Ezra 7-10; John 14; Psalm 131

All of the passages we read this morning speak to God’s faithful love and preservation of those who are in Christ. And for those of us in Him we have an eternal inheritance.

John 14:1-7, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Jesus is the only way we can enter this beautiful eternal home He is preparing for us. It’s interesting and I’m not sure I’m right, but have thought about this from time to time. It took Him six days to create the world we live in with all its beauty and majesty and since He has been gone — as I read this passage — Jesus has been preparing a beautiful place for us to dwell with Him! WOW can you imagine what that is going to be like? I sure can’t!

Here is the caveat… the way to this eternal home is only through the person of Jesus Christ. I’m sure that most of us if not all who are regular readers of 66books have already put our trust in Jesus alone for our salvation, but there may be someone reading who has never done that. My counsel to you is to do that today. Pray the prayer posted below and enjoy life everlasting with Jesus in the house he is building for all his followers.

Lord Jesus Christ, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life (take a few moments to ask his forgiveness for anything particular that is on your conscience). Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong. Thank you that you died on the cross for me, so that I could be forgiven and set free. Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Spirit. I now receive that gift. Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me forever. Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen.

 

 

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Isaiah 64-66; 2 Corinthians 2

Many of us know that the entire Bible — Old and New Testaments — have a crimson thread that ties it together. It’s all about Jesus. And many of its prophecies are about things that have happened way before we were born, but today we see a prophecy that is yet to be realized. It’s a beautiful picture of what the New Jerusalem will be like. These prophecies are some of my favorite because they share with us what the future for Christ-followers will ultimately be like. Read carefully through these verses and imagine what it will be like when we are there in person.

17“See, I will create

new heavens and a new earth.

The former things will not be remembered,

nor will they come to mind.

18 But be glad and rejoice forever

in what I will create,

for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight

and its people a joy.

19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem

and take delight in my people;

the sound of weeping and of crying

will be heard in it no more.

20 “Never again will there be in it

an infant who lives but a few days,

or an old man who does not live out his years;

the one who dies at a hundred

will be thought a mere child;

the one who fails to reacha a hundred

will be considered accursed.

21They will build houses and dwell in them;

they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

22No longer will they build houses and others live in them,

or plant and others eat.

For as the days of a tree,

so will be the days of my people;

my chosen ones will long enjoy

the work of their hands.

23They will not labor in vain,

nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune;

for they will be a people blessed by the Lord,

they and their descendants with them.

24Before they call I will answer;

while they are still speaking I will hear.

25The wolf and the lamb will feed together,

and the lion will eat straw like the ox,

and dust will be the serpent’s food.

They will neither harm nor destroy

on all my holy mountain,” (Isaiah 65:17-25 [NIV])

What about these prophecies warms your heart? What if anything makes you nervous? What are you looking forward to the most? Share in the comment section.

Daniel 7-9; Psalm 91; John 19

“You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this: “God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!” That’s right-he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you-under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm.” Psalm 91:1-3 MSG

I tend to think of a refuge being a place, like a soft blanket on a rainy day. The shelter of my home. I feel exposed when I am vulnerable. But, God goes before me even on the days where I feel the weakest. Or when I face a tough situation that I would rather avoid and be fearful about. A writer from a blog called  Loop, put into words what God is teaching me about refuge.  “When you know you are home, and you belong, there is no other home. When you know you are loved, and you know who you call family, and you know your name is Daughter, Beloved, Chosen One, you can rest, and you can live, and you can be free…Maybe there isn’t a better place than where I am.”

“Yes, because God’s your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door.” Psalm 91:12 MSG

My family and I were fascinated by the Eagle Cam at Codorus State Park near our house. There was a live feed of the eagle’s nest, before and after they had their babies. We would stand around the computer screen and watch the babies wobble around the nest and hide under their mother’s wings. Their stoic father would puff out his chest to protect them, until they were ready to fly. Is this how God cares for me? He takes me under His wings. But, He is always there with me, even when He sometimes has to push me out of my comfort zone. He tells me to take refuge, but not hide. That I can be seen and take courage, knowing that He is still there.

Dear Father, I am thankful that You are always with me. That my home is where You are. I pray that I would trust You more and follow where You lead. Amen.

Amy(amycatnner)

2 Kings 22-23; Psalm 73; 2 Corinthians 5

“For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven-God-made; not handmade – and we’ll never have to relocate our “tents” again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move- and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what’s coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we’re tired of it! We’ve been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less.” 2 Corinthians 5: 1-5 MSG

At the risk of sounding morbid, I heard a bible study teacher say how it is common to hear talk of how natural the deceased person looks at a viewing. When in reality, they look the most unnatural, because their body is a shell and empty of their soul. I think this is what Paul is talking about when he describes our bodies as earthly tents. Tents can easily be picked up and moved. They are a temporary dwelling. Because our soul doesn’t belong here.

“That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us?…The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!” 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 &17 MSG

Sometimes I don’t feel like a new creation. I find myself stuck in my old ways and old habits. That’s usually when I am looking everywhere else but Jesus. I want to be found in Him. He is my safe place. But, my human nature tells me to run to other things, or the other way. This is when I can forget His goodness and allow doubt to creep in.

“No doubt about it! God is good.  But, I nearly missed it, missed seeing His goodness. I was looking the other way.

You’re all I want in heaven!

You’re all I want on earth!

When my skin sags and my bones get brittle,

God is rock-firm and faithful.

I’ve made Lord God my home.” Psalm 73:1&2,25-28 MSG

Amen.

Amy(amyctanner)

Joel 1, 2, 3; Revelation 4

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,

who was and is and is to come!”

 

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they existed and were created.” Revelation 4:8b, 11

There have been moments in my life when I believe that God has given me tiny glimpses of heaven. I haven’t had a near death, out-of-body experience, but I’ve walked away from those moments knowing that I had the chance to peek at what forever will be like.

Each one of those moments has been full of praise; they were times of worship and honor to my King. Some of the circumstances surrounding those flashes of heaven were full of joy and some full of grief, but they were moments when heaven met earth.

One of the first moments I experienced this was the night after my brother died. Some friends and I were worshipping the Lord, blessing Him in the bad as we do in the good. As we were lifting His name on high, a huge hail storm came out of nowhere and beat a torrent of ice balls on the corrugated roof. The sound was deafening, and it spoke to me of God’s glory and goodness.

Another time recently, singing corporately in church, praising His name together. I don’t even remember the song we were singing any more, but I could hear the angels singing with us. I was reminded that together we will sing God’s praises in the heavens for all eternity.

And this past week, as I have been reveling in the birth of my son and still experiencing the surreal truth that I am now a mother of three. I am grateful for an uneventful delivery and a peaceful newborn; and I am grateful for the help I have been receiving with my girls and with meals. I feel God’s presence giving me peace and rest and I praise Him for always being there for me and my family.

The Lord truly is holy and worthy of all praise, and to receive glory, honor, and power, forever and ever! And, together, on earth and in heaven, we who love Him praise His name always! Amen.

 

Blessings – Julie (writing from the U.S.A.)

 

Judah Benaiah David Richard

“My God be praised for our beloved son whom you created”

Born December 5, 2014  (9 lbs, 4 oz; 21.75 inches)

 

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.