Let God's Word Settle It!

Hints About Heaven

"'...I go to prepare a place for you.'" John 14:2 NKJV

When it comes to heaven, the Bible gives us just enough information to whet our appetite but not satisfy our curiosity. Here are three hints about heaven: (1) '...there shall be no more curse...' (Revelation 22:3 NKJV) Unlike in Eden, Satan won't be there to tempt us so we won't stumble. We'll be at our best-forever. Every good New Year's resolution we've ever made will be a reality. (2) 'God will wipe away every tear...there shall be no more death, nor sorrow...' (Revelation 21:4 NKJV) No failing health, grieving hearts or broken homes. The 'Uppertaker' will put the undertaker out of business. (3) '...His servants shall serve Him.' (Revelation 22:3 NKJV) What is service, if not productive work? Jesus said those who are faithful over few things now, will rule over many things then. In the first paradise God gave Adam and Eve responsibilities; will He do less in the next one? 'Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end...' (Isaiah 9:7 NKJV) God's new world will be marked by 'increase'. Increased planets? Increased colours, music? Seems likely. What does the Creator do but create? Will some of us serve then, in the capacity we serve now? Couldn't earthly assignments hint at heavenly ones? One thing is for sure, you'll love it: never weary, selfish or defeated; clear mind, tireless muscles and unhindered joy. Heaven is a perfect place of perfected people with our perfect Lord. And here's the best part-Jesus promised: 'When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.' (John 14:3 NLT) From The Word for Today

The Peace of Christ by David Wilkerson

Jesus knew the disciples needed the kind of peace that would see them through any and all situations. He told his disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you” (John 14:27). This word had to amaze the disciples. In their eyes, it was almost an unbelievable promise: Christ’s peace was to become their peace.

These twelve men had marveled at the peace they had witnessed in Jesus for the past three years. Their Master was never afraid. He was always calm, never ruffled by any circumstance.

We know that Christ was capable of spiritual anger. At times he was stirred, and he knew how to weep. But he led his life on earth as a man at peace. He had peace with the Father, peace in the face of temptation, peace in times of rejection and mockery. He even had peace during storms at sea, sleeping on the deck of the boat while others trembled with terror.

The disciples had witnessed Jesus being dragged to a high ridge by an angry mob determined to kill him. Yet he calmly walked away from that scene, untouched and full of peace. All this must have caused discussion among the disciples: “How could he sleep in a storm? And how could he be so calm when that crowd was about to throw him over a cliff? People mock him, insult him, spit on him, but he never fights back. Nothing disturbs him.”

Now Jesus was promising these men the very same peace. When they heard this, the disciples must have looked at each other in wonder: “You mean, we’re going to have the same peace that he has? This is incredible.”

Jesus added, “Not as the world giveth, give I unto you” (John 14:27). This wasn’t going to be the so-called peace of a numb, zoned-out society. Nor would it be the temporary peace of the rich and famous, who try to purchase peace of mind with material things. No, this was the very peace of Christ himself, a peace that surpasses all human understanding.

When Christ promised the disciples his peace, it was as if he was saying to them and to us today: “I know you don’t understand the times you face. You don’t comprehend the Cross and the suffering I am about to face. But I want to bring your heart into a place of peace. You won’t be able to face what is coming without having my enduring peace in you. You must have my peace.”

Well, last night was a fabulous night! We went to see Avalon and Selah together in concert. Before the concert, I had the chance to finally meet another Xanga friend in person for the first time! Below are me (left) and April. It was so fun to meet her. She's a really sweet girl. I think this is a good picture of us, too!

Below are Avalon and Selah singing together at the beginning of the concert.

Below is Selah. That woman has an awesome voice! Well...they ALL do!!

Avalon, singing, "In Christ Alone"

Below is Janna Long, one of my favorite all-time singers/worshippers. She's in Avalon. In fact, she's the ONLY original member still left. She's such an inspiration to me and I LOVE to watch her sing!

Below is Avalon. Far right is Janna's husband, Greg. The couple in the middle is Jeremi and Amy Richardson. They are relatively new to Avalon.

Janna - what a lovely singer/worshipper she is!!!

Selah

They all joined up on stage again at the end of the concert.

It was a WONDERFUL night!

Mine!!

How many times in our lives have we laid claim to something or someone we THINK is ours? We are born doing it. We learn the hard way as we grow up, that the things we thought belonged to us, really don't belong to us at all. Even when we invite others to our homes, or to ride with us in our cars, are they really ours? Or do they still belong to the bank? Even the things we CAN call "ours" are only temporary here on earth. They don't really belong to us at all. They will pass away.

We are created with a need to possess things. God doesn't give us this need so that He can keep things from us. Quite the contrary. He will only encourage us to call "mine" what is excellent. Most exquisite. He gives us Himself.

The psalmist, David realized this in Psalm 18:1-2 when He called God, "My strength...my rock...my fortress...my deliverer...my shield...the horn of my salvation....my stronghold."

Jesus, when He walked the earth, only laid claim to His relationship with the Father. Everything He was, was because of God. Everything He did was for the Father. His whole existence centered around His Father...the One He could call "mine". He came to this world possessing nothing else. He had no place to call his own. He had no wife or children. He had no riches. He laid claim to nothing. He came to earth claiming nothing but His Father, and that relationship was nonnegotiable.

"God's Word tells us that God is our Father and that we are His sons and daughters. We belong to God and God belongs to us. If you and I were as unrelenting in exercising our rights of sonship and daughtership as Jesus was, our lives would be transformed."

"God may ask us to lay down the right to be acknowledged in a situation, to give our opinion, to take up for ourselves, or to be promoted as we think we deserve. The right to leave a spouse, even though we might have biblical grounds; to withhold fellowship when the other person has earned our distance; to be shown as the one who was right; to maintain our dignity in earthly matters; to exercise our basic human rights. But let this truth be engraved on your heart: you will never be required to lay aside your rights as God's child -- nor must you ever fall to Satan's temptation to weaken your position. As long as you exercise your rights of sonship, constantly reminding yourself (and your enemy) who God is and whose you are. Satan will never be able to defeat you or thwart any part of God's plan for your life. Any loss or other right God permits or persuades you to lay aside is temporary. You will ultimately receive a hundredfold in return.

"Hold your position! Never let anything or anyone talk you out of exercising your rights of sonship! Satan targets us because we are the children of God. HE is defeated when we refuse to back off from our positional rights. The last thing he wants to hear from us is, 'I am a born-again, justified child of God, and I exercise my right to rebuke you! You, devil, are defeated. You can't take me from my Father nor my Father from me.'

"No matter what you may lose or lay aside, you can call the Father of life 'mine!' As His child, you have 24/7 direct access. God will never turn a deaf ear to you or look the other way when you are treated unjustly. You aren't left to hope He hears you, loves you, or realizes what's going on. Know it... Never view your situation in any other context than God as your Father and you as His child." (quotes from Beth Moore)