Evening Song - Zion's Hill

Hebrews 12:22-24 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 

Hebrews 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 

Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion...

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High Road or Low Road by Martha Snell Nicholson

 

High Road or Low Road

Whatever path Thou takest me-

It matters not which road it be,

If it but lead me home to Thee.

O joy, O bliss beyond compare

If Thou shouldst call me from the air,

To rise at last and meet Thee there!

Yet in my longing heart I know

If through the valley I must go,

I would not laggard be, nor slow;

For Thou wouldst closely hold my hand

And lead me through that shadow-land

To heaven's bright and blessed strand.

It matters not. That road is best

Which leads me soonest to Thy breast

Whereon this weary soul may rest.

Martha Snell Nicholson

 

Philippians 1:20-21 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Evening Song - Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled My Soul

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 

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Worth Repeating - Was Jesus Homeless?

Originally published here Nov. 12, 2017

Something that has come across my path from time to time in various ways is the idea that Jesus was a homeless person. This is used to make Him "relateable" to homeless people, but I think it is primarily intended to make Christians feel guilty about how they treat the homeless.

Ministering to the poor is an important duty. It is mentioned in the New Testament a number of times. We also see God having pity upon the poor and encouraging us to do so over and over in scripture.

Galatians 2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

Proverbs 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Psalm 9:17-18 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.

But, in our zeal to acknowledge the suffering of the homeless it is not appropriate to misrepresent the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Painting by Abbott Fuller Graves

Christ Ever Lives

 

Christ Ever Lives

...he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Heb. 7:25

Christ ever lives!

What joy th' assurance gives:

He lives, and lives no more to die,

My present portion—future joy —

He ever lives!

Christ ever lives!

This truth my soul relieves

From all anxiety and fear;

On Him I roll my every care—

He ever lives!

Christ ever lives!

This truth my soul receives,

And glories in its risen Lord,

Alike on earth, in heaven, adored—

He ever lives!

Christ ever lives!

This truth my soul believes;

Farewell, then, sorrow, doubt, and woe,

I sing with triumph while below

He ever lives!

Christ ever lives!

And blessed triumph gives,

To all who on Himself rely;

For them upon the throne on high

He ever lives!

Albert Midlane

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. 

Evening Song - What A Day that Will Be

Revelation 4:1-2 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

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Evening Song - This World Is not My Home

John 14:1-4 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

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That will Be Heaven for Me - A Poem

That Will Be Heaven for Me

I know not the hour when my Lord will come
To take me away to His own dear home;
But I know that His presence will lighten the gloom,
And that will be glory for me.

I know not the song that the angels sing,
I know not the sound of the harps' glad ring;
But I know there'll be mention of Jesus our King,
And that will be music for me.

I know not the form of my mansion fair,
I know not the name that I then shall bear;
But I know that my Saviour will welcome me there,
And that will be heaven for me.

By J. McGranahan

1 Peter 1:7-8 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 

Evening Song - Zion's Hill

"For Thou Art With Me"

I know not when I go, nor where,

From this familiar scene;

But [Christ] is here and He is there

And all the way between;

And, when I pass from all I know

To that dim, vast unknown,

Though late I stay, or soon I go,

I shall not go alone.

Annie Johnson Flint  [altered]

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Thoughts from the Past – The Land of the Dying

April 18, 2006 (edited Dec. 2016)

The Land of the Dying 

Owen, in his last hours, dictated a short letter to a friend. His secretary had written, “I am yet in the land of the living,” when Owen said, “Stop, change that. Write, I am yet in the land of the dying, but I hope soon to be in the land of the living.” - Source unkown

Romans 8:18-23 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Truly we live in a dying world that is in bondage to corruption. Death and dying are as common as the vegetables and meat on our plates at dinner time.

Years ago I was looking at a web site that showed a picture of a mountain in West Africa where two missionary doctors had been traveling. The jeep rolled off the road and they were both killed. The writer (who later became my father-in-law) commented, "One would not think death could be so beautiful from a distance." And it was a beautiful mountain in a rugged sort of way.

And yet, think of this splendid, comforting thought: In spite of the dying state of the world we live in, how wonderfully beautiful it is! What beauty surrounds us - mountains, seas, skies, forests, plains, and even the austere beauty of the deserts. The ornamental plumage of birds, the fine architecture of seashells, the delicate coloring and structure of flowers all declare the tender care of a wise Creator. How gorgeously the Lord has arrayed this dying world, that He intended to be a living one! Think then what heaven must be like - the true land of the living!

Think what the Kingdom will be like! We are told the desert shall blossom as the rose,

Isaiah 35:1-2 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

Think of the new heavens and new earth. It defies the abilities of our feeble minds!

Revelation 21:1-3 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

As the children of the living God we are a living people with a living future! We will see what this glorious creation will be like when it is no longer under the bondage of corruption!

