Category: encouragement

Posted in election results, encouragement, now what?

Election results: Now what? Some encouragement

Posted on by elizabethprata

My friend Pastor Phil Andrukaitis of First Baptist Church of South Portland Maine wrote a great essay this morning. Here is what Pastor Phil had to say. Very encouraging!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Now What?” 1st Corinthians 15:58

So, how’s that cup of coffee tasting this morning as you listen to the election and referendum results?

Reflecting on my pastoral ministry this past year while looking ahead, anticipating God’s next move as He aligns the nations according to His purpose, Paul’s words are a comfort to me. “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1st Corinthians 15:58).

The Apostle Paul’s closing statement follows a lengthy discussion of Jesus’ resurrection from the grave whereby Christians are assured of divine encouragement and hope; their labors in the Lord are not useless.

Consequently, in regards to the direction our nation has chosen this past “Election Day,” the church’s greatest need at this time is to pray to God our Father and to meditate on Scripture because the fruitfulness of ministry comes from the fellowship of our intimacy with God.

Pastors are called and gifted to serve God’s people for the work of “equipping the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph. 4:11-12). However, their work is often hindered because of the “wrestling against…spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). In addition, the presence of sin in our lives, though its power has been broken (Rom. 6:1-14), hinders the Spirit’s work of conforming believers into Christ’s image. Therefore, because of this constant spiritual conflict, our hearts experience joys and sorrows, life and death, successes and disappointments, praises and criticisms. Nevertheless, Scripture reveals encouraging truths so that we may press on with the ministry:

• Jesus is building His Church and the gates of hell will not prevail (Mt. 16:18).
• He Who began a good work in you will complete that work (Phil. 1:6).
• Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world (1st Jn. 4:4).

God has sustained and blessed His local churches that are committed to making disciples of Christ. However, to continually fulfill this biblical mandate, local churches need to prepare today’s generations for tomorrow’s chaotic world. This is my vision for my church family and for the entire “body of Christ”: I envision a host of courageous Christians, young and old, standing “face-to-face” and “toe-to-toe” against the ever-increasing wicked forces that rage against God and His people, while rescuing the lost with the gospel. Therefore, that is why I am working to implement several strategies among my church family in order to fulfill our goals.

My fellow Christians, the days of pragmatically “doing church” in a culture that is post-Christian are over. God is raising up a younger generation that seeks to reach our society; however, the framework under which the older church generation operated and our present day ministry tools are proving to be ineffective. If we fail to carefully listen to them, pray for them and for one another, and support them with encouraging words and finances, many local churches will slowly die with the older church generation.

I believe that great ministry opportunities lie ahead for Christians in a nation that is under God’s judgment. Our sinful nation needs the prayers and ministry of the church. As Jesus said from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

The Christian’s ministry will not be easy because Satan continues to rage against God and His people, especially local churches that want to make a difference, not coast along into heaven.

