Category Archives: Heaven

A Lengthening Shadow

Posted on August 14, 2012 by richrockwood

As my mouth was speaking these words to my wife in our devotions, my heart scanned memory for a time this was true for me: “After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Courage, Creation, Eternity, Faith, Faithfulness, Fear, Guidance, Heaven, Meditation, mercy, Peace, Perseverance, relationships, Religion, Repentance, Salvation, Service, Trust, Uncategorized, Wisdom, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Peer Pressure Made Me Do It

Posted on August 9, 2012 by richrockwood

As soon as Gideon died, the Israelites relapsed and prostituted themselves with the Baals, making Baal-berith their god. The Israelites did not remember the LORD their God, who had rescued them from the hand of all their enemies on every … Continue reading →

Posted in Bondage, Country, Courage, Creation, Eternity, Faithfulness, Fear, Guidance, Heaven, Love of Money, Materialism, Meditation, Nature, Patriotism, Perseverance, Perspective, Politics, Prayer, Quiet Time, relationships, Repentance, Stress, Trust, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Lord’s Compassion is Over All He Has Made

Posted on July 30, 2012 by richrockwood

“The Lord is good to all,  and his compassion is over all that he has made.”  (Psalm 145:9 NRSV) What a tender picture these words convey.   The Creator extends his arms of  compassion over all: men, women, children, pets, … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Creation, Eternity, Faith, Faithfulness, Fear, Forgiveness, Grief, Guidance, Heaven, Laughter, Meditation, mercy, Night, Peace, Perseverance, Quiet Time, relationships, Suffering, Trust, Uncategorized, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God is Praised to the Ends of the Earth

Posted on July 25, 2012 by richrockwood

As I read the verse below I was struck by the idea that God is known and praised all over the earth. “Your name, O God, like your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth.”  (Psalm 48:10 NRSV) That … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Faith, Faithfulness, Heaven, Laughter, Meditation, Nature, Perspective, Praise, Quiet Time, Stress, Suffering, Trust, Uncategorized, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Deeply Grieved…Even Unto Death

Posted on July 23, 2012 by richrockwood

According to the account, the man told his companions exactly what he was feeling:  “Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death”  (Matt 26:38 NRSV) It is hard to imagine that Jesus of Nazareth, whom we … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Faith, Faithfulness, Grief, Guidance, Heaven, Perseverance, Perspective, Prayer, Sleeplessness, Stress, Suffering, Trust, Uncategorized, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Surrounded By Faithfulness

Posted on July 18, 2012 by richrockwood

“O LORD God of hosts, who is as mighty as you, O LORD? Your faithfulness surrounds you.”  (Psalm 89:8 NRSV) Think of it.  God is surrounded by His faithfulness.  What is faithfulness?  Faithfulness is the quality of loyalty or steadfastness.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Country, Courage, Creation, Faith, Faithfulness, Fear, Heaven, love, Perseverance, Perspective, relationships, Service, Trust, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Courts of the Lord

Posted on July 13, 2012 by richrockwood

In one of my readings for today, I came across these verses: 1   How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! 2   My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Eternity, Faith, Forgiveness, Guidance, Heaven, Meditation, Peace, Perseverance, Perspective, Prayer, Quiet Time, relationships, Religion, Repentance, Salvation, Suffering, Trust, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reflecting on This Union

Posted on July 4, 2012 by richrockwood

About 200 yards away just across a busy traffic artery there stands a flag pole with a giant American flag raised to the top.   The morning blue sky perfectly mats the red, white and blue.  Cars scoot easily by at … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Faith, Fathers, Guidance, Heaven, Patriotism, Politics, Prayer, Quiet Time, relationships, Service | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Prayer: It’s Just Telling Him What’s Going On

Posted on June 29, 2012 by richrockwood

The two men were desperate.  They couldn’t see, but they could hear.  A multitude was passing by.  Who are they?  What’s going on? Jesus is passing by.  Jesus of Nazareth…the healer.   They started screaming “Lord, have mercy on us, Son … Continue reading →

Posted in Bondage, Claustrophobia, Courage, Eternity, Faith, Fear, Forgiveness, Guidance, Heaven, love, Meditation, Peace, Perspective, Prayer, Quiet Time, relationships, Repentance, Salvation, Stress, Suffering, Trust, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Do I Really Understand These Cliches I Use

Posted on June 28, 2012 by richrockwood

I once heard someone say “If you can’t explain your salvation, there’s a good chance you don’t really understand it.  One of my pet peeves about Christians is our use of cliches.  So one of my missions in writing is … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Eternity, Faith, Forgiveness, Heaven, Laughter, Peace, Prayer, Quiet Time, relationships, Repentance, Salvation, Stress, Trust, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment