The best of both worlds

This is such an encouraging observation made by CS Lewis:

“In the truest sense, Christian pilgrims have the best of both worlds.

We have joy whenever this world reminds us of the next,

and we take solace whenever it does not.”

Joy

listening to a piece of beautiful music and being awed by our Master Composer

seeing a clear, starry night knowing God is the Master Creator

laughter of children reminding us the He wants our joy to be full and overflowing

eating something delicious and thinking about the Marriage Feast of the Lamb

receiving encouragement and feeling wrapped up in His comforting arms

singing praise to God with other believers and knowing it is just a taste of

     what it will be like when we are with every tribe, people, language and nation!

sitting by a large body of water and listening to the crash of the water on shore
     and thinking about the power and majesty of God's voice 
seeing the brilliance and artistry of a sunset and being reminded God loves
     beauty

Solace

knowing He is Faithful and True when I feel betrayed

remembering God has a plan with hope for my future when I am discouraged

running to His arms for shelter and safety when I am hurt

assurance that the Lord is “enthroned as King forever” when this present world is

       showing it’s dark and sinful side

being blessed that my transgressions are forgiven when I ask

having Someone who daily takes my burdens when I can’t stand up anymore

sensing Him stilling the storm to a whisper when the waves are about to take me
      under

walking with confidence because He who began a good work in me will complete it

dreaming about my new home Jesus is preparing when I get homesick

smiling because He is coming for me – soon!

          Be encouraged today, my friend! Look for what brings you joy – a reminder, a glimpse of what is to come… and for those moments when discouragement is large take comfort – for those things that are just temporary.

“He who testifies to these things says,

‘Yes, I am coming soon.’

Amen.

Come, Lord Jesus!”

A multiplying of delight and happiness

            This is what Jonathan Edwards said about people in Heaven:

“As they increase in the knowledge of God and the works of God,

the more they will see of his excellency;

and the more they see of his excellency… the more they will love him;

and the more they love God,

the more delight and happiness… will they have in him.”

            I’ve been reading Randy Alcorn’s book, Heaven, and it keeps prodding more thoughts about where I am headed. What a relief – and joy! –  to have something to be looking forward to past this life and for eternity.

            I’ve been thinking about the Carpenter who is lovingly building me a home - specifically designed for me! I am confident that the One who made me (with all my characteristics, talents, likes, and quirks) will have all kinds of delightful surprises for me and I can’t wait for Him to give me a tour of this magnificent place He has just for me!! I’m certain that for a few millennia I’m going to be busy with the grand piano that will be in my music room! I’ll be playing my heart out for my Audience of One with all kinds of music, including my own.

            The quote from this morning just continues those thoughts and dreams. Sometimes you feel like life is just – hard. And it is! Not always, I know, but definitely there are seasons of hard.

            But even in those seasons we can see God – and His excellency! For the Bible tells us truth in the statement “God is good and what He does is good.” Do I always understand it? No. Do I always like it? No! But then again, I am only seeing the bottom of the tapestry and the tangled pieces of thread – not the glorious picture He is making. (Hmmm – I wonder if that tapestry might be hanging on a wall in my new home ~ to remind me of how God wove my life and how He sees me…)

            Right now, here in life, when I choose to set my eyes on Him – and not get bogged down in the hard – it truly does magnify God’s wisdom and beauty and excellency - which in turns produces more love of my Abba. How very kind of God to allow all of that to give me delight and happiness!

Finding myself ~ homesick

       At a writer’s seminar I recently attended, the speaker emphasized the importance of a good reading plan. I knew making a list for 2014 wouldn’t be too difficult as I had a pile of books on my “to read” shelf. From the category of Theology, I pulled the book Heaven by Randy Alcorn and have been slowly making my way through.

        It has occurred to me that I don’t have a lot of confident understanding about this place I am headed to when this part of my life is over. In fact, I cannot remember the last time even hearing a message on Heaven. So, that is the premise for why I am studying it now. (And, if I may be so bold, perhaps a gentle nudge to my pastor friends… other than at a funeral, when was the last time you studied fresh and taught on this subject to encouraged your congregation with thoughts of eternity?)

        As I read, I am finding myself homesick for a place I have yet to visit. That feeling reminds me of a couple of summers ago when Tim and I took our trip to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. I have dreamed of visiting Prince Edward Island since I was 12 years old and my Grammy brought me back the Anne of Green Gables books as a memento from her own trip to PEI.

        I have read those books over and over – anticipating the day when I would walk on the island myself. Yes, I know the books are fiction… but Prince Edward Island is real and the author wrote about what she saw and knew. When we drove across the bridge and my feet touched the soil, I truly felt like I had come home! And during the week, as we drove all over that magnificent island, my eyes were wide open and all my senses on high alert trying to take in and capture every little thing I saw, heard, felt, smelled, and tasted.

        The day we boarded the ship to head to Nova Scotia, I actually cried. I turned to Tim and asked how I could feel so sad to leave a place I had only been to for 5 days? Since then, I memories from our trip bring on a twinge of homesickness and a hope for a return to my island.

        Which brings me to Heaven – as I am studying and learning more about my new home, I find myself homesick for a place I am not only going to visit but live! The more I study the more I cannot wait until I can:

        ~ run into my Savior’s arms and feel His embrace

        ~ hear His voice tell me He loves me and is so glad I am home

        ~ play some songs I have written for my Audience of One

        ~ explore and make new discoveries about my new home

        ~ meet Joseph, David, Ruth, Isaiah, Daniel, Mary, John, Peter,

          Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, Barnabas and the list goes on!

        That list just is the start and I can’t help but echo the thoughts and longing of these two old songs:

Just think of stepping on shore, and finding it heaven
of touching a hand, and finding it God's
of breathing new air, and finding it celestial
of waking up in Glory, and finding it "Home."

“Oh that will be glory for me…

when by His grace I shall look on His face,

 that will be glory, be glory for me!”

Welcome to a New Year ~ 2014

Welcome to a New Year ~ 2014

          I often remember my Grammy talking about how fast the years went by and that they seemed to go faster the older she got. Of course as a young teenager I had a hard time understanding how she could think there was an ever-quickening pace of time as I struggled to wait… wait to be old enough to drive, wait to be old enough to graduate, wait to be old enough to be independent…

          As I sit quietly and think about this new year we have just entered, I guess I’m beginning to understand her feelings better. It seems odd to write “2014” and I’ve already had to cross out the old date and re-write the correct one a few times.

          There are always many hopes, goals, and wishes at the start of a new year. I have my share of all of those. I hope that God will open up a place of ministry for Tim and me to serve. I hope that my kids continue “walking in the truth”. I have some goals with my writing. I’m sure you have your own list, too.

          The biggest hope and goal I have for 2014 is to have an even deeper love for my Heavenly Father and to honor Him with my life. Bob Kauflin’s song “O Great God” puts it perfectly:

O great God of highest Heaven, occupy my lowly heart.

Own it all and reign supreme conquer every rebel power

Let no vice or sin remain that resists You holy war.

You have loved and purchased me, make me Yours forevermore.

I was blinded by my sin, had no ears to hear Your voice,

Did not know Your love with-in, had no taste for Heaven’s joys.

Then Your Spirit gave me life, opened up Your Word to me,

Through the gospel of Your Son, gave me endless hope and peace.

Help me now to live a life that’s dependent on Your grace.

Keep my heart and guard my soul from the evils that I face.

You are worthy to be praised with my every thought and deed.

O great God of highest Heaven, glorify Your Name through me.