Tag: heaven

The End of One and Something New

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The final leg of the journey home

Some days, I think it’s not good using The Daily Bible for my 2025 devotional. I did  extra readings the days King David’s son, Absalom, attempted a takeover of his throne behind his back. Then came King David, setting things up for his son Solomon to succeed him, amassing the things Solomon would need to build God’s temple.

Daily Bible in its carry case

An Invite

The good thing about the extra readings is that I caught up to the actual date in the readings. That date has been off since I began this Bible after my trip to Uganda. Speaking of which:

I was invited to a luncheon at my son Alex’s church on May 10th. I will be the featured speaker, sharing about the Uganda 2025 trip. If you’re in the Malone/Helena area, contact me, and I’ll get you the details.

Devotions

In The Daily Bible, I am reading through the Psalms. Each day’s reading is up to 6 psalms long. This means I could write many pages from what the Spirit is sharing, but as I decide to, I’m on to the next day’s reading, and there’s more I want to share!

Such is my writing journey. Many times, it’s not a LACK of things to write, but deciding WHAT to write from my many thoughts! This is just as immobilizing as “writer’s block.”

A Trip

Here we are, on our last trip to the Finger Lakes area for Onsite Testing Services. [Monday/Tuesday] Long days because we’re testing mostly school bus drivers, who can only be tested between bus runs. This means breaks in the schedule of several hours.  We can only spend so much of these times finding places to eat and eating.

Although the foods we had today were good – we just had a fish fry from Mark’s Pizzaria in Geneva – where we’re spending the night – it was good to park at a ShurFine parking lot for a little nap early this afternoon. We turned in all our equipment at the office this evening when we completed our two days in the Finger Lakes area.  Another era of our life completed!

A Questiion

A common question resurfaced recently.  If God is good, why is there evil? And the companion question… If God made everything, why is there evil?

I am working on a lesson from one of my students from Crossroads Prison Ministry.  He’s working through the course “Biblical Truths In Depth”. This is Lesson 3, and I’d like to share some Scriptures that may settle these questions.  Caution, this may not fully satisfy!

Bible-study

In God’s providence and plan, “Though it is a great mystery,  even evil and human sin are somehow  included within this plan, yet God is perfectly good.” Biblical Truths In Depth  – Lesson 3, p. 29.

Job 2:9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

Peter said of the crucifixion under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration:

Acts 2:23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

Even this heinous crime carried out on God’s Son was according to the Father’s plans.

Does this help us understand this verse? Ecclesiastes chapter 11:1                                    As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

There is one thing clear from my reading of the Psalms:  we must bow in humble adoration before the great and mighty LORD we serve. His plans are good, and He is always faithful!

An Interview

This is the Randy Kay interview I just watched. Robert shares something that makes sense to me. He said time did not begin until the fall of Adam and Eve. Before sin entered mankind, all was eternity. This is why we can’t make sense of the timeline of creation.

Thank you to those who support me by reading this blog.

God With Us

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Last post I told you about reading Chad Gonzales’ devotional Think Like Jesus and today I would like to share another day with you. Day 35: The Father Is Always With Me.

Don’t be obsessed with money but live content with what you have, for you always have God’s presence. For hasn’t he promised you, “I will never leave you, never! And I will not loosen my grip on your life!” So we can say with great confidence: “I know the Lord is for me and I will never be afraid of what people may do to me!”

Hebrews 13:5-6 TPT

Emanuel, God with us… soon we will hear Christmas carols proclaiming this message. What does it mean in reality? Because Jesus came in the flesh, fully man and fully God, he showed us what it’s like having the Father dwelling inside a human body. Thanks to Father sending us the Holy Spirit after Jesus rose from the dead, we have Father God inside of us, Father God all around us, once Jesus Christ comes into our being by faith.

So, even if everyone leaves us or turns against us as Jesus foretold the disciples all would in John 16:32-33, the Father did not leave him and will not leave us. In our small group, we are reading Present Perfect Finding God in the Now by Gregory A. Boyd.

