A LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN

" No eye has seen , no ear has heard , and no mind has imagined what GOD has prepared for those who love HIM . But it was to us that GOD revealed these things by HIS SPIRIT . For HIS SPIRIT searches out everything and shows us GOD'S deep secrets. " 1CORINTHIANS 2:9-10 ........ THIS SCRIPTURE IS WONDERFUL AND HAS A PROMISE WITHIN IT FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND LOVE THE LORD . AND ALTHOUGH ITS CONTEXT ISN'T SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT HEAVEN , IT DOES REVEAL TO BELIEVERS THAT GOD DOES SPEAK OF THINGS IN HIS WORD THAT HE WANTS US TO KNOW ABOUT ........... WHEN HE SPEAKS OF HEAVEN HE WANTS US TO ANTICIPATE WHAT LIES AHEAD ........ ONE WOULD ASK IF HEAVEN IS BEYOND OUR IMAGINATION ? 2 TIMOTHY 2:7 TELLS US "Consider what I say, and may the LORD give you understanding in all things . " WE CANNOT ANTICIPATE WHAT WE CAN'T IMAGINE ................GOD GIVES US A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN ; A GARDEN , A CITY , AND A KINGDOM ARE ALL DESCRIPTIONS OF GODS PLACE WHERE HE CALLS HOME ..........SOME WOULD SAY THAT THESE DESCRIPTIONS ARE ANALOGIES BUT THE SCRIPTURES MAKE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT OUR LORD JESUS IS PREPARING A PLACE FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM WHEN HE SPEAKS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 14: 1-12 " Let not your heart be troubled ; you believe in GOD , believe also in ME. In MY FATHERS house are many mansions ; if it were not so , I would have told you . I go to prepare a place for you . And if I go and prepare a place for you , I will come again and receive you to MYSELF ; that where I am , there you may be also . And where I go you know , and the way you know . Thomas said to HIM, '' LORD we do not know where YOU are going , and how can we know the way ? '' JESUS said to him , ''I am the the way , the truth , and the life . No one comes to the FATHER except through ME . If you had known ME , you would have known MY FATHER also ; and from now on you know HIM and have seen HIM . " Phillip said to HIM , '' LORD show us the FATHER , and it is sufficient for us . '' JESUS said to him ,'' Have I been with you so long , and yet you have not known ME Phillip ? He who has seen ME , has seen the FATHER ; so how can you say , ' Show us the FATHER ?' Do you not believe that I am in the FATHER , and the FATHER in ME ? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on MY own authority ; but the FATHER who dwells in ME does the works . Believe ME that I am in the FATHER and the FATHER in ME , or else believe ME for the sake of the works themselves . " WE NEED TO ASK FOR GOD'S HELP TO REMOVE THE WAX PAPER FROM OVER OUR EYES SO THAT ANY FALSE INTERPRETATIONS ABOUT HEAVEN ARE REPLACED WITH SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS ..........IT IS TRUE THAT OUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS TRYING TO DISTORT GODS WORD AND DEVOUR US 1PETER 5 :8 '' Be sober , be vigilant ; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion , seeking whom he may devour . " NOW IF THAT ISN'T A LINE OF SCRIPTURE TO KEEP US SOBER !! ...........SOME OF SATAN'S FAVORITE LIES ARE THAT HE NOR GOD NOR HEAVEN NOR HELL EVEN EXIST ........ A VERY CLEVER WAY TO ROB US OF OUR JOY ............ROMANS 8 :38-39 IS VERY CLEAR TO SAY , " For I am persuaded that neither death nor life , nor angels nor principalities nor powers , nor things present nor things to come , nor height nor depth , nor any other created thing , shall be able to separate us from the love of GOD which is in CHRIST JESUS our LORD . '' TODAY MAY BE A GOOD DAY TO PONDER ON WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN HEAVEN ......... JOHN 3 : 16 SAYS, " GOD so loved the world that he gave HIS one and only SON , so that everyone who believes in HIM will not perish but have eternal life . " JUST AS ROMANS 10 :9 STATES , " If you confess with your mouth that JESUS is LORD and believe in your heart that GOD raised HIM from the dead , you will be saved . " WHETHER WE AGREE WITH GOD OR NOT IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER BECAUSE HE HAS THE FINAL SAY BUT WHAT DOES MATTER TO HIM IS WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL ACCEPT HIS FREE GIFT OF SALVATION HENCE REMOVING FROM US OUR FEAR OF DYING JUST AS IN HEBREWS 2:14-15 SAYS, " Because GOD'S children are human beings - made of flesh and blood - the SON also became flesh and blood . For only as a human being could HE die , and only by dying could HE break the power of death . Only in this way could HE set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. " IS TODAY THE DAY ?? .........................................SUMMER

