Hebrews 11 - "Home"

This morning God took me to Hebrews 11. This chapter is full of great testimonies of ones who walked this earth many years ago. In The Passion Translation the title is "The Power of Bold Faith." Paul begins the chapter with, Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for.... I love this! ...our hopes into reality... Woo hoo! Verse three tells us Faith empowers us... Verse six reads: And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who passionately seek him. I know it takes a lot of faith to live by faith and strive to do so every day. Verse thirteen describes those who lived by faith: They all lived their lives on earth as those who belonged to another realm. The life we have on this earth is not our last when we live in relationship with God. This is not our home. Chris Tomlin's song "Home" is in my mind this morning.

This world is not what it was meant to be
All this pain, all this suffering
There's a better place
Waiting for me
In Heaven

Matthew Henry wrote of Hebrews 11: The apostle tells the Hebrews, that God had provided some better things for them, therefore they might be sure that he expected as good things from them. As our advantages, with the better things God has provided for us, are so much beyond theirs, so should our obedience of faith, patience of hope, and labour of love, be greater. And unless we get true faith as these believers had, they will rise up to condemn us at the last day. Let us then pray continually for the increase of our faith, that we may follow these bright examples, and be, with them, at length made perfect in holiness and happiness, and shine like the sun in the kingdom of our Father for evermore.

Dear Jesus, Thank you for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! Thank You for our time with Chrissy and the puppies and all the fun Doug and I had with Nick! Cleanse me so You can fill me. May I have the bold faith of the ones You directed me to read about in Hebrews 11 this morning. May I always remember this is not my home. I pray for those going through difficult times to have bold faith too. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Marion; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; April; Ashley Foor; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Sherry; Mr John; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Audrey; Katelyn; Chrissy's cousin; Shirley Jones; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Little Roselynn; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer; a lady diagnosed with throat cancer; Sue Danhoff's husband Harv; Michele with breast cancer; Mr Mullett; and Damon who was recently diagnosed with nasal cancer. I pray for: my friend who had a stroke, the Long Family, Becky, Russ, Cyndi, a couple contemplating divorce and another couple having serious issues, Sue, Kaytlin's husband, and my friend Rosemary. Thank You for continued healing for Pastor Tommy and Pam. I praise You for continued reconciliation for a father and his prodigal daughter. May You be so close to Pastor Sylvia with the loss of her precious husband. Thank You for being My Praise Maker! Amen.