VICTORY HILL

I shout “Victory!” on the highest hill.
I call “Joy!” where the valleys fill.
Jesus is no longer dead!
 
Will you cry “Savior!” to the meadow’s end?
Will you sing “Friend!” where the willows bend?
Jesus fulfilled what was said!
 
Come, yell “Freedom!” to the birch trees far.
Holler “Sure hope!” to the furthest star.
Jesus was raised from the dead!
 
I proclaim “Mercy!” to the babbling brook.
I whistle “Life!” to the woodland nook.
Jesus has done all He said!
 
Then, I will kneel where the grass is deep,
and give to the Lord my soul to keep.
Jesus is no longer dead!

 

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:8-11

 

VICTORY HILL

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:9-10

The Bible outlines the gift of salvation in Romans 10:9-10. The entrance into Heaven is found for the person with a believing heart and a confessing mouth. Do you have a believing heart and spoken words to confess that Jesus is Lord? I hope you do. And, as we also read in the Bible, Jesus hopes you do, too.

The Word of God contains truths about Heaven, or, the kingdom of God. We read about how the Heavenly Father lives in Heaven, how angels are sent from Heaven, how Jesus came from Heaven, and how, after His resurrection, He ascended into Heaven, His Father's kingdom. The disciples watched him go up into the sky until He was out of sight.

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

Acts 1:9

When we read the Bible, which is God-breathed, we learn that Jesus spoke about Heaven often. And He spoke about Hell. As Heaven is a real place, so is Hell— an evil place far away from God's eternal love and grace. Our Creator God does not want anyone to end up there, but people go, nonetheless, due to their lack of faith.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

2 Peter 3:9-10

The day of the Lord will come quickly, when it does.

As recorded in Luke, Jesus told a parable (or story) to paint a horrible picture of how awful Hell is. He would not want anyone to spiritually perish but, because He is full of love and grace, He won't force anyone to believe in Him. He desires that people come to Him of their own free will, like Lazarus, the beggar.

"So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'"

Luke 16:22-26

Heed the parable of warning told by Jesus. This whole account in the Bible starts in verse 19 and ends in verse 31 of the 16th chapter of Luke. We learn of the tormented soul of the rich man who chose not to believe in Christ and that he sees Lazarus comforted and not in torment on the other side of the great gulf. He knows his mistake but it's too late. He asks if Lazarus could go back and warn his brothers. He was sure they would believe and repent if they saw a risen-from-the-dead person. But Abraham assured the rich man they would not. The take-away is: A hardened heart will cost too much for the owner of it.

"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Matthew 16:26

The book of Ecclesiastes teaches that life is meaningless without the proper reverence for God. Without Jesus, everything is meaningless. The rich man in the parable found out too late and couldn't do anything about his predicament.

After you die (which we are all appointed once to do), I hope you will be celebrating on Victory Hill in Heaven.

FOR THE JOY: Christian Poems about Good Friday and Easter

While cleaning, I found a ditto of a poem one of my kids had in their notebook from when they were in school. It was a poem about the horror of war, written by Wilfred Owen, and it impressed on me a format to follow about the horror of Hell. I am considering adding it to my For the Joy collection.

אנא את ידתחיא נהו ון ל והן ודמם

דית ינר הא ו לוהן

(I Have Come That They May Have Life

and That They May Have It More Abundantly)

Bewildered, reeling, as if just hit by a car,

He stretched his hand for never-to-have relief,

And cried, “Abraham! I see your rest afar!”

His mind spun wild the folly of sure belief

In ‘Never. A. Savior’, a state too mad to bear. “End,”

He screamed, “these embers somewhere stoked!

Fire! Fire! Unquenchable flames ascend!

Do you see? Are those dense shadows or surging smoke?

Water! A drop on the tip of Lazarus’ finger!”

He fell, prostrated. “O now, my doom!

Quick warn my brothers this death-place where I linger!

A risen person could free them of this gloom …

But would repentance follow?” The answer he knows,

As horrid wraiths emerged from pits of Hell.

