Heaven here we come Part 2

We have eternity planted by God in our heart, Ecclesiastes 3:11. All our lives, deep down in our hearts, we are looking for meaning and purpose. We have a God shaped hole that we may not recognise but  only He can fill.

When we are hurt in any way we build up a resistance to being hurt again and so can harden our hearts. This can make it harder to accept the Truth when we hear it. The wonderful part of this is, it is not our action to fill this great hole, Father God draws us by His Spirit in so many and various ways, we just need to respond. He never forces Himself on us, and thankfully He never gives up on us.

There are so many books and YouTubes around with stories of people who had Near Death Experiences which are so encouraging. But let us look at what the Word says and ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes for Truth that we can hold onto by faith. When we hold onto any promises by faith, (trust, belief) this always pleases our Father, Hebrews 11:6 

I love Jesus's own words in John 14:1-3 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me. 2 There is more than enough room in My Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am.'

We dont really need more words than that, what a promise. But what about these thoughts  'He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.' Revelation 21:4.😭 So even if Heaven is not what we imagined, to have no more crying or pain and death will be .............. Words fail me.

And the place itself is out of this world. All over the Bible are verses describing Heaven, but I get so excited when I focus on Revelation 21:1-27 and Revelation 22:1-21. Let us just feed our imagination with a few of these Truths. 'I am making everything new' 'It is finished. I am the Alpha and Omega - the beginning and the end.' Remember all He made at the very beginning, the amazing garden, sure He is planning a much more amazing Eden/ Heaven, when we all come together to worship Him and see Him face to face in all His Glory.

'All who are thirsty will drink from the springs of Life' There is also a river flowing from the Throne of God and the Lamb, as clear as crystal. It flows down the main street of Heaven and on each side grew a tree of Life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop every month and the leaves are used for healing the Nations.

One of the angels described in Revelation 21:10-23  took John in the Spirit up a great high mountain to show him the Holy City, Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God. It shone with the Glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone, as clear as crystal The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve Angels. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. Then the walls of the city had twelve foundation stones and on each of them were written the Names of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. These foundation stones were inlaid with twelve precious stones. The City was pure gold as clear as glass.. Each gate was from one single pearl. There is no Temple in the City as the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the place of worship and their Glory illuminates the City and Jesus is the Light, so no night and no darkness at all., so all whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Revelation 3:5) will be able to enter.

Then there are the flowers, like the colours from the stones, the indescribable grandeur and yet miniscule beauty.

The Father God, Who with His Son Jesus Christ and the inspiration and Glory of the Holy Spirit created each person. He chose each individual before the creation of the earth, making each of us with different eyes and fingerprints, surely He would make our eternal home just as individual and unique, our very own part of Eden. In the Book of Song of Songs 2:10-13 where love is described in such beautiful detail and lots of the description describes nature full of colour and variety all from our Father's heart. How excited He must be to show us all that He has done and planned for us, when we arrive at our eternal home, Heaven

There are still lots of questions but I am so thankful that I can trust Him completely as He is God and I am not meant to understand all He has prepeared for me, but I can look forward to being quite overwhelmed by all that my Heavenly home will be like when I arrive. 

'For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now, rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever' 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

We have so much to look forward to, let us pray for our family and friends and for a holy boldness to tell everyone about His amazing love for all who will listen💓💓.

Heaven here we come.Part One

My eldest daughter Sara and I are looking at a cruise together, on my 'bucket list', something I have always wanted to do and Dave never did. Sara's husband is not keen on this, unless he is captaining the yacht. I am researching on the web, asking companies for brochures, thinking about the size, destiny and comfort of the cruise liner, so much fun, full of dreams, divine appointments; ideas of comfort; trips on shore and good food. 

So we all know we are going to die, the only guarantee in life, and yet we don't have coffee shop chats about 'what will it be like? Where do you think you are going? 'Would you recommend it?' 'If you died tonight where do you think you will go?' It is the 'elephant' in the room. In the Bible it says, 'Look I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore. Be glad; rejoice forever in My creation!' Isaiah 65:17

So how can I be ready for my forever life? It is not wise to not think through wherever I am going be? Seek out how I am going to get there? What will it be like? if it is a place, what will I be doing? or not doing? Who else will be there?

It says in Hebrews 2:14,15; that Jesus came to remove the fear of  death, and by being human He showed us that He has prepared the way.

