When we all get to heaven

“The Lord said to Moses, ²“Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.” Numbers 14:1-2 NIV

“When they reached the Valley of Eshkol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. ²⁴That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. ²⁵At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.” Numbers 14:23-25 NIV

“They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. ²⁸But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. ²⁹The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”” Numbers 14:27-29 NIV

Lord God,

When we reach this point we would think there was no promised land and no future and no promises from heaven. 2 were for and 10 against going forward! Perhaps they had expected You to provide a clear ready planted land for them to just oversee? If there we no people the land would have been untamed, uncultivated and years from a good harvest. You promised them this land way back back when Abraham stood upon it. You did not say it would be easy . . .

It took two men to argue that God was greater than anything they wold face and would keep his promises. We face the same disbelief in our world and occasionally in our own minds to believe in the promised land beyond death. In heaven. So many questions about it. There are many voices that would say negative things. It is not real. You have to be good to get there – and who is truly good? You need God permission and how do You get that? Keeping religious rules is hard?

Thank you that we have one voice that speaks above the others. Well two, no actually three but in perfect harmony. You promised us. Jesus made the way open and provided the necessary entry permission and the Holy Spirit who encourages us on the way not to doubt. Keep us tuned in to You and not the white noise of unbelief and doubt. Caleb and Joshua reached the promised land. Thank You for those who encourage us on the way.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 6th March 2025

Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed
He’ll prepare for us a place.

When we all get to heaven,
what a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
we’ll sing and shout the victory!

While we walk the pilgrim pathway
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when trav’ling days are over
Not a shadow, not a sigh.

Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving ev’ry day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.

Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open–
We shall tread the streets of gold.

Lyrics: E E Hewitt

“Now these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob: ²Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; ³Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; ⁴Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. ⁵All thosewho were descendants of Jacob were seventy persons (for Joseph was in Egypt already). ⁶And Joseph died, all his brothers, and all that generation. ⁷But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.⁸Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. ⁹And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; ¹⁰come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.” ¹¹Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens.” Exodus 1:1-10 NKJV

Father God,

We leave Job behind with his new family and living to a ripe old age and return to Josephs family in Egypt where Jacob had just blessed his children and died. They were prosperous and expending and protected by Joseph who was Potiphar’s right hand man.

But it changes with the generations and politics and jealousy and prejudice. So they become slaves and hard worked and oppressed. But You had made a promise to Abraham to give his ancestors land and as many offspring as stars in the sky! Sometimes we cannot see how You will work out Your promises and we feel cut off from it happening. They did not know that a man would come and do miracles and through the death of Pharaoh’s first born son secure their freedom. But You did it as promised.

We know that You sent Your Son as a man who performed miracles and then died to secure our freedom from slavery to sin and death. You did it as promised. We do not know how He will return and free this world and all those that believe completely from sin, evil and death. And there will be a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1-4). But we see You keep Your promises and believe it will come to pass, in Your time.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Lord we pray, plead for Ukraine and Russia and an end to conflict.

Worship Saturday 1st February 2025

One day You’ll make everything new, Jesus
One day You will bind every wound
The former things shall all pass away
No more tears
One day You’ll make sense of it all, Jesus
One day every question resolved
Every anxious thought left behind
No more fear

When we all get to heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus
We’ll sing and shout the victory

One day we will see face to face, Jesus
Is there a greater vision of grace
And in a moment, we shall be changed
On that day
One day we’ll be free, free indeed, Jesus
One day all this struggle will cease
And we will see Your glory revealed
On that day

Chorus x 2

One day we will see face to face, Jesus
Is there a greater vision of grace?
And in a moment, we shall be changed
Yes, in a moment, we shall be changed
In a moment, we shall be changed
On that day

Chorus

Lyrics: Chorus from hymn by E E Hewitt 1898
New Verses: Eliza E. Hewitt, Matt Redman, Beth Redman, Leonard Jarman 2017