Revelation 21:3-4 NLT – I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever.”

Think about what life would be like without any pain or suffering. Does it sound too good to be true? John, in Revelation, paints a picture of what heaven will be like and says that God will wipe away all our tears and sorrows. There will be no more death and there will be no more pain. Every day I deal with people’s hurts and pains. I speak with those who’ve given up on life and those who are suffering from the grief of the past. It can be, at times, overwhelming. God, knowing what we endure and go through on life, gives us a glimpse of heaven and He reminds us that we won’t always have to deal with the daily burdens of life. Heaven will be a different place. It will be a place of joy. Think about that. We will have unending joy! We won’t have the burdens of life on us anymore. We won’t deal with death. We won’t have to deal with conflict. We won’t be sorrowful. And… more than all of that – we will be with Jesus 24/7. Wow! What a promise. What hope. We are on this earth but our real citizenship is in heaven. We are just passing through. You might say… but I want a little bit of heaven right now. God, knowing what we need made a deposit with you and I by giving us the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is the down payment of more to come. Someday we will all be heaven, for those who have given their hearts to Christ. But in the meantime, the Holy Spirit is with us to comfort and lead us and give us a little bit of heaven now.

Psalms 145:18-21 NLT – The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him sincerely. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. The LORD protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked. I will praise the LORD, and everyone on earth will bless his holy name forever and forever.

About once a day I receive a call from my daughter, Erin. However, when I answer the phone there is no voice on the other side as she has given the phone to her daughter (my granddaughter) to speak to me. For a few seconds I end up speaking baby talk and connecting with my little girl. And. . . even though we don’t see each other we have a great grandpa/granddaughter connection. When she comes to my house or sees me at church – she comes running into my arms because she knows that I’m her grandpa. These moments don’t have to be long moments and are often short moments that remind each of us who we are and that we belong to one another. I have that same relationship with my Heavenly Father. There will be moments during my day where I just run to His arms and allow Him to speak His healing power of love over me. I might not be able to stay long but in that short amount of time I remember again who I belong to and who it is I love and serve. Its during those short moments that I am also able to calibrate the bearings of my life for that day – that I keep my focus and do what God wants me to do. I’m never more then a quick prayer away from Him. He is always there and is always looking out for me. He loves it so much when I sneak away from the busyness of life to just communicate with Him and tell Him how much I love Him. When I pick up my granddaughter and have a moment with her – she (in her wiggly state) will soon want back down to go play. But I know this. . . she’ll be back again and again because she is safe in her grandpa’s arms. It is the same way with God. He is waiting for you today.

Ezekiel 36:26-27 NLT – And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command.

My childhood home was a place of butterflies. The rolling hills and the sprawling farms were a great habitat for these beautiful creatures to make a home for themselves. Now… as a kid, I couldn’t just watch them – I had to catch them and observe them. I had a homemade butterfly net and often would take it out and catch the butterflies and bring them home – put them in a cage of some type and would just watch them. What was more fascinating was to find a caterpillar and put it in a jar with some leaves and watch the process of turning into a cocoon and then to watch the transformation and emergence of a beautiful butterfly. This “transformation” is no different than our journey and walk with Christ. There has to come a dying of our old self in order to be developed and changed into one of God’s creatures. Ezekiel states it well that our former self was a life of sin and our hearts were stony. God’s desire is that we would become a heart and life that is filled with His spirit and obedient to whatever God asks of us. I want that for my life and it is my daily prayer. I want this for you also. It is my prayer today that each of us would allow God to come into our life and do whatever He so desires with each and every one of us. I know I have come a long way but there are days that I wake up and realize that there are many places of hardness that is still in my soul. I want that soft and pliable heart and I want to be sensitive to God and to those around me. The on-going dying process is not easy but those who submit to it find that there is a new creature waiting to emerge in all its beauty and grace.

Lamentations 3:25-26 NLT – The LORD is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD.

Waiting has never been one of my strong suits in life. It doesn’t come easily and it is a grind every time I have to put it into practice. Jeremiah, in this passage, had just seen the take over and destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon (present day Iraq) because of the sins of the priest and of the people of Israel. The military advance on the city had left the city of Jerusalem in ruins and the people in disarray. Famine had brought much death and disease, leaving the people with little or no strength left. Many were taken into captivity and taken from their homeland, never to see their beautiful city or homes again and others were left to deal with what remained as the aftermath of war. Jeremiah went into a deep depression and wondered if God had left them completely. His grief left him wondering about his own trust and faith in God. And… when things seemed liked they were at rock bottom – God showed up. Light began to dawn on darkness and life began to spring forth into Jeremiah’s heart. He began to see the hand of God and he began to see the big picture. God had a plan and God hadn’t forgotten or walked away from His people. Perhaps you are in a difficult situation today and you’ve lost all your hope. It might be that your dreams have come to an end and you can’t see what God is doing. Don’t give up – your dawn is yet to come. God will come through and will bring you to the place you need to be. Call out to Him and let Him know that you are trusting Him no matter what the enemy has said or has done in your life. God is still sovereign and God is still in control. You can count on that today!

Matthew 7:24-29 NLT – “Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse, because it is built on rock. But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash.” After Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught as one who had real authority–quite unlike the teachers of religious law.

