Posts Tagged: Heaven
“The Wonders of Heaven and Earth”
A friend emailed me to thank me for my post titled, “You Can’t Hear Good News too Often.” She said, “I always appreciate GOOD NEWS! Especially lately.” I replied as follows:
“Yes, we all need good news—always.
And we always need to remember that “this world is not our home; we’re just a passin’ through,” to paraphrase that hill gospel song.
And remember: As you and I have decided, Heaven must have lots of books!
I have a recurring dream. In it, I am wandering through a very large, beautiful house. Every room is beautiful and every room is different. Some are filled with light and some with dark paneling, a fireplace, and (you guessed it!) books. I always have a profound sense of peace and joy and wonder while I am wandering through the rooms. Even when I awake, the peace and joy and wonder remain.
This planet, this life, is filled with wonder too. My prayer is that you and I and all of us will be captured by that wonder today, and that we will be as prepared as we can be for the wonder of Heaven.
“Thoughts Before Going Home”
Monday, February 25, 2019
Our time is coming to an end soon here in Florida. My goal is to enjoy the last few days we have here. I’ve had a really wonderful time. The warmth and sunshine have been delicious. So has the food. Long walks on the beach, miniature golf, the flowers, and seagulls—all wonderful! And, of course, being with my sweetheart, my wife, has been a great treat.
However, it will be good to be
Our time on earth will also end soon. We need to enjoy it, to cherish it, to take good care of the earth, of one another, of ourselves. But soon, we’ll be going home.
Paul reminds the Philippians that their real citizenship is in Heaven. (Philippians 3:20) Why did he need to remind them? Because they, like all of us, were prone to forget.
C.S. Lewis says that God gives us some nice inns along the way, but he never lets us mistake them for home.
The Greco-Roman philosopher Epictetus says something similar.
“Consider when, on a voyage, your ship is anchored; if you go on shore to get water you may along the way amuse yourself with picking up a shellfish, or an onion. However, your thoughts and continual attention ought to be bent towards the ship, waiting for the captain to call on board; you must then immediately leave all these things, otherwise you will be thrown into the ship, bound neck and feet like a sheep.
So it is with life. If, instead of an onion or a shellfish, you are given a wife or child, that is fine. But if the captain calls, you must run to the ship, leaving them, and regarding none of them. But, if you are old, never go far from the ship: lest, when you are called, you should be unable to come in time.”
Enjoy life, wherever you are, but don’t miss the boat!
“SO MUCH JOY!”
Some days, there is so much joy! Not all days. But many.
Joy in the fact that the semi-final softball game was rained out this morning. Not that I didn’t want to play. I just rejoice because the rainout is a fact.
Joy in weeding the flower bed with my sweetheart, even though I forgot to wear a belt, and my shorts were in constant danger of falling down.
Joy in writing a blog about mental noise.
Joy in looping Rich Mullins’ song “Calling Out Your Name.”
Joy in the breeze outside.
Joy in my puppy sleeping on my lap, as I write this post.
Joy in the goldfinch outside my study window.
Joy in having lived.
Joy in living right now.
Joy in thinking about my own death.
Joy in getting the paperwork together for donating my body to U.C. Medical.
Joy in looking forward to Heaven.
Joy in this planet.
Joy in my wife making gumbo for our dinner tonight.
Many years ago, a friend said to me, “You know, I think you have more joy than you know.”
Yes! And now, I know!
Readers, may you be joyous today! And may you come to enjoy your joy, and to know that you are in joy!
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- “Even a Sliver of Light” April 9, 2024“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:6, English Standard Version) I missed the total eclipse yesterday. There were a number of good reasons for this, but […]
- “The Process in Miracles and the Miracle of Process” March 11, 2024“2 Kings 5:1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids […]
- “The Power of Encouragement—Even for Old People” March 10, 2024“But encourage each other every day while it is ‘today.’ Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you.” (Hebrews 3:13, New Century Version) Yesterday, I was walking at a nearby park. There was a large group of young people some of whom were running while other young people […]
- “Endurance” March 10, 2024“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36, English Standard Version) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us […]
- “The Limits of Non-Judgmentalism” February 24, 2024“Matt. 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. Matt. 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2, English Standard Version) This morning, in my virtual 12-step meeting, we discussed the topic of judgmentalism. There were many wise […]
- “Delighting in Being Told What to Do?!?” February 23, 2024“Psa. 112:1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures […]
- “Character is the Real Lesson” January 19, 2024I am often confused about what lesson I’m really supposed to be learning. For example, this morning I was trying to knock out several Spanish lessons. My intentions were a lot better than my internet connection. I’ve done three lessons. Or rather, I’ve done two lessons. One of them I did twice because the internet […]
- “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked” January 1, 2024Each year, I try to come up with one word or a short phrase for what I intend to work on in the upcoming year. 2024 is “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked”. What?!! What does that even mean? So glad that you asked! Jesus said to his disciples, “Why do you look at the speck […]
- “Searching for the Noble One” December 26, 2023My wife and I were reading Luke, chapter 2 on Christmas Day. Luke 2 talks about the shepherds being told to look for this very special child—in fact, this King—in a stable. I prefer the word “barn”. I grew up on a farm. I know what a barn is. A stable is entirely too biblical […]
- “That Don’t Impress God Much” December 14, 2023DTEB, “That Don’t Impress God Much” “That Don’t Impress Me Much” (Song by Robert John Lange and Shania Twain) Micah 6:8 (MSG) “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be […]
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