Go to Heaven - Upset Hell!

C. S. Lewis - Screwtape Letters

Background - Screwtape, a senior devil, has been coaching Wormwood, a junior tempter, how to lure a male human away from “the Enemy” and into hell. Wormwood’s “patient” became a Christian and has been killed in the German bombing of London. Screwtape describes to Wormwood the feelings in hell.

My Dear Wormwood, you have let a soul slip through your fingers. The howl of sharpened famine for that loss re-echoes at this moment through all the levels of Hell down to the very Throne itself. It makes me mad to think of it.

How well I know what happened at the instant when they snatched him from you! There was a sudden clearing of his eyes (was there not?) as he saw you for the first time, and recognized the part you had had in him and knew that you had it no longer. Just think (and let it be the beginning of your agony) what he felt at that moment; as if a scab had fallen from an old sore, as if he shuffled off for good and all a defiled, wet, clinging garment.

The more one thinks about it, the worse it becomes. He got through so easily! One moment it seemed to be all our world; the scream of bombs, the heart cold with horrors, the brain reeling; next moment this was all gone, gone like a bad dream, never again to be of any account.
Defeated, out-maneuvered fool! Did you mark how naturally—as if he'd been born for it—the earthborn vermin entered the new life? How all his doubts became, in the twinkling of an eye, ridiculous?

As he saw you, he also saw Them. I know how it was. You reeled back dizzy and blinded, more hurt by them than he had ever been by bombs. The degradation of it!—that this thing of earth and slime could stand upright and converse with spirits before whom you, a spirit, could only cower. He had not the faintest conception till that very hour of how they would look, and, at times, even doubted their existence. But when he saw them he knew that he had always known them and he realized what part each one of them had played at many an hour in his life when he had supposed himself alone. Recognition made him free in their company almost before the limbs of his corpse became quiet. Only you were left outside.

He saw not only Them; your patient also saw Him. This animal, this thing begotten in a bed, could look on Him. What is blinding, suffocating fire to you, is now cool light to him, is clarity itself, and wears the form of a Man.

~ Posted by Ed Ditto

Spiritual Waiting

When I think about it, it is mostly in terms of me. The time I spend waiting on God. Waiting on him to fix my problems, to iron out my wrinkled character, to change my circumstances.

What I think less about is the amount of time he spends waiting on me.

Waiting on me to get with his game plan, to come to him for help, to finally see him for the good and all-powerful God that he is.

I know he is the more patient one of us. He shows no signs of irritation at me for my tediously slow transformation. Instead, he blesses and encourages me to wait even more on him.

I thank him for not being as impatient with me as I am with others and with myself. And even with him. This waiting stuff trips me up too often in my “do life efficiently” plan.

But perhaps if I conquered it too quickly, and didn’t have to wait for it, I would miss the point of the lesson entirely: to be patient is to be like God.

Lamentations 3:25, 26
“The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”

Lisa

"While You Were Sleeping" by Casting Crowns

Words and Music by Mark Hall

Oh little town of Bethlehem
Looks like another silent night
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
A giant star lights up the sky

And while you're lying in the dark
There shines an everlasting light
For the King has left His throne
And is sleeping in a manger tonight

Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
For God became a man and stepped into your world today
Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

Oh little town of Jerusalem
Looks like another silent night
The Father gave His only Son
The Way, the Truth, the Life had come
But there was no room for Him
In the world He came to save

Jerusalem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
The Savior of the world is dying on your cross today
Jerusalem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

United States of America
Looks like another silent night
As we're sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children

And while we're lying in the dark
There's a shout heard 'cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King
Will we be sleeping?
Will we be sleeping?

Week 8 Questions - Anticipation: the 2nd Coming

1. What helps you remain patient when you have to wait for something?

2. Share a time when God made "the wait" worth it.

3. How should we be living now in anticipation for heaven later?

The Compassionate Savior

I love reading passages that describe the compassion that Jesus had. Jesus not only did the right things, He did them with right motives, from a place of sincere love and genuine concern for people. He really loved people; that gives me confidence that He really has compassion on and loves me, too.

Knowing my God is always there, looking out for me, makes my life different from a non-believer’s life. The security I get from being one of His is like a blanket of peace being laid out under my feet. Outward circumstances ebb and flow, and even my faith itself waxes and wanes, but at the deepest level, my inward foundation is unchanging because HE is unchanging. “If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13

Matthew 9:36: When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 14:14: When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Matthew 15:32: Jesus said, “I have compassion on the crowd…I am unwilling to send them away hungry.”