I’m really looking forward to this day as I get to speak to the children from New Life Christian Academy. These young children are such a joy to me and I love to see their lives grow in the ways of the Lord before my own eyes. Today… I’m going to talk about building the right foundations for their life by using this story of two men who built their houses – one upon the sand and the other upon a rock. The houses we’re both tested by storms and only the one on the rock stood. It’s so important for them to make right choices now as it will effect the way they live out their lives as adults. Choices are so important – especially in the formative years where foundations are being built. The storms of life will come to every person but only those who have built their lives upon the Lord Jesus will stand strong. Think about your foundations today. What are you standing upon? Is the ground solid and strong or is it shaking and sand-filled? I would encourage each and every person today to begin to focus on your foundations. Shore up anything that is weak and build the right pillars for future rooms to yet be built. Build your house on the ROCK – Jesus Christ.

Psalms 48:9-10 NLT – O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple. As your name deserves, O God, you will be praised to the ends of the earth. Your strong right hand is filled with victory.

I walked outside this morning to get the newspaper and immediately looked up and saw the stars and the different formations. I didn’t say it verbally but within my heart I spoke the words “Thank you Lord.” It was a simple but honest prayer because the thoughts of God and His handiwork are always with me. David talks about worshiping God in the Temple but, in reality, the temple of God is not just an awe inspiring building with stained glass windows and with beautiful decorations but it is everywhere I go. His presence is my temple and I take this with me – always. I speak His name often and I tell Him how much I love Him. My life is consumed with who He is and what He does. In fact, if the truth be known – I give Him praise in my dreams while I am asleep in bed. He is part of every decision in my life – major and small. Looking back, I know that He has always been with me and He will always go with me. His strength is seen in His right arm as it comes alongside me with victory every day. So, I come again today to “meditate” – think, dwell and ponder on who God is and am reminded once again about how great our God is and the many blessings He has placed upon my life. I am so blessed!

Psalms 111:2-3 NLT – How amazing are the deeds of the LORD! All who delight in him should ponder them. Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails.

One of my favorite vacation spots is Yosemite National Park. It is a place where my family has gone camping for many years and is one of the most scenic places in the whole earth with mountains rising up from the valley floor of over 4,000 feet. It is awe inspiring and stunning to spend a day or more there – hiking or camping out. It is interesting that most people come into the Yosemite Valley, spend a few hours or days and enjoy its beauty but few people make it to the top of the mountains and look down. I’ve been able to do that a number of times. It is the most amazing experience to overlook the valley from Half Dome or from Glacier Point from which you can see cars that look like ants and you can see the river snaking through the valley. It is God-inspiring. This passage from Psalms encourages us to just stop and experience the presence of God. Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty. Just like looking over those cliffs that take your breath away – so should we look at God and the works that He has done and is doing. It’s easy sometimes to look at life and see just the problems or the negative things that are happening but if you look a little closer you will find that God is at work and He is doing things even when we don’t see Him. In fact… He often does His best work in the dark – when I can’t see what it is that He is doing. God never fails. His word and work will prevail. Take time today and just “ponder” the blessings of God in your life and remember that you too are one of His creations and He is not finished with you yet.

Psalms 70:4 NLT – But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “God is great!”

Have you ever lost something that was very dear to you – a ring, a photo or perhaps even a friend or family member?  I think we all have.   As a result we deal with those losses in varied ways and try to compensate their loss in the way we live our lives.  I was down in Costa Rica one time speaking at various churches.  My friend who was a missionary there was my guide and translator.  On one very hot day – he asked me if I wanted to go swimming in a creek off the road a ways.  While we were swimming my friend came up out of the water with a panic saying he lost his wedding ring.  We dove down and looked for it over and over (the water was about 6 feet deep).  Finally, we gave up.  We got out of the water while one of the young men that was with us said he was going to try one more time.  A few minutes later he pops out of the water screaming that he found it.  The joy on my friends face could be seen everywhere.  Every time we get together we rehearse and tell that story over and over again.  It is the same way with God – when you search for Him – you will find Him. The joy of finding Him will overflow in your life and you will want to just keep saying, “God is great!  God is great!.”  I would like to encourage each and every one of you today to begin a daily journey of searching for God.  As you hunger and search for Him – He will make Himself known to you.  Your heart will be filled with much joy and you will be blessed over and over again with how good and how great God is.

Revelation 5:1-6 NLT – And I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne.  There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals.  And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice:  ”Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and unroll it?”   But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.  Then I wept because no one could be found who was worthy to open the scroll and read it.  But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping!  Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has conquered.  He is worthy to open the scroll and break its seven seals.”  I looked and I saw a Lamb that had been killed but was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders.  He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God that are sent out into every part of the earth.

John, in the Bible had received a “revelation” of what the last days will hold.  In this chapter (a continued flow of thought about the throne room from chapter 4) John sees a scroll with seven seals on it.  A search was made as to who could open it and not one in heaven or earth was able to open the scroll and read it and John starts weeping.  One of the 24 elders proclaims that Jesus – the lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne has won the battle and would be opening the scroll and breaking the seals.  It says that John “looked and saw” a lamb that had been killed.  I’ve been thinking about this and I think that like John when we first see Christ – it will be different then we might first think it will be.  People have an idea of Him sitting on a throne decked with robes and looking very kingly.  I think the picture that John sees is the picture that we will see – a king who has the marks of crucifixion on His body.  It will be of a king who has won but obviously shows the mark of battle on His body.  When you think about what Jesus endured for us – it is overwhelming.  They whipped His body 39 times.  They put a crown (probably poisonous) on His head.  He was forced to carry His own cross through the streets and was eventually nailed to it.  As they lifted the cross up and dropped it into the ground the jolt must have been an overwhelming pain.  Then. . . to hang mercilessly on the cross for hours must have been a very painful process.  So, like John – when we see Jesus (or even as we view Him now in our own prayers and devotions) – remember what He did for us and the battle He fought and won just because of His great love for us.