Arrival in Heaven

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Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.                   1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks put the circumstances of our lives, both good and bad into God’s hands and help us see them through His eyes. Last night our beloved daughter-in-law Melinda slipped from this world into the presence of Jesus. And while we are overwhelmed with grief and shock, these words are promises to which we cling. Melinda has finished her race. Her battle with cancer is finished. And while that pernicious disease claimed her physical life, it could not touch her soul. That remained fully and exclusively in the hands of Jesus with whom she now lives. Nancy and I didn’t know how to process the news that came in three words. “She is gone.” Yet as sadness rolls over my heart I sense the message echo back from Heaven, ” She has arrived!”

Jesus Remembers

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Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.
Matthew 10:29 NIV

Every Thursday, I get to sing with my friends in a memory care facility. It is such a blessing seeing them light up as they hear the familiar hymns and many of them sing along. But as I greet them, some cannot remember my name, or in a few cases, even their own! Visitors rarely come. Perhaps most people think that since their loved one doesn’t even remember them any longer, that there is no purpose in coming. But the good news is that even when everyone else forgets, Jesus remembers! Jesus also weeps. Just as when Jesus came to visit the sisters of Lazarus, while he lay in the grave, Jesus wept with them before He did any miracles. Sometimes people don’t need explanations, they need our tears, our listening ears and our presence. Yes, Jesus weeps with them, but then Jesus does something more: He prays.

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:32 NIV

Jesus is not retired, waiting up in Heaven for you and I to get things right. No! Jesus remembers us, Jesus weeps with us and Jesus prays for us. Jesus also prays for every one who sits in memory care. Jesus also calls you and I to remember, to weep and to pray. Will you take time this week to remember someone who has been forgotten by most? A few minutes, a prayer, a kiss, or an arm around their shoulders, may not seem like much, but it is everything to them. Have a blessed day everyone and remember to pray for those in memory care and put some feet to those prayers this week.

Meet You in the Morning!

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But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
John 21:4 NKJV

Have you ever wondered what we would look like, sound like, or feel like in Heaven? Will we recognize each other in our transformed eternal bodies? Will the old be young? Will children be full grown? Will the plain among us be beautiful and the short ones tall? Even here on earth, the disciples did not recognize Jesus, until He gave them something to do, “Cast your nets on the other side of the boat.” Where had they heard that before? It had such a familiar ring: and then it clicked, at least in John’s memory, “It is the Lord!” Though I don’t know how theologically accurate these lyrics are, I love how Alfred Brumley sums up our meeting in Heaven. “You will know me in the morning, by the smile that I wear.”

Jesus revealed Himself to Thomas by His wounds, and in the book of Revelation He is still called, “The Lamb that was slain.” (See Revelation 5:6; 5:12; & 13:8) But, we will be changed, our tears dried, wounds healed and sorrows will flee away. All that will be left behind will be the joy of our faith in Jesus and our love for Him and one another. So, maybe, just maybe, you will know me in the morning, by the smile that I wear! Have a blessed weekend all, and I hope you enjoy this rendition of the chorus from that hymn which we sang at Life Care this Friday.

Woulda – Coulda – Shoulda

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Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda were
All childhood bosom friends
And they live near each other 
Where the Worry River bends

Though God still loves them dearly
He hopes for them to hear
His voice that calls them to launch out
By faith and not to fear

But instead, they sit at home 
And say “Oh, not today.
This is really not the time
Tomorrow, we'll obey!”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2b ESV

Woulda – Coulda – Shoulda
by Peter Caligiuri
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