Heaven

Meet You in the Morning!

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments 
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.

Welcome Home!

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All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—everyone—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 ESV

Though we had traveled quite a bit around the United Staes to visit our families, my wife and I had never been overseas till were invited to visit friends in Switzerland. Naturally, we delightedly accepted and as the time grew closer, we anxiously awaited our passports to arrive in the mail. Then, after months of planning the day finally arrived and we headed off to the airport. Once in the air my wife was completely at peace and enjoying the flight, but the long hours over the ocean was a little intimidating for me, and it took more than a few quick prayers to calm my nerves. The ten days of our visit passed quickly, and when the day of our return came, we were sad to leave our friends, yet happy to be going home. After landing back in New York, of course had to pass through customs, and with our still shiny new passports gripped in our hands, we waited patiently in line. But as we stepped to the front and handed them to the officer, we were startled to hear him say, “There is a problem here.”

A bit sleepy from the long flight home, his words jolted me wide awake. “What problem?” I asked in confusion.

“These passport aren’t valid.” He replied, “You never signed them!”

“Oh no!” I exclaimed. “I am so sorry! We’ve never traveled out of the country before, and I had no idea!” I pleaded.

The gentleman gave me a smile of assurance then quietly said. “Well I’m not supposed to do this but just go to the back of the line and sign them. Then we’ll try again.”

Relief swept over us as we hurriedly made our way to the end of the line, found the page where our signatures needed to be and hurriedly signed. This time as we handed our passports to the officer he grinned, stamped them, and said, “Welcome home!”

Just like the wandering sheep in today’s verse we had a serious problem. We knew where we needed to be, we had no right to go there because we had never signed the documents. In the same way, God has provided eternal salvation to everyone who will put their faith in Jesus, but we have a part to play, by personally signing our name on the line. Our entrance is assured by grace, but each of us must personally receive it by faith. Only then will our entry be assured so that when we arrive at Heaven’s gate, we will hear the Father calling out, “Welcome Home!”

The Owner’s Promise

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My store stands nearly empty
There is little on the shelf
Just an ounce or two of patience
Though there’s several pounds of self

The old ceiling paint is peeling
There are scratches on the floor
But hope still welcomes people
Just outside the open door

Though some say I should give up
Yet a hope within me burns
For I trust the owner’s promise
That tomorrow He returns


Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. Luke 12:37 ESV

The Owner’s Promise 
By Peter Caligiuri
Copyright © 2026
All rights reserved

"That time of year thou mayest in me behold
When yellow leaves, or few or none do hang"
William Shakespeare - Sonnet 73