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Live Forever with Those You Love

July 10, 2018 by

“If this earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a better one from God, our eternal home.”  (2 Corinthians 5: 1)

Father, thank you for the assurance that this life is not all,

That I will live beyond it with you,

And with those I love and miss.

Prepare that home for me,

That I may live with you and them forever.

Fill me with your assurance,

Especially when I feel the pain of a loved one passing,

Or fear my own.

I praise you for your promised home,

Where I will spend eternity with you,

And those I love.

Amen.

 

Filed Under: Happiness, Heaven, Love

A Life of Love that Never Ends

May 21, 2018 by

“Goodness and love will follow me every day of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23: 6)

Lord thank you for your love and goodness.  And that it follows me every day and forever.  Help me rest in that confidence when facing challenges.  And to experience all of the life you have promised.  I focus on your promised blessings, even when they seem dim, so that I will see them clearly.  Amen

Filed Under: Abundance, Heaven, Love

Encouragement Today: You Can Walk with God Everyday

December 25, 2017 by

“The angel said, ‘Today in the town of David has been born for you, Christ the Lord.’”  (Luke 2:11)

Today’s Promise:  The way to a relationship with God is opened.  You simply need to enter in.

Today’s Prayer:  Lord, I praise you for that relationship opened to me through Jesus.  Help me live fully in it today and every day.  Amen.

Filed Under: Heaven

Encouragement Today: Have a Life That Goes On Forever

December 21, 2017 by

“The angel said, ‘Jesus will reign over his kingdom and it will never end.’”  (Luke 1:33)

Today’s Promise:  You can rest assured this life is not the end only the beginning when you rest in God’s love.

Today’s Prayer:  Father, thank you for your life that never ends.  Help me rest in that assurance.  Amen.

Filed Under: Heaven

Encouragement Today: Forgiveness Today, Blessings for Life

November 28, 2017 by

“God’s anger lasts only a moment, but his favor is for a lifetime.”  (Psalm 30:5)

Prayer:  Father, thank you for your continual forgiveness.  I ask for it and rest in it.

Filed Under: Heaven, Love

Finding Joy When You’re Overwhelmed with Grief

July 14, 2017 by

I’ve stood by too many grave sides talking about the one who left too soon.  Memories flood my mind.  Tears well up in my eyes and spill down my cheeks.

Sometimes I’ve thought, “If I could just have one more hour.”

But of course I can’t.  And it wouldn’t be enough.

You’ve felt the same I know.

As has been said, “None of us get out of this alive.”

That’s why I love this promise of Jesus about Heaven.

“God will wipe away every tear.  There will be no more death, grief, crying or pain.  The old way has ended.”

This life is not the end of your story.  The dawn is just breaking.

As we simply accept God’s gift he gives it.  He says, “Join me my child.  Live with me and those you love forever.”

Then you rest in the comfort that you’ll get to spend that extra hour with that one you love.  Heck, you’ll get to spend a gazillion hours.

Actually, with a few loved ones, that might be just a smidge too much.

No loved one will ever leave again.  No more tears or grief or pain.

Hey, and you get to live there also.

Oh, and me too.  Not sure how I got so lucky but I’m not asking.

 

*Revelation 21:4

Filed Under: Heaven

How to Find Comfort and Peace When You’ve Lost a Loved One

May 24, 2017 by

I’ve stood beside a grave when a loved one died and even with all the faith I feel on a good day been filled with doubts.  When I need that faith the most, because I want assurance I’ll see my loved one again, my faith fails me the most often.

I’ve got a leaky faith bucket.

Perhaps you’ve struggled with the same thing.

Jesus offered a prayer to comfort his disciples and us.

He prayed, “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see the glory of my kingdom.”

I love that.

One of the last things Jesus did before he was arrested was pray for his disciples and us.  That we would live in his kingdom with him forever.

Kind of like wanting your children to be with you where ever you go.  There’s nothing better.  And with my adult children exhausting.

I find that comforting and liberating.

You don’t need an intermediary.  You can simply ask him to let you live with him as his child.  Then he prays to the Father for you.

As a Father there’s nothing I enjoy more than to be with my children.  Evidently Jesus feels the same.

Now if I can just find that leak.

 

*John 17:24

Filed Under: Heaven, Love

Enjoy the Confidence of Heaven When You’re Scared to Death of Hell

May 19, 2017 by

I’ve sat through way too many church services where the preacher at the end gave an altar call.  Then I’d see some of the same people going forward again to make sure they were still saved.

I’d think, “These are the nicest people I know.  If they’re lost I’m toast.”

Some who long ago should have been filled with joyful anticipation of Heaven lived their lives in fear of hell.

See Jesus settled that question.  Yet his answer is ignored for some unexplainable reason.

He said, “I give them eternal life, not one will perish, and no one will take them away from me.”

Ok, so what part seems nebulous?  I don’t see the cracks we can fall through.

So instead of living your life in fear you get to live it in love and joy.

Instead of fearing hell you get to anticipate Heaven.

Instead of striving to please a gotcha type of God.  You love him and others with the love he’s given you.

Is it time to settle that issue once and for all?

Then simply ask for and accept God’s gift of eternal life.  Then from now on choose to live in confidence of it, never doubting again.

It will transform your life.

No cracks!

 

*John 10:28

Filed Under: Heaven

Do You Need to Refill Your Happiness?

May 5, 2017 by

Have you ever you felt just empty inside?  I mean like you’re drained and have nothing left?  Your energy and joy are dissipated?

Maybe you’ve slogged against an immovable challenge.  Maybe you feel alone because of the loss of a loved one or a broken relationship.

And no matter how hard you work nothing changes and you finally just feel empty.

I’ve felt that, way too many times.  Particularly before I entered into a relationship with Jesus.

But I can tell you when I entered into that relationship something changed.  I felt a joy and peace and love that filled me in a way I never imagined.  And it continues to this day, though it can get a bit leaky occasionally.

 Jesus promised, “The water I give will become like a spring of water bubbling up into real life now and eternally.”

Jesus spoke these words to a woman who responded astutely, “Please give me this water so I won’t get thirsty ever again.”

That’s the only way you receive it and refresh it.  But it’s also that simple.

Then it will bubble up into peace and joy and love like you’ve can’t imagine.

And assurance you’re filled with God now and will live with him forever. 

Please pass me that water.

 

*John 4:14

Filed Under: Happiness, Heaven

How to Fill Up the Emptiness Inside with Amazing Life

May 3, 2017 by

When I was younger I seemed to have it made.  Lots of friends, a good education, a career ahead of me.  Yet, there was just something missing.

I can’t explain it other than, there seemed to be an emptiness inside that I couldn’t understand or fill.  No matter how many parties I attended.  No matter how many mugs of beer I drank. When the party ended and I sobered up the emptiness returned.

Through a series of events I finally discovered what Jesus so long ago promised.

“Whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst.”

I’d probably heard that verse somewhere through my growing up years going to church but somehow it never sunk in.  Perhaps because I was more focused on partying than getting to know the living God.

Yet, I finally asked, as the woman Jesus was talking to, “Lord, please give me this water.”  And he did.

Though life has at times been challenging, like it is for everyone, that living water filled up the emptiness.

I never again felt truly alone and that my life was pointless.  I quit wasting time wading around in the weeds trying to find what only God can give.

I’m thankful for that.  And that I don’t look like I kept on partying.

 

*John 4:14

Filed Under: Happiness, Heaven, Love
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