"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." John 14:3 There are few verses in Scripture that describe eternal life, but these few verses are rich with promise. This good Word from the Lord, Himself, makes it clear that He is coming again to receive those for whom He has prepared a wonderful place. We can look forward to eternal life because Jesus has promised it to all who believe in Him. Although the details of eternal life are unknown, we need not fear because Jesus is preparing for us and will spend eternity with us. Last year, I had a conversation with my oldest son, who is now 18 years old, regarding eternal life. He said that the concept of eternal life scared him. He couldn't wrap his mind around it. The idea of living forever was mind-boggling. And on the surface, I agree with him. It is mind-boggling, and I don't think anyone short of Albert Einstein can formulate a proper understanding of it. Regardless, the most important thing to understand concerning eternal life is that it actually exists. And according to the Bible, people are either going to spend eternity in Heaven or in hell. And people don't like to hear that. People don't like the idea that they will one day be judged. People can argue and disagree with the Bible all they want, but here is the truth: either the Bible is all true or it isn't. We don't have the luxury of picking and choosing passages that we like or agree with or fit our lifestyles. Either God means what He says, or He doesn't. Either Jesus is who He saus He is, or He isn't. There is no middle ground. There is no grey area. Many people around the world will speak of Jesus as a great historical figure and a great moral teacher, but that's it. Hogwash! Look what Jesus says in John 14:6 . . . "I am the way , and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you would know my Father as well." And again in John 15:5 . . . "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." And again in John 17:24 . . . "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have give me because you loved me before the creation of the world." Do these sound like the teachings of a great, moral teacher? There is no gray area, no wiggle room in any of these passages to pick and choose what works for you individually. Here is the truth: either Jesus is exactly who He says He is, or He was a complete lunatic. And that is exactly who the Pharisees saw Him as and that is why He was crucified on the cross. Jesus was very bold in this teachings and He was killed for it. He left no doubt in the minds of His followers, nor His enemies about who He was. I pray that all doubt is removed in your mind as well, and that you know exactly where you are going. There is no grey area. God Bless you and keep you, J.H.

He will bless those who fear the Lord - both small and great. The Lord shall increases you more and more, you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 115:13-15 What a promise! Claim it! The Lord is not slack concerning His promises. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." There are many times when we feel isolated, alone, and abandoned, even by God. In reality, He sees, understands, and thinks about us. When depressed by problems or struggling with self-worth, be encouraged that God keeps you in His thoughts. And as He thinks about you, His help is there before you need it. All we need to do is recognize His power and providence in our lives. I pray that you seek Him today with all your heart. God Bless you, J.H.

Taste and see that the Lord is good, Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Psalm 34:8 "Taste and see" does not mean "Check out God's credentials." Instead, it is a warm invitation. "Try this; I know you will like it." When we take that first step of faith and obedience in following God, we cannot help discovering that He is good and kind. When we begin the Christian life, our knowledge of God is partial and incomplete. As we turn to Him and trust Him daily, we begin to experience how truly good He is. Knowledge of God and experiencing God's Presence are two wholly different things. Many Christians have wonderful knowledge about God, as did the Pharisees of Jesus' time. But they have not trusted God fully, and therefore, have not experienced His true Goodness. I pray that you trust Him today. Begin to taste and see that God is Good. God Bless you, J.H.

I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices, my body also will rest secure. Psalm 16:8-9 No matter how things look, keep your eyes on the Lord. He can bring miracles out of mistakes. David's heart was glad - he had found the secret to joy. True joy is far deeper than happiness; we can feel joy in spite of our deepest troubles. Happiness is temporary because it is based on external circumstances, but joy is lasting because it is based on God's presence within us. As we comtemplate his daily presence, we will find contentment. As we understand the future He has for us, we will experience joy. Don't base your life today on circumstance, but on God. May the Lord increase your faith today. God Bless you, J.H.

