24 Things Not Found in Heaven

I happen to be a "list" person. Not a day passes without writing a list, following a list, or using a clipboard.  Here's a list for you.

24 Things Not Found in Heaven

 1.  Devil
 2.  Beast
 3.  False prophet
 4. Tears
 5.  Death
 6.  Sorrow
 7.  Crying
 8.  Pain
 9.  Former things
10. Temple
11.  Sun (see No Sunshine in Heaven)
12.  Moon
13.  Lamp
14.  Anything that defiles
15.  Anything that causes abomination
16.  Lies
17.  The curse
18.  Prophecying in part
19.  Speaking in tongues
20.  Knowing in part
21.  Seeing dimly 
22.  Closed gates
23.  Written names of some people (in the Lamb's Book of Life)
24.  The people mentioned in #23

(Revelation 20:10, 14, 15;21:4, 22-27; 22:5; I Corinthians 13:8-12)

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"And there shall be no more curse..."  [Revelation 22:3a]

Getting a Lift

Depression - Being stuck in quicksand, sinking, and no way to get out...apart from God.  "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." (Psalm 40:2)

God tells us that He will lift us out of the mire, but I think we need to reach up and grab the lifeline that he's throwing to us.  If it is so bad that we can't even reach up, then reach out to God with words.  "I can't even lift up my hand to grab your lifeline.  I don't even want to.  So, please change my desires and give me strength so that I can say, 'I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.'" (Psalm 27:13)


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But you, LORD, be gracious to me and raise me up...  [Psalm 41:10]  

Mary, the Mother

Let us lay aside the strife within Christianity regarding Mary's role in the Christian story both past, present and future.

Let us look at what she did.  Emphasis usually is placed upon the beginning of her significance, the Magnficat, where she completely submitted to God's plan for her life.

Think however about the end.  Mary showed us the ultimate human love for Jesus.  She did not deny him.  When his body was in anguish on the cross, her soul and spirit were in anguish at the foot of the cross.  She stayed with him.  She did not leave.  That is what a loving mother's heart will do.

Lord, may we love you like Mary loved you.  May we stay visible and alongside of you, even when others are hurting you and making fun of you.

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Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother...   [John 19:25]

Earthly Valuables Found in Heaven

Motherhood: beautiful, heartwrenching...tedious, when done diligently.  The problem with hands-on motherhood is that it involves the daily necessaries of cooking, cleaning and laundry.  For the select few, these mundane tasks can be hired out.  For the rest of us, they take up a tremendous amount of time.  As we work to train the littles to do these household tasks, they take even longer.  It uses all the reserves of physical and emotional energy.  So why bother?

We bother so they will become responsible, productive, loving citizens on this earth.  Yet it goes further.  One day, we will leave this earth...and we hope and pray that our children, priceless items of value,  will meet us in heaven.  The love, time and energy invested in their souls will reap a harvest, yes here on earth.  But we also can look forward to forever with our most precious valuables - our children.

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But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.  [I Corinthians 4:7]

A Bit Sheepish

I'm close with someone who owns a flock of sheep.  People are called sheep in the scriptures, so I try to observe parallels between sheep and human beings.

One ewe (female sheep) repeatedly kept getting her head stuck in the gate.  She only needed to back up a few steps to free herself.  However,  she couldn't/wouldn't/didn/t do that.  She wasn't free until her shepherd came along and pulled her back from the gate.

Do you ever think you're stuck?  Maybe you're not, really.   Maybe you just need the Shepherd to help you get out.  It's okay to ask for help.

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We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  (Isaiah 53:6)

How Many Friends?

The word friend has been cheapened, thanks to social media.  We "friend"someone to give them virtual access to our personal information.  Yet, how many true friends do we have?  How many do we need?

A close, faithful, earthly friend is rare and precious. "The pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice." (Proverbs 27:29b)

A heavenly friend is necessary and priceless. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)  It is no small thing to be on terms of friendship with God. (Streams in the Desert)

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A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
[Proverbs 18:24]

Awake at Night

 Do you ever lie awake in the middle of the night?  Sometimes the reasons are physical, often they are emotional.  Stressful circumstances at home or work, anxiety about an upcoming test or big event, worry about a loved one.

 You don't need to fear the "terror of the night."  God has set his love on you; he knows your name.  You can call upon Him and He will answer you.  He will be with you in trouble.  He will deliver you.  He will honor you.  Meditate on Psalm 91.

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"My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises."    [Psalm 119:148]