Our home is in heaven

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."  (Philippians 3: 20)

Lord Jesus, strengthen our hearts this season of Advent as we wait for you.

Teach us to love heaven

Titus 2: 12-13
"Let our lives be honest and holy in this present age, as we wait for the happiness to come when our great God reveals Himself in glory. "

May your word teach us to love heaven.  May its promise and hope guide our way on earth.

Seekfirst.blogspot.com

Great Way to see life by Cardinal John Newman

God has created me to do Him some definite service.  He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another.

I have my mission.  I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next.

I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.  He has not created me for naught.  I shall do good

     ---I shall do His work

     ---I shall be an angel of peace

     ---a preacher of truth

in my own place while not intending it, if I but keep His commandments.

Therefore I will trust Him.

Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away.  If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him...

He does nothing in vain; He may prolong my life, he may shorten it; He knows what He is about.  He may take away my friends, He may throw me among strangers; He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide the future from me ---still,

He knows what He is about.

 Cardinal John Newman

Salvation comes from Jesus

"On that day it will be said:
“Indeed, this is our God; we looked to him, and he saved us!
This is the LORD to whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"  (Isaiah 25: 9)

Lord Jesus we waited for you.  At long last, you take pity and answer us.  We rejoice in hope.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff comfort me."  (Psalm 23: 4)

Lord Jesus, we hope in you.  Deliver us from all distress - all fears, all worries and all doubts. Amen!

The Kingdom of God belongs to the childlike

"At that very moment he rejoiced [in] the holy Spirit and said, I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.* Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will."  (Luke 10: 21)

What does it mean to be childlike?
I am childlike when I trust your promises.
I am childlike when I live for the moment.
I am childlike when I do not take myself too seriously.
I am childlike when I am content to be carried and not to carry.

The childlike believes in miracles.  He delights in the simple manifestations of nature - rain, sunshine, snow and wind.

If the kingdom of God belongs to the childlike, I want to be childlike.

Give us faith Lord Jesus

“Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.
He said to him, “I will come and cure him."  (Matthew 8: 6 - 7)

Lord Jesus, grant us the faith of the Centurion and have mercy on us and heal our sick.

Multiple Signs of the Times

"And do this because you know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed."  (Romans 13: 11)

You know the time. What time? What are the signs of the times?  The season of Advent, the four weeks preparation for Christmas is a perfect time to reflect on the signs of the times.

What are the signs of this time and this season?
Extreme secularization
Shame in professing faith publicly
Persecution of Christianity in different parts of the world
Tolerance of same sex marriage
Tolerance of abortion
Profanation of the sacred character of Sunday
Hypercritical attitude towards any kind of authority
Universal availability of affordable mobile technology
Materialism

Romans 13: 11 teaches that because we know these signs, this knowledge and understanding should provoke extreme alert for all Christians.  We should be prepared for the coming of Christ anytime to take us home.

Come Lord Jesus!