The Hereafter

 “The Hereafter”, what does that make you think of? 

A few weeks ago, I was talking with a friend whose grandmother had passed away.  We could both visualize what she must now be experiencing and were both a little envious!  Have you ever thought about what the hereafter will be like?  Many people do not like to talk about death…it is just morbid and sad.  But…NOT for the believer!  The Bible tells of the glories of heaven and eternal life.

Did you know that the Bible mentions “7 no mores” in heaven?  My grandmother taught me these years ago! (Revelation 21 & 22)

No More:

1.       Seas

2.       Sorrow

3.       Pain

4.       Crying

5.       Curse

6.       Night

7.       Death

As I continue to watch the news and the death toll in our state continues to climb, I am devastated.  As I watch my family members try to rebuild their lives after losing their homes, I am heartbroken for them.  As I write this, friends are burying their daughter.  I look around this world and wonder, Why?  Why do bad things happen to such good people?  Sin is my answer.  

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

This world we live in will never be easy because sin entered the world.  However, as believers in Christ Jesus, we have hope!  We have Hope that one day we will be surrounded by indescribable beauty and glory.  Eternal life will mean a whole new way of life…people will have new bodies and a new place to live.

Jesus says in the Bible (John 14:3) “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

When we enter into Heaven, “Why” will not matter anymore!  We will be in the presence of the Lord.   If you are reading this blog, God is not finished with you!  Live a life of obedience to Him, so that when he greets you, He will say, “well done my good and faithful servant!”

Time

 

I was so proud of my seven year old son last Sunday.  As we sat in “big church”, he listened intently to the preacher’s sermon.  He turned to the correct scripture in his Bible and even asked me a question relating to the sermon.  However, we had a new pastor who was filling in for ours.   Let’s just say he went past 12 o’clock.  My child took my arm to look at my watch.  I began smiling because I knew what he was thinking.  He stated, “Mom, it is 12.”  Smiling, I shook my head in agreement that yes, it was 12.  Very seriously, he said, “Why are you smiling?”  HA!  He then closed his Bible, zipped it in his case and sat quietly watching my watch.  Let’s just say that at 12 O’clock, he tuned the preacher out!

It made me wonder, if I do that to.  Do I give a certain amount of time to the Lord, and when it is up, shut Him off?  Do I turn to God and serve him when it is convenient for me?  How about you?  Are you a Sunday Morning Church goers and the rest of the week, you are own your own?

This life isn’t about us.  It is about our savior, Jesus Christ.

John 3:30 says, “He must increase and we must decrease.”

Have you felt God calling you to do something but felt you didn’t have the time?  I have!  Are you doing what God has put you on earth to do?  If you are still living, there is a reason.  God has a plan for your life.  But remember, He didn’t say it would always be easy or convenient.

What are you feeling led to do?

*invite a neighbor to church?

*witness to a lost friend?

*cook a meal for a family going through a trial?

*join a ministry at church or in the community?

*start a Bible Study?

Whatever it is, I pray that you follow God in it.  It will be a blessing to join God in His work!

Fear

Hi Blogger friends!  I’m so sorry that I was not “with it” last month!  As many of you know, I am expecting my 3^rd child and I have been exhausted!  Many things are going undone around my house including my blog!  My taste for foods has drastically changed and wow what a sense of smell I now have!  Ha…The joys of pregnancy!  Please forgive me!  I hope to be posting regularly again soon.

Expecting my 3^rd child has been much different than my first 2.  Maybe it is because I’m older, but I am much more fearful.  With my first son, I was oblivious to the fact that something could go wrong.  Even going on bed rest at 32 weeks and delivering at 36, I was never fearful about the unknown.  With my second child I had thoughts about something being wrong, but they were few and far between.  I am only nine weeks pregnant and for some reason I am bathing this child in my womb with more prayer than I ever did my first 2 because of fear.  

Now, I know that God does not give us a sense of fear.  However, I do believe that if and when we are fearful He is the One to run to!

Are you fearful about anything in your life right now?

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Henry Blackaby stated, “The only fear the God encourages in a Christian’s life is the fear of God (2 Cor. 5:10-11; Heb. 10:31).”

There is no reason to live in fear of life experiences when we have the mighty presence of the Holy Spirit with-in us.  Ask God to free you from any fear you are experiencing.  I did!  

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for taking away my fear.  Lord I pray that if anyone reading this blog is also help captive by a fear that they will give it to you and let it go.  Take hold of their lives and help them to live a life which focuses on hope instead. Amen