The Heavens Declare

Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God;
      the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

The sun’s solar flares project toward the earth, while the earth’s magnetic field protects and sends the flares into the sky.

The northern lights usually dance in the sky at the poles of the earth, but this year, 2024, the flares trended toward epic and have shown off well into the states.

I’ve dreamed of seeing the Aurora Borealis all my life. Now at sixty-seven years old, my dream came true. Tim and I tried to see them in May when they visited Ohio, but they weren’t visible where we were. I also didn’t know I needed to search for them with my phone’s camera. Then, I heard they were back on October 10. Sure enough, in our backyard, the ribbons of color danced across the sky. Just when I thought they had ended, a strip of red appeared over the condo building next to ours and the show continued.

My daughter, Maggie, commented that my grandkids had experienced two solar eclipses and the northern lights. Our youngest grandchild is ten and here I am in my sixties just experiencing these phenomena.

As I stood in wonder of the Aurora Borealis as it shifted and changed, my mind went to the marvel of what heaven would be like. Since God has created such beauty on earth, imagine what our eternal home will be like.

We tend to look at the sky for its beauty. Clouds billow, lightning flashes, stars twinkle, rainbows shine, and the moon waxes and wanes. The heavens do declare the glory of God as He works with His hands to create magnificent sights.

In the storms, troubling times, and everyday life look to the sky and remember who created you and what He has in store in heaven. What a glorious day it will be to step onto the streets of gold.

All My Hope

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

What do you get when you add three friends, a beautiful day, an outdoor venue, and the Christian musician/singer Crowder?

An amazing night of worship and renewal. 

My friends, Bev and Krista, and I traveled to the Fraze Pavilion in Kettering, Ohio. White clouds billowed in the blue skies, the temperature hovered around eighty and the place was filled with people ready to worship Jesus.

If you aren’t familiar with David Crowder and his music, he’s a multitalented musician who is one of the most humble and down-to-earth performers I’ve seen. He offers a variety of music that touches the heart. From a few rock/rap songs to gospel to the music I sang with my grammy, no matter what music came from the stage, it all pointed to Jesus.

To be able to sing along and see the open sky filled me with joy and reminded me of the many times I attended church camp and sang outside under the stars. As the words of the songs echoed and we offered a joyful noise, my imagination pictured Jesus returning on the clouds to receive God’s children. What a glorious day that will be.

One song that especially touched my heart, All My Hope, encouraged me. In this broken world, we still have hope.  When nothing else makes sense,  hang on to hope in God and his plan to call his children back to him through Jesus. Even as sin and despair try to separate God’s children from him, Jesus provides the path of grace back to his Father.

Don’t give up. In Jesus, we have hope.

I hope you'll give the song a listen:

Breathtaking

Revelation 22:1-5
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Behold the beauty.

Have you ever seen something so breathtaking you can’t look away?

On our walk, through Sycamore Park, the Virginia bluebells are in full bloom. A day after the solar eclipse, we trekked along the paved trail where there are signs to stay on the path and not walk in the wooded area. The park personnel are working to restore the flora and fauna. This particular day, the sky clouded and light rain fell. In that lighting, the blue of the bluebells shone in gorgeous contrast to the spring green.

All along the path, I couldn’t stop looking at the beautiful shade of blue that blanketed many areas in the woods. You just don’t see blue flowers that often and when they’re in clusters, they are simply stunning.

As in awe as I am of floral beauty, I can’t begin to imagine the splendor of heaven. We catch glimpses of what John saw in his vision in Revelation. A river, a tree filled with fruit, eternal light from God himself, oh the glory. The picture painted in Revelation 22 pours hope into my soul. Nature’s beauty in perfect harmony will surround us in heaven.

I hope as you imagine heaven, you see yourself standing at the throne and praising God. I want to sit by the river and bask in God’s light and taste the sweet fruit of His presence.

Take a moment from the chaos of this life, imagine heaven, and fill up on hope.

