Month: January 2014

Justin Bieber has been in the news a lot lately. Mostly because of stupid choices that he makes. Young stars seem to be in the news because of either drugs, childish behaviors and messed up thoughts.

When I was listening to stories of his arrest and the hateful messages that are being thrown in his direction, it makes me feel for him. He is a 19 year old kid who has grown up in the public eye and given anything he wants. His parents wasn’t really there for him and gave into his whims. For the most part he has a whole herd of yes men and women around him, parents included. Makes me wonder if they are afraid to tell him no, because he is their cash cow. But really, Justin is no different than a lot of kids his age. He is just under the microscope 24/7.

Shoot, I remember when I was his age. People see me know, but back when I was his age, I made terrible choices. Even though I had a lot of medical issues with the Guillian Barre Syndrome. I still felt invisible and I could do what I wanted. I was an official adult now. At-least according to the law. I could make my choices, be accountable and drink or smoke if I wanted to. I did choose not to smoke for the most part. I tried the whole pot thing. In the 70’s and 80’s it was all over the place, or at least was with the friends I had back then.

For those who know me know, they wouldn’t think I was the same person. Which I’m not. I have always believed in Christ, but there were times when I was very worldly. Smoking pot was more of a social thing. If I was with my friends, I may take a couple puffs, but it gave me a headache and made me feel worse. So that wasn’t really a me thing. I never really got drunk. I would drink on special occasions, but usually just one or two and that was it for me.

I think for me, my language was a major barrier. My husband was in the military, and is a truck driver. I worked in a truck stop. It was common to sling around all kinds of things. I didn’t really see anything wrong with what I was saying, because quote un quote, everyone around me was doing the same thing. So not a biggie in my book at the time. About 20 yrs ago, that changed though when we moved to Utah. We were in a restaurant, or I was. I was having my kind of a general conversation. God must have put it on my heart to really and honestly listen and hear how I sounded. I didn’t like what I was saying and how bad it sounded when I was the only one talking that way. So I think that was the last time I swore and to this day I feel uncomfortable around the language. Cold turkey is what I did and I find it interesting how easy it was.

There was also a time when I played with a Ouija board. I thought it was just a game and nothing more. Man oh man, was that a nightmare literally. For those who may think it is a game, think again. That game gave me answers to things, and I could feel a dark force around me when I started playing it. It is NOT a game or toy. It freaked me out so bad one night, I called a prayer line and was beside myself. I was afraid to go to bed. I knew I unlocked a door that would be hard to shut. The turning point was when the board spelled out a Bible verse in Revelations about the second death. I did read the Bible, but went and read that particular verse and I broke down in tears and it was torn up into shreds. The board surprisingly helped me look at my life and the bad choices I have made. It made me realize that even the devil knows what the Bible says and that the devil will use what is a seemingly innocent looking game that is sold at Kmart to get to you.

Some may be surprised that I was no different than Justin in many ways. I was a teenager that rebelled and wanted things my way. I ran away from home and hitch hiked across the country when I was 17. I moved into my now husbands home and we weren’t married. I ended up very sick and in the hospital because of the flu shot and pregnant. This is all at 17. While in the hospital I called my pastor in Arizona and he was stern, but loving at the same time. I never thought twice about keeping my daughter Jessica. And Chuck and I did get married after a short time and we are still married after 33 yrs. I was very much living in a world that is full of sin and I was far from where God wanted me to be. Thankfully, He never left me, even when I was my worst. Like any parent, He gave me room to make mistakes and learn from them. But it wasn’t over night.

Many back then and those I went to school with said I wasn’t that bad. But in my eyes and in God’s eyes, I was. I was sinning and in a downward spiral at times. If I was in the limelight, I would be no different than Justin Bieber. Justin and other teen stars are being held to a higher standard than I was. I don’t know if that is a good thing or not. Because no matter who a person is, they are still an imperfect child of God. I guess because of my own bad choices and where I am now, I know that there is hope for Justin Bieber and all those stars that are being judged in the public eye. God can and does make our bad choices into something good if we allow Him to.

When I read the headlines of the trouble Justin has gotten himself into again, I think of him as a child. But I also think of all those headlines that people seem to miss about how he has a heart for kids. He has a younger sister that means the world to him. He has gone out of his way to make wishes come true.