This book is all about inviting God into every moment of our lives. It’s remembering that Father is always with us, waiting to join with us to bring Heaven down to earth. This means we can live full of peace, always have joy, and always overcome because in Christ, we always have the victory.

16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Romans 14:16-18

This passage is about food and drink and Jewish Law, but in the midst of it, we see our portion in Father God here on earth as it is in Heaven: righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If we abide in Christ and he in us, no matter what state we are in, we can be joyous, peaceable, and firm in our standing with the Father.

My comment posted on Hannah’s A Grateful Life Lived blog:

Oh, Hannah! Brokenness brings wholeness in the Lord’s mighty hand. Tears are from the overwhelming move of the Spirit on our human bodies that can’t contain it, whether from joy, pain, or conviction. Remember, the Lord is always with you and in you. The light within us is the light of Christ! Let it suffuse your being until there’s no room for anything but God’s presence and thanksgiving for all He has and is doing in your life. Shalom, precious sister!

You can quickly read her post by clicking here:

https://agratefullifelived.com/2022/11/11/somehow/

My dear readers, may you be broken, overwhelmed by the presence of the Lord inside and all around you. May this lead to new revelations of who you are in Christ, and boldness to step out in the plans and purposes He has for you, so you can do your part in bringing Heaven culture -and the Father’s will- down in the midst of your life here on earth.

Here is a view of God’s bounty harvested from our garden and settled in our storage cabinet. This was taken before all the chutneys and apple sauce I processed in October and November, which displaced things and filled up most of the top shelf. It’s satisfying seeing the fruits of our labor and know we are able to bless so many people besides ourselves with what God has provided. May you experience God’s abundance so you can bless others as well. Shalom dear ones!

Unexpected Journey

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This week I finished reading Heaven an unexpected journey by Jim Woodford with Dr. Thom Gardner. The subtitle: One Man’s Experience with Heaven, Angels, & The Afterlife. Each chapter ends with Take The Journey[TTJ] written by Dr. Gardner. He brings you into the main part of each chapter and helps you meditate on what Jim has shared from his heavenly experience. There is a prayer written at the end of each TTJ. I want to share a couple things from Jim’s story here.

Chapter 6 is titled: The Sticky Love of God. Jim was shown horses in heaven. Everything is made of light. When he touched the horses, the light radiated out of them as he began to pull his hand away. The essence of God’s love is the light! Like some of the gooey things our kids play with, it sticks. God’s love is sticky, elastic, drawing us back to Himself. He knows how we are made because He made us. It was out of His love that we were created, that all things in heaven and on earth were created. The light and love of God is in each of us. Jim found out the angels recognize it, and all creation in heaven recognizes it and reaches out to us to connect with the love of God that is part of the way God created us.

After experiencing heaven, Jim can love himself as God does, and love all people as God loves him. Jim hung in the balance on the precipice of hell. A demon even tore at his back with its claws as a voice from hell was beckoning him, “Jim, come with us, We’re here for you! This is where you belong!” (pg. 56) When Jim found himself outside his truck, outside his body, he said, “God, forgive me!” When he was on the precipice between heaven and hell he said, “God help me!” Those six words saved him and changed his life on earth and eternity forever.

Psalm 10:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

Have you heard the evil one speaking to you as those in hell spoke to Jim? Have you wondered if Jesus could cover ALL your sins? If your soul can be healed from the damage done to you by other people by yourself or others over your lifetime? Have you come deep enough into God’s love expressed in Jesus Christ’s suffering, dying and being raised to life that you can love those around you?

Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Have you come to Jesus? Have you come close enough to learn from Him? have you found rest and the light burden when you share it with Him? Enter into the rest of the Lord. It’s the best place to be! I recommend Heaven an unexpected journey to anyone who wants to understand the love of God, the light of God, the encouragement we need to live this life and truly trust that you have a home in heaven.