Streets of Gold

When I saw the golden leaves scattered across the ground, 

the book of Revelation came to mind.

The author, John, described his vision of heaven with a street of gold.

Thinking of heaven brings me peace. 

What a glorious place to be—in the presence of God.

 

Survive or Thrive

Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

Do I thrive or survive?

Have you noticed spring’s signature color? The bright one that signals an awakening of the trees. I’m not sure I can describe the vibrant shade of green and do it justice., but I'll try. The bright, light yellow-green shimmered in the spring breeze as if golden sunshine water colored the leaves. Can you picture it?

When I traveled with Maggie to South Carolina, the mountains glowed with the green of spring, as the limbs reached to the sky and invited sunlight into their veins. Even along the cuts in hills that lined the roads, trees sprouted and waved as life flowed through their roots.

Those beautiful trees thrived.

Although many of the trees we witnessed with their delicate pops of green were young, they have the opportunity to grow into maturity. Which makes me wonder: Will they thrive or merely survive?

As a believer, Jesus gives me a choice. Will my soul thrive or will I just survive? Casting Crowns sings a song and asks if we want to live an ordinary life or thrive and live the life God intends for us. God plants dreams in our hearts, He gives us the opportunity to make the world a better place, and He offers salvation and a plan to live an amazing life in eternity. Thrive or survive? I want to thrive.

Meditate on His word, seek His guidance and learn to thrive.

Easter May Be Over But...

 Choosing to follow Jesus fills my heart with hope.

I'm one of those people who has a hard time watching the news.

The sadness pierces my soul with grief.

But the hope I have in Jesus fills my heart with joy.

One day, I will meet Jesus and be reunited with loved ones 

who have gone to heaven.

No sorrow, no tears, no negativity. Only joy!

We'll rejoice with the angels and revel in the light of God.

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” Rev. 5:13

He Defeated Death

Matthew 28:1-6
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 

His enemies crucified Him on Friday. On Saturday, His people mourned. On Sunday, Mary Magdelene and Mary witnessed a miracle.

Jesus died on a cross, one of the cruelest punishments of that time. His enemies tortured Him, spit on Him, and mocked Him. Yet, Jesus loved them. He longed for them to be part of His kingdom.

I started watching The Chosen this week. Experiencing how people may have lived, at the time Jesus walked the earth, draws me closer to understanding the life and love of Jesus. He longed for people to trust Him and place their hope in His father. The people of that time had waited for the Messiah to arrive. Some thought he’d wear a crown as royalty, while others pictured a warrior in uniform. Instead, God sent His son, a humble servant who came to die, so we can live.

This weekend, as you celebrate Easter, focus on Jesus’ precious gift of life. God’s Son came to earth as part of God’s plan that gives us a path to heaven, a path I don’t deserve. Yet, Jesus took on our sins, died, and rose again.

He defeated death and rejoices in life!

New Life Awaits

The hyacinth and tulip leaves have pushed through 

the cold January ground and reminded me of the coming of spring. 

I love that God thought to give us plants, some to eat and some to 

simply enjoy. As I wait through the quiet of winter, I look forward to 

new life in my garden, just as I look forward to heaven.

Enjoy the beauty of the earth until we see the magnificence of heaven.

 Genesis 1:11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so.

Heavenly Delight

Matthew 2:10
When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 

Jesus gives the true joy of the season.

In the book, Blessed are the Misfits, Brant Hansen, Star 93.3 radio DJ, poses the question, "Can a person have depression and joy at the same time?" That got me to thinking, can we invite joy into our hearts during the holidays, regardless of our circumstances or our feelings? Can I be joyful during the holidays even when...

I'm a single parent and, by America's standards, I can't buy what my children want...

I've lost a loved one who won't be there to wish a Merry Christmas...

I'm a high school student who has no close friends...

I'm a college student struggling to balance work and school...

I'm a parent rushing from activity to activity just trying to get it all done...

