Heaven
This has been a long year of friends and loved ones going to be with Jesus. In a way, my life seems to have spiraled into some real depressing moments, hours, days, months. It's been heartbreaking for me. Hard to break through.
This is what Ted Dekker says in The Slumber of Christianity (which is a call for Christians to return to the joy of this hope of Heaven): "We should obsess after Christ and the power of his resurrection. We should preoccupy our minds with our inheritance. Otherwise our pain will rage unchecked and will bear a fruit of bitterness and hopelessness."
I remember a phrase that the Christians used to say. those who weren't ready to surrender every cell and emotion to God, they would say, "Don't be so heavenly minded you're no earthly good."
Okay, don't be a lunatic and carry signs, but we SHOULD be heavenly minded. Heaven minded.
Can you imagine the disciples who ate, slept, and fellowshiped with Jesus? After his death, I can only imagine that every single day they woke up with a pain in their stomachs, praying that today be the day Jesus returned or they go be with him. I long to see him face to face. To reunite with those who have gone before me.
Trisha went to be with Jesus this morning. She was in her twenties. A young wife. And a former youth member of mine and Rusty's when we were youth pastors a few years ago. I've known her since she was a little girl and I was good friends with her mom. Trish was a beautiful singer, a talented writer, and strong in principle.
Jesus was waiting for her this morning and she walked into his arms. No more tears, no more pain. Joy unspeakable full of glory....
Come quickly Lord Jesus.
This is what Ted Dekker says in The Slumber of Christianity (which is a call for Christians to return to the joy of this hope of Heaven): "We should obsess after Christ and the power of his resurrection. We should preoccupy our minds with our inheritance. Otherwise our pain will rage unchecked and will bear a fruit of bitterness and hopelessness."
I remember a phrase that the Christians used to say. those who weren't ready to surrender every cell and emotion to God, they would say, "Don't be so heavenly minded you're no earthly good."
Okay, don't be a lunatic and carry signs, but we SHOULD be heavenly minded. Heaven minded.
Can you imagine the disciples who ate, slept, and fellowshiped with Jesus? After his death, I can only imagine that every single day they woke up with a pain in their stomachs, praying that today be the day Jesus returned or they go be with him. I long to see him face to face. To reunite with those who have gone before me.
Trisha went to be with Jesus this morning. She was in her twenties. A young wife. And a former youth member of mine and Rusty's when we were youth pastors a few years ago. I've known her since she was a little girl and I was good friends with her mom. Trish was a beautiful singer, a talented writer, and strong in principle.
Jesus was waiting for her this morning and she walked into his arms. No more tears, no more pain. Joy unspeakable full of glory....
Come quickly Lord Jesus.
posted by Tracey Bateman at 5:50 PM
4 Comments:
Tracey, I am so sorry for your loss but your perspective is good.
Love you! Rachel
Hey girl, I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Those times are tough. But your heart and mind are in the right place. One day you'll be singing your praises together.
It's hard to lose people we care about, especially when their young and it seems like they had so much more life to live. Last week we just lost a 25-year-old cousin. Keep looking up, God will hold you and comfort you.
Blessings,
It's only looking at heaven that gets us through, I think. I just finished that book too -- I want to long for heaven like the disciples did. Sorry for your loss, T. Hugs! Suz
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