2 Corithinans 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

In other news, I want to thank the Global Awakening team from the Global School of Supernatural Ministry (GSSM) for coming last weekend to do a conference at our church. You can catch the services on our church website or connect with the ministry with the links below.

http://www.airportchristianfellowship.org/church-events/

https://globalawakening.com/

Photo by Mu0103lina Su00eerbu on Pexels.com

During the conference, I was given a word from the Lord about being a sunflower. It had to do with turning toward the Sun (God) and many seeds, multiplying my giftings and sharing with others to raise up others to come into the things God has planned for them. It encouraged me, the Lord assured me He knows I’m growing closer and is pleased with the time I am setting aside to connect with Him.

How is your time going seeking the Lord while He may be found? Currently, I use the timer on my phone and set five minutes for singing to the Lord, ten minutes for praying/singing in tongues, fifteen minutes for reading the Bible and praying. Sometimes the thirty minutes spreads to an hour, sometimes it’s cut short. The Lord is happy with whatever you can purpose to bring to the relationship Jesus died to give you. Remember, it’s not a religion, it is all about relationship!

Psalm 40:16 Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
Let such as love Your salvation say continually,
“The Lord be magnified!”

My prayer for you is that you will rejoice and be glad, that your mouth continually be filled with praise, and you find your strength in the stillness. Also, that you will daily experience the Joy of the Lord, our strength. Amen. Jim says Joy is defined as ‘living on the edge of a huge laugh’! (pg. 166) Have you ever tasted that joy?

Let us all unplug for a bit each day!

Earth and Heaven

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Welcome faithful readers to another musing. This has been a week of much reading; mostly the Christian romances in Love’s Treasure Limited Edition. It’s $9.99 for the Kindle edition, or free with Kindle Unlimited if you want to delve into an excellent, varied group of relationship stories. It has definitely helped me appreciate my husband more and contemplate other relationships I’m involved in. I’m also enjoying different venues and some British and Aussie settings as well.

Love's Treasure - A Christian Romance Collection: Limited Edition by [Juliette Duncan, Marion Ueckermann, Autumn Macarthur, Joy Ohagwu, T.K. Chapin, Lorana Hoopes, Elizabeth Maddrey, Evangeline Kelly, Valerie Comer, Naomi Rawlings, Valerie M. Bodden, Melissa Tagg, Mandi Blake, Carol Moncado]

This week, we have been amid frequent rain showers and yesterday a touch of hurricane winds and rain. This means I spent one day reading and playing MahJong, was glad to be inside doing my weekly cleaning for my friend the next day, and John and I spent yesterday running errands, searching for a new printer, donating blood, and dinner at Red Lobster with friends. It was good to get out together, even on a rainy day. This is the first time John has donated blood in many years, but he’s right back into the swing of things; he pre-registered for the next donation before I did! He’s glad he had time to get a haircut amid our errands. We also hadn’t eaten at Red Lobster in a couple years and had a great time with a couple we just met a month ago, getting to know more about each other as we shared a delectable meal; including dessert!

Image result for Old People Eating Clip Art

On the heaven end, I’ve been thinking about some things on earth we won’t have use for in heaven. I’ve had a passion for books and videos about people who have seen heaven for many years. The newest revelator I’ve met was on Elijah Streams recently, Kim Robinson. As with Kat Kerr, the Lord has taken her to see heaven multiple times. God really wants us to know what’s being prepared for us, adding to what the Holy Spirit inspired people to write in the Bible. As the Apostle John said at the end of his book:

John 21:24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.

25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

Well, to begin, there is no fear in heaven. Imagine being able to do things on earth without any fear of injury, failure, loss of life… not possible with gravity, as well as evil being involved. There are stories from revelators of babies playing with wild animals, out of this world rollercoasters, flying like Superman…no fear of drowning in the River of Life, no fear of losing a loved one, no car accidents or people with evil intent. Death is conquered; our biggest reason to fear here on earth!

How about a body that has no need for elimination of wastes? From eyewitness accounts, they make all things in heaven from air; not the dust of the ground. You can eat to your heart’s content with no food allergies, no weight gain, no cleanup. There are no toilets in heaven! Yes, there are vehicles, but no need for gas. You won’t have to brush your teeth either. You don’t have to change baby diapers or clean litter boxes or walk your dog with a poop scoop and trash bag.

