Heaven On Earth

 Not that I speak in regard to need,,
 For I have learned in whatever state I am,
 to be content.
 I know how to be abased, and I know
 how to abound.
 Everywhere and in all things I have
 learned both to be full and to be
 hungry, both to abound and to suffer
 need,
 I can do all things through Christ who
 strengthens me.
                        Phil. 4:10-13

Recently while visiting our son at Pensacola Christian College, I purchased a new CD by Shelah. The name of the CD is "Hope of the Broken World." I recommend it highly! There are many great songs on the CD that speak of the hope we have in Christ.  One song spoke to me in a very special way. The name of the song is "Moments Like These," written by Todd. The song speaks of times with his three little girls and how he looks at these times with them as his " heaven on earth."

 This made me think of my own life. What do I think of as "heaven on earth"
 in my life?  Do I appreciate all the blessings the Lord continually bestows upon me? What do I think about when all is quiet around me and I ponder back over my life?  It is so easy for me to pine over what I once had and loved, but now is gone.  I loved being a mom to small children, preteen and even teenagers! I loved the many nights we found ourselves racing to yet another game for one of our children, cheering their team onto victory. Those days are gone, how I long to have them back.  What do I do with the sadness that comes over me when I long for those days? I have to choose; pine for days gone by, or be thankful I had those special times with my children.

Paul tells us to be content in whatever state we find ourselves. I will never forget
sitting around a table at a Bible Study discussing how our lives can become so
"hum drum" - seem so meaningless, without purpose. One of the precious ladies
shared how she always dreaded Mondays when she had to wash clothes and clean the house. She dreaded it that is until one Monday when she found herself standing next to a hospital bed where her sister lay, dying of breast cancer. She said, "I looked out the  hospital window and longed to be back home with an ordinary Monday, washing and cleaning." That put everything into  prospective for all of us.

I heard someone say, "We spend more time thinking about what we don't have then what we do have." It is so easy to let the simple things of life, the everyday blessings, become routine instead of realizing that we will never get these moments back. That is what Todd spoke of in the song. And that is what Paul pens in Philippians 4:11: I have learned that in whatever state I am, to be content. It is "moments like these" that we need to cherish, hold onto, and realize are our "heaven on earth," and in these moments learn to be content.

I began thinking of some of the many moments of "heaven on earth" the Lord has blessed me with. The first moment was of course the continual blessing of knowing Christ as my Savior. To think that He would draw me to Himself, to have a personal relationship is certainly more than I can fathom, and way more than I deserve!! And then I started thinking of how on January 3rd we were blessed with a new grandson, Sebastian Xavier. As I held him for the first time and looked into that sweet little face, I couldn't help but be amazed at the miracle of the birth of a baby. That is certainly "heaven on earth!" For the last two weeks and into next week I have had the privilege of spending time in Florida  with my Mom. We have laughed, cried, done Bible Study, walked, attended church, knit, shopped, and loved every minute of being together. Mom is 82 years old, in excellent health, and my very best friend. What a gift the Lord has given me to spend this undivided time with her, just the two of us! Now that is "heaven on earth!

Times like these are obvious. But what about everyday life, when all seems so routine. Where is "heaven on earth" then? I couldn't help but think about how my husband and I start every morning visiting over a cup of coffee, sharing what our day will hold, enjoying each others' company. That to me is "heaven on earth." I love those times with him. And there are times with my precious friends, over lunch, or just visiting on the phone. Have I ever thought about how the Lord has blessed me so abundantly and thought of times with them as "heaven on earth?" I can't say that I have. But that is exactly what they are! Sitting around a table sharing the Word of God, growing together with like minded women, women who love the Lord and want so much to grow in understanding - now that is "heaven on earth!" The list could go on and on - and it does!!

I want to walk in such a way that I am so aware of all the Lord does for me each and everyday, that my life is made up completely of moments of "heaven on earth"  It is there I will be content, be a blessing, and a testimony to others.

How about you? What are your moments of "heaven on earth?" We are a blessed people! Let's walk in such a way that every moment of every day we are aware that it is our Lord who continually bestows these blessings upon us. It is our Lord who gives us moments of "heaven on earth."



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Choose Joy

"You will keep him in perfect peace,
  Whose mind is stayed on You,
  Because he trusts in You.

  Trust in the Lord forever,
  For in YAH, the Lord, is
  everlasting strength.
                 Isaiah 26:3-4


  I woke up this morning with these Scriptures on my mind. As I recited them
  I was reminded of when my Dad would say, "I wish there was a switch on
  the side of my head that I could just turn to off so I wouldn't have to think!"

  I can relate completely to what Dad was talking about. I wish I woke up each
  morning with the joy of the Lord on my mind. I wish my first thought was
  always that He has everything under control for my life if I will just abide in
  Him, letting Him have His perfect will. I do not. I wake up thinking of challenges
  I am facing, concerns that I have with no answers. The "what if's and whys" in
  my life that seem to demand an answer. Ever been there?

  I heard a sermon by Charles Swindoll on Sunday about Abraham and Isaac.
  You know the story - Abraham was going to take Isaac to Mt. Moriah to
   offer him as a sacrifice.  Why? Total obedience to God!

      Genesis 22:7-8 tells us:
       " Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said "My father!" And he
         he said, "Here I am, my son." Then he said, "Look, the fire and the
         wood but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"

        And Abraham said "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for
        a burnt offering." So the two of them went together.

  Charles Swindoll left his listeners with the three words that made it possible
  for Abraham to do the unthinkable. Do you see them? Can you tell where
  Abraham's faith came from? It is in those three words "God will provide!"
  That is where Abraham walked. That is where he lived moment by moment,
  day by day. He knew in his heart, and walked in faith, with the Truth that
  no matter what "God will provide." How I want to be an Abraham!! Don't
  you?

  So how do we get there? Once again the Lord doesn't keep us guessing,
  trying to figure out on our own how to walk in the faith that Abraham walked
  in. He gives us an answer! It is right there in the Scriptures of Isaiah 26:3-4.

   Let's take it apart with the three questions:

   What does it say?            You will keep him in perfect peace
                                           Whose mind is stayed on You,
                                           Because he trusts in You.

                                           Trust in the Lord forever,
                                           For in YAH, the Lord, is
                                           everlasting strength.


     What does it mean?       Christ will keep me in perfect peace when my
                                            mind is on Him, because I trust in Him.

                                            I am suppose to trust in the Lord forever,
                                            for He is where my strength comes from.


     What does this mean       I will think about what I am thinking about!!
     to me personally?            When my thoughts run to worry, concerns,
                                            and unanswered questions I will trust in HIM.
                                            I will remember the words Abraham's spoke to Isaac:
                                                               "God will provide."
                                            And in faith I will walk in the joy of the Lord!

     Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!!
                                                                             Hebrews 13:9

    What are your worries, concerns, and unanswered questions? We all have
    them. Will you believe with me, like Abraham believed, God will provide,
    no matter how impossible it might seem? Christ died on the cross that we
    would be complete in Him, who is head of all principality and power.
                                                                                        Col. 2:9
    Together let's choose joy!  We can because we know that we know,
                        God will provide! 
 
    Thank you, Lord!! You are so faithful to me!!
    Help me be as faithful to You, I pray,
    And walk in the Truth that "God will provide!"
    As I choose to walk in Joy!