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Summer Time—A Time to Travel We all dream of being able to carve out time from our busy lives, travel to exotic places and gaze upon beauty we have never seen. Television provides us with images of grand lakes, white capped mountains and millions of Christmas trees that kiss the sky as melodic music is overlaid in the background. We want to smell the fresh pine air, touch the cool rushing streams, glimpse an elk grazing close by, see a black bear meandering through the thick woods, and stand at the summit of a quiet mountain stunned by the layers of white swirling clouds slowly clearing, we see a tiny town. We want to be amazed at a God who could snap his fingers and bring all we see into existence. This summer I was there and I have seen. We flew to Billings, Montana, rented a car and embarked on a 2,000 miles circular trip, driving through three provinces in Canada, dropping down to Idaho, and back to Montana again – visiting family on the way. We met up and followed another car full of family members. With our GPS unit guiding us, we all saw so many marvelous new things along the way that there is not enough space to write about. Many times we don’t look at the things God has created right in our own backyards. Just driving to work, I sail down a windy country road with more varieties of trees over hanging the road than I could ever name. Although this place we call earth is not our home, I am appreciative of all the things God was so imaginative to create for us to enjoy while we are temporarily in this world. Our citizenship is in heaven, and we should long to be there with God one day. I can’t imagine a more beautiful place than here, but the Bible tells us it’s beyond our imagination. While driving home from work the other day - I saw God. He’s always in the clouds for me. The way the beams of light come streaming through the sky, it’s a visual sign for me that He is there. Of course I know He is always there and I talk to Him throughout the day. He knew I liked it. I saw a Facebook text that same evening, “Look up people”. And so I knew, he did that for more than me, others saw it too. We all liked it. How many times do we take it for granted the beautiful things all around us? I talked with a woman recently who told me she lived in the desert a good portion of her life. She is SO appreciative of the greenery and trees where she lives now. Akine Kramarik, a 13-year old girl is painting pictures of Jesus and heaven. They are so incredible that people are willing to pay millions to buy one. She started painting when she was only 4. Her mother an atheist, through her daughter’s artwork, is now a believer. Even Akine tells us she cannot capture all the millions of colors and essence of heaven she has seen in her visions; it truly is an indescribable place. See her artwork at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCjHjQEU0Xw&NR=1 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_qMuLRq0g4&feature=fvw
Visiting Montana, Canada and Idaho was absolutely stunning. By comparison, heaven is a spectacular place. It’s a place with no pain, tears or suffering. It’s a place where you’ll be with millions of believers worshipping an almighty God. The question we must ask ourselves, are you heaven bound? Are you sure?
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July, 2009—Banff, Canada Glad I brought my jacket—cool in the Canadian Rockies |
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Lake Louise, Canada
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God is showing us He is here |