If, by the Spirit, you see what the rich man knows,

And sense the chasm span, too wide to tell,

And feel the searing, tormenting, rising flames,

And hear the shrieking cries, wailing and weeping,

And gnashing teeth, as demons hiss their claims,

My friend, you would profess sweet grace for keeping,

Inheritance from a mountain, and eternal life—

The words Jesus declared lovingly:

אנא את ידתחיא נהו ון ל והן ודמם דית ינר הא ו לוהן

FOCUS ON PRAYER

Please pray for Biblical understanding. We may know God better if we spend time in His Word. Believe in prayer. Pray that the non-praying loved one would pray.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28

'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

Jeremiah 33:3

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

John 10:10

IN CLOSING

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

Acts 1:10-11

We learn from reading the Bible that Jesus' ascension was a literal, bodily return to heaven. He rose from the ground gradually and was observed by many onlookers who watched Him until they could see Him no more. Then, two men in white, angels, appeared and spoke to them about how Jesus will return. Jesus is alive today, making intercession for believers as High Priest and Mediator of the New Covenant. The work of forgiveness was completed in the words He spoke before dying on the cross: 'It is finished'. Now, He is preparing a beautiful place for the forgiven (the ones who are saved, as in Romans 10:9-10), far from the flames of Hell, on the other side of the great gulf fixed, in the Kingdom that shall not fall, and has no end— Heaven.

THE LONG SKIP HOME

I just finished this excellent story!

Even though it is for middle grade readers,

I felt like I still related to Lily and her different struggles.

Elstar and all the friends from the world of Whule made

me excited for Heaven. I loved all the reminders of Jesus

portrayed through Elstar's character. An excellent, moving story!

-Amazon Review

THE POND BY THE WOOD

I hiked to the pond early Friday morn,
through rain and mist and woods forlorn;
for the winter had torn limbs here and there,
and a heaviness clung in the air.
 
I stood on the bank by the meadow bleak,
with my head hung low, down and weak;
for what have I done to deserve this love
from such a Savior above?
 
Circles spun on the water’s face
when raindrops fell softly to their place,
and clouds swirled free in the pool’s dark depths
when winds encircled off Heaven’s steps.
 
Then there on the water, the sun came shining!
His words of love to me reminding;
pledging gladness through oaks as the sky turned blue,
encouraging wonder in all things new!
 
What grace shines upon the pond by the wood!
What joy restored and understood!
I know Jesus loves me with all His heart,
and from me, never will He depart.
 
 
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
to give unto them beauty for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning,
the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
that they might be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Isaiah 61:3

THE POND BY THE WOOD

Fallen branches and debris from winter’s harshness clutter the woodland floor. It's not pretty in the woods. There isn't any greenery on the branches of slowly-waking maple and beech trees. But, last years ferns, still green, lay matted to the ground and green moss clings to rocks and trees. We know spring is coming as we trek to the pond on a gnarly path.

Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 

Isaiah 53:1-3

As we stand beside the pond by the wood, we contemplate that the Man of Sorrows, Jesus, took upon Himself our sorrows for our sin debt. The Man acquainted with grief knew our grief. Only the innocent blood that was sacrificed by God's Anointed could pay the price for our eternal redemption. Only Jesus Christ, the Son of God, could solve our sin problem.

And, when we get to Heaven, give us glorified bodies. GLORIFIED. What is another wonderful thing about Heaven? Being glorified!

Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Romans 8:30

Can sinful people like us understand being glorified? We can try, by the power of the Holy Spirit. To be glorified is to be sin-free. Adam and Eve lived sin-free before they sinned and were exiled from the Garden of Eden. In their sinless state, they had no shame. They didn't sin. They walked and talked with God. For how long, we don't know. We can deduce that there will be no sin or shame in Heaven. Sinless is being made holy, and that's why it's quite difficult for any of us sinners to understand glorification. But our Lord's Word declares this promise of being glorified in Heaven.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of the eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Corinthians 15:50-53

Paul writes in the first book to the Corinthians that through faith in Jesus, who is the second Adam, we will bear the image of the second Adam, the Heavenly Man, Jesus. We who believe (the brethren) will be raised sinless, or glorified. We will gain everlasting life, which is immortality. We will not be subject to death or decay or dishonesty, or bribery, or whatever, which all are corruption. The corruptible things of the world will perish and not enter Heaven. The second Adam and His Word are very powerful.

