Heaven

The Face of My Father

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What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:31-32 KJV

“Go sit on your bed until your father get’s home!” were the most terrifying ten words of my childhood. Those long minutes or hours as I waited for the return of my stepfather from work only magnified the fears that I had of the inevitable punishment that awaited me. The last person’s face I wanted to see was his. After I became a Christian it took me quite a few years to be able to pray to the Father. Sure I said the words in corporate worship but when I was alone I would pray only to Jesus. I would say things like, “I’m only coming to you Jesus. Will you forgive me and help me?” Sometimes it felt like I was still sitting on my bed, waiting for punishment. The last person I wanted to see was my Heavenly Father. How little did I know of the tender love of a father who sent His own Son to die in my place. How much He must have wanted me to run to Him and how patient He was for me to slowly unwrap the mystery of the great -great love of His heart. He was not looking forward to coming home so He could pull out His celestial belt to punish me. Instead He had sent Jesus to die in my place so that He could wrap me in His arms. God was not listening to the long litany of my sins, becoming angrier by the second. Instead, He was preparing to freely give me anything I needed because of Jesus Christ. What a love is this? Now I look forward to His return! In fact the very first face I l want to see is the face of my true and eternal father in Heaven. All this time He has been by my side sitting next to me and loving me as His child!

This was Dad at Our Wedding (I look nervous!)

Our Sunday Best

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Perhaps the younger generation has missed out on the experience of Sunday best, so I’ll recap briefly. Even when I was just seven or eight I had to put on dress pants, a shirt and tie and last but not least : black leather shoes. I say last because the Sunday morning ritual given me meant shining those shoes until they gleamed brightly enough to pass my stepfather’s inspection. I’m pretty sure that none of this made us any holier than folks who troop into church with shorts and T-shirts but it did speak volumes about how special the day was to us.

The Bible also lays out a Sunday going to meeting outfit for us to wear. In The third chapter of Colossians Paul tells us to put on compassion, kindness, patience and love. That inspired me this morning to share a little verse. If you are getting dressed for church it is full of fashion advice that just might help coordinate your outfit.

Getting dressed for church on Sunday
There's some clothing we must choose
And an outfit we must pick out
Before slipping on our shoes

Now the Bible points out kindness
And forgiveness are in fashion
And gentleness and patience
Should be worn with God's compassion

But designer jeans of selfish pride
And envy just don't make it
And bitterness should not be put on
Nor the golden chains of gossip

Then over all our Sunday best
What brings it all together
Is the wedding gown of God's own love
That He gives to wear forever!

Wearing Our Sunday Best
by Peter Caligiuri
Copyright 2021
All rights reserved

Too Heavenly Minded?

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Colossians 3:2-3 KJV

“Don’t be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good!” is a phrase I have heard a lot. It is usually stated with a knowing grin as if to say, “You’ll come around and get a grip on reality one day.” But the older I get and the closer the realities of Heaven become, the more I realize that nothing on earth is more important or more real than Heaven. In fact, today’s verse tells us not to keep our eyes on earth but urges us to set our sights and affections on Heaven because that is where Jesus is.

One day, the flowers in our gardens will die, the mementos in our China hutches will sit on a shelf in a thrift shop and the savings in our bank accounts will be spent. But the things of heaven, like the love of God for a neighbor, the joy of having sins forgiven and the peace that comes from knowing God will never grow old. One day we will close our eyes on earth and open them to see Jesus. A moment will come when we draw our last breath on earth and our first in heaven. When all is said and done, no one will do more good on earth than someone who is always Heavenly minded. May our highest goal be to sing all the verses God gives us to our song on earth, so that one day we can finish the chorus with the angels at the feet of our Heavenly Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!