GLORY TO FOLLOW

"If you are insulted because of the name of CHRIST , you are blessed , for the SPIRIT of glory and of GOD rests on you. " 1 PETER 4: 14 .......... HAVE YOU EVER BEEN MOCKED , INSULTED , CHALLENGED , HARASSED, PERSECUTED, IGNORED , CAST ASIDE , RIDICULED OR MAYBE EVEN HATED BECAUSE YOU LOVE CHRIST ?......... IF SO WE NEED TO SERIOUSLY TAKE COMFORT IN THE SCRIPTURE ABOVE ........... IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT BECAUSE WE FEEL MORE ALONE THAN EVER, HOWEVER JESUS WANTS US KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE SUFFER FOR HIS NAME SAKE NOW , THERE WILL BE GLORY TO FOLLOW ............. WHEN WE STAND FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS AND FIND OURSELVES THE TARGET OF SUFFERING, WE SHARE IN LORD'S SUFFERINGS AS WELL ....... JESUS CHRIST WAS THE LAST BLOOD SACRIFICE ......... HE DID NOT DIE IN VAIN .......... AFTER HIS DEATH , THERE WAS GLORY IN HIS RESURRECTION AND THE ETERNITY OF LIFE IN HEAVEN FOR ALL WHO CALL UPON THE HIS NAME AND REPENT OF THEIR SINFUL WAYS .......... ONE DAY OUR PAIN AND SUFFERINGS WILL BE NO MORE AS IT GIVES WAY TO THE GLORY THAT CAN ONLY BE HAD FROM A LOVING AND RIGHTEOUS GOD .......... THE GOD WHO SENT HIS SON JESUS TO DIE FOR ALL MEN AND WOMEN , YET IRONICALLY ,NOT ALL MEN AND WOMEN WILL COME TO BELIEVE THIS.......... SO HENCE, THERE WILL BE SUFFERING FOR THOSE WHO DO BELIEVE ...........PETER CALLS US TO A LIFE OF HOLINESS THAT IS A REFLECTION OF OUR JEHOVAH GOD ......... PETER ALSO ASKS US TO BE HUMBLE , JUST AS OUR LORD JESUS WAS HUMBLE , WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH ALL PEOPLE .........LISTEN TO WHAT CHRIST HAS TO SAY ABOUT RETALIATION : " You have heard that it was said , ' Eye for eye , and tooth for tooth . But I tell you , Do not resist an evil person . If someone strikes you on the right cheek , turn to him the other also . And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic , let him have your cloak as well . If someone forces you to go one mile , go with him two miles . Give to the one who asks you , and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you . You have heard that it was said , ' Love your neighbor and hate your enemy .' But I tell you : Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you , that you may be sons of your FATHER in heaven . He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good , and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous . If you love those who love you , what reward will you get ? Are not even the tax collectors doing that ? And if you greet only your brothers , what are you doing more than others ? Do not even pagans do that ? Be perfect , therefore , as your heavenly FATHER is perfect . " MATTHEW 5 : 38-48....WE NEED TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS AND LESS LIKE OURSELVES ........PETER TELLS US OF THE PROPHETS WHO WROTE ABOUT CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS , " Concerning this salvation , the prophets,who spoke of the grace that was to come to you , searched intently and with the greatest care , trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the SPIRIT of CHRIST in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of CHRIST and the glories that would follow . " 1 PETER 1: 10 - 11 .......... TO BE AS CHRIST WOULD HAVE US TO BE REQUIRES US TO HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM ............ BY STUDYING HIS WORD WE COME TO UNDERSTAND WHO OUR SAVIOUR IS .........HIS WORD ALSO TEACHES US WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US SO THAT IN RETURN WE ARE ABLE LOOK FORWARD TO THE GLORY THAT WILL FOLLOW ......................................................................SUMMER

