SONSHINE: THIS WORLD IS NOT YOUR HOME ..... an introduction

"But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city." Hebrews 11:16

Oh, what great change comes to our lives when we we realize that this world was not meant to be our home, is not our home nor ever will be our home.

I open with this thought not to paint this world as a place full of emptiness and gloom but to possibly show that when we follow Christ and are led by the Spirit we can experience "heaven on earth." When our perspective is aright and thus born of the heavenlies, I believe we can indeed find great enjoyment, meaning and fulfilment as we experience the things of this life ..... and so much more so than the common Joe, who gropes in the shadows. Truly when we walk in God's Spirit there is always a banquet table set before us that is beautifully filled with love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (Gal.5:22-23)

In the next couple of weeks I hope to share a few message that have been on my heart of late and they deal with finding within ourselves a sojourner's heart. Lord willing, a few of the diverse topics I presently have in mind that I would like to explore with you are:

* Our pre-existence and the Elohim
* Should Believers be involved in politics
* Questioning the methods of the God of the Old Testament
* Entering the Kingdom of Heaven through prayer
* Intellectualism at odds with the spirit
* Our three deaths

I really believe you will enjoy this series and hopefully they will help create in you a greater love for Our Christ and a deepening hunger to see and know Him better. That's what it is all about isn't it. We are only changed as our vision of Jesus is enlarged.

Folks, we are going to see that God's sons are sojourners and Heaven bent. We have not been called to gather and take our inheritance on this side of the river. Didn't Daniel know to refuse the pleasant bread and isn't Christ become the bread worthy of those that follow Him. And Jesus is the pattern son and like Him we must die to our selves that we might follow Him into Resurrection Life.

Yes sir! We are leaving the leeks and garlic of Egypt and are moving to the other side of the river. So pick up thy cross pilgrim and let's follow our Shepherd into a better country and even unto a city He hath prepared for you and me.

Jack

(to be continued)

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Joian Ruth Schroff

God is good. And Joian, more than any of us, knows this. Our sister, and my best friend, rests in the Father's bosom, today. Dear Joian's sojourn, on earth, ended early last winter, after a period of illness.

Together, Joian and myself began "SONSHINE" in "07". Last June, we took our rest from the blog.

Great battles, were waged this last year, by both Joian and myself. One was taken and one was left. Neither, the taking, nor the leaving, lacks in His perfect providence, afforded each. I can't explain, nor fully understand, how each can be perfect. Never the less, I do know, Joian understands it perfectly.

Today, Joian, more than any, knows God is good.

Jack

PS. Thoughts of your joyful rest relieve my tears, tonight. I miss you, my friend. I'll see you soon.

Great Quotes

Those who believe they believe in God but without passion in the heart, without anguish of mind, without uncertainty, without doubt, and even at times without despair, believe only in the idea of God, and not in God, Himself. Madeleine L' Engle
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"If anything about my salvation or right standing with God depends on my faithfulness, I'm toast, damned to hell." Gavazzoni
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Any infinite Being who feels it is their duty to torture me for eternity, should switch to decaf. Joe
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Everyday people are straying away from the church and going back to God. -- Lennie Bruce
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"He took responsibility for all the evils that have befallen man that day He gave His life. This has never been adequately appreciated by religion. It needs to be appreciated." (Roy)
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"Isn't that what man always wants- a divine force he can control? That's actually the definition of witchcraft." (Florian)
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"Christianity is not about polyester and pot roast. It's about Christ and what He's doing in you and me at the moment." (Holly)
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"It's his life for ours. We die, he lives, and then the mystery is that we live again." (Joian)
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"God's Spirit, is a pure motive" (Cardinal)
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"I would rather train twenty men to pray, than a thousand to preach. A minister's highest mission ought to be to teach his people to pray." (H. MacGregor)
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Pretty soon, everybody will get what they deserve, which is Salvation, Reconciliation, Restitution, Restoration, Immortality and Incorruption - now ain't that the coolest thing! (Keith)
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The bible is not an owners manual and trying to apply it to our lives reeks of salvation by works. (Cam)
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I live all the daytime
In faith and in might
And in holy rapture
I die every night (Novalis)
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Where shall we find an abandonment that is as comprehensive as the will of God. (Fenelon)
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He wanted no one but God to witness what he did, just as the only reward he expected was God Himself.(description of Bro. Lawrence)
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The humility of the cross became more desirable to him than all the glory the world had to offer. (description of Bro. Lawrence)
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Prayer is helplessness casting itself upon power; it is misery seeking peace; it is unholiness embracing purity; it is hatred desiring love. Prayer is corruption panting for immortality; it is the eagle soaring heavenward; it is the dove returning home; it is the prisoner pleading for release; it is the mariner steering for the haven amid the dangerous storm; it is the soul, oppressed by the world, escaping to the empyrean, and bathing its ruffled plumes in the ethereal and the divine.(unknown)