Heaven
How Can We Not…
On February 28, 2002, God healed my mother. Bernice Ruth Taylor went to be with the Lord. No longer did she suffer the physical ailments that had ravaged her body. She was ready to be with Jesus. She took off her oxygen mask, smiled at us, and after we verbalized our love for one another, she closed her eyes. However, none of us were prepared for the next moment. Mama’s eyes flew open and she startled us with, “boo!” I’ll never know how long she’d planned that dramatic and joyous moment or if it was a spur of the moment idea. Regardless, she made her point. She wasn’t scared. She was, in fact, excited. Her attitude reflected Jeremiah 17:14 which says, “Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, for You are my praise.” My mother knew Jesus was her HEALER and that she was on her way to Him for her complete, ultimate healing. With that she closed her eyes a final time on earth and opened them in heaven…fully healed. How can we not praise Him? Jesus is our hope. He is our healer. On this we need to focus in these difficult days.
Lord God, You are our HEALER and we praise You!
Behind the Backdrop of the Fireworks Display
With the night sky as a backdrop, many July 4th watchers “ooh” and “awed” at the firework display. I can’t help but grin at how easily amused we are. Certainly our Heavenly Father who created the night backdrop must smile. I wonder if Jesus ever leans over and says, “Aren’t they going to be blown away when they see the Light display of Us?” Who will see the glorious display of LIGHTS and GLORY emanating from heaven’s throne room? Those who have placed their faith in the KING of the NATIONS. Yes, all people throughout the world who have responded “yes” to Jesus’s gift of salvation will be at the Heavenly display of LIGHTS. How can we be certain that Jesus is the Savior of not only the Jews but of all the nations? Jesus himself said He is as recorded in Matthew 28:16-20, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
As you think about the fireworks display you watched on July 4, think beyond it to the One who made the night sky. Say a prayer of thanks to the King of the Nations, the light of the world.
Heavenly Father, we smile in anticipation of the display of GLORY emanating from YOU, KING of the NATIONS. Stir our hearts to live for Your pleasure and the salvation of souls throughout the world.
Unclean Lips and Lives
I don’t think there’s any way we can get our minds around what the holiness of the LORD is like. I don’t think we have the slightest idea of the magnitude of heaven’s glory. Isaiah attempted to describe heaven. (Isaiah 6:1-4a) “In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, …. And one called out to another and said ‘HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.’ And the foundations of the thresholds trembled…” What was Isaiah’s response? “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips – And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.” Isaiah 6:5. Isaiah’s response to seeing the LORD was a profound awareness that he was unclean. Were it NOT for JESUS bearing our sins on the cross, it would not be possible for us to live in the HOLY, HOLY, HOLY LORD’S presence; which is why we praise HIM today and every day.
We praise You, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY Lord!
How Can We Not…
On February 28, 2002, God healed my mother. Bernice Ruth Taylor went to be with the Lord. No longer did she suffer the physical ailments that had ravaged her body. She was ready to be with Jesus. She took off her oxygen mask, smiled at us, and after we verbalized our love for one another, she closed her eyes. However, none of us were prepared for the next moment. Mama’s eyes flew open and she startled us with, “boo!” How long she’d planned that dramatic and joyous moment, I’ll never know; or if it was a spur of the moment idea. Regardless, she made her point. She wasn’t scared. She was, in fact, excited. Her attitude reflected Jeremiah 17:14 which says, “Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, for You are my praise.” My mother knew Jesus was her HEALER and that she was on her way to Him. With that, she closed her eyes a final time on earth and opened them in heaven…fully healed. How can we not praise Him? Jesus is our hope. He is our healer. On this we need to focus in these difficult days.
Lord God, You are our HEALER and we praise You!
Behind the Backdrop of the Fireworks Display
With the night sky as a backdrop, the July 4th crowd “ooh” and “awe” at the firework display. I can’t help but grin at how easily amused we are. Certainly, our Heavenly Father, who created the backdrop, must be smiling. I wonder if His Son ever leans over and says, “Aren’t they going to be blown away when they see the Light display of Us?” Who will see the glorious display of LIGHTS and GLORY emanating from the throne? Those who have placed their faith in the KING of the NATIONS. Yes, all people throughout the world who have responded “yes” to Jesus’s gift of salvation will be at the Heavenly display of LIGHTS. How can we be certain that Jesus is the Savior of not only the Jews but of all the nations of the world? Jesus himself said He is as recorded in Matthew 28:16-20, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
This year, as you admire the firework display, look beyond it to Who made the backdrop. Say a prayer of thanks to the One who is behind the black curtain and that when it is drawn, you’ll see a fireworks display like never before emanating from God’s throne. Happy July 4th!
Heavenly Father, we smile in anticipation of the display of GLORY emanating from YOU, KING of the NATIONS. Stir our hearts to live for more than our pleasure; to rather live for Your pleasure – the salvation of souls throughout the world.