I’m single and all my friends are in couples...

I'm a soldier, out of the country, with no hope of being home for the holidays...

I’m sick and not sure I can celebrate...

I'm just overwhelmed with all the preparation of Christmas...

I haven't experienced all of these scenarios, but I've had my share of struggles
during the holidays. Circumstances that could have stolen every speck of joy from my heart. Yet, God shined on me through His people and His word. I found if I could hold on to one little twinkle of joy in my heart, the fire would burn and spark delight in my soul. 

Joy filled the wise men's hearts when they saw the star and realized Jesus was nearby. He is for us, too. Jesus is here with the joy we desire. Not happiness that's fleeting, but joy that underlies all circumstances. Even when everything seems difficult, frustrating, or hopeless Jesus' joy is like a buoy that helps me through the tough times. I think of it as heavenly delight that fills my soul.

I pray this Christmas you’ll seek hope in Jesus and discover His spark of amazing joy.

Grieve With Hope

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 

As a believer, I grieve with hope.

About a month after I retired, we knew our lab-retriever wasn't long for this world. Tater's illness got worse every day. I had thought he'd be by my side as I sat in my chair and wrote stories and devotions. Because he enjoyed laying on the floor under the footrest, I had to be careful when I got up, or I'd bonk him on the head. As I watched him struggle to rise from the floor, realization sunk in that he'd go to doggie heaven (I’d like to think there is such a thing, but I have no proof) later that summer. I still miss my furry buddy.

When Tater passed away, I grieved. Yes, he was a dog but the sadness still overwhelmed me. When my dad, my grammy, my aunt, and my friends left this earth, I grieved. Grief is a natural part of life and the process looks different for everyone. I might cry, sit in silence, go through the motions of living, while someone else might go back to work or shut down.

Tim Peace, our associate minister, reminded us that if we have faith in Jesus, we grieve with hope.

Yes—it hurts, yes—we may get angry, yes—depression may set in, but even in our sorrow and sadness Jesus offers hope. At the end of 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul tells the people to encourage one another. Remind each other of the hope we have in Jesus so everyone will have the chance to claim the inheritance of heaven.

I believe in the hope of heaven and the hope of being reunited with my loved ones. Through faith, God offers the promise of heaven.

Look to Jesus for strength and peace.

Trust

Some weeks are harder than others. This is one of them.

A dear friend passed from this earth and entered the gates of heaven.

My heart breaks for his wife, one of my best friends, 

even as I rejoice in his eternal peace.

When life hurts and things don't make sense, there's only one thing I can do.

Trust in the Lord and his plan for us. 

 

Follow the Best GPS

Psalm 121:1-2
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
 where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
 the Maker of heaven and earth.

I’m thankful for GPS, Global Positioning Systems, like Google Maps.

Although I’ve improved with age, I tend to be directionally impaired. Before GPS saved me from my wandering ways, I depended on a map or written directions. I still prefer landmarks to highway numbers, and I still get my left and right mixed up. But I’ve learned to listen to the little voice inside my phone as she speaks directions, and I’ve learned to read road signs.

Years ago, before GPS was an app on our smartphones, we owned a box we’d attach to the dash, I think it was a Garmin. I named her Vera. Vera took me wherever I needed to go, unless I didn’t listen.

The key to overcoming my impaired directional instincts was paying attention and following Vera’s lead.

As I wander about in life, I need direction. When I go off on my own, I get lost and stumble. But when I lift my eyes to the one who leads my way, I follow a better path. There may be roadblocks or construction, but Jesus walks me through it. He’s not going to take me on a trail that leads to destruction. Instead his voice gives me the guidance I need on the rocky roads of life.

He whispers to me from the Bible and answers my prayers. He speaks to me through trusted family and friends and helps me navigate choppy water.

Jesus is the best GPS, God’s Perfect Son, to follow. He will never lead us down the wrong path. Instead, he’ll guide us on the road God created us for.

