Tag: heaven

Hope Even In Death

Psalm 116:15 NIV, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.”

It’s never easy to lose a loved one. Our hearts hurt when we no longer physically have the presence of someone we care about. Some years ago, I volunteered as a group facilitator at a grief support group for children and teenagers. These young people had lost parents, grandparents, or even siblings. As facilitators, they taught us about the stages of grief, but also stressed that everyone goes through these stages at a different pace. There are no set of rules etched in stone about how fast a person has to heal after they lose someone they love. You don’t just “get over it and move on”, healing takes time. Some days will be better than others. However, the good news is that God will provide comfort to our grieving hearts through His Holy Spirit as we experience losses here on Earth.

2 Corinthians 1:3 NLT, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.”

Photo by: Daian Gan (from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 🇩🇴)

Psalm 116:15 shares with us God’s heart for the death of His children. He considers it precious to welcome us home. Even in death, He gives us hope. The short time we have here on Earth, is a forerunner to the grander things God has waiting for us in eternity. We must make the most of our time here, and leave a legacy that will point others toward Jesus Christ. When our work here is done, God will lovingly call us home. We can find joy in knowing we have an eternal purpose at home in heaven. I can’t even begin to imagine the ecstasy of His presence, and the magnificence of the place He is preparing for us. How special it is that He has an appointed time to welcome each of us home.

John 14:3 NLT, “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”

Photo by: Brett Sayles (from Boise, Idaho 🇺🇸)

When faced with death, it can sometimes seem unfair, shocking, pointless and hard to understand. The pain and sadness it brings can seem unbearable. This year marks the tenth anniversary of my cousin Peggy’s death. She died in a car accident and yesterday would have been her birthday. Her death was a shock. However in God’s eyes there is always a purpose. He is sovereign over both life and death. It’s a precious moment when we close our eyes here, and open them to eternity in His presence.

The thought of taking my last breath and dying used to seem scary to me. But I’ve found that the closer I get to the Lord, the more I look forward to spending eternity with Him. What once was scary, now brings me joy. May God continue to bless you as you fulfill your purpose on Earth and work to build a legacy that points others toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Holy, Holy, Holy Is The Lord

Revelation 4:8 NIV, “Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”

Have you ever wondered what it will be like to be in the presence of the Lord God Almighty for all eternity? I can’t even begin to comprehend the magnificence of it all. I like this verse that talks about these creatures that called out, holy, holy, holy day and night.

Some years ago I was taking a nap on the sofa, and I had a dream. Really it was so crystal clear, that it seemed more like a vision. As I was laying there on the sofa, the front door swung open. There was a bright light, and the presence of the Lord came rushing into the room like a mighty wind. I remember wanting to fall on my knees and worship Him, and tell Him I loved Him. But guess what? I couldn’t move an inch. God’s presence was so powerful that all I could do was just lie there on the sofa.

I remember seeing two beings to the right of the sofa. It’s hard to describe exactly what they looked like. There faces where glowing brightly like lights, and didn’t have features like our faces do. Actually, their whole body was glowing. These two beings, which I believe were angels, were conversing with one another, but they never exchanged any words. Even though no words were being spoken, they seemed to understand each other perfectly.

That’s about all I remember, but I will never forget that feeling I had when the presence of God entered the room. The power of His presence left me in awe. Moses had to hide in the cleft of the rock when the Lord passed by, because He could not come face to face with the Lord (Exodus 33:22). We will need our new glorified bodies in order to stand in His presence face to face.

One day we will behold His glory for all eternity. Are you ecstatic?!! I know I am!! I pray that you will experience the joy of His presence as you go throughout your day.

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