And holy.

After the construction of the tabernacle in the book of Exodus, the glory of the LORD filled the area.

For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

Exodus 40:38

Behind the temple veil was the Holy of Holies. Only the High Priest could enter once a year. Aaron's sons tried entering the courtyard but because their approach was not authorized, they were destroyed. Yes, God is powerful and His Word binding. He had given the command and He wouldn't be just if He didn't follow through with what He commanded. Then, when Jesus died on the cross for us, the temple veil was torn in two. The sacrifice Jesus willingly made on the cross took away all sin once and for all. Amazing grace and eventual glorification are offered to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ.

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. 

Isaiah 53:4-5

But, after death on a brutal cross, Jesus didn't stay dead.

After Jesus was buried, then came the third day. Joy comes with Easter's dawn! He was risen from the dead! He is alive today!

As the sun breaks away clouds of darkness, we feel sin's ugliness dissipate from us. As the sun beams to the woodland floor to restore the greens shoots that will come up with April rains and more sunshine, we stretch our roots and bask in the nourishing son-shine. Spring returns, in the woods and our souls. Only Jesus can restore the human soul. What joy comes from restoration of the soul! Thank you, Jesus!

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Philippians 3:20-21

And... if you're thinking no way can a Creator who created the first Adam OUT OF DIRT IN THE GROUND possibly reconnect EVERYONE'S DNA that ultimately decayed into the soil across generations, think again. Yes, Jesus is THAT powerful, too, as I'm sure, dear reader, you know.

So, we of faith are just passing through this world on our way to citizenship in Heaven, and gonna be having that glorified body, too.

FOR THE JOY: CHRISTIAN POEMS ABOUT GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER  -update

My latest update is I made the subtitle more specific. Also, I put the book's trim size back to 9x6 to match my Unto Us: A Christmas Poetry Book. I had wanted to write an Easter poetry book to be a sister book to the Christmas book, and Unto Us is 9x6. Also, like the Christmas book, I'm changing the font size to 14 point. For eyes that are struggling with small print, like me, large print books are okay, I say.

FOCUS ON PRAYER

Please pray for our Christian pastors everywhere, and closest to you. Many things rise up in attack against faithful, Bible-teaching ministers. Many attacks are under the guise of 'religion', just as in the days of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The devil still lurks about, tricky as ever. A reason the Lord tarries, in my opinion, is to provide more time for people to have opportunity to become saved, to become sure of a citizenship in Heaven. Jesus is the Narrow Way that leads to life. Broad is the way that leads to destruction which means many are on that way of death. Get on the narrow way. Remember pastors and pray for their endurance and encouragement during these taxing times of witness.

IN CLOSING

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

1 John 3:2

When the glorified body is revealed, it will be perfectly outfitted and suited for eternity, like Jesus, in Heaven.

THE WATERFALL

Down in the gorge of mist and cold

pours out a gushing, strong and bold,

that makes the hemlocks surge up tall—

the power of the waterfall.

The water dances as it sings

and off the trees, its echo rings

to fill the woodland concert hall—

the music of the waterfall.

The flow that washes like a sea

removes the mud and creek debris

and smooths the jagged, rocky wall—

the cleansing of the waterfall.

The Lord of Heaven gives the might

with mercies pouring day and night

to send my wrongs cascading all—

the beauty of God’s waterfall.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just 

to forgive us our sins, 

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

THE WATERFALL

All the snow had melted a few days ago, and the waterfall was ripping, across from Veery Glade. But, winter returned and snow blanketed everything. We haven't heard the male chickadee singing his two-note courting song, but we have seen red-winged blackbirds and robins (the chickadees are here year-round). Spring, like Fall, is doing a cha-cha dance— two steps forward, one step back.