Justin Bieber, became the first recording artist in Make-A-Wish® history to grant 200 wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. He joins only 4 other celebrities to have reached that milestone since Make-A-Wish was founded in 1980. Bieber’s 200th wish occurred during his last stop on the Believe Tour when he met 8-year-old Annalysha.

Justin also works with an organization called Child Hunger Ends Here. Justin was in Guatemala for a tour stop and joined up with Pencils and Promise to help the people there build a school for the community. This was part of Bieber’s Believe Tour, in which they agreed to help the organization, a non-profit that dedicates its time to building schools for communities in need.

I honestly think there is something good about Justin. My own thought is that he is being surrounded by people who don’t really care about him. There are some that have taken them under their wings like Usher and a few others. Justin like any other child that gets into trouble, needs to be accountable for their actions. I can’t help but wonder about how all these people that are targeting him and hating on a kid they don’t know has done the same things. Are they free for stupid choices? At 19, he is still learning who he is like any other teenager. He may be an adult by law, but he is still a kid. And the whole deporting him back to Canada thing is ridiculous. I do think his parents need or should have remembered that being a parent to him is more important than being his best friend and stroking his ego. There are plenty of childhood stars that are amazing people now. And it is because the parents were the parents. They set guidelines and made rules.

Yeah, I’m defending Justin because I know in my own life I made many mistakes and have hurt people. I have done stupid things and somehow I am still here to share what they are. And with the right people in Justin’s life he can change too. For some reason people have it in their head that this kid has to be the perfect role model to their children. I don‘t understand that. He is an entertainer second and a person first. He isn’t accountable to us and he is far from perfect like anyone else. I feel sorry for him and if his friends were real friends they would be there helping him instead of hindering him. I don’t think there are many in his life that is real, family included.

I don’t listen to his music because it isn’t my style. He is the Shawn Cassidy, Andy Gibb and Leif Garrett of my generation. Eventually Justin will grow up and I pray that all those who are there only because he is a star is dropped from his life. If people would stop seeing the star in him instead of the person, they would see he is a kid. He could be any of our children. There are a lot of holier than thou people out there when it comes to stars and pointing out the faults of others. I guess for myself, I look at him as a child still and one that needs to be loved unconditionally and he is needing help.

When I think of stars that have had issues as children stars I think of Kirk Cameron. I was watching a clip from his video Unstoppable. I ended up buying it. Kirk was part of the party scene and had made bad choice and such when he was younger. He is now one of the biggest advocates for Christ. God changed him from the inside out. For those from my church or our area, I’m hoping to use the program and work books as a small group. There is hope for all the Justin Biebers, Miley Cyrus’s and stars. Maybe if people started praying for them instead of judging them, they can see that there is hope too.

I want to use one other person as an example of how they can change. And that person is my son in law Jason Barton. I have to admit for many years, I would get very frustrated and sometimes hurt because I didn’t really know Jason. On his my-space page and such, I would read horrible posts and things that were far from God. Because he is married to my daughter Beckiah, I guess I was harder when it comes to my feelings. I liked him, but it was hard to know him. We barely knew him when they got married and our relationship was far from what I would hope a son in law would be. But a few years ago at Christmas, Jason took to the side. He apologized and told me that he accepted Christ as His personal Savior. I have prayed for me to like him more and for their family.

Jason’s family was quite different than ours was. And I didn’t feel comfortable around them or really at home in their home. As a parent, we want what is best for our kids. And all I seen was someone who wanted to party all the time, get into fights, and fast to anger. For me, this was too much like when I was younger. But when I shared with me that he was saved and gave me a hug and apologized. It was like the weight and worry for my daughter was lifted at the point. I broke down crying. Others in the house didn’t know exactly what was said, they knew I was crying in the kitchen. That Christmas gift I had to say, was the greatest gift I have ever gotten from anyone. Christmas gifts are great, but that Christmas gift had nothing to do with material items, it was about love. It was about forgiveness and hope. To this day, I will look back at that moment and still tear up. I think back to then and how I was being judgmental in many ways and didn’t think he would ever be the kind of husband and father my daughter deserved. But God taught me and changed my heart through Jason. Jason showed me what real grace, forgiveness and love is. I can honestly say that I love Jason. The image I posted here is one of many samples of messages he posts now on Facebook. I couldn’t be any prouder of him and my daughter Beckiah.

If God can change Jason’s heart and my heart. One day it will be nice to have them come to church with me and hopefully in time that would happen. I invited them to come this Sunday to a concert at our church and hope they do, but if they don’t that’s OK. They do go to a Bible believing church though and I praise God that Jason has taken on the role that God has intended him to have. I can actually see Jason going into some kind of a ministry. He can reach people that some would say are unreachable. And I can honestly say that I now consider Jason a son, not a son in law. He isn’t just my daughters husband. He is family and a child of God. And I can say that I have love and respect for him. I’m not sure if he will read this and if you Jason, thank you for loving my daughter and grand-kids. I feel blessed to have you in our family.

Lastly, I just want to leave you all about casting the first stone:

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7

Jesus faced a mob that was eager to execute a woman caught in adultery. He put a stop to it with a simple challenge: anyone who has no sin in their life should step forward and throw the first stone. That sentence is often cited as a reminder to avoid judging others when there are faults in your own life that need to be addressed.

We don’t know the real Justin, we see what the media wants us to see. But God knows him and loves him.

If you haven’t heard about Mandisa or know her music, you are missing out. She has been in the news along with a few other Christian Artists. The reason she has been in the news is due to the Grammy’s. Mandisa’s song Overcomer won two Grammy’s, and she chose to stay home the night of the Grammy’s.

I have loved Mandisa’s music, attitude and honesty ever since I seen her on American Idol. Out of all the Christian singers, I can be moved by her words. Mandisa has been on a personal journey. When I first listened to her , it was when she was on Idol. She was mocked by Simon because of her weight. She was put down because of her faith. Her music speaks to my heart because many of the things she deals with are things I have. For anyone who has struggled with weight, personal loss and being judged, she is worth every second to be listened to.

She has been nominated many times for her music and this is the first year she won, and the first year she didn’t attend. Her reasons for not attending has given me even more reasons to respect her.

One of the reasons she quoted is;

“I knew that submerging myself into an environment that celebrates [corruption and things of the world] was risky for me at this time,” Mandisa wrote. “Perhaps being alone with Him as my name was announced was protecting myself from where my flesh would have tried to drag me had I been up on that stage.”

Mandisa also said this:

“Don’t fall in love with this corrupt world or worship the things it can offer. Those who love its corrupt ways don’t have the Father’s love living within them. All the things the world can offer to you—the allure of pleasure, the passion to have things, and the pompous sense of superiority—do not come from the Father…

Meaning of Pompus:

 

The reason I quoted these two statements by Mandisa is because I think as Christians we should be careful of the ways of the world. We need to stand up for our faith and if we can see certain weaknesses in our-self, we need to be careful. I have known many people that are strong in thier faith or seemingly and have fallen because of selfish desires and drawing attention more to themselves.

I love Facebook and I have been blessed in many ways because of Facebook. I have been reunited with friends, family and have grown in many ways. But also I have seen some pretty nasty and ugly comments. But the ones that has my head wondering about how Christians are drawing attention to themselves and all the things they are doing. I’m not talking about everyone, but in general. There is a self righteous stand and the look at all the things I do and who I know kind of mentality. I have been guilty of this in some ways. We shouldn’t be drawing attention to ourselves and all the things we do. When I read some of the comments from people all over the world when a Christian or church leader takes the “Look at Me and how good I am stand”, it makes me sick. It makes me wonder if they are really being showy and trying to convince others they are good or what.

We all in someway want to be acknowledged for the things we do and want to feel important. But when it comes to faith, we should be praying without ceasing and not being arrogant and self righteous. Many have fallen and have driven others away because of this arrogance. When Mandisa shared her reasons for not going, she put into perfect words how I felt. I have been wanting to do a blog on self righteous and showy Christians, but wasn’t sure on how to word it to where I wasn’t judging others.

I got into a discussion with a lady recently about how she volunteers here, donates this that and everything else. She has the thought that nobody else does these things and basically in a nutshell, she has to be the lone ranger and face of doing good. I got flabbergasted and told her that even though she does a lot, there are many people that do things and choose not to share all those things with the world. There may be a few people that knows what I do and I find it more enjoyable and blessed when I don’t draw the attention to myself. If I’m doing that, I’m doing it for the wrong reason. She was taken back when I told her that there are others who do things and not everyone needs the acknowledgement all the time. She is a very sweet lady, but recently I have been wondering about her motivation.

