Give me a break

Hey ladies! Sorry to disappoint again. I was totally going to put up a post yesterday, but I got really tired (ok maybe a bit lazy) and I just didn't have time. Then I was going to do it when I got to work, but then work was super crazy...whew! Soooo, yeah, here is a post...finally! And I love you all! Oh, and P.S. Happy Thanksgiving break!!!

Read this: 2 Corinthians 5

"For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. ² We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. ³ For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. ⁴ While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. ⁵ God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

 ⁶ So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. ⁷ For we live by believing and not by seeing. ⁸ Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. ⁹ So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. ¹⁰ For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body."

Think about it:

Now this scripture may be a bit confusing, but let's walk through it carefully so we can fully appreciate what it means.

What do you think Paul means when he talks about an earthly tent?

He's talking about the earth and how it's just a temporary dwelling, just like a tent is.

Most people don't "live" in tents. They camp in them. It's a place to stay, but only for a short time. It's a quick trip sort of deal.

So Paul compares the earth to a tent because we are only here for a short time. This earth is only temporary.

But... God has a home for us in heaven. A house that will last forever ... built by God himself.

The next part of this scripture says, "We grow weary in our present bodies..."

Have you ever felt that way ... weary, tired, fed up, exhausted, etc...?

Whew! Don't I know it! I have felt that way many a time.

The next part of that verse says this, "and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing."

Have you ever just wished you could be with God and not have to worry about all the turmoil that comes with life on this earth?

Well I have. And not in a bad, I want to die sort of way, but in a, "It would be so much better if I was with my Maker" sort of way.

Phil Wickham writes a song called Heaven Song and he says exactly how I feel sometimes ... "I want to run on greener pastures. I want to dance on higher hills. I want to drink form sweeter waters in the misty morning chill. And my soul is getting restless for the place where I belong. I can't wait to join the angels and sing my heaven song."

Beautiful isn't it?

But here's the deal ... the rest of this scripture clearly talks about how though we may groan and sigh while we are here on this earth, and though we may long to be with our Maker, we have to live with the confident hope that He WILL come back for us some day and we WILL be with him some day ... "For we live by faith not by sight."

So while we are here  and while we are in heaven we are to do good for him and through him.

You know, there are some days that I just want to give up, but I have to remember that God has a glorious plan. He has a place waiting for me. He's waiting patiently to see who I will become through Him. And well, I want to make him proud.

I can't wait to stand before him, and my hope is that he would say, "Well done my good and faithful servant."

Pray about it: If you feel like this live just isn't giving you a break, ask God to place a confident hope in your heart that he has built a place for you in heaven. Know that he loves you and that although this life may knock you down...his house stands forever. Thank God for his everlasting love. Pray that you would learn to walk by faith and not by sight.

Live it: Today, live knowing you that even though your body may grow weary that your spirit doesn't have to. Walk by faith and not by sight!!!

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