Come and join me and others, who want to raise up courageous Christians for tomorrow’s chaotic world. Let us bring the battle and chaos to Satan’s domain by “fighting the good fight, finishing the race, and keeping the faith” (2nd Tim.4:7) with the gospel of Jesus. Amen.

~~~~~2nd Timothy 2:10, Pastor Phil~~~~~

Posted in a tired man, attila jozef, encouragement, run the race

A Tired Man, revived by Jesus

Posted on by elizabethprata

I was surfing around and came across this poem by the Hungarian poet Attila Jozef. He wrote “A Tired Man” in 1923:

A Tired Man
Attila Jozef
Solemn peasants in the fields
straggle homeward without a word.
Side by side we lie, the river and I,
fresh grasses slumber under my heart.
A deep calm is rolling in the river.
My heavy cares are now as light as dew.
I’m not man, or child, “Hungarian” or “brother” –
lying here is just a tired man, like you.
Evening ladles out the quiet,
I’m a warm slice from its loaf of bread.
In the peaceful sky the stars come out
to sit on the river and shine on my head.

Statue of the “Tired Man” referring to the poem of Hungarian poet
Attila József. The statue is the work of
József Somogyi, in Makó, Hungary

Does that capture the feeling of the moment for Christians everywhere, or what? We are so weary after a long toil, yearning to lie down beside still waters, letting the starlight wash through our hair and for rest, blessed rest, to seep into our bones.

But though Jozef’s weary peasant lay down, we may not. We are still running the race! Yet so many are stumbling and sinking under the strain. We straggle like the tired man in the statue, sinking lower and head bowed, inches away from succumbing to the lure of ceasing from our labors, aching for it all to just … stop

Do not succumb! Stay upright Brethren. Stay in the race. Paul urges us to always “be rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer” (Romans 12:12). he says,

“For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

I know the cares feel heavy, and they are, but they are only for a moment. We are running a race, and sadly, so many are hitting the wall.

Hit the wall: “In endurance sports such as cycling and running, hitting the wall or the bonk describes a condition caused by the depletion of glycogen stores in the liver and muscles, which manifests itself by sudden fatigue and loss of energy.”

If you see a brother or sister hitting the wall, put your arm around them and help them along!

track
A high school runner competing in the 3200-metre race
is receiving national attention, not for winning
or a feat of athleticism, but for an extraordinary
act of kindness after she helped a struggling competitor
finish the race.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” (1 Corinthians 9:24).

In Barnes Notes, the verse is explained, “Know ye not … – In the remainder of this chapter, Paul illustrates the general sentiment on which he had been dwelling – the duty of practicing self-denial for the salvation of others – by a reference to the well known games which were celebrated near Corinth. Throughout the chapter, his object had been to show that in declining to receive a support for preaching, he had done it, not because he was conscious that he had no claim to it, but because by doing it he could better advance the salvation of people, the furtherance of the gospel, and in his special case 1 Corinthians 9:16-17 could obtain better evidence, and furnish to others better evidence that he was actuated by a sincere desire to honor God in the gospel. He had denied himself. He had voluntarily submitted to great privations. He had had a great object in view in doing it. And he now says, that in the well known athletic games at Corinth, the same thing was done by the “racers” 1 Corinthians 9:24, and by “wrestlers, or boxers”; 1 Corinthians 9:25.”

Barnes continues, “If they had done it, for objects so comparatively unimportant as the attainment of an “earthly” garland, assuredly it was proper for him to do it to obtain a crown which should never fade away. This is one of the most beautiful, appropriate, vigorous, and bold illustrations that can anywhere be found; and is a striking instance of the force with which the most vigorous and self-denying efforts of Christians can be vindicated, and can be urged by a reference to the conduct of people in the affairs of this life.”

Just like that runner above, denying herself and her own opportunity to win, to help a struggling friend. 

And for every tired man out there, the best, BEST reviving refreshment is JESUS. Take a listen and see if you don’t feel better!

Posted in encouragement, peace, trials

The promise of Jesus: TRIALS

Posted on by elizabethprata

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

We Christians often say that the love of God to send His own Son to die in our place as punishment for our sin is incomprehensible. His is a perfect love, eternal love, unconditional love. We do not understand a love like that. But we are grateful for it!

If there is one failing we have, it is that we underestimate the hatred satan has for us. A hate like his is incomprehensible, we forget how dark it actually is. Satan’s original name is the light, (Isaiah 14:12) but he descended into total darkness. His mind is a cesspool of black sewage and his heart has shrunk into a dark raisin with the mass of a million dead suns. His hatred of Jesus, and by extension of us, is eternal, incendiary, flaming and all-consuming evil that has no end.

We do not like to think of an enemy like that who has such a constant hatred of us, so we don’t.

Therefore very often we are surprised when a trial comes. If we live in a Western nation, especially, we are wealthy by the world’s standards, happy, productive, going along perhaps for years with no major problems. Then suddenly one day, BLAM.

