Heaven

Scandalous Once More

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”             John 16:33 NLT

Not long ago Vice President Pence faced protesters as he spoke at a “Christian” university then this week David Roark, communications director of the Village recently was uninvited from a graphic design conference. Of course these are just two well known examples that point out something lots of us have been sensing for quite a while. Christianity is once more thankfully and thoroughly scandalous! This not only should not come as a surprise to us who call ourselves followers of Jesus it should be an encouragement. Maybe after a generation of our struggles to become socially acceptable we ought to be glad that being shunned puts us a little closer to the master. Paul said that His preaching was considered pure foolishness to the important people of His day. All His press coverage was negative, but God was always near in to listen to his prayers. It is much better to be scandalous here and accepted in heaven than popular on earth but a sorrow to our Jesus.

Things that are Seen

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

If when Paul tells us that he chooses to live by focusing on things he cannot see it seems mysterious remember the prayer which Jesus taught us.

Our Father – the invisible God

Who is in heaven – an unseen place

May Your name be Holy- an unknowable purity

Your kingdom come – a government we don’t see yet

Your will be done – while all the world rejects its invisible laws

Give us this day our daily bread- His unforseen miraculous provision

Forgive us our trespasses- an unexpected mercy

Lead us not – a loving guidance

Deliver us from evil- an astonishing rescue

For Yours is the kingdom power and glory – just 3 of the limitless riches of our Father

Forever Amen- an unimaginable eternity!

Almost everything He taught us to pray for is invisible. The only two things we can see are our daily bread and our sin. How wonderful a Gift He has given when He became the living bread so He could take away our sins!

Singing is a Step of Faith

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly! Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!                      Psalm 149:1-2 ESV

Singing is more than music it is a step of faith. When we open our mouth to sing we both connect back to our first childlike step of faith and strain forward towards our heavenly goal.

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We cannot see what heaven will be like, but the accompaniment of heaven’s songs can draw us towards home. I am reminded of one dear elderly saint who was found passed out on the floor by her sister. The ambulance was called and Florence was taken to the hospital where after several days she regained her strength and returned home. Florence told us that while she was unconscious she began to hear the angels singing and felt them coming closer. She said that the song grew louder and louder but then suddenly it faded and then she opened her eyes and woke up. Since she had grown up in the Polish church I was interested to know if God would have His angels singing in her childhood language or in English. But Florence said it was in neither language rather in some heavenly tongue which was completely different from anything she knew! I have never forgotten Florence’s angels and their heavenly song. God has given us songs as wings to our faith. Just as faith without works is dead, faith without words is unborn. What mightier wings of faith can there be than the words of our worship in song?

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