In my last post, I wrote a little about gold in Heaven. This post will be about Heaven's precious gems, which must surely sparkle. Earth's diamonds, rubies, emeralds, jasper, and precious stones radiantly please the eye, but the jewels of Heaven must surely outshine them all. In this life, a sampling is provided only to be more vastly enjoyed by citizens living with Jesus, The Anointed, in the kingdom with no end, in His kingdom of unlimited resources.

We read at the beginning of the book of Revelation that the revelation of Jesus Christ and things that will take place was revealed to John. He, in turn, wrote it down, as instructed. We further read that anyone (like us) who reads and hears this book of prophecy is blessed.

Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

Revelation 4:2-3

Jasper and sardius and emerald. John, enabled by the Holy Spirit, was shone the throne in Heaven and reported what it was like. As I read the Biblical narrative of this scene as recorded in chapter four, I imagine the colors, the rainbow, the lightning, and sounds of thunder, and the 24 elders with gold crowns on their heads falling before He who sits on the throne.

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

Revelation 21:10-11

How can one fully describe the glory of God? John gives us a comparison to a precious jasper stone, clear as crystal. We have to factor in how big 'great' is. 'Great' is substantial, significant, considerable, sizable, exceptional, serious— all synonyms. And in verses 16-17, measurements are given in furlongs and cubits. God enabled John to write down what he saw, giving us an account of God's glory radiating out from the holy city.

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily."

Isaiah 28:16

Jesus is our Cornerstone. A life trusting Him is like a building on a sure foundation. When the wrath comes, those who trust in Christ will not need to run nor act hastily, trying to save themselves.

Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD'S doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?

Matthew 21:42

Jesus is The Chief Cornerstone, the only One able to save. And for me, He is The Jewel of Heaven.

FOR THE JOY: Christian Poems for Easter  -update

Here are three lines from a poem I'm planning to include in the Easter collection:

Hearts broken are full-mended when miracles abound.

A loss is gone forever when victory is found.

And songs of exultation require joyful sound.

Jesus performed many miracles, including raising Lazarus from the dead. The complete poem entitled "When Miracles Abound" will be in the first half of the poetry book. (I won't be able to finish the poetry book by this Easter but, well, it will be done when its done!)

FOCUS ON PRAYER

And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

1 John 5:11-13

Please pray thanking God for eternal life through His Son, Jesus. Pray praises of appreciation to our Heavenly Father that we who believe may know we have eternal life. Isn't that wonderful that we can know we have eternal, everlasting life? There's no second-guessing. A solid Creator gives us solid assurance. A trust-worthy Father opens the minds of believers and equips them for eternity by the faith they live. John, by the power of the Holy Spirit, wrote that down, too, for us. Ultimately, it's all from God. So, that's why I say 'thank God' in prayer!

CLOSING 

No mention shall be made of coral or quartz, for the price of wisdom is above rubies.

Job 28:18

(Other verses: Exodus 39:6-14; Proverbs 16:16, 20:15, 31:10)

The Jewel of Heaven is the only One able to gift the jewels of Heaven.

FROM A PURE STAND

Jesus, the Christ, suffered,

like what falls from a pure stand;

with majesty stripped and beauty no more, 

bearing sin and hurts and a whipping strand—

the punishment, humbly, He bore.

Jesus, God’s Son, perished,

like what dies low on the ground;

left to waste and decay, where the grave takes back,

cast away, disowned, but not making a sound—

obedience, none did He lack.

Jesus, our Lord, descended,

like what goes under the floor;

where there is no esteem at the end of the day,

smitten and stricken, where shadows grow more—

the price He did willingly pay.

