“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” John 14:2

“Even as you read this, Jesus is preparing a place for you in heaven. That beats even a beach house on the French Riviera any day of the week. Your neighbors in that heavenly-place-to-come might not be ones you would choose. In fact, you might be surprised by who’s there. All the more reason to learn to get along with the neighbors you have right now.” (Laurie Hanson. The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (Kindle Edition.)

Angels to the Left of Us, Angels to the Right

We recently spent time at the beach where we were able to meet some new friends and make some new acquaintances. Once of those friends was a little boy named Cash. He was polite. He was not too loud. He was very friendly and liked to share his thoughts. He had a remarkable vocabulary for a four year old. He was the kind of little boy you want staying in the place next to you.

We all have heard the scripture “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2) This text is a call to always keep in mind the fact that anyone you meet, anyone you encounter in this life may be heavenly sent.

We all have a hope to ascend that stairway to heaven. We all also have an idea we can select who should ascend with us. My friends, just as we never know if there is an angel in our midst, when we get to heaven we will have no idea who may have made it as well. And I am here to tell you the guest list will be as surprising as a four year old named Cash — he was pure money as a neighbor.

Let us pray,

God of heaven, it is good to know there is a place for me — and for my neighbors in Heaven. Help me to stop wasting time making the guest list. Instead give me the strength to love all people equally. Amen.

Pastor Dave

“Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?” Luke 15:4

“Your typical “lost and found” at a bus station, shopping mall, or sports arena consists of junky trinkets, hats, gloves, and old toys, all piled in a bent cardboard box, never to be claimed. Heaven’s “lost and found” is different. Jesus claims the whole thing. No wonder all angels must be celebrating, it must be a great place to work.” (Laurie Hanson. The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (Kindle Edition.)

Stairlift to Heaven

There is nothing that can get in the way of G-d’s love for us through Jesus Christ. If we put up a rock, G-d will bring a rock smasher. If we put up a wall, G-d will send an army of angels to knock it down. If we put a chasm between us and G-d, Jesus will use a stairlift. Why else would we have story after story from Jesus about the value of one sheep, one coin, one sinner if to tell us that nothing can separate us from the Love of G-d found in Jesus.

I do not believe we have to rely on a stairlift or a stairway to heaven — that Jesus comes to us every day, and on the day of our death. We may feel lost once in a while, but Jesus finds us every time.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, there are times we feel lost and alone, and times when we need a lift. Help me to feel your presence today along with the assurance that you are always with me. Amen.

Pastor Dave