If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:9-11 What a wonderful promise! Living with God, and for God, has a lot of built-in benefits that we can't afford to be without. "My presence shall go with you . . . " The question is: how do we remain in God's presence? By acknowledging Him in all your ways; to "pray without ceasing." Paul did not suppose that we should be on our knees in prayer 12 hours a day, but that we simply acknowledge God's presence by talking with Him wherever we are and whatever we are going through. Sometimes, the simplest of prayers are all that is required to acknowledge God's presence and continue to walk in the Spirit. He wants to be invited by you to be a part of every aspect of your life, not just when it is convenient for you; at work, at home, with family and friends, when things are going well. It is easy to remember God when things are going lousy and we need to ask for God's help and guidance. Are we also remembering to thank Him when we wake up in the morning or when we finish a busy, productive day? Are we recognizing His sovereign hand in the tiny details of our lives? Or do we somehow assume that we are doing all of what we accomplish under our own power? God is faithful. I pray the touch of Almighty God in your life today. God Bless you, J.H.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what asked of Him. I John 5:13-15 Salvation through Christ carries with it a guaranteed future in Heaven and a wonderful life while on earth. Some people hope that they will receive eternal life. John says we can know we have it. Our certainty is based on God's promise that He has given us eternal life through His Son. This is true whether you feel close to God or far away from Him. Eternal life is not based on feelings, but on facts. You can know that you have eternal life if you simply believe God's truth. We are saved by faith. God hears you; God loves you unconditionally regardless of how you feel about it. We have to oftentimes work hard at being less emotional-minded and more spiritual-minded. The emphasis in verses 14-15 is on God's will, not our will. When we communicate with God, we don't demand what we want; rather we discuss with Him what He wants for us. If we align our prayers to His will, He will listen; and we can be certain that if He listens, He will give us a definite answer. Start praying with confidence! I pray that God's Grace abounds in your life today. God Bless you, J.H.

He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like the Son of God." Daniel 3:25 In every fiery trial of life, you can expect the presence of God to see you through. It was obvious to those watching that this fourth person was supernatural. Whether an angel or Jesus Himself, God sent a heavenly visitor to accompany these faithful men during the time of their ordeal. They were protected from harm, they were comforted in trial, God was glorified, and they were rewarded. And the promise of God's presence is as true today as it was in the time of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. It is my prayer that you determine to be true to God no matter how difficult the pressure. God's protection transcends anything we could ask or imagine. Walk in His Grace today. God Bless you, J.H.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. I Corinthians 10:13 God walks in the midst of all the trials of His children with outstretched hands of answers and assurance. He is our Guide who knows the way out; you can trust Him. In a culture filled with moral depravity, Paul gave strong encouragement to the Corinthian church regarding temptation. He said: 1. wrong desires and temptations happen to everyone, so don't feel you're in this alone 2. others have resisted temptation, and so can you 3. any temptation can be resisted because God will help you resist it. God helps you resist temptation by helping you: 1. recognize those people and situations that give you trouble 2. run from anything you know is wrong 3. choose to do only what is right 4. pray for God's help 5. seek friends who love God and can offer help when you are tempted. Running from a tempting situation is your first step on the way to victory. Are you being tempted today? Look to God and focus on Him and Him alone. God Bless you, J.H.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world. I John 4:4 We come to master the problems from without when we learn to appropriate power from within. "Nothing shall be impossible for you." It is easy to be frightened by the wickedness we see all around us and overwhelmed by the problems we face. Evil is obviously much stronger than we are. John assures us, however, that God is even stronger. He will conquer all evil - and his Spirit and His Word live in our hearts! The idea of living victoriously in enriched by the fact that Jesus said, "It is finished." as He died on the cross. Past tense. He didn't say, "It will be finished." or "It's going to be over soon." He said, "It is finished." The door to salvation and eternal life has already been opened and all that remains is for us to walk through it. Once we walk through it, we can shed all of our old habits, all of our hurts, our old fears, our old ways of life and accept what God has in store for us: life and life more abundantly. If we would only take God as His word. Many times, our self-image is so crummy that we find it impossible to accept what God says about us. God says you are valuable. You are loved. You have favor wherever you go. God's blessings are chasing you down and overtaking you. Believe what God says. It will change your life. God Bless you, J.H.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 The man (or woman) who walks with God doesn't have to run from anything. "Fear not, for I am with you." Fear is a dark shadow that envelopes us and ultimately imprisons us within ourselves. Each of us has been a prisoner of fear at one time or another - fear of rejection, misunderstanding, uncertainty, sickness, or even death. But we can conquer fear by using the bright liberating light of the Lord who brings salvation. If we want to dispel the darkness of fear, let us remember with the psalmist that "the Lord is my light and my salvation." Turn to Him and he will provide you with the courage to meet your fears head on. He is with you. He will not forsake you. I pray that you claim that courage in your life today. God Bless you, J.H.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in all the earth. Psalm 46:10 In this age of microwaveable everything, it is good to remember that there is yet a lot to be learned and accomplished in the art of just waiting. Wait on the Lord and He shall renew your strength. No one plans on getting on getting caught up in a feverish routine and stressed out as a result. It just happens. But don't think that it is by accident. One of the enemy's ploys is to get you so busy that you rely more on your own power than on God's. When you are busy, you think about everything that YOU have to do. We become too busy to pray, too busy to be in our Word, too busy to fellowship. Therefore, we need to be reminded, today more than ever, to "Be still, and know that I am God!" I pray that you witness His loving hand touching your life today. He is there whether you have time to recognize Him or not. And He loves you just the same. God Bless you, J.H.