I have been very fearful of dying, a bit like being pregnant and I know in order to have this precious baby I am trapped to having to go through the labour. So knowing that to go into an unknown eternity I have to let go of control of every person and place in this life, and trust Jesus.  I have set about in the last few months to find out what awaits me on the other side of death. The Bible has a lot to say about it and Jesus does not want us to be ignorant. In fact He would rather our minds were more focused on eternity than our everyday issues. Time is short, 'But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage. Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away'. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 

I have also been enjoying a few books and YouTubes about Near Death Experiences, especially where research included believers in Jesus Christ and non believers there were so many reports in common. From their experiences many found Jesus for themselves. 

Having looked at post death experiences and the Word, I know without doubt I will be received by overwhelming LOVE, after all God gave His precious Son so I can be accepted and stand clean before Him. Forgiven of ALLI have done, even my good actions have had wrong motives.

We can have decided what is going to happen to us after we die and give it no more thought BUT is this the Truth? Imagine waking up on our new holiday and finding out 'this is not how I thought it was going to be' but there is nothing I can do to change the destination, I could have made my choice, when listening to friends talking; watching YouTubes; behaviour of church people; but maybe they were not telling me the truth, I have to make my own choice. After all if I dont want to spend time with the God of the Universe here, why would I want to spend time with Him in the next life. He never rejects us we reject Him.

This is Dave's last painting of the narrow gate, he didnt realise that his days were very short but obviously he was focusing on his Heavenly home and the narrow gate to get there, Matthew 7:13. This is such a massive and wonderful subject after all who doesn't want to go on the most amazing holiday, perfect destination, all inclusive, and surrounded by Love so if you are not sure, Jesus promises 'you will find Me if you seek Me with your whole heart' Jeremiah 29:13 and Luke 12:31

Check out if you have a paid ticket to the right destination go to "https://www.joyforlife.org/index.php/the-best-news"  

Enjoy the journey and see you there. 

If Only .........

Since Dave died I have had so many opportunities to say if only,  'If only I hadn't kept that grudge.' 'If only I had listened more when he tried to teach me on the computer.' 'If only I had found out where to fill the car engine with oil'.
'If only I hadn't made that comment'
'If only I hadn't posted that message'
'If only I had said sorry straight away or never made the comment in the first place'
'If only we had trusted Jesus more'.

When we lose a partner, a child, a friend from death or even a business, a house,..........  (fill in the space) there can be so many 'if onlys........' but it brings us to a massive place of regret, a regret we can do nothing about.

Imagine how many 'if onlys' Peter spoke and thought about coming up to Pentecost, Acts 2:14. He knew Jesus was the Messiah, the Father had shown that Truth to him and called him, Matthew 4:18. He saw the Transfiguration and wanted to tell Jesus what he could do for Him, Matthew 17:4. What about walking on water, imagine 'if only I hadn't looked down' Matthew 14:29.
If only I hadn't said I would never deny Him, 
If only I had slipped away and not tried to stick around the court house.
If only; .....  if only I had taken on board His warning to me,
If only I had been honest with Him and say I didn't understand,.....
If only He had made it all clearer, if only I had realised He didn't mean I was going to be important in His new Government.....

'If only' ........When Jesus was resurrected, He came straight to Peter to ask him if he really loved Him? John 21:15-18. What a challenge after the previous few days. Peter must have had so many 'If onlys' in his head. 'If only' I had been faithful to Him when I could; 'If only' I was there when He needed me the most..

.......
But now, none of this is helpful, positive or building Peter up, he now knows he is forgiven, Peter told Jesus three times that he loves Him more than anything or anybody. Peter knows too, he can look forward. Jesus has told all the disciples to go back to Jerusalem and wait to receive the power of the Holy Spirit, Acts 1:8

Peter now experienced the life transforming power of the Holy Spirit and will obey His leading day by day with no regrets - no 'if onlys' so he can walk as Jesus walked and do what Jesus did. His first sermon when laying hands on the man sitting at the Temple door, 3000 people were saved, Acts 3:1-8. No more speaking without thinking. He now has a heart full of compassion for the marginalised, even those who killed his Saviour.

I am learning to  give all my 'if onlys' to Jesus, lay them at His feet and recognise He dealt with them all, at the time when they happened, and there is no need to allow them to hold me back. Let us like Peter make a new start, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, 'as without Him we can do nothing'.  Have a good day, and no more time wasted on 'if only.......'     
 

Praise in the storm.

Some time ago I went out my front door with slippers on, and a coat, no phone, just to pop a piece of paper into the neighbour's letter box. As soon as I stepped away from my front door I realised I did not have my key, and worse I had left it on the inside of the front door, and the door latch locks on contact. I have spare keys with neighbours for just such a time as this, but not when I have the key on the inside of the lock. AAAAAAAAH.

