Wesley United Methodist Church, Orange TX

Our Bible Study time each week for the past 7 weeks has been centered around the book “Heaven” by Randy Alcorn.  Dr. Alcorn does a wonderful job of reaching into the Bible and gleaning scriptures that refer to Heaven.  This week we took up another book called “90 Minutes in Heaven” by Don Piper.  I recommend either of these books as a very rewarding and inspirational read.  In each of these books I am reminded that there is a very great reward that none of us living today deserve so let’s give thanks for our belief in Jesus Christ.  It is just that belief that gets us that reward and there is nothing else required of us.

When I think about this gift God has given us it turns my heart towards the loving relationship that He desires us to have with Him.  He loves us no matter what we do and that love poured out upon everyone on this earth helps me to think about returning that love to Him.  Not because it is required but because when I think about Him my heart is warmed and His love is reflected in me and from me.  When am I reflecting that love?  When I am visiting those who are homebound!  When I am smiling at those whom I meet each day!  When I am helping someone in need!  When I am doing the things that reflect God’s love for His world.  I have to look at all of these things not as things I do but as God’s love for us being poured out from me as a willing vessel.

You see I truly believe that if you love someone you do things for them because you love them.  God loves us and has done and is doing for us just because He loves us.  Our response to that love should be that we show our love for Him by being His willing vessels that pour His love out on the world.

Smile at someone today! Better yet smile at everyone today!  Smile because you know God loves you and because you know you love God!  It is a marriage made in Heaven!

Pastor Randy