eternity

Power of Perspective

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Lots of us have heard famous speakers talk about suffering from the pulpits of mega churches, but don’t see how it connects to our own lives. But the testimony of the Mullett family is as down to earth and as real as it gets. I am posting part five here tonight believing that there is someone else besides me who is going through a life altering time of difficulty, grief or confusion. The good news for all of us is that God is also as real as it gets and I am so thankful that He walks by our side through every moment of our lives!

As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 ESV

An Hour That Begins With Forever

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Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” John 11:21-22 ESV

Sometimes it seem that life gets tangled up and more complicated than we ever imagined. A fog of difficulties and disappointments rolls in around us and make us wonder if where Jesus is.

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But Martha; who sometimes gets a bad rap because of her busyness, gives us the perfect example for our own pots and pans lifestyle. She believed that even though her brother lay in the grave and nothing was working out as she had hope even in the fog bank of her life that Jesus still knew the way. Martha still believed that as long as Jesus was there that “Even now” there was still hope. She believed in something she couldn’t see or understand.

When Jesus answered her He said something He had never told anyone; “I Am the Resurrection and the Life!” Jesus wanted her to know that she didn’t need to wait for some far off day in eternity. Instead  in His presence is an eternal now.

 

An Hour That Begins With Forever

 When a fog rolls in from the sea

On those mornings just dripping and gray

Remember Jesus said He will guide us

For forever and that means today

So call folks, to come sit at His table

Where forever Jesus sits and He waits

When an hour that begins with forever

Comes by and a brand new day breaks

An Hour That Begins With Forever  Peter Caligiuri 2020

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Our Future Hope

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This month I made a new friend. His name is Marcos and he is a resident at a local nursing home.  His room-mate can’t remember any family coming to visit and the aide who helps bring people in to our church service asked if I would have time to stop in. People like my  friend Marcos are everywhere. What hope do we have to offer them?

“How sweet to hold a newborn baby – And feel the pride and joy he gives”

Go the lines from the Gaither song “Because He Lives” The sweetness of holding a baby is nowhere seen more powerfully than in a nursing home. Sadly there are few people willing to bring their babies in so the staff provides lifelike dolls for the residents to cradle. They gently rock their baby and their faces light up with smiles. It is almost as if God has built into us a response of hope for the future every time we see a tiny baby.

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Whether sitting in a nursing facility or standing in a cap and gown waiting to graduate from high school our future hope is always in the love of God. His plans for us are to give us hope. His plans for our future are always for our good. We can trust Him till our final breathe here on earth, knowing that in a moment we will be breathing in our first breathe of heaven!

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.     Jeremiah 29:11