Not all trials are directly from satan. Some are because the world itself is sinful. Some of our trials are because we are sinful and we’re just experiencing the consequences of our own mess. But some are definitely because satan has attacked us.

Our first reaction is to moan and bewail the situation, disoriented because of the sudden cut-off of light. It is like when you come into the condo from the bright, sunny beach. You go “whoa” and stop walking because it takes your eyes a second to adjust. If you have woken up one day to find yourself in a moment of darkness it is all right to stop for a second and wait for the heart and mind to adjust to a new reality. But take heart, you don’t have to remain in a state of disorientation or darkness. Your eyes will adjust, and if you remain in the Word when your eyes clear they will rest on Him.

Jesus said He said we would have trials so that in Him we may have peace.

‘Peace? Peace?’ You shout. How can I have peace? I am facing foreclosure! I am being hauled to court on false charges! I was diagnosed with a fatal cancer! My child was just killed! Peace, you say? There is no peace!’

Oh, but there is. Here’s why: There is nothing that you are going through that Jesus did not go through. Nothing.

Are you grieving over a death of a loved one? Jesus wept over His dead friend and over his beloved city. (John 11:35, Luke 19:41).
Have you been arrested on false charges? Jesus was. He was hauled off in handcuffs in front of His friends and students. (John 18:12)
Have you been taken to court unjustly? Jesus experienced that. And He was convicted, too. (John 19:16).
Have you been threatened with violence? Jesus endured it. (Luke 4:29).
Have you been conspired against? Jesus was too. (Mark 3:6).
Have you been stabbed, spit on, tortured with violence? Jesus suffered it. (John 19:1-2; John 19:18, Matthew 26:67).
Have you been rejected by even your own neighbors? Jesus knew the pain of it. (John 4:24; John 4:44).
Have you been faced with penury and poverty? Jesus was homeless. (Luke 9:58).
Have you faced temptation of the pride of life or the sin of the flesh? Jesus was offered it. (Matthew 4:1-11).

Even those of us with medical issues can know that Jesus sympathizes. If your body is broken from a paralyzing accident or is rife with a dread disease, Jesus endured that. How so? Because He came from eternally holy glory to pour himself inside sinful and putrid flesh and live in it for over 30 years. He allowed His body to become a cancer, comparatively speaking. (John 1:14; Hebrews 2:14)

He told us ahead of time that we would have trials, not so we could worry about what those trials are or when they would come. There is no need to obsess about them. But when they DO come, and they will, He has gone before us to take unto Himself your sorrows, and to give you peace through your trial. His peace has another gifting aspect to it: if we dive deep into His peace within our trial, we don’t have to sin throughout it.

Doing this in the midst of our trial shows Jesus to the world: “and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat.” (1 Corinthians 4:12-13)

And the more we pray for our enemies and bless them that persecute us, (Romans 12:14) the more our faith will grow and the more peace we will have.

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

So we can have the light within instead of the darkness. He made a spectacle of the darkness while He was even on the cross they are forever disqualified from having jurisdiction over you.

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

You might be going through the fight of your life, but FAITH IS THE VICTORY

Source

Posted in encouragement, kids, planet

Blog entries for you: encouraging, fun, or beautiful!

Posted on by elizabethprata

Here are some blog entries I’ve done over the years, collected and divided into three categories: Encouragement, Kids, and Planet/Science. Have fun!

ENCOURAGEMENT

Encouragement: “Testing the Genuineness of our Faith”

Come Up Here!

Simple Praise Moment

Imagine the Dawn Chorus in Heaven

Will Today Be The Day?

Take Comfort in the Lord

Some Sunday Encouragement

The Bride Awaits her Groom

Lessons from Elijah, you are not alone

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

KIDS

Conversations in the New Millennium

The Ghost is Clear

An interesting conversation

The Light is so bright in kids!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PLANET/SCIENCE/CREATION

Flexahexagon will blow your mind

Highest Wave Surfed, what a rush!

Icy Finger of Death Caught on Camera

Sleeping Hummingbird Snores in Peru

Mururation, breathtaking!

Numerical Grace

Frozen Planet: Amazing Photos

Posted in encouragement, prophecy

We take refuge in a mighty God

Posted on by elizabethprata

Though we are in a battle, “The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” (Psalm 9:9). Our Lord of hosts is God commanding, ordering, summoning the hosts of heaven. These are the angels, in and among the starry worlds.

He organizes and dispenses helps from these realms to those who love Him. If you are feeling troubled, take refuge in Him. “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah” (Psalm 46:7)

His protections are never ceasing, constant, and uninterrupted: “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.” (Psalms 121:3). He misses nothing, He is not unaware of anything. We do not have to be fearful of him being overtaken by stratagems or surprise. He does not sleep.

Even when it seems to us that His helps are meager, not enough, ineffectual, they are not. “And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.” (Judges 7:7).

Hearken to God, precious brethren. The days are going to grow darker, but He is LIGHT!

“But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” (Proverbs 1:33).  Of those who love Him we have a new heart: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26).