He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

Like one from whom men hide their faces 

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Isaiah 53:3                                                      

FROM A PURE STAND

A wooded area that is not mixed with any other type of tree is said to be a ‘pure stand’. There are pure stands of oak, pine, beech and maple trees. In these splendid groves, one can be reminded of our Creator who sent His Son, Jesus, from the realms of Heaven to mankind.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Jesus willingly went to the cruel cross for us and poured out His life for the remission of our sin. Our debt was completely satisfied. Only Jesus could have paid it. And He could have called a thousand angels to His side but He didn’t. He humbled Himself and obeyed His Father’s will to go to Calvary, to shed His own innocent blood for us, the sinful, knowing not everyone would believe in Him. He left His pure, Heavenly realm to die the sinner's death for us. Creation itself reminds me of the holiness and determination of our Creator to have a relationship with us.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 

John 3:3

Be born again. Be saved! Not all will see the kingdom of God. Not all will walk on streets of gold. 

What does the Bible say about gold in Heaven?

For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.

Hebrews 9:24

When Moses went up Mount Sinai to meet with God, God gave him the blueprints for the tabernacle that the Israelites were to build. The gold they plundered from the Egyptians (which God had said in Exodus 3:21-22 would happen before it did, as we read later in the Exodus account) provided the gold used in the construction. By God's presence and power, He glorified the meeting place. Here in Hebrews, we learn that those blueprints were a copy of the tabernacle in Heaven.

"You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width."

Exodus 25:17

In the tabernacle, the cherubim were made of gold and so were other items. The gold-plated Ark of the Covenant was there. All were made holy by God's power. None of it was made holy by men.

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:11

Jesus, God incarnate, left His home in Heaven, His glory, and became a baby, a life born limited, although not for Him! At His birth, gold was one of the gifts given. I'm sure Mary and Joseph used this wealth to help them. God provides, doesn't He? Even from great distances. And miraculously!

Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.

Revelation 1:12-13

The book of Revelation reveals images of Jesus and angels in Heaven and prophecy about the future. There are golden crowns, golden candlesticks, golden bowls, golden censers, golden streets, and the Heavenly city made of gold.

The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

Revelation 21:18

And this is Heaven's gold, mind you! Not Earthly gold. I wonder if it's more spectacular. I wonder if it's more priceless. I imagine so.

May you be encouraged to live a life trusting Jesus. Live a life trusting God's Word to see Heaven's gold for yourself.

 

FOR THE JOY: AN EASTER POETRY BOOK   update...

It's still slow going. Maybe spring weather would help! I didn't paint since the last post. My painting is collecting dust. But I have chiseled away at a few poems. I was happy to reach out to a pastor friend who in turn reached out to another pastor friend for help in getting the Aramaic translation of 'I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly' from John 10:10. This Aramaic phrase will be the title and last line of a poem in the resurrection half of the book.

FOCUS ON PRAYER

Please pray that representatives in the House will stand for American citizens above illegal immigrants. ILLEGAL immigrants. Can the illegal people have any respect to come into the country legally? My grandparents from Sweden came legally. What a trouble it is that the elected people in the House of our government did not show support for the nation's citizens over illegal immigrants nor respect for the office of presidency at the State of the Union address. Please pray for American citizens to elect better representatives.

IN CONCLUSION

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:3-7

We believers are kept by the power of God. Even if killed, God will work it out. It pays to live a life trusting Him. Faith, more precious than gold, leads to the gold in Heaven.

JOY IN THE HOLLOW

Joy, that blissful state to keep,

is met in a winter hollow,

where tracks lead in, both wide and deep,

by the edge of the firs on landscape steep,

and where I, with wonder, follow.

Over head, the sun shines perfect light

on the snowy hemlock tree,

and the downy bridesmaid’s hearty flight

is joined by grouse in peaceful sight,

where the woods are hushed for me.

You, Maker of my spirit’s smile

by the marriage you impart,

declare Your goodness for my while.

With a skip, I’ll go another mile,

having joy within my heart.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David 

a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 

And this shall be a sign unto you: 

Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 

lying in a manger.

Luke 2:11-12

JOY IN THE HOLLOW 

The Spirit of the Living God satisfies the empty space in the hollow of the heart. He communes with the believing human spirit assisting, instructing, and rooting joy.

Know God, know peace. No God, no peace.

