Yearly Archives: 2014

It’s about time.

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The older I get, the more I think about the future – the distant future. And that always includes heaven. I wonder about meeting Jesus, about the many loved ones who are there, about what life in paradise is like day-to-day. But what will day-to-day mean there?

Scripture tells us heaven will have no night, which means day-to-day will be no more. It’ll just be one long day. Does that mean time will end?

In Revelation we’re shown a picture of souls who have been martyred for their faith, and they’re asking God “how long” before justice will be done? They’re aware that that time hasn’t yet come. His answer to their question also involves time: “Wait a little longer.” *

Clocking inLater we’re told that silence will come to heaven “for about half an hour.” **      Does that hint at the presence of a clock?

We’re also told that the tree of life, from which we’ll all eat, will yield a different fruit each month. Interesting. No more day-to-day but yes on month-to-month?

Maybe time will continue but not in seconds, minutes, and hours as we now know it. Maybe it’ll fly by, or maybe lengthen. One thing for sure is that if time does exist in heaven, it’ll be a positive rather than a negative. We won’t be frustrated by not having enough of it or by having too much, causing it to drag. It will be “perfect timing” all around.

The Bible also gives us a glimpse of how God relates to time:

“Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” (2 Peter 3:8)

1000 years

My friend Fellows has some fascinating thoughts about time in heaven. He writes:

My Dad died 48 years ago. If one day in heaven is 1000 years on earth, then one year on earth is 1.44 seconds in heaven. My Dad has only been in heaven 69 seconds and Nate less than 6 seconds. The Apostle Paul and the 12 disciples only got there the day before yesterday.

It’s not that my Dad has forgotten me; it’s just that he has barely arrived himself. Furthermore, even if I live another 30 years, when I get there, he will say, “Fellows, I just got here myself. I didn’t expect you so soon.”

I like the way Fellows thinks. Based on a biblical mathematical formula, it makes perfect sense. It also explains why we miss our loved ones but they don’t miss us. They don’t have the chance!

Ultimately, I have to let go of my desire to understand this aspect of heaven, adding it to the long list of God’s secrets. But it’s satisfying to know that eventually he’ll explain the whole thing.

All in good time.

“I trust in you, Lord…. My times are in your hands.” (Psalm 31:14-15)

Praising and Praying with Mary

  1.  I’m thankful for a quiet day and a long walk with beautiful snowflakes falling.
  2. Pray for wisdom to know what to do about my feeding tube, which is acting up again.

*Rev. 6:10-11

**Rev. 8:1

Happy Birthday, Mary!

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Party timeToday my sister turns 71, and it’s tempting to wish we were back last year at this same time. None of us knew then about the deadly cancer that was just around the corner, and we celebrated her 70th with the assumption her life would continue for many years, maybe even decades. After all, Dad and Mom both lived to 92, so why shouldn’t she?

But this year, short of the Lord’s miraculous intervention, a different scenario is unfolding for Mary. Whatever her future looks like, though, it’s really a future that belongs to God, because decades ago Mary handed over the reins of her life to him. That’s the one-and-only reason she can nod and say, “It’s ok by me, Lord.”

Actually it’s more than just ok. Mary has let God do the choosing for her all the way along (not just with cancer but with everything), so she’s fully on board. If God flat-out gave her a choice, she might prefer to go the distance like Mom and Dad, but at this point all indications are he’s got something else in mind for her.

This seismic shift has been a challenge to accept, and those of us around her have had a harder time with it than she has, proof that she has totally abandoned herself to her heavenly Father’s will.

IMG_4973Mary was a compliant child, a person who loved to please. That character trait has continued through her life, first wanting to please her earthly father, then her heavenly Father. The key has been trusting them both wholeheartedly, sincerely believing that their ideas, first her father’s, then her Father’s, were always the best ones, whether painful or painless. And when we’re sure something is for the best, it’s easier to accept.

Several of Mary and Bervin’s children and grandchildren came to town to make this birthday a very special one with a swimming party, dinner out, gifts, and lots of memory-making.

But as always, Mary’s main concern on her birthday was that they all had a good time.

“The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.” (Psalm 25:10)

Praising and Praying with Mary

  1. Thanks be to God for a very happy day receiving birthday phone calls and texts from loved ones, and spending time celebrating with family.
  2. Please pray that my energy levels will be high enough to enjoy all the upcoming holiday fun.

 

Slippage

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When my sister, brother, and I were teens, Mom used to say, “If I start slipping mentally, I want you to let me know.”

After that open-ended invitation, every time she’d forget something, I’d say, “There you go, Mom. You’re starting to slip.”

Thankfully with Mom it remained just a joke, since she never did slip mentally in her 92 years. She was on top of everything, always, and did much better at remembering stuff than I did at half her age.

I never invited my own teens to let me know if I started to slip, because ignorance has been known to be bliss. But once in a while I get a vague feeling I’m on the way. Like on Thanksgiving Day.

After we’d all assembled at the table but before the meal began, Louisa casually mentioned it was a good thing she’d gone back to the stove for hot gravy, because two of the electric burners had been left on (guess who). And if that wasn’t enough, I’d tossed two potholders on top of them.

OopsThough Louisa got points for not wanting to embarrass her mother (discreetly setting the potholders aside), I jumped from my chair to see if it was true. Yup, burn-marks indicated we had narrowly avoided a Thanksgiving flame-up.

I laughed it off by saying it was a fitting coincidence that I’d just purchased a fire extinguisher the week before. Of course it was in the basement, still sealed in its box, with directions still unread.

Sometimes when we need something in a hurry, we can’t readily access it, whether it’s recalling someone’s name, remembering an appointment, or being prepared in an emergency.

One more instance when accessing information is important is in our claiming God’s promises. This is especially important when we find ourselves in a crisis. For multiple reasons, it’s easy to slip-up here, maybe because we don’t understand what God offers at a time like that. Or we might not remember his promises when we need them. Maybe don’t know how to apply them. Or, saddest of all, we might never have learned of them in the first place.

ReadyFortunately, Scripture is always available to us. We can get into it any time we feel like it. We don’t even need potholders to handle it, though studying God’s promises will definitely warm us. And leaving that kind of “burner” on is always a good idea.

“Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:7-8)

Praising and Praying with Mary

  1. I’m praising the Lord that my symptoms aren’t bad yet
  2. Pray that I will “…number my days aright, that I may gain a heart of wisdom.”