Matthew 20:34: Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes.

Mark 1:41: Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.

Lisa

Own Me

Words and music by Ginny Owens

Got a stack of books so I could learn how to live;
Many are left half-read, covered by the cobwebs on my shelf.
And I got a list of laws growin’ longer ev’ry day,
And if I keep pluggin’ away, maybe one day I’ll perfect myself.

Oh, but all of my labor seems to be in vain,
And all of my laws just cause me more pain.
So I fall before You in all of my shame,
Ready and willing to be changed.

CHORUS
Own me,
Take all that I am
And heal me with the blood of the Lamb,
Mold me
With Your gracious hand,
Break me ‘til I’m only Yours,
Own me.

Oh, You call me daughter, and You take my blame,
And You run to meet me when I cry out Your name.
So I fall before You in all of my shame,
Lord, I am willing to be changed.

CHORUS
Own me,
Take all that I am
And heal me with the blood of the Lamb,
Mold me
With Your gracious hand,
Break me ‘til I’m only Yours,
Own me.

Life with Hope

In the 26th chapter of Matthew before the Sanhedrin, Christ showed courage knowing His end was near. One would think if ever there was a time to defend yourself, that was certainly it. Yet I think even more than courage, Christ displayed complete and ultimate faith. Proving to me there is indeed a time and place for everything.

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world." John 18:36. This is one of my favorite "life" scriptures. It means we must get rid of anything that plagues the spirit while here on this earth, in order to obtain a oneness with Christ Jesus in Heaven.

Life with Christ is life with hope. It also gives one a feeling of purpose. Of course eternal life is the main goal, but also hope for each day that we live on earth. Life without Christ seems to spawn a type of aimlessness. My life is different because I feel I "owe" Christ. After all, His very life was ransomed for me.

Adrienne

Connected

Jesus - there is a connection between His life and mine. I have to remind myself that His life is reality, mine is surreal. His life is spiritual, mine is physical.

The only hope I have to enter a real life, a spiritual life, is for Him to leave His spiritual life and live a physical life. He did.

For that, I can only love Him in my pitiful way and totally depend on Him to love me, as one person said, "passionately."

~ Posted by Ed Ditto

Week 7 Questions - My Life in Christ

1. Share an event in Christ’s life that holds a special meaning for you.

2. Do you have a favorite “life” scripture? Explain.

3. How is life in Christ different than life without Christ? How is your life different because Jesus is in it?

"Number Me In Your Prayers"

by Annie Herring

Number me in your prayers
Let me be among those you cry out for
Won’t you number me in your prayers
And lay me at the feet
Lay me at the feet of Jesus

Number me in your prayers
Let me be among those you cry out for
Cover my life with words of love
And lay me at the feet
Lay me at the feet of Jesus

I’m going through a time where I don’t know my way
And I must lean on others
Like a growing child when hurt or confused
Looks up to its sisters and brothers

Number me in your prayers
Let me be among those you cry out for
Cover my life; cover my heart
And lay me at the feet
Lay me at the feet of Jesus

I have always needed the prayers...

I have always needed the prayers of others! The time that stands out most in my mind is when my son Allen passed away two days prior to his first birthday. My husband and I were devistated to say the least.

I was angry with God for taking my child away. This anger lasted a many years and affected every part of my life. I vowed never to have another child. Not because I was afraid history would repeat itself, but because I had grown comfortable with my anger. For me, being angry with God for taking my child was the ultimate excuse for "my sinfulness". It was exhausting mentally, physically, and a complete waste of precious time.

At that point in my life I needed much prayer. I couldn't pray for myself. Thank God many people were praying for me. Because of His mercy, not Grace, (there is a difference) my anger was taken away. I sincerely repented and asked His forgiveness.

In learning to walk with God, we have difficulty getting into His stride, but once there, we are merged into a personal oneness with Him. That's when God's awesome powers are most revealed to us. I thank God for this revelation. I thank Him because I know my son will dwell with Him throughout eternity.

What encourages me most from Jesus' example of praying is that when HE did so, His only motive was to glorify His Father in Heaven. His prayers were sincerly from His heart and not at all self motivated.

One of my constant prayers is that at all times, I display a Christ like attitude, especially when encountering "the world".

I like to think of myself as a "seasoned" Christian. However logevity in Christ Jesus doesn't mean perfection in Christ Jesus. I'm still trying to get as near as possible though. Sometimes I react to situations like a "babe in Christ." Pray for me.