Unclean Lips and Lives
I don’t think there’s any way we can get our minds around what the holiness of the LORD is like. I don’t think we have the slightest idea of the magnitude of heaven’s glory. Isaiah attempted to describe heaven. (Isaiah 6:1-4a) “In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, …. And one called out to another and said ‘HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.’ And the foundations of the thresholds trembled…” What was Isaiah’s response? “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips – And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.” Isaiah 6:5. Isaiah’s response to seeing the LORD was a profound awareness that he was unclean. Were it NOT for JESUS bearing our sins on the cross, it would not be possible for us to live in the HOLY, HOLY, HOLY LORD’S presence; which is why we praise HIM today and every day.
We praise You, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY Lord!
How Can We Not…
February 28, 2002 God healed my mother. Bernice Ruth Taylor went to be with the Lord. No longer did she suffer the physical ailments that had ravaged her body. She was ready to be with Jesus. She took off her oxygen mask, smiled at us, and after we verbalized our love for one another, she closed her eyes. However, none of us were prepared for the next moment. Mama’s eyes flew open and she startled us with, “boo!” How long she’d planned that dramatic and joyous moment, I’ll never know; or if it was a spur of the moment idea. Regardless, she made her point. She wasn’t scared. She was, in fact, excited. Her attitude reflected Jeremiah 17:14 which says, “Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, for You are my praise.” My mother knew Jesus was her HEALER and that she was on her way to Him. With that, she closed her eyes a final time on earth and opened them in heaven…fully healed. How can we not praise Him?
Lord God, You are our HEALER and we praise You!
Praise to the KING of the NATIONS
Great and marvelous are Your works, O LORD God, the Almighty;
Righteous and true are Your ways,
KING OF THE NATIONS.”
Have you ever received a call from a loved one or friend and been told, “I just prayed to receive Christ?” That happened to me just now and tears of joy are rolling down my checks.
The words I’d previously typed for today won’t do. Instead, I appeal to you to consider that God gave John a glimpse of heaven so he could tell us that it’s real; so each one of us can respond to God’s gift of salvation.
The best visual I know to explain how we will one day be raised following our death is to consider a bulb such as an tulip. The bulb looks dead. Human hands bury it in the ground. But, God created life within the bulb and it rises to a new life in a changed form.
Every person will die. But, our burial doesn’t mean we will no longer live. God created us with a soul that lives after the body dies. Every soul goes before God.
In Revelation in a scene in heaven, God lets us know that He is the KING OF THE NATIONS; putting to end the belief that it doesn’t matter who you worship as long as you worship something/someone. It does matter. It matters for your soul.
The soul of the person who rejected God’s gift of salvation through Jesus will appear before God; just as the soul of the person who received God’s gift of salvation will appear before Him. God will honor each person’s response to His gift of salvation. The soul who rejected His gift of life with Him will live eternally apart from Him. The soul of the person who by faith received God’s gift of forgiveness through Jesus will live eternally with Him. And, if anyone thinks they’ll get a second chance after they die, the Bible clearly explains that is not true.
God’s offer of eternal life with Him through the forgiveness of sins is clear:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son; that whoever believes in Him will not die, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
“Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” Romans 10:11
“WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” Romans 10:13
If you’e never repented of your sins and called on the name of Jesus for forgiveness, would you now?
Lord, God, KING of the NATIONS, I call on You to save me. I know I’ve sinned. I ask You to forgive me through Jesus’s death on the cross on my behalf. Heavenly Father, please send Your Holy Spirit into my soul and cleanse me. Take away my sins and seal me for eternity with You in heaven. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, God cleaned your soul of your sins and sent His Holy Spirit into it. You can now begin to know your Heavenly Father in a new and special way. You’ll discover that Jesus is God, but also your friend. And, the Holy Spirit is your helper. I want to help you grow in your understanding. Email or call me. I’ll send you my Bible study, Discovering His Passion. Subscribe to this free daily post so you can grow in your understanding of who God is. I’m happy and excited for you. Yes, my eyes are filled with tears of joy for you.
“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will he not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32
Praise Jesus, Our HEALER
“Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, for You are my praise.”
February 28, 2002 God healed my mother. Bernice Ruth Taylor went to be with the Lord. No longer did she suffer the physical ailments that had ravaged her body. She was ready to be with Jesus. She took off her oxygen mask, smiled at us, and after we verbalized our love for one another, she closed her eyes. However, none of us were prepared for the next moment. Mama’s eyes flew open and she startled us with, “boo!” How long she’d planned that dramatic and joyous moment, I’ll never know; or if it was a spur of the moment idea. Regardless, she made her point. She wasn’t scared. She was, in fact, excited. Jesus was her HEALER, and she was on her way to Him. With that, mama closed her eyes a final time. The LORD is our HEALER. How can we not praise Him?
Lord God, You are our HEALER and we praise You!