A Letter Written To And Answeredby BILLY GRAHAM

A Letter Written To And Answered by BILLY GRAHAM

DEAR DR. GRAHAM: You probably get asked this question a lot, but do you think we will be reunited with our pets in Heaven? Our dog died recently after almost 15 years, and I just can’t imagine being happy in Heaven unless he is with us. -- Mrs. S.J.

DEAR MRS. S.J.: God will provide us with everything we need to be happy in Heaven -- and if animals are necessary to make us completely happy there, you can be confident He will arrange for them to be with us.

Some Bible scholars have pointed out that the Bible suggests there may be animals in Heaven -- but without the aggressiveness and dangers that are part of their lives now. The prophet Isaiah saw God’s coming Kingdom as a place of absolute peace, where even animals that had once been enemies will be friends. He wrote, (Isaiah 11:6).

Over the years, my wife and I have had many pets, and I understand your grief; we are always sad when they die. I sometimes wonder, however, if God isn’t using them to remind us of a far greater reality -- and that is the reality of our own deaths. Life is brief, and it can end in an instant. The Bible says there is "a time to be born, and a time to die" (Ecclesiastes 3:2).

That is why we must never take life for granted, but see every minute as a gift from God to be used for His glory. And if we aren’t sure of our eternal destiny, now is the time to be sure by making our commitment to Christ.

God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You

The Power of Perseverance is Practice

by Dr. Jeanne Sheffield Estrada

Character is not inherited or simply obtained by being around outstanding people.  Instead, it is created by persevering through difficult problems - and overcoming them.

The Bible tells the story of people that despite circumstances, opposition, or persecution, persevered through situations that were seemingly impossible. Great characters of faith like Joseph, Moses, David - and most significantly Jesus - worked through difficulties beyond what most of us could not imagine. However, all of them eventually not only overcame but persevered to victory. Despite the challenges and suffering set before them, they persevered in the face of their severe trials and tribulations by putting into practical practice faith with persistence.

Because we live in a fallen world, problems will arise, and the unpredictably in this year of 2020 is a sobering example. The good news is that Isaiah 9:6 says that we have a great “Counselor” on our side to help us work through every obstacle and His Name is Jesus.

Perseverance takes practice performed with persistence. While we are all inundated by problems in this life, as you persist in overcoming problems that you have resolved, the better you will become at resolving them going forward, and by doing so, by default you will inherit CHARACTER.

God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You

When some people think about God’s character, they might frame him as a harsh taskmaster that has little patience or mercy to those that violate his harsh rules. However, today’s scripture presents a different a vastly different picture because his nature is quite the opposite.

The Bible tells us an immense amount about God̵s character. For example Jesus tells his famous parable about the Prodigal Son who runs away to a far-off country where he wasted all his money in ruinous living. Then there is the wonderful example of the father, standing at the edge of his home and straining daily looking across the fields looking for his son who finally appears walking over the horizon.

The beauty of the father’s actions in this story are a perfect picture of God’s Patience & Mercy.

First, despite his son’s irresponsible behavior, instead of the father being angry, he instead patiently waited for his son to return. Then once he did come back, instead of punishing him he showed him great mercy and treated him royally. And just as the earthly father was in this story, so is our Heavenly father likewise to us.

The word 'PATIENCE' at it’s root is translated as 'long-suffering' and like the father in this story, he no doubt suffered long over his son, and the word 'MERCY' is best defined as “NOT getting what we DO Deserve.”

Friend, if you resemble the son in ways you’ve lived, your Heavenly Father is patiently waiting for you to come to him, and when you do, his loving mercy is there for you too. He is ready to forgive you and take you back for anything and everything you’ve done in your life. Seek Him out today — and receive his MERCY & GRACE.

He is patiently waiting for YOU.

God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You

Walking through this life isn’t always easy, often challenging, and sometimes even downright dangerous. The question — especially when times are tough and the answers uncertain — is 'What can keep you going and bring you to your goal?' and the answer from God’s point of view is FAITH.

The manual called “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth” (B.I.B.L.E.) says that “Without faith, it is impossible to please God. For he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) The currency of heaven is the application of faith, because in God’s economy no transactions can occur unless faith is involved. The larger the investment of faith, the bigger and better the return on your spiritual investment.

