Going Home

“Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”   (John 14:1-3  KJV).

Today’s post is dedicated to the memory and honor of my sister, Patricia Croyle.  She left this world and travelled to heaven on July 18, 2026.  We miss you already, Pat.  But, be assured that we will be joining you sometime in the future.    

More Rest

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8 NIV).

   As I said in Monday’s blog, there are four sources of peace:  God’s creation, Jesus, God’s Written Word, and you and me.   That’s true, but specifics bring it closer to home.  Here are a few specifics that bring me peace.

          My wife’s smile

          Conversation with my wife

          Brunch with my friends

          A baby’s smile and giggle

          Watching my sons, their wives, and their children in conversation

          Singing the hymns of the Church

          Watching a sunset or sunrise as it changes

          The smell outside after a spring rain

          Four-part harmony

          The taste of my wife’s macaroni salad

          Road trip with my wife

          Exploring the USA

          Taking photographs of rippling streams

          A red rose

          Meditating on John 3:16

          The sound of a loon calling

          Thinking of heaven

          The smell of freshly baked bread

          Listening to Bing Crosby sing a ballad

          A Christmas tree

          Memories of my grandparents

This list could go on for pages, and I may take the time to add to it later.  Might I suggest that you make a similar list and keep it handy.  Some day when things are not going really well, pick up the list and as Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8, “think about such things.”  It may bring some peace to your life just when you most need it. 

Peace

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands” (Isaiah 55 :12 NIV).

   Peace, we all seek it, and we all want it, but where do we find it.  The Scripture verse above seems to indicate that we can find it in the mountains, hills, trees, fields.  I don’t disagree with that.  That is where I like to go to find peace—God’s creation.

   John 14:27 gives us another source of peace, Jesus.  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”   (NIV)  Jesus spoke these words just after He told His disciples that the Father would send them in His name the Holy Spirit.  So Jesus, through the Father, is sending the Holy Spirit to His disciples.  All three members of the Trinity are involved in this gift of peace.  So we can go anywhere in God for peace.

   There’s one more source of peace spoken of in the Word of God, you and me.  That’s right.  We are to bring peace.  Paul tells us in Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (NIV)  To me that verse says that it is possible for us to live at peace with most people, but we have to make an effort to do so.  

   His Word, the Bible, is also a source of peace.  Check out these Scriptures for what God’s Word has to say about peace:   Micah 5:4-5, Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 15:13, Philippians 4:6, Psalm 5:8, Colossians 3:15, Psalm 85:8, John 16:33, 2 Thessalonians 3:16.  There are many more.   

   Four sources:  God, His creation, His Written Word, and we are responsible for peace on earth.  I guess it’s time for me to do my part.   God has three of the four sources of peace covered.  

TheThree Most Important Words

“God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him (1 John 4:9 NLT).

   To me, the three most important words are, “Jesus Loves me.”  All else comes after that.  Because He loves me, I have eternal life.  We all know John 3:16, probably the most quoted and best-known Bible verse of all:  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (KJV)  And don’t we all remember the children’s song, “Jesus loves me”?   (Lyrics by Anne Bartlett Warren in1859 and tune by William Batchelder Bradbury in 1862.)

  “Jesus loves me, this I know

 for the Bible tells me so.  

Little ones to Him belong.  

They are weak, but He is strong.”  

(Refrain)_

“Yes, Jesus loves me!  Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!  The Bible tells me so.”

      He has given me eternal life, eternal life that began the moment I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior.  I don’t have to wait until my body dies; I have it now.  Jesus is with me now—every minute of every day—whether I realize it or not.  Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Father God are all available to me every moment of every day.   The Creator of the universe, the Counselor given to me to remind me of the Words of Jesus, and Jesus, the one who came to earth and experienced the pain and humiliation of the cross, are all constantly available as Jehovah, the Triune God.  That’s the most powerful and most loving being ever—eternal God, and He loves me.

  God created all this universe because He wants to have eternal fellowship with me, and He wants to have eternal fellowship with everyone.  He yearns to talk with me even when I don’t do what He desires of me.  Matthew 22:37-39 tells me what He desires, no commands:  “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.’  And the second is like it:  ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (NIV)  He loves me ALL THE TIME!  I don’t deserve it.  I can’t earn it.  He just does it.  That’s who He is, and that is what He does.  That’s why I say that the three most important words ever verbalized are, “JESUS LOVES ME!”  I accept them as the center of my life.

   Try something.  Take time ten times a day to stop and say "Jesus Loves Me!"  See if it helps your day go netter