I think as Christians we need to look at our motivation and who are we really worshiping. Are we doing things for God or for ourselves. Do we feel the need to be valued and loved. I know for myself, when I do something, I need to keep myself in check. I ask myself who I’m doing something for is it for them, me or God.

Then you have the church leaders who put on a show and it’s hard to see where they are spiritually. What they say is one thing and thier actions are another. Some people may have encountered this types of church leaders. They are great at talking, but when it comes to follow through they are somewhere else. A church leader, pastor or anyone else should be a spokesperson for God and not sugar coat things. Peoples lives and future are at risk. Some of these fast talking pastors make me leery and I see red flags flying all over the place.

When Mandisa took the stand she did, I was happy to see that. I have so much respect for her and her brutal honesty. She is breaking down those walls and through her, I have been able to do that.

I didn’t watch the Grammys this year and after hearing about how much of a mockery it was, I’m glad I didn’t. Christian artist Natalie Grant ended up walking out because of many things that was going on. I never understood growing up on why we were told by our pastor to watch out who we associate with and what things we participate in. Lately those things have become apparent even more. I have understood the reasoning for a long time. But the Grammys this year is a perfect example of not taking part in something that was lacking in morals, full of controversy and not a place where Christians should be. I’m all for going into the lions den. But there are some things you just don’t do. And as a Christian, I want people to see Christ in me, not the world and it’s views on politically correct things.

I never really thought much about Christians being persecuted here in the good ole USA. But over the past year or two, I have seen it more and more. And mostly it is media induced. We may not be a prisoner like Asia Bibi or Pastor Saeed, but we are still being persecuted and judged because of the media and everything is OK notion.

The winter Olympics are about to start pretty soon in Sochi Russia… They will begin on February 7th and end on the 23rd.

Normally I love the Olympics and it’s fun to watch the figure skating. But this year, I’m a bit worried about the safety of those who are going to be traveling and participating in the Olympics. There has been terrorist threats and scandal surrounding the games this time around. The one that is in the news right now is the “black widow”

While Russia is trying to put on the brave face and that all is good in their country. With all the things surrounding the Olympics, I can’t help but wonder what problems will arise. Some of the things we have been hearing about is suicide bombers, organized crime, instability, security, human rights, threats against gays/lesbians, journalists and athletes. With all the economic issues and a ongoing list of problems, it makes me wonder.

With the recent events and bombings at the Boston Marathon, it shows how easily people can be hurt and in the wrong place at the wrong time.According to news outlets it has been reported that the U.S. State Department issued a travel alert on Jan. 10 for Americans planning to travel to Sochi for the Olympics and Paralympic Games in February and March. The Australian Olympic Committee said Dec. 31 that it’s telling athletes to use caution in Russia because of the threat of terrorist activity. Athletes will travel straight to and from Sochi by air, with no trips through other parts of the country, according to the AOC’s statement.

NBC News reported Wednesday that the emails were threats, and that Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia and Slovenia also received emails.In the world we live in any threats should be taken seriously.

Many of the U.S. athletes have said they are not worried about their personal safety or their families. I can’t help but wonder if we think we are invincible and non touchable. There has always been treats in the past, but I think we should be looking at history when it comes to some of the terrorists that we are up against. They aren’t all talk. They have showed they mean business. We should be learning from things that happened on Sept 11 and in Boston.

According to CNN’s website:

Message from Terrorists: “We’ve prepared a present for you and all tourists who’ll come over,” the video says. “If you will hold the Olympics, you’ll get a present from us for the Muslim blood that’s been spilled.”

But several U.S. lawmakers offered a different take Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union.

King, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he wouldn’t go to the games himself, “and I don’t think I would send my family.”

I plan on making sure to pray for those who are traveling to Russia for the games and participating in them. I pray that they are protected from those who are bent on retaliation and hate crimes. Many have expressed hatred towards the US and I pray that nothing happens to anyone from any country. I enjoy watching the games and I admire all the dedication that countries and athletes have put into doing the games. This should be a time of unity, not threats and dissension.

