Choose this day whom you will serve....

Jos 24:15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

On Sunday, my pastor preached a sermon on "Choices" based on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. In his intro, he shared two passages. One was Deut 30: 15-16. The second one was Jos 24:15 (see above). This was so cool that he shared this passage and when he did, I straightened up in my chair really quick and listened intently. I'll tell you why:

On Friday, I was working, driving along, and this statement came into my mind: "Choose this day whom you will serve." I didn't know where it is was from, off hand. But, it kept repeating in my head. I was thinking, "is this something I read, or is it a line from a movie?" I decided to pray and make a decision to work the rest of the day for the Lord.

So, when my pastor read this Scripture Sunday morning, I was blown away! Wow! God had totally prepared me for this message in advance. Awesome!

"What will heaven be like?..." by Sam Storms

“When we get to heaven there will be nothing that is abrasive, irritating, agitating, or hurtful. Nothing harmful, hateful, upsetting or unkind. Nothing sad, bad, or mad. Nothing harsh, impatient, ungrateful or unworthy. Nothing weak, or sick, or broken or foolish. Nothing deformed, degenerate, depraved or disgusting.

Nothing polluted, pathetic, poor or putrid. Nothing dark, dismal, dismaying or degrading. Nothing blameworthy, blemished, blasphemous or blighted. Nothing faulty, faithless, frail or fading. Nothing grotesque or grievous, hideous or insidious.

Nothing illicit or illegal, lascivious or lustful. Nothing marred or mutilated, misaligned or misinformed. Nothing nasty or naughty, offensive or odious. Nothing rancid or rude, soiled or spoiled. Nothing tawdry or tainted, tasteless or tempting. Nothing vile or vicious, wasteful or wanton!

Wherever you turn your eyes you will see nothing but glory and grandeur and beauty and brightness and purity and perfection and splendor and satisfaction and sweetness and salvation and majesty and marvel and holiness and happiness.

We will see only and all that is adorable and affectionate, beautiful and bright, brilliant and bountiful, delightful and delicious, delectable and dazzling, elegant and exciting, fascinating and fruitful, glorious and grand, gracious and good, happy and holy, healthy and whole, joyful and jubilant, lovely and luscious, majestic and marvelous, opulent and overwhelming, radiant and resplendent, splendid and sublime, sweet and savoring, tender and tasteful, euphoric and unified!

Why will it be all these things? Because we will be looking at God.”

–Sam Storms, One Thing: Developing a Passion for the Beauty of God (Geanies House, Fearn, Ross-shire, Scotland, Great Britain: Christian Focus, 2004), pp. 178-79.

this is my prayer today

from the song "Hosanna" by Brooke Fraser

"Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity"