What in the World?
Visiting with my
daughter, I asked, What in the World
am I going to write about this week? She said, “Exactly, that is what you will
write – What in the World?
daughter, I asked, What in the World
am I going to write about this week? She said, “Exactly, that is what you will
write – What in the World?
Somewhere in my
memory, I can hear someone saying – What
in the world? — in a tone of wonderment. I have long ago forgotten
who or what the event could be. Yet, as the words echo in my thoughts, I look around this world and wonder — What in the world, indeed?
memory, I can hear someone saying – What
in the world? — in a tone of wonderment. I have long ago forgotten
who or what the event could be. Yet, as the words echo in my thoughts, I look around this world and wonder — What in the world, indeed?
Even the wonders
of technology do not hold their usual allure.
Man has created unimaginable edifices and bridges, created technology
that makes our world small. All of these
can be destroyed. I wonder why it is that
the indescribable beauty of waterfalls, mountains, field of flowers, rushing
rivers, towering trees and the stars fill us with joy and capture our
imagination and joy?
of technology do not hold their usual allure.
Man has created unimaginable edifices and bridges, created technology
that makes our world small. All of these
can be destroyed. I wonder why it is that
the indescribable beauty of waterfalls, mountains, field of flowers, rushing
rivers, towering trees and the stars fill us with joy and capture our
imagination and joy?
We are in this
world, yet our hearts are elsewhere, always looking up. Up in the sky. A cloud rides by so high in the sky, and I
remember another time…another cloud. After saying
this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no
longer see him. As they strained to see him rising
into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men
of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus
has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in
the same way you saw him go!” Acts
1:9-10
world, yet our hearts are elsewhere, always looking up. Up in the sky. A cloud rides by so high in the sky, and I
remember another time…another cloud. After saying
this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no
longer see him. As they strained to see him rising
into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men
of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus
has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in
the same way you saw him go!” Acts
1:9-10
What in the World is not high enough or wide enough or
deep enough for the joy of the Lord!
Then another verse comes to mind.
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
deep enough for the joy of the Lord!
Then another verse comes to mind.
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 world is not ALL
there is. In all of us there is the understanding
part of the scope of what will be. A
longing or inward yearning is deep in our spirit. We are living day to day with a sensation of
anticipation – with our hearts beyond the world – looking up into the clouds,
watching for Jesus to come again. Each
time I see a cloud I remember the return of Jesus and wonder, is this the time?
there is. In all of us there is the understanding
part of the scope of what will be. A
longing or inward yearning is deep in our spirit. We are living day to day with a sensation of
anticipation – with our hearts beyond the world – looking up into the clouds,
watching for Jesus to come again. Each
time I see a cloud I remember the return of Jesus and wonder, is this the time?
I take a deep
breath – for I know there is joy in hungering and thirsting for righteousness.
and I change my question….What is Out of
This World? Heaven. Is it real?
I find 622 references to Heaven in the Scriptures. The first two books with the most references
to Heaven are Psalms with 76 and Revelation with 45 references.
breath – for I know there is joy in hungering and thirsting for righteousness.
and I change my question….What is Out of
This World? Heaven. Is it real?
I find 622 references to Heaven in the Scriptures. The first two books with the most references
to Heaven are Psalms with 76 and Revelation with 45 references.
What does this mean, this
anticipation of the second coming of Jesus?
Is it a futile exercise? Is this
a time of debating how and when it will occur?
No, indeed! It is a time of
waiting, believing, trusting and knowing God.
It is a time of righteous living.
Blessed are those who
hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew
5:6.
anticipation of the second coming of Jesus?
Is it a futile exercise? Is this
a time of debating how and when it will occur?
No, indeed! It is a time of
waiting, believing, trusting and knowing God.
It is a time of righteous living.
Blessed are those who
hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew
5:6.
Righteousness is the
‘reality living’ in this world’s darkness.
It is the ‘cutting edge’ of living with loving and forgiving. These two qualities beget peace and joy by
practicing kindness, gentleness and patience.