THE TEST OF OBEDIENCE

IT'S HARD TO BE OBEDIENT TO OUR LORD WHEN WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON , OR WHEN WE ARE TOO ANXIOUS ABOUT THE POSSIBLE OUTCOME ISN'T IT ?.................... BUT THE TRUE TEST OF OUR FAITH COMES AROUND JUST AT THESE PRECISE MOMENTS ............ FOLLOWING THE LORDS COMMANDS REVEALS TO US THAT WE TRUST IN HIS DECISIONS FOR OUR LIVES NOT ONLY IN THE BIG AREAS OF CONCERN BUT IN THE LITTLE AREAS AS WELL ..............HIS WORD REMINDS US THAT OBEDIENCE DOES NOT COME EASY BUT WILL CREATE EASE IN OUR SOUL ............ WHEN WE EXAMINE THE SCRIPTURES GOD REVEALS THAT OUR SAVIOUR WAS 100 % MAN AND 100 % GOD ......... JESUS WAS NOT HALF MAN AND HALF GOD HE WAS 100% OF BOTH ...... CONFUSING AS IT MAY BE IT ALSO UNRAVELS ANOTHER MYSTERY ABOUT US AS HUMANS : WE CANNOT BE OBEDIENT WITHOUT DEPENDENCY ON CHRIST ...... THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES TELL US , "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding ; in all your ways acknowledge HIM , and HE will make straight your paths . " PROVERBS 3:5-6 .........WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES , THE TOPIC OF BEING OBEDIENT TO GOD IS REVEALED TO US AS WE LOOK AT HOW JESUS WAS OBEDIENT TO HIS FATHER IN HEAVEN , "If you obey MY commands , you will remain in MY love ,just as I have obeyed MY FATHER'S commands and remain in HIS love . I have told you this so that MY joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete . " JOHN 15 :10-11........... WE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND OR EVEN BE AWARE THAT WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT TO GOD IT WILL CREATE A JOY THAT IS COMPLETE !! ...............IT'S REVELING TO SEE THAT JESUS WAS OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF HIS OWN DEATH , BECAUSE OF THE RELATIONSHIP HE HAD WITH HIS FATHER ........... JESUS NOT ONLY DID HIS FATHERS WILL WHEN IT WAS EASY TO DO , BUT ALSO WHEN IT WAS VERY UNPOPULAR , DIFFICULT AND EVEN UNBEARABLE ......THIS WILLING SUBMISSION BECAME A GIFT OF LOVE GIVEN TO GOD THE FATHER............JESUS KNEW THAT THE TIME WOULD COME WHEN HIS OBEDIENCE WOULD AFFORD HIM THE TIME HE WOULD SPEND WITH HIS FATHER ONCE HE COMPLETED HIS WORK ON EARTH ,"Later , knowing that all was now completed , and so the SCRIPTURE would be fulfilled , JESUS said , ''I am thirsty . '' A jar of wine vinegar was there , so they soaked a sponge in it , put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant , and lifted it to JESUS' lips. When HE had received the drink , JESUS said , "It is finished . " With that , HE bowed HIS head and gave up HIS spirit . " JOHN 19: 28-30.............. GOD WANTS US KNOW THAT WE TOO CAN AND SHOULD BE OBEDIENT TO HIM EVEN WHEN DOING WHAT HE SAYS IS DIFFICULT OR STRANGE , " This is love for GOD : to obey HIS commands . And HIS commands are not burdensome , for everyone born of GOD overcomes the world . This is victory that has overcome the world , even our faith . Who is it that overcomes the world ? Only he who believes that JESUS is the SON of GOD . " 1JOHN 5:3- 5.........THE TRUE TEST OF OUR OBEDIENCE TO GOD IS : WILL WE LISTEN ?.......................................................................SUMMER

ARE YOU ALIEN ENOUGH ?