Adrienne

"I Never Get Used to What You Do"

Words and Music by Twila Paris

I look on the outside
You look on the heart
Where I see an ending
You can see another place to start
And every time I see Your hand reach down
I know a lonely child has just been found

Chorus:
But I never get used to what You do
I never get used to watching You
Take a life beyond redemption
Make it yours and make it new
I never outgrow the miracle
A heart that was empty flowing full
I never get used to what You do

I grew up surrounded by
The Family of Life
You'd think I would know by now
You'd think I would never be surprised
But every time it takes my breath away
And I think it is time You heard me say

Chorus

Bridge:
Father of grace and love without end
God of forgiveness, Faithful Friend
Every time I see your hand reach down
Another lonely child has just been found

Every day Your mercy is brand new
And we would all be lost if not for You

Chorus

Week 6 Questions - Pray for Me

1. When in your life have you needed the prayers of others? What happened?

2. What encourages you most from Jesus’ example of praying?

3. What would you most like prayers for now?

The Shadow and the Shepherd

Though death cast its shadow o'er me,
There is a hand I hold.
The shepherd is my leader,
He leads me to his fold.
We walk across the valley
Where His delights are found:
Green pastures, clear, still waters,
His protection all around.

Death's shadow holds no power,
There is no venomous sting.
The shadow I abide in
Is the shadow of His wing.
The walk across the valley
And to the distant peak,
Is ordered by the shepherd.
It is His voice I seek.

Some day, the journey finished,
the pasture left below,
He'll lead me across the river
And peacefully I'll go.
The kind and gentle shepherd
Who led me day by day,
Will bring me to His own home
Where I'll forever stay.

Sharon

Psalm 116

Of all the wonderful Psalms my favorite is Psalm 116. It speakes of the Lord hearing my voice and cry for mercy. I for one am a wittness, for the Lord has heard my cry for mercy throughout my adult life.

Almost thirty years ago I was diagnoised with a rare blood disorder. Because of it, I've been hospitalized nearly every year since and have had as many surgeries. In Oct.2004, I was hospitalized for nearly five months. I spent eighteen weeks in intensive care. My prognosis was bleek but God showed compassion and my life was spared.

During that time, I was put into a medically induced coma and placed on a ventilator. I prayed to God, then surrendured to His will. To my doctor's surpriseI survived. I truly believe that that's all God really wants us to do, completely surrender to His will. There is no doubt in my mind that He heard my cry and showed His mercy and compassion.

How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on his name in the presence of all his people. (Psalm 116:12-14)

Lately my spirit has been filled with joy daily. Just waking up to a new day fills me with joy. It seems I've developed a renewed relationship with my husband, children, grandchildren and lastly but certainly not least, to God. Praise God, I'm thankful I'm alive and loving it.

One of my favorite songs comes from Pslams 116; "I love the Lord, He Heard My Cry"

Adrienne

Psalm 125...As the Mountains Surround Jerusalem

I thank God for Psalms. And I love the songs that we derive from them--Ed and Sharon did a superb job giving us a sampling last Wednesday night. It was a powerful hour.

Psalm 125 is one that gives me confidence. Trusting in the Lord means we have the power to not "be shaken", which ties into another of my favorite Psalms--Psalm 16:8 "I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand I shall not be shaken."

Knowing that I am enclosed all around (125:2), surrounded on every side by Jehovah God, brings me security and peace. I can't find that kind of assurance and guarantee anywhere else but in the Lord.

"Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore."

Lisa

Week 5 Questions - Psalms

1. What’s one of your favorite Psalms and why?

2. How has the Lord “filled you with joy” lately (Psalm 16)?

3. Is there a song from the Psalms that you enjoy singing?

Prayer to Begin the Day

Jesus,

I desire to start this day with you. And yet, my mind keeps flitting to so many things:

...the projects I want to accomplish,
......the people I want to talk to,
.........the people I wish I didn't have to talk to.

...I wonder. Are these things distractions to spiritual concentration or invitations to see God in the ordinary?

I'm not sure. Jesus, I know that you are that Center who knows no distraction. So I offer up my mental fragmentation to you, O Lord my God.

May my scatteredness become your gatheredness.

As I'm contemplating a thousand things, Jesus, may I somehow be contemplating you.

Amen.

by Richard Foster, "Prayers from the Heart"