Dear friend, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers. III John 2 God wants you to believe for the best in all things, for He surely means for us to have them. "If ye shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it." We have been promised great power through the Holy Spirit. Many of us do not utilize that power because we lack faith. A lack of faith tells us we are not worthy, or that we do not warrant God's blessings. That is a lie! God's grace is for everyone and it is a gift. There is nothing that you can do to earn it. Once you receive His gift, you can walk with boldness toward the throne of Grace. You can declare the promises of God in the lives of you and your family because you are now a child of God. You have been granted adoption into His family through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. He died once and for all! Why do we sometimes act as if we are waiting for something else to happen before we can begin to enjoy His blessings? Stand up and receive His power. Walk in His power and watch how your life begins to change . . . God Bless you, J.H.

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Romans 8:16 It's the harmony of our spirit and God's Spirit that bears testimony as to whether or not our hearts are right and we are His. Maintaining that harmony depends as much on us as it does on God. In fact, it depends largely on us. If we get caught up in our daily routine and begin to worry and stress over simply circumstances that only God can change, we begin to lost that harmony. It requires a daily committment to stay in tune and in touch with God; to ask for his help and guidance. One of the outstanding privileges of being a child of God is being led by the Spirit (see Galatians 4:5-6). We may not always feel as though we belong to God, but the Holy Spirit is our witness. His inward presence reminds us of who we are and encourages us with God's love. May God's love permeate every part of your life today and may you give Him glory. In the name of Jesus, J.H.

"Don't be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. II Kings 6:16-17 Think miracles! God has everything under control. Keep your eyes on Him and not on your circumstances. "Fear not, for I am with you . . . " Elisha's servant was no longer afraid when he saw God's mighty heavenly army. Faith reveals that God is doing more for His people than we can ever realize through sight alone. When you face difficulties that seem insurmountable, remember that angels are there even if you can't see them. Look through your eyes of faith and let God show you his resources. If you don't see God working in your life, the problem may be your spiritual eyesight, not God's power. What are your eyes on today? I pray that your eyes remain fixed on Jesus Christ our Lord. God Bless you, J.H.