HAVE YOU EVER KNOWN THE FEELING OF BEING ALL ALONE ? SOMETIMES WE CAN BE IN A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE AND FEEL THIS WAY ........................... AT TIMES THIS FEELING COMES OVER US WHEN WE REALLY THINK OF HOW TRUTHFUL JESUS' WORDS ARE . "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves , you are slaves to the one whom you obey -whether you are slaves to sin , which leads to death , or to obedience , which leads to righteousness ? " ROMANS 6:16......................STILL YET AT OTHER TIMES WE CAN FEEL QUITE LONELY IF THE ONE WE LOVE DOESN'T LOVE US BACK OR IF WE HAPPEN TO HAVE A NON BELIEVING SPOUSE ................... TO THE CONTRARY , HAVING EXPERIENCED THIS FEELING AT DIFFERENT TIMES DURING OUR LIVES, STILL DOESN'T GUARANTEE THAT WE WILL BE EMPATHETIC AND COMPASSIONATE TO THOSE AROUND US WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THIS...............THE FEELING OF BEING ALONE HAS TWO CONTRASTS .........................THE FIRST BEING THAT INNER SPIRITUAL & EMOTIONAL EMPTINESS THAT CAN ACCOMPANY US WHEN WE DO NOT HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD JESUS .......... THIS TYPE OF LONELINESS OCCURS WHEN THE DRAW OF THE SECULAR WORLD PULLS US DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO THE ABYSS OF MATERIALISM ............IT'S AN ALL CONSUMING OBSESSION THAT CONTINUES TO EAT AWAY AT US , WHILE WE TRY TO SATISFY OUR SPIRIT WITH BOUTS OF TEMPORARY HAPPINESS , YET NOTHING IS EVER ENOUGH. " Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth , where moth and rust destroy , and where thieves break in and steal . But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven , where moth and rust do not destroy , and where thieves do not break in and steal . For where your treasure is , there your heart will be also. " MATTHEW 6:19-20 " No one can serve two masters . Either he will hate the one and love the other , or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both GOD and Money ." MATTHEW 6: 24 ............. PREOCCUPATION WITH SUCCESS WILL ALSO CAUSE US TO FEEL QUITE CONFIDANT AND SURE AT FIRST ONLY TO LEAVE US DROWNING IN OUR SORROWS AS WE LOSE TOUCH WITH GOOD INTENTIONS AND OUR LOVED ONES . " But many who are first will be last , and the last first . " MARK 10:31...................THE SECOND CONTRAST OF BEING ALONE COMES ALONG ONCE WE HAVE REPENTED OF OUR SIN AND ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST INTO OUR HEARTS............. BELIEVING IN CHRIST AND BEING OBEDIENT TO HIM MEANS THAT WE WILL HAVE DIFFERENT MOTIVES AND GOALS THAN THE PEOPLE AROUND US .............. WE WILL LOOK AND ACT DIFFERENT THAN THE WORLD WHICH CAN OFTEN LEAD TO LONELINESS ( which may in turn lead us to sinful behaviors ) ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DO NOT PARTAKE IN GENUINE FELLOWSHIP WITH BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE LORD ...........WHEN WE SEE SOMEONE IN NEED OF A " LIFTING UP '' IT IS OUR DUTY TO ENCOURAGE THEM . "See to it brothers , that none of you has a sinful , unbelieving heart that turns away from the living GOD. But encourage one another daily , as long as it is called Today , so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in CHRIST if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first . "HEBREWS 3:12-14...........BEING CHRISTIANS PUTS US AT ODDS WITH THE WORLD , WE ARE ALIENS ." Dear friends , I urge you , as aliens and strangers in the world , to abstain from sinful desires , which wage war against your soul . Live such good lives among the pagans that , though they may accuse you of doing wrong , they may see your good deeds and glorify GOD on the day HE visits us . " 1PETER 2:11-12 ...................AS A CHRISTIAN WE ARE CALLED TO A HIGHER STANDARD ...................THE QUESTION IS ARE WE ALIEN ENOUGH TO GLORIFY THE GOD WHO HAS CALLED US ?.............................................................SUMMER

THE EMPTY TOMB

TODAY IS A JOYOUS DAY . WE SEE BEAUTY AROUND US AND EVERYTHING COMING UP NEW AS SPRING UNFOLDS BUT MORE THAN THAT WE CELEBRATE A VICTORY OVER THE FACE OF DEATH ......... '' The angel said to the woman , ' Do not be afraid , for I know that you are looking for JESUS , who was crucified . HE is not here ; HE has risen , just as HE said. Come and see the place where HE lay . Then go quickly and tell all HIS disciples : ' HE has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you in Galilee . There you will see HIM .' Now I have told you ." MATTHEW 28:5-7 ............. WE DO NOT HAVE TO GRIEVE ANY MORE ............ THE TOMB IS EMPTY !! .......... JESUS CHRIST IS ALIVE ..........WE SERVE A LIVING GOD .............JESUS CHRIST HAS SUPREME AUTHORITY AS WE READ IN THE SCRIPTURES........... " Then JESUS came to them and said , ' All authority has been given to me . Therefore go and make disciples of all nations , baptizing them in the name of the FATHER and of the SON and of the HOLY SPIRIT , and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you . And surely I am with you always , to the very end of the age.' " MATTHEW 28: 18- 20 .........................HAPPY RESURRECTION SUNDAY !!..........................................SUMMER

BREAKING BREAD .....

