Tag: Heaven

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Hebrews 12:6-7

Enter ye in at the strait gate:  for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew 7:13-14

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18

Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away:  and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
John 15:1-2

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:  nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Hebrews 12:11

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:  against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23

While God is pruning us to produce His everlasting, sustaining and beautiful attributes in our lives, it can seem difficult at times.  The shedding of the flesh can be trying – the flesh must be replaced by Kingdom traits.  Thankfully, God knows the outcome of such pruning, training and discipline.  The God of love gives us Himself.

Like a reversed funnel, a narrow road leads us to the door of Heaven where God’s endless, and immense glory, love, peace and presence reside.  Let Him take you through the “narrows” to develop the never-ending, measureless Kingdom of love in your life.

As he spake these words, many believed on him.  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
John 8:30-31

God, lead me to life everlasting.  Take me to the narrow way so that I may inherit Your vast Kingdom of love.

Take time to think about Heaven this weekend.  Right now, those who have preceded us are there enjoying forever with their Father.  What a day it will be when we join them. ☺

God bless,

Mark

When we find ourselves anxious or worried, we can be sure that we have lost a God–centered mindset.

Satan is always attacking the believer’s mind with doubts, fears, worldly thoughts, etc.  Why?  Because the devil wants to keep believers from focusing on what really matters, and that is God and His kingdom.

The person whose thoughts are consumed with God and His kingdom will have perfect peace instead of anxiety and worry.

Keep setting your mind on things above.  ☺

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:2

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

Keep looking up, Christians, as you learn to rest more and more in Christ.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7

Take time to think about Heaven today and this weekend.  Doing so brings such peace and joy.

God bless,
Mark

Excerpts from Bible.org (Edits Mine)

I walked out the front door this morning and saw a bright, complete rainbow.  Couldn’t help but think of my Heavenly Father.  What a joy it was.

So much awaits us in Heaven. ☺

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead.  Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
1 Peter 1:3-4 NLT

Have a nice weekend thinking about Heaven, precious people.

God bless,

Mark

God bless,

Mark

Hello Everyone,

This week, I received the following email from Lori.  It was really a blessing so I asked Lori if I could share it with you.

Good Morning Mark,
I just wanted to share with you that my Dad was called home last Saturday morning.  Although I carry the pain of not having him here on earth, I find rest and peace that he is celebrating and in the arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!  Praise God!!  I was with him every day of the last week and by his bedside throughout the night of his passing.  I must have fallen asleep and his passing was peaceful.  I didn’t hear anything.  My Dad is free!!  Free without pain & suffering and loving his heavenly and new body!! 🙏🙏🙏

Thank you for all the many years of friendship and your words that poured into me every morning!!

In His Grip,

Lori

Thank you, Lori, for sharing this with us.  Please be praying for Lori.  Thank you, everyone.

This life is all about loving each other and “looking up” to all that awaits us in Heaven.

God bless,

Mark

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1

For when He spoke, the world began!  It appeared at His command.
Psalm 33:9

You spoke the words and all the worlds came into order
You waved Your hands and planets filled the empty skies
You placed the woman and the man inside the garden
And though they fell they found compassion in Your eyes

Oh Lord I stand amazed at the wonder of Your deeds
And yet a greater wonder brings me to my knees

Lord I praise You, because of Who You are
Not for all the mighty things that You have done
Lord, I worship you, because of Who You are
You’re all the reason that I need to voice my praise
Because of Who You are…
Lyric by Billy Lee Smiley and Robert B. Farrell

Take time to contemplate Heaven.  It’s so uplifting… ☺

God bless,

Mark

Look!  He comes with the clouds of heaven.  And everyone will see him — even those who pierced him.  And all the nations of the world will mourn for him.  Yes!  Amen!
Revelation 1:7

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared.  And the sea was also gone.  And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people!  He will live with them, and they will be his people.  God himself will be with them.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.  All these things are gone forever.”
Revelation 21:1-4

Boy, it’s going to be something when Jesus returns.

Take time to think about Heaven and the new earth.  It does us so much good to keep our minds on what’s about to come.

God Bless,

Mark

As in the days of Noah, it’s beginning to rain…

I was listening to a Dr. Chuck Missler youtube video the other day.  He was teaching on the first few chapters of the book of Genesis in the Bible.  As many of you know, Chuck’s such a gifted Bible teacher.

During Chuck’s talk, he made some sobering comments that really impacted me.  So many are not going to Heaven and the end times are drawing to a close.  Pray for anyone you know who has not yet made a decision to follow Christ.  And, thank God that He called you to be with Him, forever, in His Heavenly Kingdom.