A kind neighbour suggested going in via the back door. 'I never leave my key on the inside of the back door', I stated boldly. I picked up my spare back door key from another neighbour, (good strategic planning), spent 20 minutes trying to get it to work. My amazing neighbour came round and realised I had indeed left my key in the inside lock of the backdoor as well. He managed to fiddle the spare key enough to allow him to use his key to unlock my house and let me in.

In this little cameo when I was stepping out of my front door I realised I had a choice, while my stomach was churning and my head was full of 'what ifs', I was thinking through every scenario of potential problems especially as I was meant to be on my way to a Zoom meeting. OR I could call on the Holy Spirit to lead me and listen to Him instead of all the reasonings in my mind and just praise Jesus with all my heart so I walked along my garden path praising Him with my hands in the air, that He had a plan, He wouldn't leave me homeless for the night. With some wiggling of my backdoor key, my neighbour managed to loosen the key, and it fell to the floor and he was able to unlock my back door and I gained entry to my home. I certainly had a praise party that night and learnt a big lesson from my Father, praise in the storm.

Prayer 'Father God when I have any problem please help me to focus more on YOU rather than the problem. You are so much bigger than any problem. Guide me Holy Spirit to throw my heart into praise rather than panic in Jesus Name and for His Glory, Amen.

Joy Always

Just think about this for a few moments, JOY ALWAYS, it is enough to lift our spirits in any trial. And this is the JOY Jesus had, even when He faced the Cross, James 1:2-3. I am sure He didn’t feel happy as the circumstances were dire in every area of His life; the Cross itself; leaving His Mother, who He knew would hurt so much; His closest friends would desert Him, and all the people, whom He loved so much would hate Him. 

But He had the bigger picture, of the ‘joy set before Him’. He encourages us to have the same eternal perspective in every situation, even when our hearts are breaking, Hebrews 12:2; Colossians 3:1-3

We may feel that we have no joy in our present tough situation but Jesus said in John 15:11 "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." So His joy is available to us on a moment by moment basis. Just think of it - Jesus has put His own joy in our heart from the moment we were born again by the Spirit of God.

How do we put that force of joy to work in our life? Just like we put the force of salvation to work in our life, by faith.

First, we trust we have received it.

Then we speak it out with our mouth. (In other words, quit crying and start shouting "Hallelujah" instead!)

Then we start agreeing we have joy by doing it, praising Him, worshiping, His promises.

 The Holy Spirit will teach us how to develop Jesus’ joy., take time out to lay aside every thought, every weight, and every care and get your heart focused on Jesus.

No matter what our circumstances we can be full of joy.

We can be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

We can draw on the joy of the Holy Spirit within us and come out in victory!

We can just keep thinking about that and talking about it until the joy of the Lord starts to bubble up within us. Then we'll be strong enough to whip any kind of trouble that comes our way! 

  

 Paul desired for the disciples to be strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to HIS'  glorious might and to attain every kind of endurance and patience WITH joy, giving thanks to the Father. That's what Paul did, he certainly had trouble, he'd been stoned, and whipped and imprisoned, and ridiculed - and yet he was always rejoicing, never in self-pity. He kept re-energizing joy by drawing on the supply of the Holy Spirit within himself. Joy kept his attitude right. Joy kept him looking to God and flowing in Holy Spirit power. We can do the same, His power within us.

 Joy doesn't depend on our constantly fluctuating emotions.

Joy affects the mind, making it alive and receptive.

Joy makes the human will vibrant and yielded to God.

Joy even affects the body. 'A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul. But the one whose heart is crushed strugles with sickness and depression' Proverbs 17:22 TPT

Just over a week ago I got a call at 5am asking me to return home for a serious family health situation. According to Google I was 3hrs 12 minutes away. While packing my case I put the situation into Father's hands and had a deep sense that He was working this situation out and I could trust Him. I certainly wasn't happy with this situation but all the time while driving home in the bucketing rain, I had a deep seated joy.  So when any anxious thought came I just kept praising. All I could remember to focus on was the Lord's prayer, 'thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven' and there is no death in Heaven. His joy was overwhelming at times. If I had not been driving I probably would be jumping up and twirling around. The outcome was just as the Father had promised me.

 

Each of the fruit of the Holy Spirit supports the others. It takes them all, working together, to make us complete. Joy is not just a state of mind. Joy is a very real force. The devil doesn't have anything that can stand up against faith, joy, love, peace,  longsuffering, goodness or self-control. Discouragement, disappointment, disaster, disorder, disputes, divisions, doubts,  all have to yield to joy. We dont need to stir ourselves up to be overcome by JOY just allow the Holy Spirit to have His way in us. Go for it BE JOYFILLED and the world will see JESUS.