AS WE APPROACH THE HOUR WHEN OUR LORD GAVE HIS LIFE SO THAT WE MAY LIVE ETERNALLY WITH HIM IN HEAVEN , I REFLECT ON WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST....... JOHN 13:1-9 STATES, " It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for HIM to leave the world and go to the FATHER. Having loved HIS own who were in the world , HE now showed them the full extent of HIS love. The evening meal was being served , and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot , son of Simon , to betray JESUS. JESUS knew that the FATHER had put all things under HIS power , and that HE had come from GOD and was returning to GOD ; so HE got up from the meal , took off HIS outer clothing , and wrapped a towel around HIS waist. After that , HE poured water into a basin and began to wash HIS disciples' feet , drying them with a towel that was wrapped around HIM. HE came to Simon Peter , who said to HIM , '' LORD , are you going to wash my feet ? " JESUS replied , " You do not realize now what I am doing , but later you will understand . " '' No" , said Peter , " YOU shall never wash my feet ." JESUS answered , " Unless I wash you , you have no part with me . " WHEN WE LOOK CLOSELY AT WHAT OUR LORD DID FOR US , IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT JESUS CAME TO SERVE AND NOT BE SERVED . THIS VERY MATTER STRIKES AT OUR HEARTS . ARE WE WILLING TO SERVE THOSE AROUND US AS JESUS DID , OR ARE WE QUITE THE OPPOSITE , MAKING DEMANDS ON THOSE AROUND US AS IF WE ARE ENTITLED TO SOMETHING ? .......THEN , WHEN WE DO SERVE OTHERS, DOES OUR ATTITUDE REFLECT OUR KING OR IS IT A MOCKERY OF HIM ? IN 2 CORINTHIANS 9 :6-8 THE LORD SAYS , " Remember this : Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly , and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give , not reluctantly or under compulsion , for GOD loves a cheerful giver .And GOD is able to make all grace abound to you , so that in all things at all times , having all you need , you will abound in every good good work . " YOU SEE WHEN IT COMES TO GOD ITS ALWAYS A MATTER OF OUR HEART !! .......... AND NO ONE KNOWS OUR HEART BETTER THAN GOD .......... WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE SERVE, IT NOT ONLY SUPPLIES THE NEEDS OF GODS PEOPLE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT GIVES MANY EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS TO GOD AND GIVES HIM THE GLORY HE IS SO RIGHTLY DESERVES .......... SOME 2000 YEARS AGO OUR LORD JESUS BROKE BREAD WITH HIS DISCIPLES NOT ONLY AS A SAVIOUR BUT AS A SERVANT TOO........ ARE WE WILLING TO DO THE SAME ? ..............................SUMMER

THE SEEDS HAVE SPROUTED !!!!!!!!

ONE THING IS FOR SURE , TRUSTING IN THE LORD IS DEFINITELY NECESSARY WHEN YOU TAKE A SEED , PLACE IT UNDER AN 1/8 " OF ORGANIC SOIL IN AN EMPTY EGG CRATE , WATER IT JUST TO KEEP IT MOIST ( YOU KNOW THAT ABSOLUTE BALANCE OF SOMEWHERE BETWEEN NOT TOO DRY & NOT TOO SOGGY ) , GIVE IT AT LEAST 16 HOURS OF COMBINATION SUN & ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT , AND WAIT FOR THE TIME BETWEEN 5-10 DAYS TO SEE GODS "BEHIND THE SCENES " WORK IN ACTION................. IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS CHAPTER 1:11-12 , " Then GOD said,"Let the land produce vegetation : seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so . The land produced vegetation : plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds . And GOD saw that it was good ." ...............LOOKING AT THESE TINY SHOOTS IN THE CRATES MAKES ME FEEL SO DARN SMALL ................ LIKE A GRAIN OF SAND ON A BEACH ....... LOOKING AT THESE SPROUTING PLANTS ALSO MAKES ME THINK EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF SEEDS I AM SOWING FOR GODS KINGDOM ......... THE KIND OF SEEDS I SOW WILL REVEAL TO OTHERS WHO MY SAVIOUR REALLY IS ............WILL I SOW SEEDS OF DECEPTION OR WILL THE SEEDS I SOW REVEAL THE TRUE WORD OF GOD ?........... LIVING FOR JESUS IS NOT ALWAYS EASY.....IT MEANS I NEED TO HUMBLE MYSELF AND DO WHAT HIS WORD TELLS ME TO DO ............. AM I PERFECT ? BY NO MEANS .......BUT DO I HAVE THE ABILITY TO LIVE BY HIS WORD ? ONLY WHEN I WALK IN HIS WILL.......... REMINDING ME ONCE AGAIN , JUST HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR THE LOVE OF MY SAVIOUR ...................HOW ABOUT YOU ......................WHAT KIND OF SEEDS HAVE YOU SOWED TODAY ? .............................................................SUMMER