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God?  Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.  For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.  These are not from the Father, but are from this world.  And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave.  But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
1 John 2:15-17

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming?  for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
2 Peter 3:3-7

Do not be deceived:  God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Galatians 6:7

Dr. Chuck Missler (Editions, Mine)
When the flood happened, all of the theological arguments of that day were over.  The door on the ark was closed.  Anybody who had difference of views didn’t matter now, the door was closed.  You were either in the ark, or you were outside it.  There is a time when the door is open (a time to receive Christ as your personal Savior), but there’s also a time when the door is closed and it’s done, the choices are made.  Those outside the ark probably begged Noah to let them into the ark.  But it was too late.  They’d made their decision to live outside the ark, outside Christ.  We’re, quickly, heading towards this same kind of ending.

Of all the people who lived during Noah’s day, only eight were saved – eight.  Once the door on the ark was closed, the vast majority were destroyed in the flood.

Enter by the narrow gate.  For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Matthew 7:13-14

Remember, unlike this earthly life, Heaven is forever!  Take time to contemplate Heaven this weekend.

God bless,

Mark

God bless,

Mark

1 After this I (the Apostle John) looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven:  and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

2 And immediately I was in the spirit:  and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone:  and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats:  and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices:  and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal:  and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within:  and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power:  for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Revelation Chapter 4

Just thinking about this and everything else we’ll see when we get there…Pretty awesome, right?

Take time to think about Heaven…It’s going to be amazing and filled with wonder beyond anything we can imagine.

God bless,

Mark

Hi Everyone,

Be still, and know that I am God:
Psalm 46:10a

Please take time to think about Heaven today and throughout the week.  Thinking about Heaven gives our minds, bodies, and spirits a reprieve from the things of earth.  Keeping Heaven, the big picture, on our minds maintains the proper perspective and enables us to be more Christlike as we interact with others.

Still yourself…Think about Heaven and let God’s peace flood your soul.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

God bless,

Mark

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”  And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen!  Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever!  Amen.”
Revelation 7:9-12

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

And the angel said to me, “Write this:  Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”  And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
Revelation 19:6-9

Heaven –

Mmmmm…

Just sitting here thinking about all that awaits me there…

Take time to think about Heaven today and this weekend, precious people.  It’s so fun to look up.

God bless,

Mark

“No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the LORD your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.  Isaiah 60:19

And there will be no night there–no need for lamps or sun–for the Lord God will shine on them.  And they will reign forever and ever.  Revelation 22:5

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

God bless,

The following is taken from Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn’s Sapphires devotional for July 5th.

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In the Hebrew marriage, when the woman accepts the offer of marriage from the groom, she becomes the bride.  She’s not of her old house anymore.  Her purpose is to prepare herself, say goodbye to her old life and home, and get ready for a better place.  Her purpose is to leave.

In the same way, if you’re born again, you’re now the bride.  It’s not the marriage yet, but the world’s no longer your home.  You’re not here to get rich, famous, popular, or more comfortable, you’re here to say goodbye.

Learn how to say goodbye.  Learn how to say goodbye to your possessions, your past, your ego, your reputation, your old self, your burdens, and your flesh.  This world used to be your home, but it isn’t anymore.  You have something better.

In Hebrew, shalom not only means goodbye, but also hello.  Every time you say goodbye to something in the world, you’re saying hello to something in Heaven.  You’re getting ready to receive the blessings of your new house, the house that will never pass away.

Today’s Mission:  Say goodbye to your past or anything else you need to say goodbye to – and welcome in your blessing from Heaven.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
1 Peter 2:11

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Have you ever thought about the fact that God has endless resources or that He knows us better than we know ourselves?  With that in mind, it’s really fun to think about the place He’s prepared for those who love Him.

God bless,

Mark

Hello Precious Saints,

For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part; but then shall I know, even as also I am known.
1 Corinthians 13:12

Wow, it’s going to be incredible to arrive in Heaven, to finally take it all in.  To know all about Heaven and eternity is going to thrill us beyond anything we can imagine in this life.

Take time to think about Heaven and all that will be known there.  That’s something super-joyful to think about! ☺

God bless,

Mark

Out of His boundless love for us, God made salvation as simple as He could.   It’s not complicated.  All you need to do is admit that you’re a sinner and in need of a Savior, Jesus.

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:36  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 17:3  And this is eternal life,that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Acts 4:12  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Philippians 3:20-21  But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Take time to think about Heaven today and this weekend, precious people.  Take some “Look up” time. ☺

God bless,

Mark

Ever wonder about how incredible Heaven’s going to be?  And, it’s going to go way beyond our wildest dreams.  We can’t really even imagine how amazing and different it will be…All of the intricate details that will fill our new, Heavenly senses.

In Proverbs 12:2, God says not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Why?  For many good reasons…

For one thing, if you’re of this world, if you’re living for this world, if the cares of this world are beginning to anchor your emotions in this world, you can be influenced by the fear of loss.

On the other hand, if you’re not of this world, your emotions are tied to Heaven.  You don’t even fear death because in your spirit you now know that death will merely transport you to the world you really belong to/in, the Father’s world, Heaven, where every tear is wiped away, your true home, forever.  There’s no loss, there’s no fear there.

Love not this life unto death (Revelation 12:11), and see what God can do in and with your life.

For The Kingdom,

God bless,

Mark