Category Archives: Christian Life

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That Glorious Day

When God Takes Us Home

I’m glad this world is not all there is.

There, I said it. I mean it, too. I’m anticipating the next step when I step into glory and see my Savior face to face. “Oh, that will be, glory for me.” Heaven has so much to offer. I’ll get to see my mom, both sets of grandparents, my sister and other dear saints I’ve known over the years, that I miss now that they’ve passed on into eternity. I’ll also talk with personalities like C.S. Lewis, Thomas Merton, and G.K. Chesterton. That’ll be something else. And the martyrs who suffered for their faith, we will honor them for being faithful to His dear cause.

It’s exciting when I think about it. No more pain, sorrow or suffering, tears, and death. We will be filled with ever-lasting LIFE! Our hearts will be at peace, comforted, and rebooted to glorious living. I can’t imagine it, but I know it’s going to be better than any of my imaginings. “It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus!” It goes without saying that you must believe in Christ first. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

A lady in my church was having her knee operated on when something went terribly wrong. Next thing she knew, she was looking down at herself on the operating table. Then she saw her mother smiling and walking towards her on a field of green. Her mother looked young like when she was raising them. They were about to embrace when she returned to the here and now. Her knee never functioned well after the surgery.

Another friend has had multiple encounters with angels and Jesus. He’s been valiantly battling cancer without medical intervention or pain medication for well over a decade. A couple of weeks ago, he wrote about another experience where he cheated death. He came close to the edge of eternity. His stories fascinate me. Every week for years now, I wonder if his wife will post that he has left us for the next life. He’s learned that the simple things in life bring the most pleasure.

Some day we will meet Jesus our Lord and Savior there. I believe He will seem familiar to us, since He’s been walking with us on the path of life. It’s just that we will experience everything and Him in a much fuller way.” I can’t wait, but I have to wait. Maybe I’ll even see the child I miscarried in 1993. That would be joyous.

“I go to prepare a place for you.” That’s a promise Jesus made before He left His followers, “that where I am, there you may be also,” (John 14:2,3). John 14 is a passage loaded with encouraging words that speak life to us every time we read them. This and John 10 offer truth worth meditating on for several days. Truly, He was preparing His disciples for His departure and their future. God’s Word is good that way.

Be happy. I was longing for Jesus and heaven today. It was my happy thought for the day.

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I wish you well on your spiritual journey.

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Why We March to a Different Drummer

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” -Ephesians 4:1

It’s about what we are “Called” to do

As Christians, we all have a calling. We go forth as lights and give as we would give to Jesus. No task is too small. We do all things for Christ. I think back to my teaching days and those trying times with difficult students. Hard-to-work-with students were my calling as much as the other students. Our calling goes with us everywhere we go.

I write from a spiritual perspective. My worldview influences everything I believe and do. God is love. He compels me to love others including those who disagree with me and hate my beliefs. Their insults hurt and are undeserved. They know not the truth so they speak in ignorance.

I speak the truth in love, as Christ tells me to. I choose my words carefully. I speak gently. But still, the haters hate and vilify the messenger and message (example below). A true believer, who lives out of love, wears armor that repels the drawn sword. God is our shield, rock, and defense.

Christ followers march to a different drummer. Our core essence is light–the light of Christ. We still stumble. We fail. We get it wrong, sometimes. We admit that we can’t do it without Christ. He is our Anchor and Keeper, the Author and Finisher of our resilient, living, audacious faith. Christ overcomes evil with love and truth.

An example of this

I saw a Twitter thread about the recent SCOTUS ruling on the repealing of Roe v. Wade.  There it was staring at me. Should I engage or not? I left it and then came back. I had to say something. I already knew I would be slammed. I owed it to the invisible children whom have never seen the light of day. I needed to speak the truth. I voiced my opinion even though I was in the minority.

Original tweet:

“The hypocrisy is raging, but the harm is endless”: Speaker Pelosi compares Supreme Court’s decision on New York’s gun law to its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. (a video was posted with this tweet)

My reply to the tweet:

“Preborn humans are finally protected in the womb. Their right to live is what this is about, not women’s rights.”

4 out of 21 replies to my tweet:

“Forcing victims of rape and incest to gestate a fertilized embryo is evil and inhumane.”

“When life outside the womb gets the same level of protection and concern as your ilk only seem to provide while it’s in the womb, spare us the theocratic platitudes, @nlbrumbaugh”

“Yeah you are probably one of those females that can’t have a baby and want to adopt one! That makes you lower than snake shit! I hope you never get to adopt just like the rest of the scum that believe this is right! Down with the republican party!”

“Just wait until they come for you my dear…”

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I don’t usually engage, but I do when I’m impressed that I should. However, I never spew hate when I disagree. I may circle back and explain my thinking, which I did to one of these. And, of course, the person replied with more venom.

We’re seed planters as Christians. Every day no matter where we go we are taking our Lord with us. This is our calling. Every angry person, every minute, we are following the great compelling which is Christ in us the hope of glory. We are offering cups of cool water throughout our daily encounters. We may be the only bible some people read. Our actions preach. Like Mother Teresa said,

No, I wouldn’t touch a leper for a thousand pounds; yet I willingly cure him for the love of God.

I leave you with a video which I listened to in the middle of the night. Peter Scazzero wrapped many of these thoughts into one bundle that says it well. His words prompted this post. By the way, he wrote the book I featured in my last book review, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. I often listen to him on YouTube when I can’t sleep.

I wish you well on your spiritual journey.