Seek Jesus as he maps out the road to heaven.

The Hope of Easter

Luke 24:36-39
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

Luke 24:50-53
When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.  While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.  Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.  And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

The disciples grieved Jesus’ death.

The apostles, Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ mother Mary, and several other followers watched their Lord and Savior die an agonizing death on the cross. I can’t imagine the heartbreak, especially for his mom.  Jesus’ best friends and family witnessed his torture and his final breath. Even as they mourned, their faith in their Lord did not waver.  

In their hearts they tucked the promise of Jesus’ return. What they didn’t realize was how soon they’d see him again.

Joseph of Arimathea, took Jesus body to an empty tomb he’d prepared for himself. After the body was wrapped in cloth, he placed him inside, then he rolled a stone in front of the opening. After the Sabbath day passed, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the grave to pour spices over their beloved friend. An earthquake shook them and an angel appeared propped on the rock he’d rolled from the tomb. Then the women received the surprise of their lives—Jesus stood in front of them and greeted them.

Can you imagine?

Jesus keeps his promises. He told his followers he’d raise from the dead, come back to life, and see them again. Yet, they didn’t understand. Kind of like us. The Bible teaches us of Jesus return, his second coming, that will occur so quickly none of us will be expecting him. But Jesus keeps his promises, and he will come here to take his children home to heaven.

Easter is all about HOPE!

Jesus promises new life. Rejoice in the Lord this Easter!

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Peace

Even in the midst of strife, Jesus pours out calm. 

A quietness that soothes the soul.

Through faith, his peace surpasses all of the stresses of life.

 Seek him in the midst of the chaos.

Glory

John 3:34-36

For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

Since mid-September I've pulled out yarn, wool, crochet hooks and felting needles to create Christmas gifts. If I didn't start early and work faithfully to complete the items, I'd never finish on time. Handmade gifts take time, energy, a dose of love and discipline. Along with creating I've been gathering, making purchases here and there as we find things our family might enjoy. Next week I plan to scribble a list of everything we've tucked away so far and start sorting (and maybe even wrapping.) Yes, I know Christmas is about two months away, but I want to be ready. Why go to all the effort? Because we have family and friends we love. It's that simple.

If I'm spending that much time preparing for the holidays, how much more should I do to be ready for eternity? Everything! Not that what I do will get me into heaven (that's all Jesus love and grace.) Yet for me to have the hope of eternal life with God, I need to keep my focus on heaven, even as I live on earth. Even though I often fail, I start fresh every day and measure life against the truth of the Bible, prepare my heart with an ongoing dialogue between Jesus and me and appreciate the Holy Spirit's work in my heart that helps me produce God's fruit. With discipline, obedience, and faith, I challenge myself to a life dedicated to God.

I pray when I'm finished in this world, that I'll meet Jesus face-to-face. What a glory that will be. In the meantime, I prepare. Why? Because I love Jesus. It's that simple.

Think about life with Jesus in eternity.    

Great is Your Reward

Matthew 5:11-12

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The sounds of May—teachers shouting with joy and students laughing and fist bumping the air. Schools out for the summer.

The week has been busy with end of school awards. Since retirement, I've been able to attend the activities of grandkids. At the middle school on Wednesday, I watched as my granddaughter Dylan was given certificates from the teachers who worked hard to instill a love of learning. On Thursday, I attended awards for Eli and Zeke, moving from third to fourth grade. Every child beamed when their name was called. They held up their certificates and medals, joyful about their accomplishments. What a way to end the year!

Many of the children received the Tiger award. A special acknowledgement of good behavior, kindness, and hard work. Those students treated their fellow students with respect and were rewarded.

When I accepted Jesus as my savior, I agreed to obey God. Frankly, at times I've failed. But the beautiful thing is—God gives grace. Yes, I obey in hopes of receiving the reward of heaven. More than that, I want to emulate Jesus. I strive to show love the way he has, to others.

