Arms open wide.

"Imagine your life in glorious splendor and awe with Jesus."

One day, my brothers and sisters, we will be freed of the pains of this life and swept into an indescribable and beautiful place we can call home. The best part is...we will be home. Home with our father and dancing with the angels. Sounds too good to be true almost! Hillsong's "You Hold Me Now" has a beautifully scripted illustration of being with the Father. Let's look at some lines from the song:

"All my fears swept away, in the light of Your embrace. Where your love is all need and forever I am free. Where the streets are made of gold..."

"No weeping, no hurt or pain, no suffering You hold me now. No darkness, no sick or lame, no hiding, You hold me now."

"In this life I will stand through my joy and my pain, knowing there's a greater day, there's a hope that never fails..."

"When the wars and violence cease, all creation lives in peace, let the songs of heaven rise to You alone."

Ummm, that song is just a little bit amazing:) Those lines stuck out to me...and something amazing struck me, I will experience all of this one day! And I cannot wait. But then, I felt a huge heaviness as I asked myself, "Who is coming with me?"

"Imagine if we tried to get as many people as possible to come with us"

In Matthew Jesus just says alot of GREAT stuff! So I spent about half an hour looking over Matthew and dissecting some passages that will fit nicely with what God is laying on my heart. We'll start in Matthew 28, and back track a bit. (Grab a comfy spot guys, it's another long one;)

"Jesus came and told his disciples, 'I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'" (18-20).

That is soooo good! You see, even though we are promised a beautiful Kingdom in heaven once we lay ourselves at the feet of Jesus, that doesn't guarantee little Susie up the straight or Mr. Bob at the supermarket will be coming along. How heartbreaking is that? I am so convicted because as I picture my loved ones faces...fear strikes me that someday they may not be joining me at the throne of Jesus. Take a moment, look at their faces..the people you love and hold dear to you...where are they going?


"When Jesus heard this, he said, 'Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do.' Then he added, 'Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: "I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices. For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.'" 9:10-13

We can talk ALL DAY about the goodness of God to our fellow Christ followers, our close friends and family that enjoy talking about the Lord and while that is great and all, we have to be reminded that it is the not the "healthy" (Christ-followers) that need the doctor (Jesus) but the sick (the lost and broken people of our world.)

43 "You have heard the law that says, `Love your neighbor's and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." 5:43-48

Honestly I can't elaborate much on that:) We desperately want to reach the lost and broken, we want them to be dancing in heaven with us, and we want them to know how fufilling and awesome a life with God is! But we shouldn't just want that for the people we favor in our hearts...we should want that desperatley fpr everyone. Yes, even for the kids who teased you relentlessly or for the boss that will spontaneously combust if he has to say one nice word to anyone. We need for them to know truth and love from Christ. And WE need to be praying and loving them so they can one day join us in splendor.



"You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. 5:14-16

Your actions are useless if you have them. Your desire to save others is pointless if you don't do anything about it. WE MUST ACT...and the time is now. Don't wait until tomorrow, or next week when it just seems to "work our better" for you. Do it now. Love now. Reach out now. Pray now. We cannot let the beautiful people of this Earth fall away without knowing they have a beautiful home in store. It's time we let go of fear and begin to be lights...everywhere. Illuminate the lives of others and let them know there is only way...and that is Jesus.


A HUGE thanks and shout out to Austin Taylor for suggesting this song as inspiration! It eneded up being just what I needed for the day! :)