FollowingJesusUS.com

Going Home To Heaven :)

We are so grateful that Jesus came and that we can go to Home to Heaven. But what is Heaven really like? We don’t talk about Heaven nearly enough in church, or anywhere else for that matter. But we should. We need too!

First of all, Heaven is much closer than we think :). If we could see those who went to Heaven before us; we could reach out and touch them. For those who are still on earth, we can talk to those in Heaven. You see when God said not to talk to the dead, He meant the dead in spirit. Those in Heaven are very much ALIVE!

And when we go to Heaven, we don’t stop loving those we love. And even better, we can keep praying for them!

But what is Heaven like for those who are there? Do you remember the Garden of Eden. We may have first learned of it as children. The Garden was filled with all kind of trees. These trees grew many types of food that were good for eating. Heaven has this same Garden, plus many other things.

Flowers so fragrant that they create great happiness for all those who walk among them. A great river, so long and wide that there is plenty of room for all of us. And a river so clean, we can drink right from it! Mountains, animals, beautiful fields and flowers…There will be great adventures, deep friendships and hugs beyond belief…

And most of all, we will live with God. His Light will shine on us, lighting our days , for there will be no more night. There will be no more fear or worry. Only Happiness and Peace for all eternity.

So when the going gets tough, just remember that your place in Heaven is assured. For all those who accept Jesus and Follow Him will spend eternity in Heaven. God’s Great Gift to us 🙂

Prepare, Pray & Be Ready!

God Loves Us More Than We Can Imagine!

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.'” – Isaiah 53:5

How much Jesus suffered! How much our Father and the Holy Spirit suffered. Can you imagine watching your only son suffering in that way? Or how much Mary must have suffered watching Her only Son suffer so! And yet, they loved us more!

Mary knew that Her Son would suffer for our sins. This was our Father’s Plan, so He knew. And Jesus knew, and came Willingly. And the Holy Spirit knew. God loved us that much! They were willing to suffer so, so that we would not have too.

We are healed and at peace, because Jesus was willing to endure our punishment. And because Jesus endured our punishment, not only do we get to go home to Heaven, but He created a Bridge between us and our Father! Heaven may be in the future, but the Bridge is now 🙂

The Father, Jesus & the Holy Spirit, and Mary, love us more than we can imagine!

St. Bernadette of Lourdes once said, “we are nothing, but to God we are everything!” She was right.

Prepare, Pray and Be Ready!

Choosing Idols Over God

“For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.”-Isaiah 52:3

Unfortunately, many have chosen idols over God, both many years ago, and now.

But we are redeemed, not through our own efforts, but through the efforts and sacrifice of Jesus Christ!

How Blessed and Loved are we 🙂

Prepare, Pray and Be Ready!

Compassion For The Lost!

“Oh, to realize that souls, precious, never dying souls, are perishing all around us, going out into the blackness of darkness and despair, eternally lost, and yet to feel no anguish, shed no tears, know no travail! How little we know of the compassion of Jesus!” – Oswald J. Smith, Evangelical Preacher, Missionary & Hymn Composer, Born in Toronto in 1890

Sadly, there are those who do not realize just how truly sad Jesus is when even one soul is lost, for Jesus Loves each one of us with a love that is truly beyond our understanding. When even one soul is lost, Jesus mourns that loss deeply.. His anguish at their suffering is more than we could ever bear. And His compassion for not only the lost, but those who love the lost, is incredible.

Praying that the Love for the Lost will fill our hearts the way it fills the Heart of Jesus is a really worthy prayer. To have a deep compassion for each one of the lost and those who love them, is something we should all seek to obtain. For it makes us more like Jesus Himself 🙂

Pray for the lost and those who love them. Be kind to all of them. And maybe, just maybe they will find their way 🙂

Be The Light 🙂

Prepare, Pray & Be Ready!

Jesus Will Meet Us Wherever We Are :)

There are many who think that they need to wait to ask Jesus to be their Savior until “they have cleaned up their lives”. Perhaps there are some activities that they enjoy and that they fear they may not be able to enjoy anymore (if they ask Jesus to be their Savior). Perhaps there are some that lead(and often enjoy) a really sinful life, and they feel they are not quite ready to give that up yet. Whatever the reason, sadly, without Jesus, we can not enter Heaven.