Jesus reminds me, in the passage in Matthew, that following him may bring persecution. The devil loves to poke, prod and attack from every side. As certain as I am that it wasn't always easy for the students to show kindness to each other, I know how difficult the path is when following Jesus. Yet, I choose to follow the example Jesus set. To love God and people. For great is the reward of heaven.

Treasures!

Be Ready

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Sun bursting through clouds

I spent two hours in the surgeon's office going over what to expect, what to do, and what not to do for my upcoming surgery. In between talking to the nurse, the physician's assistant, and my rock star surgeon, I waited. As they spouted my much needed information, I took copious notes. Next, I'll sit down with paper and pen and create a list, in order, of all my instructions. I want to be as prepared as possible to face this important event, the one that will in time give me a better quality of life.

All this readiness reminded me what our minister encouraged us to think about this past Sunday—to be prepared for Jesus return. Whether I'm here when the trumpets blow and Jesus descends, or I'm taken home from this earth by him, I need to be ready. Bless God's heart, he gave us a road map to prepare for the trip. The Bible has all the information we need to make the journey. Which is a good thing, because my internal GPS doesn't know right from left.

I want to be as prepared as possible for this all important event, the one that will give me not just a better quality of life, but eternal life.

As I pray, read God's word, and do my best to live a faith filled life—I hope you'll join me as I wait for the Lord. Let's be caught being faithful!

When Heaven Means Healing

Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

When my phone chimed before seven in the morning, apprehension echoed through me. My daughter, Maggie, had news—sad news. A dear friend of Maggie's and co-worker and close friend of my daughter Sara's had passed away from cancer. We'd prayed for Tina for a year. My grandchildren, who had Tina as their teacher, lifted her up to the Lord every night. Yet, she left this world anyway. I know my daughters struggled with how to tell their kids. They all loved Tina and had faith in God's healing. I could only think to tell them that sometimes healing means heaven.

Now and then I wish I still had the innocence of a child. I love their unmarred viewpoint that shows pure faith and compassion. After Maggie talked to eight-year-old Zeke about Tina's passing, he expressed to his momma that he wanted to visit Tina's mom Sandy, because he knew as sad as he was, Miss Sandy was sadder. Bless his heart.

Sometimes I don't understand why life gives so much heartache. Some days I can't comprehend God's plan. But what I do know is that I can trust my heavenly Father. Jesus knows grief. He lived it. When his good friend Lazarus died, the Bible says, "Jesus wept." He cried tears of sorrow. Granted, Jesus had the ability to raise his friend from the dead, but he gets it. He understands the sadness, the sorrow, the brokenhearted. And for those who love and follow Jesus, he raises them up too; totally healed and dancing in heaven.

Even when grief weighs me down and I struggle with reality, God guards my heart and holds my hand.

Prayers Reach Heaven

2 Chronicles 30:27
The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place.

I love to witness our grandchildren's prayers. Their sweet "Charlie Brown" voices resound with sincerity. No traces of doubt color their words. They know God listens to them as they bless the food, or ask God to make their friend or family feel better. Children trust God to listen. So why is it, as adults, doubts niggle in to our prayers. We dismiss talking to God as childish or pointless. Belief slips and fear takes over.

Maybe in life, no one listens. Days are too noisy with social media, television, negativity, or defeat to reach out. Then there are the busy days. Too much to do, not enough time. Or, maybe we think God doesn't want to hear from us anyway. How could he? I'm a sinner, why would he listen to me? But I have amazing news! The creator of the universe, God himself, loves you and me. He considers us his children. And he wants to hear our words. Whether we pray out loud or think our prayers, every single word we breath toward him is precious to him.

"He turned his ear to me." Yes he leans toward us, with his ear in our direction, ready to listen. I love the picture 2 Chronicles paints of prayers rising to heaven. Because that's what happens—prayers rise and God leans down to listen. That's just beautiful!

Psalm 116:2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.