Beautiful sunrise over the Cross Yesterday on my way to morning worship I had some doubts about what I was planning to do. As an adult Sunday school teacher, I planned a lesson to highlight why we want to get to Heaven. Our class is in the middle of a study of the Book of Romans and the early going in this wonderful book is quite demanding: demanding in the sense that Paul makes it clear to the reader what he must do if he expects to find salvation through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Paul makes it clear there is no escaping one's responsibility to make the right choices and throw off the weight of sin by living for Christ.
I thought a one day change of pace, a fun exercise where each attendee could focus on what they would personally like to experience in Heaven would be both fun and also add encouragement to them in living for Him. Since we are all subject to sin and it knocks on our door repeatedly, we need encouragement to remain faithful and stay the course toward personal freedom with Him.
As I entered the small sanctuary of our beautiful little "church in the vale", a rural setting amidst farm fields and small, gently rolling hills, I started thinking that it might be best if I altered my plans and go back directly to the message in Romans. Maybe my adult students wouldn't like my plans and think they were silly? After all, my class is mostly older adults who have experience much in life and they might just think this was foolishness. I said a quick prayer to God to help me do what was best for the class.
Surprisingly, I got my answer quite quickly. Firstly, one of the first hymns in our service was When We All Get to Heaven. And then later, the scripture for the day was Revelation 21:1-7, the exact same passage I had selected to open my class. When I heard that, I felt a small shiver run down my spine. Oh it wasn't frightful, it was akin to that feeling you get at a parade when a marching band strikes up the National Anthem in front of Old Glory.
Well, as I walked from the sanctuary to our activity room where my class would be held in a few minutes, I said a silent thank you to God and smiled for I know that this was His way of "telling" me that my plans were okay. Our Music Leader and our Minister were being used by Him to direct my actions.
Praise be to God and I thank Him for his blessings and caring for me and loving me every day.
When we all get to heaven, What a day of rejoicing it will be! When we all see Jesus, We'll sing and shout the victory! Lyrics to the refrain from When We All Get to Heaven, written by Eliza Hewitt.
God can talk to us in many ways. We just have to be pay attention carefully to "hear" him.
I thought a one day change of pace, a fun exercise where each attendee could focus on what they would personally like to experience in Heaven would be both fun and also add encouragement to them in living for Him. Since we are all subject to sin and it knocks on our door repeatedly, we need encouragement to remain faithful and stay the course toward personal freedom with Him.
As I entered the small sanctuary of our beautiful little "church in the vale", a rural setting amidst farm fields and small, gently rolling hills, I started thinking that it might be best if I altered my plans and go back directly to the message in Romans. Maybe my adult students wouldn't like my plans and think they were silly? After all, my class is mostly older adults who have experience much in life and they might just think this was foolishness. I said a quick prayer to God to help me do what was best for the class.
Surprisingly, I got my answer quite quickly. Firstly, one of the first hymns in our service was When We All Get to Heaven. And then later, the scripture for the day was Revelation 21:1-7, the exact same passage I had selected to open my class. When I heard that, I felt a small shiver run down my spine. Oh it wasn't frightful, it was akin to that feeling you get at a parade when a marching band strikes up the National Anthem in front of Old Glory.
Well, as I walked from the sanctuary to our activity room where my class would be held in a few minutes, I said a silent thank you to God and smiled for I know that this was His way of "telling" me that my plans were okay. Our Music Leader and our Minister were being used by Him to direct my actions.
Praise be to God and I thank Him for his blessings and caring for me and loving me every day.
When we all get to heaven, What a day of rejoicing it will be! When we all see Jesus, We'll sing and shout the victory! Lyrics to the refrain from When We All Get to Heaven, written by Eliza Hewitt.
God can talk to us in many ways. We just have to be pay attention carefully to "hear" him.
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