John 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Job 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

(First posted on this blog - 9/11/11)

Evening Song - Heaven

Psalm 107:28-30 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 

John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

Revelation 21:18-25 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 

Revelation 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 

Did you ever stop to think that the armies of heaven are not said to carry any swords? Why? Because Jesus Christ is the Word of God, and He will conquer with the word of His mouth. We won't even need weapons. He will do all the fighting and take the complete victory with just His words.

How powerful do you think His words must be in order to do that?

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Evening Song - Come On Home/How Beautiful Heaven Must Be

Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither... 

Philippians 1:21-24 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 

John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

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Guest Post - When We Are Sick and Fearful

Original artwork by Carl Larson

When We Are Sick and Fearful

by Stephen Van Nattan

You have been having a hard time getting your breath for some time. Finally, you go to a specialist who does tests. The verdict is that you have a malignant growth in your lungs, and you have three to four weeks to prepare to die.

This is the experience of a good friend from a Bible study I teach. What will I tell her from God's Word to try to help her deal with fear of dying? 

And, let me hear no pious rubbish talk about the Christian not fearing death. God gave us fear to help us stay alive and avoid danger. We certainly have hope regarding eternity, but the physical, mental, and emotional experience of walking out the back door of this life is fearful. The way to deal with this fear is to seek comfort in our Bible and our Lord who showed us how to die.

Thus:

Here are some Bible verses to bring comfort and encouragement to those who are sick and fearful:

𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴

Jeremiah 30:17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord.

Psalm 103:2-3 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.

James 5:14-15 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.

𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗱

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Psalm 56:3-4 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Psalm 46:1-2 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.

𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

May these Scriptures provide comfort and remind those who are sick and fearful of God's love, power, and presence.

Do you know someone who needs to read these Bible texts?

Evening Song - The Sands of Time Are Sinking (Immanuel's Land)

Revelation 22:1-7 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 

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Evening Song - Saved by Grace (Someday the Silver Cord Will Break)

Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. 

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 

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Evening Song - I Can't Even Slow Down

Philippians 1:21-23 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 

Hebrews 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2 Peter 3:11-12 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 
 

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Letters to My Friend - Thoughts On North Carolina and Loss

Dear Friend,

My heart is heavy for the people in Western North Carolina. We were aware that some serious destruction had happened last week. My husband has family there still and we checked in to make sure they were O.K. They were, but one household had just missed being in the worst of it. They are not terribly far from Asheville.

This weekend as I've looked at videos that are coming out of western North Carolina, Tennessee, and other areas, it was both horrifying and sobering. The speed at which rivers and creeks rose, mud slides started, and people's homes and vehicles were breached was truly frightening. And, knowing that so many have lost so much all at one time is overwhelming. The destruction is mind boggling.

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Poetry and Photo - Where Glory Dwells

Revelation 22:3-5 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. 

The sands of time are sinking,
The dawn of Heaven breaks;
The summer morn I’ve sighed for—
The fair, sweet morn awakes:
Dark, dark hath been the midnight,
But dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth
In Immanuel’s land.

There the red rose of Sharon
Unfolds its heartsome bloom
And fills the air of Heaven
With ravishing perfume:
Oh! To behold it blossom,
While by its fragrance fanned
Where glory—glory dwelleth
In Immanuel’s land.

The bride eyes not her garment,
But her dear bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory
But on my king of grace.
Not at the crown He giveth
But on His piercèd hand;
The Lamb is all the glory
Of Immanuel’s land.

Excerpt from Immanuel's Land by Anne R. Cousin
(also called The Sands of Time Are Sinking)

Eternity by Martha Snell Nicholson and A Short Thought

 

"Nothing short of God can satisfy your soul."  - John Wesley

ETERNITY 

I stood with God on the edge of the world, and my hand was in His hand. 

I looked down the road of the past, as it stretched away in the dim distance, till it was shrouded in the mists of time. 

And I knew it had no beginning, and a little chill wind of fear blew about my head. 

God asked, "Are you afraid?"
And I said, "Yes, because I cannot understand how there can be no beginning." 

So God said, "Let us turn and face the other way." 

And I looked into glory, and my heart rejoiced with joy unspeakable. 

And then my mind went ahead, a billion, billion years, and I knew there would be no end, and again that little chill wind of fear began to blow. 

And God asked me again, "Are you afraid?"
And I answered, "A little, because I cannot understand how there can be no end." 

So God asked me tenderly, "Are you afraid now, today, with your hand in Mine?"
And I looked up at Him and smiled and replied, "O my Father, No!" 

And God said, "Every day in eternity will be today."

by Martha Snell Nicholson

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Did you ever stop to think that eternity without God would be scary? What good hope would we have, what righteous expectations, what peace without His presence? None, really. Man fantasizes about living forever in this present wicked world, but what comfort or joy is there in that? No, the familiar of this life only seems better because of the limitations of our imaginations. But, when we believe the promises of God and rest in His loving kindness, we can KNOW that eternity, in all its vastness, will be both good and beautiful, both righteous and peaceful. And, in that we can trust that our souls will be completely satisfied, because God is already there, and He is good and gracious and kind to us today.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 

1 John 4:18-19 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. 

Evening Song - Finally Home

John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

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