I know we can’t live in fear and worry about the what if’s. But sometimes we should use a bit of caution. Especially with these kinds of threats. I know that most if not all of the past Olympics have had issues and threats. But something is telling me this is different.

I just finished reading the book ‘Blasphemy”. It is about a Christian m wife and mother who got the death penalty for drinking water from a cup of a Muslim lady. So they threw her into prison for that and that’s where she sits today. Her days are numbered and at any moment her death by hanging will happen.  She is appealing her case, but that is rare for the government to reverse her sentence.

As I read her book, her words are humbling. We are fast to complain in our country when things aren’t just right. We get into spats every now and then over stupid things. I have to say that I have had my own share of excuses. There were many days that I didn’t go to church because of that blasted organ that Marilla would play at church. It gave me a migraine every-time I would hear it. It wasn’t really her fault that I know of, but still, it gave me a headache. So I would try to stay clear of the church service when she played it. Usually the night before I called someone on the worship team to make sure who was playing.I was NOT into enduring that horrible pain that went straight through the temples of my brain.

There are a ton of excuses that can be used to not go to church. Maybe a person doesn’t like the music, pastor, sermon and the oddest excuse is that the pastor is no fun because he only preaches from the Bible. He isn’t exciting, lol. I got a kick out of that one because I think if they are wanting exciting and a sermon that isn’t from the Bible, they need to be evaluating why they are in church to begin with. When it comes to what I like when I go to church, I want music that is alive and upbeat, but I do love the hymns too. I don’t want sugar coating and I don’t like mean spirited pastors or people. Now, back to Asia Bibi.

When I was reading her book, I thought of Paul and of Job. I honestly don’t think that 99 percent of the people in the world would be able to live through the horror that Christians in these other countries are having to endure. Asia wakes up in a cell without anyone to talk to. Once in a great while her husband will visit her. They moved her 5 hours away which makes it hard to see her. When they moved her, they made sure she is alone. Yet, she wakes up and goes to bed praying to God. She is beaten and endures more than any human I have heard of. She is being treated like a prisoner of war. And this is because she is a Christian.

She finds comfort in knowing that people are praying for her. So, please pray for her and all the other persecuted Christians. The one thing that got me about this book is how she described a little spider that was in her cell. Asia was laying there on her rope bed. She was cold and alone like any other time. She started watching this spider make its web. She continues to watch this spider that doesn’t have a care in the world. It is focused on doing its web.  As she is watching this spider, she finds comfort as it makes its web. She feels blessed by little things like this.

In Asia’s book she talks about the guards there at her prison. One is absolutely horrible and will do anything to hurt her. She is treated worse then the child molesters in our prisons. But there is this one guard that is a female that will give Asia a smile or talk to her. Even if it is only a few minutes. That contact from this female guard brightens her day and she is happy to see someone or hear a voice. She has nothing and she praises God. Would we be like Asia if we were in the same situation? I know that is hard to know since we aren’t. I know for myself, I would have a very difficult time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Asia is being tested like Job and being treated like Paul was. She lost everything, but she still has hope and her faith.

I think about how trivial my things are in comparison to someone like Asia Bibi. Yeah, I have my own medical issues, bills and whatever else. But my life is a breeze compared to hers. I have no room to complain, even though I do. I can talk to my daughters, see my grand kids, go to church and a million other things that a Christian in another country can’t do. She has so little to look forward to each day. She thanks God every morning for giving her another day. She thanks God for the guard that smiles at her because everyone else is horrible.  I wish I was like Asia in many ways. I think I need to pay more attention to the little things that God is doing in my life. Now granted, I don’t like spiders and I plan on keeping it that way. I have been blessed in ways I don’t deserve. We are told in the Bible that Christians will be hated and despised. I don’t think we Americans have an inkling of what that means because we are very spoiled in most ways.

While Christians are persecuted everyone and we are warned that we will be. I think here in America it is a different kind of persecution. I think the media is a big source of that persecution. There is always someone crying foul play when it comes to Christians not going along with what is popular or the political correct way of doing things.  I am very happy that we don’t have the same kind of persecution. But at the same time, all kinds destroy and hurt.

