Tag: Heaven

Don’t hang your head.  Instead, look up.

In Matthew chapter 24 of the Bible, out of His all-knowing love for us, Jesus tells us to look up.  That’s not a recommendation or suggestion.  It’s a command.  We disobey His command at our own peril.

Whenever I begin to feel overwhelmed by anything, it’s usually because I’ve stopped looking up, looking to and focusing on Jesus and the wonderful, Heavenly future He has in store for me.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7

Get your mind off the things of earth and onto Heaven.  It will open your soul to the incredible future in store for God’s children.  And, this perspective will make today a day full of bright possibilities.

I  love you all.

God bless,

Mark

Here’s a really good, short video about how much Jesus loves us.  The lady died and went to heaven.  I hope it blesses you like it blessed me.

Take time to think about Heaven.  It does our hearts so much good to do so.

God bless you all,

Mark

It’s SO WONDERFUL to have the blessed privilege as a child of God to be able to choose Jesus every day.  I’m not left to my own thoughts/devices nor the thoughts/devices of anyone else.  Jesus is my life.  That’s why I live and love to look up to my Jesus.  When I look to my Jesus, love lifts me.

Love Lifted Me
Christian Hymn by James Rowe and Howard Smith

I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Refrain:
Love lifted me!
Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me!

All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling,
In His blessed presence live, ever His praises sing,
Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul’s best songs,
Faithful, loving service, too, to Him belongs.

Refrain:
Love lifted me!
Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me!

Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves,
He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves;
He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey,
He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.

I don’t think there’s a more precious moment in a person’s life than when they come to the point where they discover that nothing else but Jesus can help.  And, the really wonderful thing is that we can rely on His help every moment of the day from now until eternity.  Oh, thank You, Jesus.

Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
Hebrews 12:2a

Look up today.  In fact, make looking up your lifestyle.  His love will lift you ABOVE every day.

Please take time to think about Heaven today and this weekend.  Let love lift you to realms ABOVE.

God bless,

Mark

Well, you know me.  I just love pictures depicting Heaven.  I’d like to have a whole book of them to look at.  Just fills my heart with joy and such anticipation.  It’s going to be so fun to see all that God has in store for those who love Him and have accepted Jesus as their Savior.

Take time to think about Heaven this weekend.  It’s so much fun to do so. ☺

God bless,

Mark

This vision is for a future time.  It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.  If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place.  It will not be delayed.
Habakkuk 2:3

“Have you not known?  Have you not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint, nor is He weary?  His understanding is inscrutable.  He gives power to the faint, and to those who have no might He increases strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:28-31

“I believe I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait on the Lord; be strong, and may your heart be stout; wait on the Lord.”
Psalm 27:13-14

“Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have held me by my right hand.  You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.  Whom have I in heaven but You?  And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You.  My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:23-26

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time.  He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11

This email is a little later today for a purpose.  We may be late at times, but God is never late.  His timing is perfect in our individual lives and in His timing for end times events.  He only asks that we trust and rest in Him and the fact that He knows when all things are in place to bring about His plans for our lives and the universe as a whole.

Remember to look up today and this weekend.  Heaven is on the way and God is in perfect control.

We love you all.

God bless,

Mark and Ann

‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’
Revelation 2:17

When we were born, our parents gave us our earthly name.  Our heavenly Father’s going to give us a new name.  I’ve often wondered what name He has for me in heaven.  Fun to think about…

God bless you all,

Mark

While it’s nothing new (See the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth), it’s becoming popular today to tell people they can ask Jesus into their lives and then go on living the way they’ve always lived with no need to repent of any sin they may be living in.  But, that’s not what the Bible teaches…

“Not everyone who says to me (Jesus), ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’  And then will I (Jesus) declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 7:21-23

Many today think there are any number of “heavens” people might go to when they pass.  They base this belief on their own feelings and popular notions of the day regarding life after death.  Some people believe we merely stop existing following our earthly death.  And many individuals don’t believe in a literal hell.

