’s about the time I published my first book, it was about my stroke. My life began changing for the better. God gave me two more books and I was making a difference in my life. I had a lot of good friends and I had eight grandkids. Life was good. Then I started a Bible group in my care home and a blog encouraging others on good biblical living. God has brought me so far and I have seen his glory more than I would ever have imagined. It is him and knowing him that has made me a good person. I could never have done it on my own. I read other books that got me excited about eating healthier, exercising and physically going for the best. Lately I’ve been watching more podcasts and sermons to help me grow and I still read all I can. I live deliberately moment by moment to win that prize. In heaven I want to be somebody. I want God to say, “Well done.”

Are you giving it your best?