I’m going to just leave this topic and invite you to go look at the website for persecuted Christians. Pray for them and help get the word out that they are there. They need help. Christians are dying for thier faith and they need all of our voices. If you are reading this, then you have access to a computer. Use this tool as a way to spread their message.

• Asia Bibi– Read More about Asia
• Voice of the Martyrs –  Check out this website to learn of other imprisoned Christians
• The Persecuted Church’s Website – They need your help and prayers
• Prisoner Alert – This page has a list of prisoners and how you can write to them and the guidelines.

My friend Dena Allen and I would have this conversation so many times. She has since passed away. Dena use to be a school teacher and she was very smart when it came to the Bible. Dena was like my adopted Grandma when I moved here to Utah. She and I would get into the discussion of the Trinity. And it would be hours and we would always come to the same conclusion. If I had questions about the Bible, she knew them. She was a whizz!

When people or pastors say that Jesus is God, I get confused. The reason I get confused is when the trinity is explained as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Now since they are described in this way, it seems separate. Because you have God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit.

I had one pastor explain to me that it is like a play and when you go to this play, there is only one actor. You have this cast of one and when they change into a different character, they will change cloths and put on a mustache. And that would be like God. God came down to earth as a baby but He is still God. I’m giving this pastor a stupid look by this time.

Then I proceeded, which gave him a stupid look and he thought I lost it big time. I asked him about a few verses in the Bible.

• John 3:16. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

• In Matthew 27:45-46, it says, “Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. ⁴⁶And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying,  “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”  If Jesus is God, why would He say this?

• Luke 2:47-49,  “And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. And when they saw Him, they were amazed: and His mother said unto Him, Son, why hast thou dealt with us in this way? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And He said unto them, did you not know that I must be about My Fathers business?”

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

• Matthew 4:1-11, Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” ⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” ⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:“‘He will command his angels concerning you,and they will lift you up in their hands,so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” ¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ¹¹ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Baptism of Christ

• Matthew 3:13-17, 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

OK, so those are some of the verses that confuse me on this topic. In my brain when I think of the Trinity or God Head, I think of my daughters. There is me (Sandie-Mom) and then there is Jessica (daughter), and then there is the spirit or the traits we each have. Jessica isn’t the same as me, but she is still a part of me. She has certain traits that we both share, blood types and views. And at the same time she is her own person and she has her own free will. Now when it comes to the Holy Spirit, we are anointed with the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

I guess the way I see it, which could be wrong or I’m making things harder than they need to be is that God is God, Jesus is God’s Son, which would make Him of God and then you have the Holy Spirit which is of God. Hm..The picture of the Trinity I posted has me confused too. I was never good with charts.

This is one of the topics in the Bible that confuses me and I don’t think the analogy of a one man act is helping me understand this any better. There is one thing that I’m not confused on is that the Bible is the truth and that Jesus Christ is the son of God and that He died for my sins.

I think about heaven alot and what it would be like. I don’t see it as a fluffy cloud and all harps either. God loves us and why would He have us sitting on our hinnys on a cloud and playing a harp? And why do people think everyone just sits on a cloud and watches everything happening on earth?

My idea of heaven would have clouds that have all kinds of shapes. I love watching lightening storms and the rain. I can’t imagine heaven without rain and the beautiful displays that streak across our skies. I can see God putting whales and dolphins together in the ocean with all the other sea creatures and they hang our and play together. Not eating each other. When God created the land and the ocean here on earth that’s how it was to begin with. I can’t see that it would not  be that way in Heaven.

I see dogs and kitties playing in the meadow. God knows that my hearts desire is to see my dogs and loved ones there. My hope is that Brandie, Maverick, Pepper Puppy and all the other animals that I loved here on earth will be there to meet me. I also can’t imagine heaven having no rainbows or rivers. I think that Heaven will look like what the Garden of Eden looked like to begin with. Before man destroyed it and sinned. I can totally see Heaven looking this way. The Bible talks about a New Heaven and a New Earth. Maybe the new earth will be as it was intended without sin.  I’m sure God has it all figured out and I will trust that. Even though I think the snakes and spiders need to stay away.