Heaven, or hell?  The Bible makes it clear that the choice is up to each individual.  After we complete life on earth, we will go to either heaven or hell based on what we did with Jesus while living on earth – We must accept Him as Savior and know Him as Lord (Matthew 7:21-23).  How can we know we’ll go to heaven when we die?  We must accept Jesus as Savior and do His will while living on the earth.

because, if you (anyone) confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:9-10

I pray we’ll all choose heaven.

God bless,

Mark

Yipee, it’s Heavenly Friday!

“So you, too, must keep watch!  For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.
Matthew 24:42

Keep Heaven on your mind, everyone.  I’ve been having more migraines and panic attacks than I’ve had in a really long time and the thing that keeps me thanking and praising God (1 Thessalonians 5:18) is knowing Jesus and that, one day, we’ll be with Him forever.  Keep your spiritual chin up and keep looking up to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

God bless,

Mark

Yep, I’m a pictures guy.  I love books filled with pictures like the one above of God on His Heavenly throne.  Fills my heart with such expectancy and joy.  Reminds me to look up and that’s always a good thing.

Yesterday, I was thinking about God’s throne in Heaven and had a Holy Spirit realization that I’m going to see that beautiful scene some day.  Wow, isn’t that going to be amazing.  We’re really going to be there and see it in person.  Incredible.  I wonder how much Holy Spirit power, love and joy will fill our entire being.  Fun to think about it.

Remember, whatever God asks you to go through, all the resources of Heaven are at your disposal as a child of God. I often ask for God’s help.  I need to learn do it more cause it’s so neat when I acknowledge Him and sense His Presence with me, guiding me, helping me.  Call on Heaven everyday and all the time.  It makes life so much better.  It really picks you up and makes your day.

God bless,

Mark

I’m Gonna See Jesus
By BJ Thomas

I’ve never seen the Eiffel Tower.
I’ve never seen the streets of Rome.
I’ve never seen the world”s seven wonders,
But I’ll see the greatest wonder that day when I go home.

I’m gonna see Jesus, I’m gonna see Jesus.
I’ll see him smile open His arms and walk my way
I’m gonna see Jesus, I’m gonna see Jesus
I’m gonna look into His eyes someday

I may not see that much of riches
I may not see that much of fame
I may not see that much of worldly treasures
And if I never do, I really haven’t missed a thing, cause

I’m gonna see Jesus, I’m gonna see Jesus.
I’ll see him smile open His arms and walk my way
I’m gonna see Jesus, I’m gonna see Jesus
I’m gonna look into His eyes someday

I’m gonna see Jesus, I’m gonna see Jesus.
I’ll see him smile open His arms and walk my way
I’m gonna see Jesus, I’m gonna see Jesus
I’m gonna look into His eyes someday

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress:  my God; in him will I trust.
Psalm 91:2

God bless,

Mark

And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light.
Revelation 21:23

Wow.  Isn’t that something?  No need for the sun because God illuminates the city.  Heaven and eternity with the Father and Jesus is going to be filled with new sights, sounds, experiences, peace, love and joy no one can imagine, and that will never end.

No longer will the sun be your light by day, and the brightness of the moon will not shine on you; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor.
Isaiah 60:19

God bless,

Mark

It’s all about

Heaven…

God bless,

Mark

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect
Hebrews 12:22-23

Yipee!  It’s Heavenly Friday.  Yes, it’s okay to think about Heaven the rest of the week as well.  ☺

So many distractions keep us from dwelling on Heaven.  Making money so we can pay our bills, health items, traffic, religion, politics, wars and rumors of war, family matters, hurts, loss, pride, insecurities, concerned about the future, keeping up with the Joneses, etc.  In Heaven, we’ll just have Heaven to occupy our time.  We’ll be face to face, hug-to-hug and have long conversations with He Who is The Way, The Truth and The Life, Jesus.  And we’ll have all of eternity to love on each other…Sounds good to me.

