Heaven

The Fairest of Ten Thousand

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments 
My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. Song of Solomon 5:10 KJV

Singing “The Lily of the Valley” this Sunday, brought back memories from fifty years ago, of the occasional Sunday night when we would pile in the car with friends and head off to visit the Blue Bluck Pentecostal Church. Though it was a little church out in the middle of nowhere, we would find it packed to capacity every weekend. The “worship team” consisted of the pastor, playing bass fiddle, accompanied by three guitars as well as piano. When the people sang, “Lily of the Valley”, they would clap and stamp their feet. In that little church with its wooden floors the energy would cause the floorboards to roll beneath us in waves. But of all the memories, what stands out most was of one older gentleman, who would get so excited during the singing that between stanzas he would shout out, “O glory! Hallelujah!”. His voice practically shook the rafters and had me jumping out of my skin every time he did it. Now, we may be far too proper for such an outburst in our church today, but I don’t think Jesus minded a bit. In fact, if we have truly put all our faith in Jesus, then on the day that we sweep up to glory to see His blessed face, I will bet my bottom dollar that, “O glory! Hallelujah!” will be one of the most timid expressions of our worship! Try to imagine that we will see those Seraphim and Cherubim, that Isaiah told us about crying “Holy! Holy! Holy!” so powerfully that the threshold of God’s throne room will be shaken. Then Abraham, Issac, Jacob, along with Peter, John, James and Paul will fall on their faces and cast their crowns before the feet of Jesus in worship and God’s glory will fill the place. Then, for a certainty, we will know the depths of the truth behind the lavish words of praise in this old hymn. We will be reminded of how He never forsook us, that He fed us with His manna all along the way and that His presence remained a wall of fire protecting us and that His mighty hand led us safely all the way.

See You Later Banjo

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:1-2 KJV

Last Sunday was a sad day here, when the Vet told us that our little friend Banjo had to be put down. Though Banjo had only been with us for the last three and a half months, he had become a part of my daily routine. God gave a calling to each of us and Banjo’s was to teach people (especially me!) to slow down, cuddle up with friends and trust. Almost every morning since he arrived after his home was flooded in the hurricane, Banjo and I had gone for a walk. Now, I have always been an avid walker, but my walks were much changed since my little buddy came along. With Banjo’s pace somewhere between a meander and a browse, I didn’t get much of a cardio workout anymore, but I met more of our neighbors, and on our nighttime walks I began to pause long enough to notice the stars and feel the bite of the breeze.

I was also reminded to be thankful for both the people and the puppy dogs around me, because we never know how long they will be with us, and we rarely understand how precious they are until they are gone. It is often said that Jesus never hurried. He took time to consider sparrows and slowed his pace for a blind man begging by the roadside. He marveled at wildflowers, and He sat by a well waiting for a woman who no one else would speak with. Today, Jesus is in Heaven ruling the universe by His Father’s side. His suffering is over, and He is in a place of perfect peace and unspeakable joy. Yet, He still takes time for sinners like you and me. His calls us to follow Him at a pace slow enough to learn to love our neighbors and notice the glory of God in the world that He has made. But Jesus also tells us to pack our bags, because this world is not our home. He has prepared a place for us in our Father’s house, and I can’t but believe that Banjo is outside mine romping through the front yard there and waiting for me to go with Him on some amazing walks around the block!

Arrival in Heaven

/ pastorpete51 / 21 Comments

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!”