I wonder what will replace my love of changing diapers and cleaning people’s houses? As I muse on that, I realize I like the interaction with the child or the homeowner while I’m cleaning. I’m sure I’ll still love on all types, sizes and ages of people throughout eternity, even if I don’t need to clean!

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

Many people are skeptical of these “revelators”, but for me, they fill in gaps in my understanding of what’s in the Bible and agree with what I’ve read. Notice, in these days we have access to the Holy Spirit of God, so for us, these things are no longer great mysteries. The Bible says it’s the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out. Use your sanctified imagination and let the Holy Spirit reveal things you have wondered about for years. Happy Holy Ghost exploring!

My current reading list

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Our Weapons are not Carnal!

I get daily emails from Destiny Image with encouraging excerpts from their author’s books, podcasts, and videos. Included are weekly deals for 99 cent kindle books or a discount on print books. This has added to my book collection on my shelf as well as my Kindle app, so I am reading several at a time. They all mesh with what the Spirit is teaching me.

  • The Prophetic Warrior Operating in your true prophetic authority by Emma Stark
  • The Way of Life Experiencing the culture of heaven on earth by Bill Johnson
  • A Life Ablaze Ten simple keys to living on fire for God by Rick Renner
  • Study Guide: The Notes of a Warrior The secrets of Spiritual warfare: Volume One by Dr. Kevin L. Zadai

Prophetic Warrior and Way of Life I purchased through Destiny Image discounts. https://love-to-read@norimediagroup.com A Life Ablaze was sent to me because I’m on the promotional team for Rick Renner’s new book Last Days Survival Guide, which is already so popular they ran out of advanced copies! I got Kevin Zadai’s Study Guide along with his 3 CD teaching set on his website https://kevinzadai.com/ I have the first CD set on ‘repeat’ in my car player.

So what am I learning? First, as a child of God through Christ, I have authority as well as power given to me by Jesus. With these, I am to walk as a manifest child of God, bringing Heaven culture here on earth. It would not save me to not hear God; you accept Jesus when you hear Him calling.

On page 41 of Rick’s book he quotes R. A. Torrey, “Ninety-nine Christians in every hundred are merely playing at Bible study; and therefore ninety-nine Christians in every hundred are mere weaklings when they could be giants.” Rick adds: “When Christians could be spiritual giants, they are often weaklings because they have ignored the source of fuel that could empower them to be mighty!“

What fuel can build up your holy faith? Paul admonished Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:6 “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” The following things keep us spiritually ablaze.

Rick Renner’s 10 keys to being Ablaze

  1. God’s Word
  2. Prayer
  3. Holy Spirit
  4. Worship
  5. for Souls
  6. Generosity
  7. Holiness
  8. Humility
  9. Authority
  10. Fear of the LORD

Often we give up the authority God gives us without realizing it. Man’s authority was first given to satan when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the garden. The devil has power, but no authority to use it without stealing from us. We still fall for his lies when we have power AND authority to put him in his place. We are amid an onslaught from the enemy of our souls. Let us learn to stand in the power and authority Jesus died and arose to give us and beat back the evil poised to take us out.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

Take your authority and bind those things not in heaven and loose those things which are. Earth is the first heaven where we have dominion [see Adam’s charge in Genisis], above that is the second heaven where satan rules. Next is the third heaven where we sit with Christ beside Father God, high above all principalities and powers, rulers, and hosts of wickedness. Let us learn to rule and reign as Christ equips us to do. We find the whole armor of God listed in Ephesians 6 outlined and explained in A Life Ablaze.

Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 18:18

Let us stand on sure footing, connecting with the Spirit within which is heaven amid our very being. Let it out in your sphere of influence and see what happens when you put wickedness in its place under your feet. Keep reminding the devil of his destiny in the lake of fire and rejoice, as Jesus told us to do.

17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Luke 10:17-20

Shalom my dear readers!