Take time to think about Heaven.  It can really rejuvenate us.

Have a nice, Heavenly weekend.

God bless,

Mark

Then as I (the Apostle John) looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast.  The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.”  And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it.  The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian.  And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow.  Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them.  They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads.  From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder.  And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames.  This is the sevenfold Spirit of God.  In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.

In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back.  The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight.  Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out.  Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”

Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever).  And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,

“You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
Revelation Chapter 4

Believe me, when we’re raptured, we won’t have earthly things on our minds.  We won’t be concerned with these things like we’re tempted to be now.  We won’t think about the chance of the “loss” of anything we have now on earth at that time.  Instead, when we see Jesus face to face, all that will fill us is all that we now have with Him in Heaven.  We will never be tempted with “separation” ever again.  We are with Him forever.  Knowing my God, and how loving and kind He is, I can tell you up front that we will understand more of His love and compassion when we see Him face to face.  So, I don’t believe that we need to be concerned about these (loss) things right now.  (Taken from Amir Tsarfati Q & A Session For July 2018 – Edited)

Heaven, the greatest coronation of all time.

Look up…

God bless,

Mark

I was listening to something yesterday when I could sense what the atmosphere around Jesus’ coming back to earth will be like.  It was so impressive and overpowering and wonderful.  It was like the best feeling you’ve ever had in your life, you’re more alive and attentive, and it was enhanced by a new kind of all-consuming reality that Jesus is real, that the Bible is real, and that the heavenly realm is about to visit the earth.  It was so outside this everyday life and existence, it stops you in your tracks, is so refreshing and exciting.  It’s going to really be something…

For by him (Jesus) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:  all things were created by him, and for him:  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Colossians 1:16-17

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:3-11

Heaven – Breathe it in…It’s coming and all will see it!

God bless,

Mark

When I’ve (Jesus) found the joy of reaching your heart, ________.  (Fill in the blank with your name.)

Take time to think about Heaven today and this weekend.

Safe in the arms of Jesus…

When my will becomes enthroned in Your love, Jesus.  Mmmm…

God bless,

Mark
Excerpts taken from “When I Look Into Your Holiness” by the Maranatha Singers.

Resolution One:  I will live for God.  Resolution Two:  If no one else does, I still will.   Jonathan Edwards

In my own life, I’ve found true rest, peace, joy, mercy, grace, and love when I’m surrendered to Jesus and followed the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  When it’s all said and done, life’s pretty simple.  It may not always be easy to follow Jesus, but it is simple.

When It’s All Been Said And Done
Words and Music by Jim Cowan, Sung by Don Moen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ0yrIjsJwU

When it’s all been said and done
There is just one thing that matters
Did I do my best to live for truth?
Did I live my life for You?

When it’s all been said and done
All my treasures will mean nothing
Only what I’ve done
For love’s reward
Will stand the test of time

Lord, Your mercy is so great
That You look beyond our weakness
And find purest gold in miry clay
Turning sinners into saints

I will always sing Your praise
Here on earth and ever after
For You’ve shown me heaven’s my true home
When it’s all been said and done
You’re my life when life is gone

Lord, I live my life for You!  I can never thank You enough for Your grace & mercy and Your love for me.  I will always sing praises to You and You alone.   My life is a gift from You and it’s Yours; please use it for Your glory and according to Your will.

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.  For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:20-21

“If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.  So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
Romans 14:8

It’s all about Jesus and Heaven…

God bless,

Mark

I heard Amir Tsarfati say that, just as in Noah’s day, we should be focusing on the ark (Jesus) instead of the flood (the coming storm of the end times).  This is what Christ meant when He told us to look up when we see all these things (end times events mentioned in Matthew chapter 24) begin to take place.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee:  because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 26:3

Keep your mind on things ABOVE. ☺

God bless,

Mark