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!”

Three Steps to Knowing God – Grace – Grace – Grace

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For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 NLT

Back in 1976 one church organization launched a media campaign called, “I Found It.”, that included, T-shirts, buttons, and bumper stickers (I know we had one). Though well-intentioned, it missed the point that in fact according to the Bible, we don’t find God – He finds us. The prodigal son wasn’t lost. He knew exactly where his father lived, and when he came home, and the father commented, “He was lost but now is found,” meant that the father had restored the relationship by grace when the boy returned.

In today’s verse when Paul refers to the first words which God spoke at creation, “Let there be light!”, he didn’t mean that the darkness was searching for the light. In the same way, the Apostle Paul hadn’t come to Christ because he was searching for God, rather he was persecuting Christians. But then God shone a light so bright around him, that he fell to the ground and his life, and our world was forever changed. If we know Christ as Lord and Savior, it all began with God: not us. Yes, of course we had to respond. The prodigal had to repent and return; Paul had to humble himself and ask what to do next and we have had to take steps to obey Jesus. But before any of these things, God had to first speak a word, shine His light, and graciously welcome us home. All of this can feel immensely intimidating, because it takes things out of our control and confesses that it all began with God. But when troubles come, we fail or wander far from home, the love of God still shines in the distance. We have hope, to return to Father’s house, an action plan to follow and a glory to be found as we follow the light of the star of grace all the way to the feet of Jesus Christ!

Dried Flowers Bloom

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Some Black-eyed Susans, some lilacs sweet
Join Roses and Foxgloves for one short week
In the vase on the table and displayed with pride
Till their petals fall and are gathered and dried
Then tenderly placed with one long last look
And pressed between pages in our memory book

When our petals fall and our beauties fade
We search for our rest in life’s growing shade
In the book written by the hand of the Lord
Where souls are remembered, and hopes are restored
While we wait for Spring by the empty tomb
And the word of the Lord makes dried flowers bloom

The grass withers, the flower fades,
    but the word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8 ESV

Dried Flowers Bloom by Peter Caligiuri
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But When You Pray

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But when you pray, go into your room, and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 ESV

Regular personal prayer is not an option, a nice idea, or a path for the spiritually mature. In today’s verse, prayer is a vital part of daily life for all God’s children. And this time of prayer is not to simply bless our food or to ask for God to watch over us as we sleep. This prayer is such a part of any normal busy day that Jesus says, “Stop! Get alone with God and talk to Him about everything.” Though there is a place for corporate prayer, the prayer Jesus teaches about here is not something we do in church, or in front of our family. God’s plan and desire is for us to have a personal intimate time spent talking to Him about our doubts, questions, and even complaints about our problems, and a time to give Him praise. As we are working our way through this first week of Lent, there is no better discipline to begin with than with prayer. Without prayer we are like a bow without arrows to shoot at the target or a compass without a needle to point the way. God calls us to personal private prayer, and though it may feel awkward, or maybe even boring at first, the longer we linger and listen, the more we will sense that we aren’t alone. Jesus has gone ahead of us into our prayer room and there He is waiting for us. Will you come and pray to Him in secret? God has also promised that when we pray, that He will listen and then go with us and reward us with the answers as we go out to serve Him today!