The Bible says that there will be no more death or tears. And when I read that I wonder if we will have the memories of those who are not in heaven. Because if we have those memories, we would be sad that they aren’t here with us. SO, I’m putting this out to everyone I know and care about, you best get your life in order and accept Christ. Now I do hope we have tears of joy. Because there is nothing like having that feeling of peace and happiness weel up inside us and we can’t help but let the tears fall where they may.

I heard this one girl tell me that she believes that Heaven is a place where you can go after you die and you will come to the pearly gates and if you didn’t decided to believe or live according to Gods(Jehovah) will, then you can still enter and get another chance to live there. I actually found this sad in many ways.

Where Pearly Gates Comes from;

Gates Made of Pearls from EHOW

 In John’s vision at Revelation 21:21, the gates of heaven are actual pearls: huge ones that cover the 12 entrances to the city. In Bible times, pearls gathered from the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea commanded a high price. Jesus used this fact to illustrate the value of God’s Kingdom in his parable of the priceless pearl, recorded in Matthew 13:45-46. A merchant finds an exquisite and very expensive pearl, and eagerly sells all his other wares to acquire the rare jewel. Gaping at the celestial gates made of unusually large pearls may have convinced John that heaven was more magnificent and impregnable than any city on earth, including mighty Rome.

Tying in the symbolism of Jesus’ parable about the merchant who sold all his goods for one pearl of high value, readers may discern that the pearly gates of heaven represent an individual’s choice to give God exclusive devotion. Doing so ensures entrance into the grand future that awaits them when God’s kingdom rules over mankind. Countless people worldwide express this hope when they pray “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is heaven.” Revelation 21:25 says that at that time the gates of heaven will remain open day and night, since all humans will be living in peace, as described at Isaiah 65:17-25, and nothing will disturb the security of heavenly Jerusalem.

I asked some people on Facebook what they think heaven will be like and here are a few of the answers I received.

• Facebook Comment 1–  Heaven is the place where God dwells. It is a location that is wholly spiritual in nature. Christianity defines Heaven as being in the presence of God with places prepared for the faithful by Jesus and is viewed as eternal bliss beyond that which can currently be known. Those who are allowed into heaven are given new bodies that do not decay and death will be gone.
• Facebook Comment 2– Heaven will be a place that we will have all we want and desire. Everyone will have their own kind of Heaven.
• Facebook Comment 3– When we get to Heaven we will be welcomed by those we loved on Earth. We will be judged before we get to enter the gates and if we were good enough, then we can go through them and be there otherwise we will be cast into hell and God wouldn’t be in Hell.
• Facebook Comment 4 (Child) – Heaven is a place where you are happy and Jesus is there. It’s going to be really pretty and everyone will love each other. There is going to be angels there singing too.
• Facebook Comment 5– There is no Heaven or Hell. Everyone is believing there is this guy they called God. There is no God!
• Facebook Comment 6 – After the Kingdom of Heaven begins on earth, after Christ’s return, the New Jerusalem descends out of heaven and heaven, in the New Jerusalem, will then be on earth.  Revelation 21:1-2
• Facebook Comment 7- We will have perfect bodies and the streets will be lined with Gold. It’s going to be something bigger and more beautiful that we can imagine.
• Facebook Comment 8- If you die before Jesus Christ’s Second Coming you will go directly to heaven and be in the presence of God.  If you never see heaven, you will most certainly see hell and that is also a one-way trip from which there is no return.

I live in Utah and many times the LDS will talk about three heavens. And I believe these are the context they are talking about. The Old Testament has no word for universe, and to express the idea there is the frequent “heaven and earth.” We read of “the heaven and the heaven” (Deuteronomy 10:14), and of a man’s being “caught up into the third heaven” (2 Corinthians 12:2). With God in heaven are likewise the souls of the just (2 Corinthians 5:1; Matthew 5:3, 12). In Ephesians 4:8-16, we are told that Christ conducted to heaven the patriarchs who had been in limbo (limbus patrum)

Now when it comes to marriage in heaven, some people get a little hostile over this topic. It can be argued till the day till this world is no more. But here are a couple of verses that I found on the marriage thing.

• “When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.”
• Mark 12:25
• “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.”
• Matthew 22:30

Luke – Chapter 20:34-36

34. Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.
35. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage,
36. and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.

I guess I took this post in different directions, and it can be a bit confusing. So I put a question on my Facebook page to get ideas of what others think Heaven will be like.