Heaven is Close

          The hope of heaven seems closer everyday!  Just like these hostas are pushing their way out of their earthly pots, soon we will be leaving our earthly vessel.  This year we have been slowly reading and meditating on Charles Spurgeon and Randy Alcorn’s thoughts on heaven in a book, We Shall See God.  What a treasure house of nuggets about heaven!  Keeping heaven in our line of sight changes our perspective while living on earth.  Absorbing thoughts on heaven this year has changed me more than anything in a long time.  What does it matter that someone hurt my feelings?  I’m going to heaven!  Losing friends?  Oh well, I’m headed to heaven.  Deep friendships will be among God’s greatest gifts in heaven.  For what reason would I press my agenda on another person?  Argue with my husband?  No, not worth the time and effort, since I’m soon going to heaven. I’m putting my focus on Jesus’ agenda and plan.  We will have no sin, no sorrow, no pain, no conflict, no lack of anything in heaven.  

          Growing in our knowledge and relationship with God helps us see everything, everyone, ourselves, and events from a different lens.  We long for others to know our Savior, we long to share the hope of heaven.  We long for others to know the freedom God brings to the soul. We long for enjoyment of God together.  A growing view of heaven enables and strengthens us to press on toward the goal.  These are some of the thoughts running around in my mind this year.  Then on Sunday our Pastor Dee’s message was “Think on Heaven.”  The 18 points he talked about have been on my mind this year.  For instance, “What we think about determines how we act, how we feel, and our basic attitudes.”  “Our character and behavior is greatly impacted by what we think about most of the time.”  “The more we think about heaven the more we will grow spiritually.”  “We need to remind ourselves every time we experience pain, every time that we see ugliness, every time we feel sad, that we are going to heaven soon.”  Colossians 3:1 - 4 surely is God’s timely admonition for us in these days.  “…Seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth….”  

My roots are pushing me toward heaven as I see the chaos and conflict on earth.  There is an urge in my soul, a longing and desire, to get ready.  Heaven is close.  Are you ready?

                                                                                                                       K.C.

Working Together

 

          Gardening is a full time job!  Sure, you can grow a few things in a flowerbed, but a true gardener is never satisfied with just that.  A true gardener has to overdo, has to have just one more plant, one more flowerbed, one more trellis.  A true gardener always buys way too many seeds.  A true gardener’s family groans when they accompany her to the nursery.  Yes, it’s true.  But….there are benefits that bless the family, too.  

          One of the benefits of gardening is time spent working together.  There is always a lot of trimming, weeding, and various chores to be done, and it is so enjoyable to work together.  Several of our cherubs lately have been “helping” trim branches with Papa.  Notice their “chainsaws” are cutting at just the right angles.  A sense of accomplishment and unity are some of the results of working together in the garden.  Conversations happen along the way that never would otherwise.  Bonds are made stronger and deeper from joy of being together.  The cherubs are becoming more like Papa.

          Sometimes I feel like these 2 cherubs when I look at my life of service to God.  I’m stretching and laboring to help God, yet He is really the One doing all the work.  God asks me to serve and bear much fruit for His glory.  I am in awe that God, who is sovereign and fully independent, would want to have my presence and companionship.  John 15:5, “…He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit;  for without Me you can do nothing.”  So when I am working with the Lord He is creating fruit in me, He is giving me His strength, and He is glorified.  As I abide and work with the Lord He is molding me more and more into being like Jesus.  The goal is totally different than I think.  I think about getting work done, but He is thinking about being together, growing my character, and receiving glory.  Our Lord loves to be together.  Our cherubs think they are helping us, but in reality we are helping them learn to work and build character.  We love being together with them as well. It is a win-win working together.  

                                                                                                                    K.C.