Our Hope of Heaven

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides Thee. 
Psalm 73:25 KJV

Hoping for heaven has sometimes been given a bad rap, because many of the old hymns and sermons of yesteryear focused exclusively on heavenly bliss, while ignoring the importance of our time on earth. But the Bible says that neither our greatest victories nor our worst failures can compare with what lies ahead for us in heaven. It reminds me of when our boys were teenagers. In shop class they made themselves wooden plaques with their names carved on them to hang over the doorways to their rooms. Though no one had any doubts as to whose room was whose, they simply felt they needed to stake out their own personal territory. In the same way God has staked out a territory in heaven for everyone who has put their hope in Jesus Christ. God has personally engraved our names over the doorways of our rooms. So don’t worry. There is nothing wrong with a joyful longing to be together forever with Jesus in the place He has prepared for us. We need to be able to say, Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides Thee. Then our hope of heaven can strengthen our hearts in the storms that come our way today and lighten our load so we can carry the burdens of others. This hope comes from God and will shine through any dark night and will light our paths all the way to our Heavenly home!

Old Time Religion

Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 ESV

Though we sometimes see Him coming as Lion and sometimes as Lamb, sometimes Lord and sometimes Servant, Jesus in all HIs mercy, justice, holiness and power has never changed. When we sang Old Time Religion at Life Care Center last Friday, the response of our precious residents, was with the enthusiasm of children. As a senior myself, I have come to understand along with my friends, that before the Ancient of Days, we are still HIs Little Ones. I am reminded that after the flood when Noah first opened the ark to the dove and not the lion. He knew that God’s message of peace would never come with fierceness and power, but with the humility of that dove returning with a single olive branch to His hand. And at the resurrection, when Jesus first appeared He came as a simple gardener, to reveal Himself to Mary. Though all the power of the stars is in HIs hands, He longs most of all to hold our hearts and to rule as a loving Lord, warrior defending His own and a creator coming to restore what has been destroyed by the power of sin. That is the true religion of Jesus and the Old Time Religion that is still good enough for me! I pray you will be blessed, maybe tap your feet and sing along with us this morning.

Sunday School Hour (at the nursing home!)

… “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 NKJV

We had an awesome time at Life Care Center on Friday, and I wanted to share some of the best parts. Now, nursing home ministry is serious stuff, but no one says that we can’t have the joy of little children as we worship together. The contemporary worship songs we sing at church sound great but often miss some of the solidly Biblical lessons we learned in Sunday school. I also hope that you will not only smile and listen to this week’s song session, but that you will sing along, tap your feet or even clap! Have a blessed weekend everyone!