Category: Heaven

Do You Ever Hope for Heaven?

“The nation who (first) put a man on the moon needs a Church (Called-out, Holy People/Fellowship of Sold-out Believers/Followers of Jesus) that can soar into the Heavens. Our Country and world (desperately) need another (Great) Awakening. Perhaps we can “remember our way” into what could be a Rebirth of that “Shining City” (or “City Upon a Hill” that Christ shared originally…and many pastors and politicians have quoted since, starting purportedly with John Winthrop).” Ken Gurley, The Book on Prayer, pg. 304. (italics and words in parenthesis added by me)

Happy Hunger

Happiness comes in the Hunger (for God/Righteousness/being in right standing or relationship with Him and others).

TRUE HIS-Story

“I am an historian, I am not a Believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless Preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.” Historian AND Famous Sci-fi Writer, H. G. Wells (italics and bold added by me).

When GOD Weeps

“When the city came into view, He wept over it. ‘If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it’s too late. In the days ahead, your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They’ll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn’t recognize and welcome (but instead refused)  God’s personal visit’ (Me).” Jesus, weeping over Jerusalem (and us), Luke 19:41-44, MSG Bible. (Words in parenthesis and italics added by me, dkb.)

Priceless, Efficacious Tears.

“In one of the six ‘Golden Psalms’ (michtam, in Hebrew), David describes how God values tears:

Psalm 56:8-‘You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?’ God is an avid collector of tears. Tears are the silent, eloquent testimonies to God’s nearness: “He remains close to those who are brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

Did you know what’s physiologically in our tears? A tear is comprised of more than ‘just’ water and includes proteins, enzymes, lipids, metabolites, electrolytes, and even our DNA! If our eyes get irritated, tears are more aqueous (comprised of water). If we are under high stress, our tears are filled with stress-related hormones.

But the chemistry of tears pales in comparison to their (spiritual) value (to God…and us): “There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable (hope and) love.” Unknown.

Contrition. Unspeakable love. Not ordinary, everyday words…nor occurrences, sadly, though tears might be.

Is that why God has a supreme interest in…and pays undying attention to…our tears? He is love personified and, therefore, “near to the brokenhearted.” The Psalmist said that ‘God collects tears, even stores them in his bottles.’ ” The Book on Prayer, pg. 248, by Psr. Ken Gurley (italics and words in parentheses, etc., added by me, dkb).

F.A.I.T.H. is…

F- Father A- Anointing (+) I- Inspired T- Trust (=) H-Healing … F- Faith A- Amazing (&) I- Inside T- Treasure (of) H- Holiness … F- Focus A- Above (fosters true) I- Intelligence T- Training (=) H- Health … F- Fearing A- Adonai I- In T- Truth (&) H- Heart

Fast…or Feast?

“Like all the Spiritual Disciplines, fasting hoists the sails of the soul in hopes of experiencing the gracious wind of God’s Spirit. But fasting also adds a unique dimension to your spiritual life and helps you grow in Christlikeness in ways that are unavailable through any other means. If this were not so, there would have been no need for Jesus to model and teach fasting.” Donald S. Whitney, in his book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, pg. 171. See Isaiah 58 for Inspiration re. ‘Acceptable’ Fasting…and note that Fasting is Truly Feasting When You’re Focused on Jesus and His Call.