Your results will be directly proportional to the amount of F.A.I.T.H. you invest in it by F-orwarding A-ll I-ssues T-o H-eaven. When you do and place your trust in God, LISTEN carefully to what He is telling you to do, TRUST those instructions and then faithfully FOLLOW His direction and the result will always be successful! God is right 100% of the time, and will always lead you on the perfect faith path.

Regardless of the circumstance or how difficult what lies ahead, do not just “have” faith but PRACTICE Faith. Truly Forward All Issues To Him, place your path in His hands, keep walking towards the cross, and His steps will always guide you upward and onward.

God ONLY honors faith, and your sure reward is at the foot of the cross of Christ. Step out boldly in your faith going forward, and what you invest will manifest “According to your faith (then) it will be brought to you.”

God Bless Your Day, Jesus Loves You

NotesOnLife.org/archive

What Are Those Stupid "Jesus Saves" Signs?

Perhaps you’ve seen signs like this, usually in old run-down neighborhoods hanging from buildings that had seen better days. So this begs the question, 'If this 'Jesus Guy' is so good at SAVING, then why is the neighborhood that this sign is hanging in looks like IT hasn’t been “saved” yet?'?'

All that nonsense (of course) is coming from those naive Christians telling people that their 'imaginary friend' will (somehow?) 'save you' from HELL? Well if you feel that way, it certainly appears to be a really FOOLISH message, and if that is the case the Bible says this is exactly how many people will receive it.

The Bible, a book that has been around over 3,000 years that has been printed and read by more people in history, written about, investigated, and vetted by archaeologists, scientists, and used as a basis of law, government and morality for centuries by politicians and nations, and it has also been found by historians consistently to be TRUE. This is the BOOK that teaches “Jesus Saves” but after all that, somehow that phrase hanging on a funky red neon sign is stupid.

Well the Bible describes people that snicker at these signs when God says in HIS BOOK to the world:

“Professing themselves to be WISE, they became FOOLS.” Romans 1:22

Friend, if you feel this way, we have it on good authority that if anyone is foolish here, it is not the Bible or those that believe in it, but those that do NOT believe in it. If this offends you or rubs you the wrong way - perhaps drastically - that is 100% OK!! You see, we all have the right to feel, think or believe anything we want, so if you disagree, so be it. Don’t shoot the messenger (me) here...just reporting what this book says.

The question after reading this is will you change your mind? An interesting deep definition of the word 'repent' means exactly that! To CHANGE YOUR MIND about God!? Would you at least consider doing that today? Because this is more than just a sign - it means the SAVING of your very LIFE.

God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You (...and He SAVES too...)

NotesOnLife.org

If a fish could sprout wings it could fly, and if a bird could grow gills it could live under the sea, likewise as impossible as this is to happen, so is it equally impossible for us in our own strength or determination to change our mortal bodies into the immortal bodies needed to live in eternity.

As today’s scripture verse tells us, our mortal bodies WILL DIE and cannot either enter into or survive in eternity because they have to be changed from one form to another, but how is that possible? Well the answer is in the example that Christ set for us in His victory over death when he rose from the grave and was transformed from His mortal body into an immortal body. Likewise:

“Our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.” 1 Corinthians 15:53

The question is 'How is this possible?' and the answer is that it starts with the “The RENEWING of your MIND” (Romans 12:2) and that the first step of that renewal begins by -Changing Your Mind About Who God Is & Your Relationship To HIM-

You see, that is the exact definition of the word REPENT. When we repent before God, we see ourselves for who we really are – in a sinful, fallen mortal state that as Jesus said “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6) We must start our transformation now by being “Born Again” (John 3:3) and in changing our mind and agreeing with God that we need transformation, then that transformation starts in us and:

“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

If you are reading this and it does not make sense, that is understandable. In the above verse when Jesus was talking to the top Rabbi of the day about being “Born Again” even He did not understand Jesus’ words! Hopefully this is the day that YOU understand it, and if so your transformation from mortality to immortality will happen!

The Bible says, “Today is the favorable time; behold, TODAY is the day of salvation!” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Will you be transformed today?

God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You

NotesOnLife.org