It can only come through faith in God and living for Jesus. We choose faith in God. We choose to live for Jesus. It is not forced upon us. God has given us the choice. On the other side of the coin, C.S. Lewis
statement pinpoints this truth: The question is not what we intended
ourselves to be, but what He intended us to be when He made us.
‘reality living’ in this world’s darkness.
It is the ‘cutting edge’ of living with loving and forgiving. These two qualities beget peace and joy by
practicing kindness, gentleness and patience.
It can only come through faith in God and living for Jesus. We choose faith in God. We choose to live for Jesus. It is not forced upon us. God has given us the choice. On the other side of the coin, C.S. Lewis
statement pinpoints this truth: The question is not what we intended
ourselves to be, but what He intended us to be when He made us.
God is love….For this is how God loved the world:
He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will
not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge
the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17
He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will
not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge
the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17
What in the World? God is saving us because He loves us. Have you watched a young mother with her son
in her arms…and imagine her willingly let him go to be reviled, beaten,
misunderstood and finally be crucified on a cross. God loves more than any of us can ever
conceive or imagine. Yet, He loves us so
much, He did this for each one of us.
in her arms…and imagine her willingly let him go to be reviled, beaten,
misunderstood and finally be crucified on a cross. God loves more than any of us can ever
conceive or imagine. Yet, He loves us so
much, He did this for each one of us.
How can we not believe,
trust and obey? Some would tell you that
if you cannot see God, He does not exist.
Perhaps they haven’t seen the power of the Holy Spirit or the answer to
prayer. Perhaps they are blind to
moments of pure joy, not pleasure, but pure joy and contentment. I am always amazed how steadfast my husband’s
faith continues, no matter how much he has forgotten in Dementia. His faith in
God is alive in a deeper way than I have ever seen or heard him express in our
63 years together.
trust and obey? Some would tell you that
if you cannot see God, He does not exist.
Perhaps they haven’t seen the power of the Holy Spirit or the answer to
prayer. Perhaps they are blind to
moments of pure joy, not pleasure, but pure joy and contentment. I am always amazed how steadfast my husband’s
faith continues, no matter how much he has forgotten in Dementia. His faith in
God is alive in a deeper way than I have ever seen or heard him express in our
63 years together.
Can you imagine preparing
for a trip and not know what your destination is? We surround ourselves with maps to make
choices whenever we travel on earth, to find our way and not get lost or take a
detour. Indeed, that is exactly what we
are spending a lifetime doing here…we are preparing for our destination. We study The Bible and search for the
guidelines of living in His love and forgiveness. This journey has an eternal importance.
for a trip and not know what your destination is? We surround ourselves with maps to make
choices whenever we travel on earth, to find our way and not get lost or take a
detour. Indeed, that is exactly what we
are spending a lifetime doing here…we are preparing for our destination. We study The Bible and search for the
guidelines of living in His love and forgiveness. This journey has an eternal importance.
Randy Alcorn wrote a book
called Heaven. Here are some quotes…from his book.
called Heaven. Here are some quotes…from his book.
• “For the Christian, death is not the end of adventure but a
doorway from a world where dreams and adventures shrink, to a world where
dreams and adventures forever expand.”
• “Our minds are so much set on Earth that we
are unaccustomed to heavenly thinking. So we must work at it.”
doorway from a world where dreams and adventures shrink, to a world where
dreams and adventures forever expand.”
• “Our minds are so much set on Earth that we
are unaccustomed to heavenly thinking. So we must work at it.”
• “What
God made us to desire, and therefore we do desire, if we admit it, is exactly
what he promises to those who follow Jesus Christ: a resurrected life in a
resurrected body, with the resurrected Christ on a resurrected Earth.”
God made us to desire, and therefore we do desire, if we admit it, is exactly
what he promises to those who follow Jesus Christ: a resurrected life in a
resurrected body, with the resurrected Christ on a resurrected Earth.”
What is Out of this World? Heaven.
Where is it? What is it? When is it?
Where is it? What is it? When is it?
Ponder these words from John in Revelation 21:2-3….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.”
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.”
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