Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY THURSDAY!

I pray all is well with everyone, and you're enjoying another beautiful Friday eve. I'm doing well, enjoying the beautiful weather. Lately, it's been so hot and humid, where there's a little haze in the air. Today it's still hot, but not a lot of humidity, and there are beautiful clear skies. I must be solar powered, because I can't function properly without the Sunshine. I received a letter from my Dad's Lawyer's office yesterday saying that the hearing has been moved to September 16, 2009 at 9am. This is how the court system works, they reschedule often, but thank God it's only 6 days later, so if you've already scheduled time off, make sure you change the dates. Again, we're looking to fill the courtroom with people, to show that he has support when he comes home, so I pray that they don't change the date again. Please continue to pray for his release. Have a wonderful day!

Today's scriptures are about Heaven. When you think of Heaven what comes to mind? There are so many movies, television shows, and songs that depict images of what we think Heaven looks like, but the truth is no one really knows. There are several verses in the bible that describes heaven, for example Jesus said in Matthew 14:2: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Then there are the Revelations, where there are accounts of people who have seen visions of Heaven. The most important thing we need to know about Heaven is not how it looks, because we know if God and Jesus is there it's bound to be glorious, but the transformation we'll go through when get there. John described what he experienced in Revelations 21:2-4: Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” From this we learn that Heaven is setup as a "New City, while Jesus said, in the ladder verses, that He's going to prepare a mansion for us, so we know that there will be a new order of doing things. Although we'll be setup in eternal bliss, we'll each still have our jobs to do. We work for God here, to help strengthen the Kingdom of God, and it's very important we take that seriously, because it reflects in our lifestyle in Heaven. Eternity is way longer than the average 70-90 years we're supposed to live here on earth. It's written in Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." This is where our personal relationship with Jesus comes in. It's wonderful to go to church, and listen to different teachings on God, but it's just as necessary to strengthen our personal relationships with Him, by spending time alone with Him, studying His word, and praying without ceasing. The devil came to steal, kill, and destroy, and he proves that time and time again. He was successful in destroying "man's" personal connection with God with Eve in the Garden of Eden, but God is more powerful than anything and anyone, so He sent His Son as redemption for our sins. When we believe in Jesus Christ our names are permanently written in the Lambs Book of Life, and we don't have to worry any more. Jesus has called each of us to Salvation, and all we have to do is answer and accept Him as Lord. Jesus said in John 10:27-29: My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. The devil will tell you that you're "too bad" to be saved right now and he'll keep lying to you as long as you listen. The fact still remains that there is a Heaven and there is a Hell. The only way to enter into the bliss of Heaven is to believe that Jesus died for our sins on the cross, was buried in a tomb but resurrected on the third day, and now sits on a throne in Heaven awaiting His return to receive us. I know that's a farfetched story, but if you believe that Columbus discovered America, then why don't you believe this? Jesus is real because I feel His presence every day. Heaven is a free gift to all, so if you aren't sure that you're going just say that simple prayer right now, and don't forget that time waits for no man. Then start working to spread the Gospel, which translates "The Good News", I'm sure you want to see your brothers and sisters in Heaven. As we learned a few days ago physical death is the only thing that we cannot avoid in this life, but Spiritual death is something that we can, and Jesus is the only way. Heaven doesn't discriminate between race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, intelligence, or prominence, because "God so loved the world". My Favorite verse today is: An inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. (1 Peter 1:4)

ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455057&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=5336537&ct=7241267

I love you!