But the truth is, Jesus will meet us wherever we are! He loves us that much :). There is no life style, no amount of sin, other than blaspheming the Holy Spirit, that can keep us from Jesus and that Jesus can not help us defeat. For Jesus has already won that battle and God forgives us through our relationship with Jesus :).

All we need is to ask Jesus to be our Savior, and ask Him to help us Follow Him, and He will 🙂

Prepare, Pray & Be Ready 🙂

We Will Be Divided: Believer and Non-Believer !

“If you are reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you, for the spirit of glory and of God rests on you” -1 Peter 14

Sadly, division is happening right now and will happen even more in the future. For if we truly Follow Jesus, if we truly put Jesus first in all things, those choices will naturally divide us from those who refuse to.

And make no mistake, it is a choice we make. We either choose to Follow Jesus, or not. We either choose to go to Heaven or we choose Hell for all eternity. The choice is completely our own, given us by God Himself!

“Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.” – Luke 12: 51-53

Sadly, sometimes this choice will even involve family. We can always love and spend time with them, but we have to be careful it does not weaken our own faith. Those who do not believe, often do not want anyone around them to believe. And unless God tells us differently, we can also Keep Praying for them! It’s a long life, this may just be a bad season for them.

Keep Praying 🙂 And keep Loving 🙂

Prepare, Pray & Be Ready!

Participating In The Sufferings Of Christ.

“But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” – 1 Peter 13

In suffering, we can become even closer to Jesus. Our suffering can become a gift that we can give Jesus if we suffer without complaint and in love, and offer it to Jesus in such a way.

When we suffer for our faith in Jesus; our suffering becomes an even greater gift. This type of suffering is a special gift from God 🙂

When the Apostles and Disciples suffered for Christ, they worshipped God. They were grateful that they were given the gift of suffering for they knew it brought them ever closer to Jesus. And they were grateful.

They also knew that they would be well rewarded when Jesus came at the Second Coming. They knew that whatever price they paid that day would be more than worth it when Jesus came again!

But there is also another aspect to be considered when we suffer here on earth. Whatever we lose in this world, God gives us back, although it may indeed be in another way. Think about this, when a person loses their sight, they often hear better! And whether God brings us closer to Him or whether God gives us a Gift that we can share with each other, God is always Fair!

Prepare, Pray & Be Ready!

Fiery Trials!

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;” – 1 Peter:12

This is a really important verse. So often, as Christians, we think that because we are believers, God will Save us from our trials. But this is NOT so!

Remember what Jesus said:

“A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” – John 15:20

And remember this verse:

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” – John 15: 18-19

We are in Good company. Great company! 🙂

Prepare, Pray & Be Ready!

Peter: “And above all things have Fervent Charity”

In Peter 4:8, Peter the Apostle, writes a letter to other Christians to tell them how to live in times when Christians are persecuted. Sadly, a time is coming when Christians will be greatly persecuted.

“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” -1 Peter 4:8

Have you ever lived among those you love in a tight-knit circle in a small house? No matter how much we love one another; we can get on each other’s last nerve, lol. And because we love one another so, we often share our inner most thoughts, including our sins. Or sometimes, we just-get caught.

And that is why Peter’s verse is so very important. The definition of charity is: “kindness and tolerance in judging others.”. Or historically, “loving” others.

The first has often been confused. Refraining from judging others does NOT mean refraining sharing with them God’s Truth. It does NOT mean failing to share with them if their behavior if sinful. It DOES mean loving them anyway! It DOES mean forgiving them as Jesus forgives us :).

No matter how great the challenges we face,

“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” -1 Peter 4:8

Prepare, Pray & Be Ready!

Always Welcome One Another :)

“Use hospitality one to another without grudging.”- 1 Peter 4:9

In times of great persecution, some Christians may lose much! Some may even lose their home! Many of these items will be practical items such as food, clothing, shoes, blankets, bandages…Some Christians may even lose people they love such as parents, sisters and brothers, friends…

Peter tells us that we should not hesitate to welcome them to our home! And our “welcome” should truly be warm and without hesitation. For those are our brothers and sisters in Christ. There may be less food, clothing…but there will be more love. And God will be well pleased 🙂

Prepare, Pray & Be Ready!