"For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." Psalms 91:11 It's a dangerous thing to be on your own and away from God. Doubtless we would shudder and rejoice if we could see the Lord working behind the scenes of our lives keeping us from the many dangers that fall across our path. Wherever you go today, remember that God is watching you and protecting you. God bless you, J.H.

"And he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit." James 5:18 Here is the story of a man who, through faith and prayer, opened up Heaven. He is not in a class by himself. "These signs shall follow them that believe." Heaven will still open to those who approach it on the Lord's terms. "If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it." God Bless you, J.H.

"Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." Acts 18:9-10 In a vision, Christ told the apostle Paul that He had many people in the city of Corinth. That promise pertains to us today. Despite how we may feel: alone and unguarded; He says that we are not alone. God has people all around us, in order to help us and support us in our times of need. Whether it be for a word of encouragement or an actual Church body to worship with, we can count on the fact that God has brought us to a place where fellow Christians will help to guide us and protect us. We need to be reminded of God's promise because too many times, we try to go it alone. Our battle with self-centeredness is such that many times we feel that we are the only ones going through, and that nobody will understand, or we are too ashamed to admit that we need help. Beyond taht, the body of Christ should be the most powerful force on the planet, yet is silent in so many areas. The acts of compassion that Christ called us to should be front page news. When a politician introduces a bill that affects the well-being of our children, we as the body should bombard his/her office with letters and emails. The body of Christ should be battling issues like hunger, poverty and abortion on a global scale and not leave it to the mega-church leaders like Rick Warren and T.D. Jakes. Think of what the body could accomplish if we came together? In the words of the Casting Crowns: A traveler is far away from home He sheds his coat And quietly sinks into the back row The weight of their judgemental glances tells him that his chances Are better out on the road But if we are the Body Why aren't His arms reaching? Why aren't His hands healing? Why aren't His words teaching? And if we are the Body Why arent His feet going? Why is His love not showing them there is a way? That is the question. God Bless you, J.H.

See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. Isaiah 48:10 Do you find it easy to complain when your life becomes complicated or difficult? Why would a loving God allow all kinds of unpleasant experiences to come to his children? This verse shows us plainly that God tests us in the "furnace of affliction." Rather than complain, our response should be to turn to God in faith for the strength to endure, and rejoice in our sufferings (see Romans 5:3; James 1:2-4). For without the testing, we would never know what we are capable of doing, nor would we grow. And without the refining, we will not become more pure and more like Christ. What kinds of adversity are facing today? I pray that you find God working in your circumstances and reach out to him for courage and strength. God Bless you, J.H.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 These verses contain one of the most comforting promises in all Scripture. Believers have always had to face hardships in many forms: persecution, illness, imprisonment, even death. These would cause anyone to fear that they had been abandoned by God. But Paul exclaims that it is impossible to be separated from Christ. His death for us is proof of His unconquerable love. Nothing can stop Christ's constant presence with us. Regardless of what we feel, regardless of what we are going through, regardless of what we have done, God loves us. His sacrifice was for you. You must accept that by faith again today. Knowing what Christ did on the cross and ACCEPTING what Christ did are two different things. Many of us have convinced ourselves that we are not in need of a savior. Well, Paul is trying to convince you otherwise. God tells us as plainly as He can how great His love is so that we will feel totally secure and at peace in Him. If we believe these overwhelming assurances, we will never be afraid. What do you fear today? Remember His promise and let the Love of Christ fill you with Peace that surpasses all understanding. God bless you, J.H.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 God has everything working for you, though at the moment it may seem to be going against you. Just because we can't see it is no sign that He is not doing it. "If God be for us, who can be against us." God works in "all things" - not just isolated incidents - for our good. God is able to turn every circumstance, even the bad ones, around for our good. God is not working to make us happy, but He is working to fulfill His purpose. But I can tell you, there is no greater joy except for those who are being obedient to God's word and fulfilling their purpose in Him. Where is your joy today? I pray that you "see" God's hand at work in your life today, in all things. God Bless you, J.H.