Daisies

To begin, I’m sharing something quite personal and I pray it blesses you.

Many years ago I was struggling and frustrated with circumstances.

I kept praying about it and the Lord surprised me with a perspective turn.

He reminded me this place is not my home, and heaven will be more glorious than imaginable.

Thus, I began to learn to look on heaven as a real place and my forever home.

It has actually helped me enjoy the things here more.

One of the things I expect to find in heaven is a garden.

Since, it was the first place God put people it makes sense to me.

Not to mention, I deeply love flowers, all kinds of beautiful flowers.

I’ve found so much comfort in knowing heaven is my home.

Especially, during the seasons when I’m struggling a lot physically.

Last March I got very sick.

Several days worth of illness worse than I’d had since my health crumbled a few years ago.

During those days of struggle I prayed a lot.

I lifted up others and talked with the Lord about heart things.

I prayed a good deal about the future of our family.

One of the times I was struggling the Lord brought to mind a bunch of daisies.

Flowers are created by God, the beauty and joy I find in a daisy reminds me of the greatness of God.

“I love daisies, Lord. Thank You for creating them.”

And it might sound strange, but I thought about daisies often when feeling the worst.

Because the Creator, who can handle the delicate intricacies of a single pedal, can handle my life.

And my soul is safe in His hands.

When Jase and I were down south for his doctor’s appointment we stopped at the Salvation Army and got a few things including three bags of yarn.

I was prayerfully considering what God would have me make when I felt led to try a new pattern I’m learning.

As I began, I was praying for guidance and made a row out of some pretty variegated yarn, but felt I should do something different for the next row.

There was a lot more white yard than yellow.

It made sense to use the yellow on the inside of the circle and switch to white for the larger outside.

After making the first one for row two I clearly saw the pattern was making daisies.

Since last March, daisies are very special to me.

And I realized God has given me the opportunity to make a daisy blanket which will serve as a wonderful reminder of God’s incredible abilities and care.

I feel so blessed.

Truly, He is the most loving, understanding, incredible,…

Words escape my joy in the Lord and my awe at His ways.

I wonder what daisies will look like in heaven?

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for all these little things which mean so much to me. Lord, please continue to help me to see this life as temporary and to surrender myself completely to You. Lord, I know You are in control of each thing and Your ways are best. Lord in the times when I’m struggling with pain or feeling downhearted please remind me of all Your faithfulness. Lord, You know all my details of today and I trust You and praise You. Lord, thank You for both the seasons of pain and those of joy. For I can praise You in it all. I love You. Amen.

Heaven

Proverbs 30:4 NKJV — Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, If you know?

God the Father, the great Almighty, LORD, and the list of names continues, but what is His Son’s name?

Jesus.

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. Revelation 19:11‭-‬13 NKJV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:1‭-‬5 NKJV

Each of these verses is about Jesus.

He is the Word of God.

He is the Son of God.

He is salvation.

And He is in heaven.

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:9‭-‬11 NKJV

He shall return.

Matthew 25:13 NKJV — “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

Heaven is where God the Father and the Son are.

It is a place beyond description.

Jesus Himself called it Paradise. Luke 23:43

John 14:3 NKJV — “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Jesus told His disciples that He had to return to heaven, that He is there preparing a place for those that are His.

It is the confident expectation of every born again follower of Christ Jesus to live eternally with Jesus in the place He has prepared.

There are many other scriptures which describe the wonder and grandeur of heaven.

Heaven is a real place.

Jesus is there and one day shall return.

No treasure on Earth can match the glory of heaven.

Nothing of this world can offer anything like life forever with Jesus.

No one knows the moment of His return from heaven, but everyone can guarantee He is coming.

Will you be ready?

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You that You are preparing a place in heaven for those who accept Your gift of salvation. Lord, please let those who have yet to know You be ready and willing to hear and accept Your truths. Lord, help each one of us to see how temporary this life on Earth is and to cling to what is eternal. Lord Jesus, nothing compares to You. Your love, compassion, mercy, grace, and so much more are beyond anything I can comprehend. Truly You are great and mighty and worthy of all praise, honor, and glory. May the whole Earth be filled with the glory of You. Amen.

Over the fence

It was brief.

Just a few minutes of chatting.

I was on one side of the fence and they were on the other.

We could hear each other but not really see.

It blessed my heart, they inquired after my allergies.

Then asked about our church.

Just a friendly conversation.

But through it two truths surfaced.

“Well, when you’re as old as we are and have underlying health issues you wonder if you’re going to make it through this or not.”

My heart lept.

I actually wished they could see my face and read my feelings.

However, I knew my words were going to have to be my tool.

“Well, with my asthma and other health issues, I am in the category of ‘at risk’. My kids have been worried, asking me what we are going to do.”

“But I told them, God has the exact number of my days in His hand and nothing is going to change that. I don’t know how many that is, but I’m not going to worry. I’m just going to live life unto Him and praise the Lord”

There was a brief pause and then our conversation moved on to other topics.

But in my heart, I truly understand what was said.

There’s something very different about how one looks at life when you realize you are mortal.

There’s yet another change when you realize you may not have a future on this Earth.

That is the truth I heard in their words.

It’s a truth I’ve looked at as well.

Because none of us are guaranteed any allotted time here, but for some reason we assume we are.

When the truth, that no one but God knows the number of your days and you don’t have any idea how many that is, becomes a part of your every day perspective you have a choice.

You can choose to live selfishly and full of fear. Be consumed with trying to get all you can to protect yourself or do everything you’ve dreamed about before the ‘end’. Basically living like this world is the best there is.

Or

You can choose to live daily for Jesus and realize His plans for each of us is the best this world can offer, but through His blood it’s not the end.

Because it is not the end.

Heaven is waiting for those who believe:

John 3:16 NKJV — “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:17 NKJV — “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

I made the choice to walk with my Lord and be thankful for each day, no matter how many I have left.

Because like Paul I know this truth:

Philippians 3:20 NKJV — For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Today, my prayers are for those who have yet to make that choice and for those who have yet to realize the truth.

Dear Reader, only God knows the struggles inside your heart, but know that He loves you, deeply. He wants to comfort, guide, and speak truth to you. In these days of uncertainty, please take the time to seek Him. If you already know Him, take the time to praise Him! May God bless you, dear.

Heaven is going to be amazing…

Something about sunsets makes me feel closer to heaven.

I think it’s the overwhelming beauty which is simply a tiny sliver of the grandeur which awaits.

Creation fills me with awe.

And to realize it’s not the full deal,

heaven awaits!

After a long exhausting day my husband looked at me.

“Heaven is going to be amazing for you.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond.

“I mean, you have been sick a lot. Most of your adult life you’ve struggled with being unwell.”

His eyes held such compassion.

“In heaven you will never have to deal with that again. How awesome will that be for you!”

I reached over and held his hand.

“Yes, it will.”

And it was a new way of looking at heaven for me.

For many years now heaven has held such expectations.

I know so many people there.

Especially Dad.

(Dad died in 1999.)

I do look forward to life without the stains of sin.

But more than any other reason,

I look forward to seeing

JESUS.

How I long to see Jesus.

To hear His voice with my ear and my heart.

To worship before Him.

To praise Him for His goodness.

To thank Him for His mercy.

How I long to see JESUS.

My husband is right.

Heaven is going to be

amazing.

It’s not just for me.

Heaven is for everyone.

All that is required is to lay one’s sin at the cross and accept Jesus as LORD.

I have made that choice.

Dear Reader, I hope you have as well.

Then we can wait,

patientlyhopeful

till it’s our time to move to heaven.