He strengthens this new heart, “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” (Psalms 27:14). Eventually, precious brothers and sisters, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8).

He is our shield and our reward!

“After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” (Genesis 15:1)

Therefore, we will not be afraid

Source

Posted in encouragement

Re-post: Roll call in heaven

Posted on by elizabethprata

Some encouragement for a Monday morning, a re-post from last May of some thoughts about heaven after the rapture:

There’s a song by the Gaithers called “When the roll is called up yonder” and the next line is “I’ll be there.”

Speaking of New Jerusalem:

“Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

The roll call from Jesus reminded me of several scriptures I love very dearly. The illustrate the moment when certain of God’s prophets were called. They heard God, and they responded “Here I am!” They report for the highest duty possible, a life of total dedication and obedience to Jesus. This is the only proper response to His call. It moves me to think of them saying “Here I am!” to God. These are the men whom God called:

Abraham, when God tested his faith: – Genesis 22:1, 11,
Jacob, in a dream, hears the LORD say that He sees Jacob’s ill treatment by Laban – Genesis 31:11
Moses, seeing the burning bush and hearing the Angel of the Lord call Moses to perform the Exodus – Exodus 3:4

Samuel, as a boy, receiving his first call from the LORD. – 1 Samuel 3:4
Isaiah, in a vision from Isaiah 6:8, receiving his call to Prophet after seeing the LORD on His throne and exclaiming he is a man of unclean lips, being cleaned with the live coal, then eagerly answering God, “Here I am, send me!”

“Here I am!” they all said.

Now get this. Picture in your mind the great multitudes that appear before Jesus in heaven after the rapture. You are wearing a white robe and are enjoying a glorified body. You are seeing things unparalleled and experiencing indescribable joy. You see Jesus’ face, and you can’t get enough. In the midst of this, imagine Him opening the Lamb’s Book of Life, in which your name is written. And ‘books were opened’ and the roll is called…and then then He calls your name.

Because of His sacrifice, because of His love, because of the blood, because you repented, you will say:

HERE I AM!

http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Posted in encouragement

An encouragement

Posted on by elizabethprata

I greet you all with a kiss of peace, and with good news that He loves us and is waiting to call us, His bride, home to Him soon. He is preparing the place in which we will dwell for all eternity, untainted by sin at last. We will gaze at one another through the spotless lens of the Holy One who redeemed us to Himself, and we will love Him and each other perfectly. His light will shine upon us untainted by clouds, pure as the blazing Light that shines supreme, transcendent, unmatched, our eyes shining as the reflection of His matchless glory. Angels will sing praises to Him and we will join in, love glowing out among all creation in glory, as only He can be! Why He chooses to share Himself with us, I will never know, but that knowledge and fact only makes me love Him all the more. He saved a wretch like me, and changed me from creature to daughter of God!

I sincerely hope you all are well. If you are not, then I hope that good news of what awaits us revives you, that we have the perfect assurance of the incomparable riches of His grace. O, His grace is sufficient for me, and if I feel this overwhelmed with it now, what will it be like when I get there??!! Think on that brethren. Beloved, these things are true, these things are noble, these things are just, these things are pure, these things are lovely, these things are of good report, there is virtue and they is praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Phil 4:8-9 paraphrased)
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jshttp://www.facebook.com/widgets/like.php?href=http://the-end-time.blogspot.com/2012/01/encouragement_28.html

http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#pubid=xa-4df8df7d18b59150

Posted in encouragement

Short shots of encouragement

Posted on by elizabethprata

I hope you enjoy these (short) blog entries. They are written with sensitivity and thoughtfulness from Christian bloggers. If you need a short shot of encouragement, these will do nicely.

Chris Sanchez, “The Passing of Steve Jobs“

Pastor Paul: “If the Lord Had Not been On Our Side“

Phil Johnson, “Sermon On The Mount in Under 2 Min: (by a child)” charming 95 second video of a child explaining the Lord’s famous sermon.

John MacArthur: “Intimacy with the Father“.

Small World Photo contest: Photographing the Micro. Romans 1:18-21 comes to mind when seeing these gorgeous photos!

Share

http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#pubid=xa-4e8f22d468013109

Posted in encouragement, finish the race, holy spirit

Finishing the race

Posted on by elizabethprata

Watch, it’s 2 minutes. Then read, it’s encouraging!

Heather Dorniden of Minnesota University raced the 600m at the Big 10 Indoor Track Championships. Her example can be used to remind us what a race really is about. What life in Jesus is really about, in truth. We will fall. We can get up. We finish. But what is your reaction to the fall? To rising up again? Therein lay the difference.

When you fell, did you stay down? Did you lay there? Did you give up?

Did you say “woe is me, I fell, I’m not worthy of Jesus”? There are many people who and engage in continued public self-flagellation in false humility, like the Pharisees.

When you got up, did you then trudge? Paul says do not trudge but spring up and finish the race! Have joy. The race is a “good” race! It is a “good” fight!

