REJOICING in ADVANCE
Scripture: “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:16 (NASB)
Author Ken Gire is quoted as saying, “From the glimpses of heaven given us by Jesus, we know that whatever else heaven is, it’s FULL of joy.” [Reflections on Your Life (1998)] As meditation-worthy as that statement is, unspeakably richer in meaning to me are the words found in our title Scripture, Hebrews 11:16. I am convinced that since we Christ-followers are referred to as “gifts” to the Father in John 6:37, our God welcomes our frequent meditation on our heavenly destination.
We can rejoice in advance that as a child of the King, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8); we need not fear death! Since our citizenship is in heaven, from which we await our Lord Jesus, according to Philippians 3:20, our present life trials, difficulties, and disappointments need never eclipse our blessed hope of being transformed into HIS glorious likeness! The stuff of this earthly life can’t even begin to compare with the glory that will be revealed to us! (Romans 8:18) Moreover, it is WRITTEN that in Christ Jesus we who are trusting in His atoning death, burial, and resurrection have a hope that has been LAID UP FOR US in HEAVEN—all because we’ve believed the life-giving GOSPEL! (Colossians 1:5)! Those souls who may say to you, ‘Oh, you can’t really know what happens when you die!’ have been blinded by Satan, because 1 John 5:13 declares that we who believe on Him CAN know! We who by grace have been saved, are being saved, and SHALL be saved have escaped the devil’s lies and delusions about our eternal destination.
Do you long for Heaven, dear reader? The Lord of Glory, our Elohim Bashamayim (God in Heaven) welcomes all such rejoicing, as we daily live in obedience to and worship Him.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, there is none like You. You are THE God of unsurpassed assurances and faithful in all You’ve said and promised. We bless You for the eternal hope provided for us who trust in Your holy Word. Thank You, in Jesus’ name; amen!
(by Denise Diggs)
Author Ken Gire is quoted as saying, “From the glimpses of heaven given us by Jesus, we know that whatever else heaven is, it’s FULL of joy.” [Reflections on Your Life (1998)] As meditation-worthy as that statement is, unspeakably richer in meaning to me are the words found in our title Scripture, Hebrews 11:16. I am convinced that since we Christ-followers are referred to as “gifts” to the Father in John 6:37, our God welcomes our frequent meditation on our heavenly destination.
We can rejoice in advance that as a child of the King, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8); we need not fear death! Since our citizenship is in heaven, from which we await our Lord Jesus, according to Philippians 3:20, our present life trials, difficulties, and disappointments need never eclipse our blessed hope of being transformed into HIS glorious likeness! The stuff of this earthly life can’t even begin to compare with the glory that will be revealed to us! (Romans 8:18) Moreover, it is WRITTEN that in Christ Jesus we who are trusting in His atoning death, burial, and resurrection have a hope that has been LAID UP FOR US in HEAVEN—all because we’ve believed the life-giving GOSPEL! (Colossians 1:5)! Those souls who may say to you, ‘Oh, you can’t really know what happens when you die!’ have been blinded by Satan, because 1 John 5:13 declares that we who believe on Him CAN know! We who by grace have been saved, are being saved, and SHALL be saved have escaped the devil’s lies and delusions about our eternal destination.
Do you long for Heaven, dear reader? The Lord of Glory, our Elohim Bashamayim (God in Heaven) welcomes all such rejoicing, as we daily live in obedience to and worship Him.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, there is none like You. You are THE God of unsurpassed assurances and faithful in all You’ve said and promised. We bless You for the eternal hope provided for us who trust in Your holy Word. Thank You, in Jesus’ name; amen!
(by Denise Diggs)
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
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