My glimpse of heaven

I woke from the most realistic dream I have ever had, I had been in the presence of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.

I had walked the streets of heaven , took in it's majestic scenery , pure beauty and grace. The sky's were pristine, the air so pure, the warmth embracing, the light intense, the homes were a collection of triumphant architecture that words can hardly describe.

There were people everywhere, seas of faces that were completely filled will joy, peace and love. Every nationality that I had ever heard of and so many I had not were there, I understood their words as they praised the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and I was amazed. As far and wide as our little universe is I could see multitudes of my brothers and sisters, my heart was overwhelmed. 

It seemed as if only a moment had passed and I made my way to the throne room, I could not get close enough to Jesus, but yet I lay at His feet, I reached out grabbed His feet and could not let go , I laid and rejoiced, praised His name and wept, wept with deep sorrow for who I was and the things I have done, but wept also with great joy for the things He has done for me and the grace He has given me.

Then He reaches down, and said Brian welcome to your eternity, I did this all for you , I saw His beautiful face, and His eyes were so deep and resilient I became lost in them. His nailed scarred hands touched me and held me,His pierced side engulfed me, and the scars on His feet crushed me. In that moment I lost all sorrow and joy unexplainable came over me, He said you're my friend, my brother, well done my good and faithful servant come with me.

I was so mesmerized, I could not move, I didn't want to move , I wanted to lay in His presence and praise His name, my heart was delighted , my body strong and free and I didn't want to move from His feet.

Oh I rushed back to reality and awakened , my face is swollen from tears of joy, my pillow wet like I had left it in the rain and I have new strength and resolve because I have been all night in the presence of my Lord and God, Jesus Christ. 

Thank you my Lord for the glory of who you are, you have pierced my soul with you're Amazing Grace, Agape Love and Everlasting Gift of Salvation.

After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Immediately I was in the Spirit, and a throne was set there in heaven. One was seated on the throne, and the One seated looked like jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne. Around that throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones sat 24 elders dressed in white clothes, with gold crowns on their heads. Flashes of lightning and rumblings of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne. Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were in the middle and around the throne.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭4:1-6‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

“I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say: Blessing and honor and glory and dominion to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5:13‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

“They will no longer hunger; they will no longer thirst; the sun will no longer strike them, nor will any heat. For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them; He will guide them to springs of living waters, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭7:16-17‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

“I did not see a sanctuary in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its sanctuary. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s glory illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Each day its gates will never close because it will never be night there. They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. Nothing profane will ever enter it: no one who does what is vile or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:22-27‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

My glimpse of heaven

I woke from the most realistic dream I have ever had, I had been in the presence of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.

I had walked the streets of heaven , took in it's majestic scenery , pure beauty and grace. The sky's were pristine, the air so pure, the warmth embracing, the light intense, the homes were a collection of triumphant architecture that words can hardly describe.

There were people everywhere, seas of faces that were completely filled will joy, peace and love. Every nationality that I had ever heard of and so many I had not were there, I understood their words as they praised the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and I was amazed. As far and wide as our little universe is I could see multitudes of my brothers and sisters, my heart was overwhelmed. 

It seemed as if only a moment had passed and I made my way to the throne room, I could not get close enough to Jesus, but yet I lay at His feet, I reached out grabbed His feet and could not let go , I laid and rejoiced, praised His name and wept, wept with deep sorrow for who I was and the things I have done, but wept also with great joy for the things He has done for me and the grace He has given me.

Then He reaches down, and said Brian welcome to your eternity, I did this all for you , I saw His beautiful face, and His eyes were so deep and resilient I became lost in them. His nailed scarred hands touched me and held me,His pierced side engulfed me, and the scars on His feet crushed me. In that moment I lost all sorrow and joy unexplainable came over me, He said you're my friend, my brother, well done my good and faithful servant come with me.

I was so mesmerized, I could not move, I didn't want to move , I wanted to lay in His presence and praise His name, my heart was delighted , my body strong and free and I didn't want to move from His feet.

Oh I rushed back to reality and awakened , my face is swollen from tears of joy, my pillow wet like I had left it in the rain and I have new strength and resolve because I have been all night in the presence of my Lord and God, Jesus Christ. 

Thank you my Lord for the glory of who you are, you have pierced my soul with you're Amazing Grace, Agape Love and Everlasting Gift of Salvation.

After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Immediately I was in the Spirit, and a throne was set there in heaven. One was seated on the throne, and the One seated looked like jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne. Around that throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones sat 24 elders dressed in white clothes, with gold crowns on their heads. Flashes of lightning and rumblings of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne. Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were in the middle and around the throne.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭4:1-6‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

“I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say: Blessing and honor and glory and dominion to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5:13‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

“They will no longer hunger; they will no longer thirst; the sun will no longer strike them, nor will any heat. For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them; He will guide them to springs of living waters, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭7:16-17‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

“I did not see a sanctuary in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its sanctuary. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s glory illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Each day its gates will never close because it will never be night there. They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. Nothing profane will ever enter it: no one who does what is vile or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:22-27‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Where do you find joy?

Where do you find joy?

In people, places or things? Do you feel that these complete you or make you who you are?

Reading this morning this passage stuck out to me, "the joy of the Lord is your stronghold."

Nehemiah and Ezra have just rebuilt Jerusalem and just started reading the laws of God to the people who had been in captivity, and now where free. They were reminded that God is Holy and that they are set apart by Him and that they have a call to live by His ways. The people where grieving for they knew why they where in captivity but they were told." Therefore do not grieve all that they have suffered but take joy in our portion of the Lord."

Circumstances, people, health, family, friends, jobs, living arrangements, the economy, wealth, the weather, the old and the young alike die, political parties, bosses, the laws of man everything here on earth changes and we have no control over any of it.

But the Lord our God never changes, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. And if you are His, your portion of His inheritance, your portion of the promises of God, will never change, no matter what happens here on earth.

That is a stronghold of joy that we should hold onto no matter what.

What ever your facing today Take heart

" the joy of the Lord is your stronghold."

Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your stronghold.”  And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Do not grieve.” Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great celebration, because they had understood the words that were explained to them.

Nehemiah 8:9-12