And an highway shall be there, and a way,

and it shall be called The way of holiness;

the unclean shall not pass over it;

but it shall be for those:

the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast

shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there;

but the redeemed shall walk there:

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,

and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy

upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isaiah 35: 8-10 

The LORD makes clear through the prophet Isaiah that the ransomed people will walk on the highway in Heaven. The redeemed will sing songs of joy. Nothing unclean nor ravenous will be on the highway in Heaven. God makes a distinction that people not ransomed and people not redeemed will not be there.

If you don't already know, how does one become 'Ransomed'? How does one get the condition of being 'Redeemed'? How does someone walk on this Heavenly highway? How can unholy people (everyone is unholy) stroll The way of holiness? It is only by Jesus Christ who is able to ransom sinners. Only by the way of the Redeemer whose redeeming work on the cross bore all iniquities. Only by the Son of God who allows passage on the highway because He knows who truly believes in Him from their heart.

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 3: 13-14

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

1 Timothy 1:15-16

Paul, who was a first-rate sinner, knew the mercy extended to him and explains how his decision to accept Christ, awful as he was, might serve to be a model for others to follow.

 

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.

1 Peter 3:18

I am amazed and grateful that Jesus Christ, the very Son of God, gave His life for ours— His righteousness for our unrighteousness. In His work on the cross, He alone makes it possible for an unholy person like me to gain entrance to that joyful, holy highway in Heaven.

Blessed are those who do His commandments, (who wash their robes) that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

Revelation 22:14-15

Who loves and practices a lie? People who haven't had their robes washed. Children of the devil. People who don't care about God's commands. Who are the dogs? The ravenous, unclean, dirty people who have not repented nor have called on the only name that can save them— Jesus. Who are the sorcerers? The ones who conjure up their own self-help devices. The sexually immoral? A long list, including those shameful drag queen dressers. Murderers and idolaters? Wicked people and worship.

We gain from the truths in the Bible that the spiritually blind have no testimony to share because Jesus doesn't mean anything to them. The blind still exist today, even in churches. If the spiritually blind lead the blind, both will fall into the pit. Both will miss the road completely. Hell is as real as Heaven.

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus is the Gate, or Door, to the sheepfold. He knows His sheep by name. And the way which leads to life is difficult. But God desires as many as possible to come to Him through His Son. We're made from the ground. He is eternal. The work of Jesus dying on the cross saves sinners and brings them onto the highway. His resurrection from the dead is the power that changes everything. Believe, if you haven't already, because Heaven awaits.

I am encouraged when I hear someone's testimony and the work God has been doing in their life. I have joy to know true brothers and sisters in Christ who pray together. When we pass away, I know we'll see each other again because of grounded faith and obvious witness. I can tell who is a Christian because the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. In this life, we're walking the highways on Earth and I know we'll be walking on Heaven's highway together, following Jesus— The Way, The Truth, and The Life. Yeah, you can know it!

For The Joy: An Easter Poetry Book …update

I haven't worked much on my next book, which is For The Joy, since my last post but I was able to buy new paint for illustrations and a few new brushes. Always good to find the preferred paint and ideal brushes.

FOCUS ON PRAYER

Please pray that the horrible exploitation of children ends. Please pray for front-line workers, law enforcement and judges to be able to end the abuse, rape, and trafficking that victimized children face. How tragic that children are exposed to sexual sins, and sometimes (if not often) by their own mothers, fathers, aunts, and other supposed-to-be-trusted adults! The trust of the child is ruined. God sees the evil. He knows their hurt and knows their harm. He is a just God, upholding what is good and judging what is evil. Pray that these hurting children can trust a truly loving Heavenly Father even when adults did not love them.

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me.

Psalm 27:10

"But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.' "There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out."

Luke 13:27-28

IN CLOSING

"They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God."

Luke 13:29

Jesus is explaining to the people listening that it is the people who came through Him, the narrow gate, who will have a seat to sit on in the kingdom. They will come from all directions and enter into rest, joy, gladness, singing, holiness, redemption, cleanliness, and safe pasture... all the promises God has made for those ransomed, for those redeemed.

Not all roads (ways) lead to Heaven. Only through Jesus can anyone walk on the highway in Heaven.