Jesus knows we are faulty, that we will stumble, that we fail. But He is there to lift us up, the Spirit is there to encourage us. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” (Ephesians 3:20). What awaits you when you arise is the Holy Spirit, there with hand extended, to help you immeasurably!.

We all fall, the joy is in the getting up and finishing.

Keep looking ahead to the finish line. A crown awaits. Our home in New Jerusalem awaits. Eternal joy awaits. Our Lord awaits. Get up, get up! Pilgrims, the time is short, whether through death or rapture, our time here is shortening daily. Spring up and with all joy and energy, run to the finish line!

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24)

Will you be able to say “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;” (2 Timothy 4:7)

http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Posted in encouragement, end time, japan, nuclear, pre-tribulation rapture, prophecy

Christians, this is where the rubber meets the road

Posted on by elizabethprata

The immediate future looks very, very dim for all of us on planet earth. The Japan situation is one where we simply do not have words any more. The human toll, the infrastructure toll, the economic toll, the financial toll and the nuclear toll affects everyone on this planet, whether you are Japanese, American, or Finnish. As a matter of fact, the Finns are buying iodine pills like they are going out of style, which they are. Over at The Economic Collapse blog, Mike Snyder noted: “[Japan is the] 3rd largest economy in the world … Could this be the “tipping point” that pushes the Japanese economy over the edge and into oblivion? … The truth is that the economy of Japan was already deeply struggling before this disaster. The national debt of Japan is now well over 200% of GDP and there seems to be no doubt that they will need to borrow massive amounts of money to deal with the aftermath of this crisis. Up until now the Japanese government has been able to borrow money at ultra-low interest rates of around 1.30 percent for 10-year bonds, drawing on a huge pool of savings from its own citizens. But in light of what has just happened, will the citizens of Japan still have enough resources to continue to fund the rampant spending of the Japanese government? At this point, it is estimated that this gigantic mountain of debt breaks down to 7.5 million yen for every single citizen of Japan.”

Add to that the cost to rebuild, mainly from scratch in places, and you have a serious dent in Japan’s and the world’s economy.

The nuclear situation is dire. Here is a photo from satellite of nuke reactor #1 (left) and #3 which still had smoke rising from its most recent explosion. [Photo credit: Photo DigitalGlobe / Creative Commons License BY-NC-ND]

They are destroyed. The steel housings of the construction are hanging outside the building and have actually melted on the concrete, you can see them running parallel to each other from top to bottom. The core is clearly visible, the overhead protective structure is completely obliterated at the very least. They are talking about radiation, plutonium, cesium, chromium and/or MOX getting into the atmosphere. Reactor 3 was burning MOX (mixed oxide fuel) fuel which is a VERY radioactive fuel when used.  MOX is bad because it will burn hotter then regular uranium. This was warned to be a bad fuel IF the plant were to come close to meltdown. Here is a link to Japan’s MOX program.

People on conspiracy sites all over the place are putting up wind and jet stream maps to determine when and where the radioactivity will arrive in the US and in other places. All three reactors are in meltdown mode and today even the mainstream newspapers are discussing the radiation fallout and putting up maps. They are buying gas masks, getting treated for radiation poisoning, hospitals are filling up…it is truly a doomsday scenario. The spectre of radiation raises the spectre of a chilling thought: the Revelation 4th seal of death through pestilence could well be radiation. Maybe not, but it shows us how He could lift a finger there and over here something completely un-thought of comes forth.

What can we as Christians do? We know to pray. We know to donate. We also know to rely on the promises of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Rely on His promises! This time is where the rubber meets the road. I painted a realistic picture for you and it is truly a doomish one. But He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! (Hebrews 13:8) Lest you forget what is ahead for us, and perhaps SOON:

‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Revelation 3:5) What a comfort to be known and spoken of by the God of the Universe!

Ps 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” Yes, we have afflictions, and more may be coming down the pike, but what a blessing to know that we will be delivered!

“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:18). Does this compute? The God of the Universe, will come to you. He will come right now if you need Him, pray if you need comfort. He is there, right beside you.

We are looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:13). We are the generation that will see Him from life to eternal life without death! We are blessed to see Him soon, His glorious appearing! “Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.” (Mt 17:1-2). We will see Him through glorified eyes, gaze upon His bright face!

Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. – John 14:1-3

So though the near future looks dim on planet earth, this is not our home! It looks very bright for us in New Jerusalem.

He knows your name, He is readying a place for you, He is bright like the sun and so you shall be bright, and He is coming to gather you to His bosom. Do not quiver in fear, this is where the rubber meets the road in your faith! Stand strong and ready, “‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.‘”
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js