Hello friends. Whenever so many unsettling and challenging events and news keep happening, I think more about heaven and daydream what it’ll be like there. After all it’s our eternal home, and we are just passing through this earth for a tiny moment. I hope this encourages you too.
Heaven
If you want to hear about heaven, please hear this man, Dean Braxton who visited heaven. Obviously it’s his experiences and not from the Bible but it’s worth listening. You’ll have to download the audio link. It’s about 40 minutes long. He answers a few top questions about heaven that children ask him. First question is about pets being in heaven. 🙂 Children asked him about dinosaurs and unicorns too. His answers were fascinating.
https://mailchi.mp/sidroth.org/my-guest-diedthen-he-met-yeshua-in-heaven?e=d04b4ac9d8
(I’ve never had a pet that I loved before and so, now I’m seriously considering getting a pet like a dog. If anyone has lost a pet that they loved, I hope you find comfort in this man’s story of seeing pets in heaven.)
If you only want to learn about Heaven from what’s recorded in the Bible, not people’s experiences then Pastor Hamrick recently gave a sermon on 2 Corinthians 12. It’s about Apostle Paul’s experience of visiting Heaven.
https://cornerstonechapel.net/teaching/20250727/
If you have more time, hear their other guests’ interviews on “It’s Supernatural” show. They are all fascinating. A pastor from Brooklyn NY, Torrey Harper had a prophetic vision about what is coming to our Northeastern region of our country…it’s about a great revival. (We haven’t had one for a very, very long time. It seems that the west coast are the ones who always seem to get the revivals.)
To be honest, I’ve been hearing about a revival coming to the northeastern region for so long that it doesn’t really move me anymore. As I was praying about my numbness; I felt the Holy Spirit gently reminding me about Anna and Simeon. They stayed faithful and loyal in serving God and his people, day in and day out. They stayed put. Here is the chapter about Anna and Simeon.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202&version=VOICE
FAITH
Few days ago, I was thinking about the word “FAITH” and decided that I will try my best to follow these traits while I am in this earth:
Faithful
Available
Inspiring
Teachable
Honorable
(By the way, if I am not writing this way, PLEASE pray for me. That means bitterness and pride have taken root and I need 🆘 help from heaven!)
My College Church
I’ve been thinking a lot about why I stayed so committed to my college church once I discovered them as a sophomore. It was a small country church with maybe 100 members and mostly young families with kids. I realized that I stayed put and didn’t get pulled back into the youthful temptations so easily available in college because I saw love, care and respect in their marriages and relationships. I’ve never seen that before in real life, only in movies or TV shows. There were no miracles or supernatural events in that small country church. They reminded me of the “Little House on the Prairie” tv series and I wanted to live life in that kind of loving community. In fact watching this show after school, prepped me to say yes to Jesus at a middle school summer retreat when a cute, high school leader asked me to say the sinner’s prayer. I had no clue what that entailed. I wish the adult leaders prepared us and given us a better heads up.
These days so many families are broken, hurting and divided. Young people haven’t seen much love, loyalty and respect in their homes. If that’s the only thing that the church offers, then it’s more than enough. They will stick around to see if it’s for real and will be observing the marriages and the relationships between Christians closely. They are watching us carefully so please be mindful if you are an older Christian, and be honest about your situation and struggles when the young people engage with you. They need mentors who are honest and trustworthy, and know how to handle difficult situations and struggles, and have victory stories and strategies to pass on.
Seeking Allah. Finding Jesus.
I just finished the book by Nabeel Qureshi on his story about finding Jesus. He grew up in a very loving and supportive family and community. His family ancestors were evangelists and missionaries in the Muslim faith. It was very, very difficult for him to renounce Islam. His cost to follow Jesus Christ was very high and painful. I highly recommend reading his autobiography because he will explain a lot about the teachings of Quran and the history of their prophet Muhammad. I now understand why there is such a dichotomy in the teachings of the Quran. Since there are more Muslims in our country and culture; I highly recommend everyone to read his book so we can understand where they are coming from.
Nabeel Qureshi had so much to lose in the earthly sense for renouncing Islam and following Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. As he was wrestling with this decision, God gave him a powerful vision and three dreams. You’ll have to read his autobiography to find out.
(By the way, he died from stomach cancer in 2017. Many Christians, including me were praying for his healing. I used to follow him on YouTube when he gave his updates on his cancer treatments. I prayed so hard for God to heal him. It was so sad and very disappointing when he passed away.)
I recently looked up his wife, Michelle and discovered that she remarried. Last time I saw her on YouTube she was obviously sad, broken and yet she remained steadfast and faithful to God. She stayed put. I’m so happy for her!
Cost of following Jesus:
Pastor Francis Chan delivered a great message about the cost of following Jesus Christ. It was excellent. I think if I heard that message in middle school, I don’t think I would have said yes so easily. But what he shared is true and accurate. I hope you’ll listen and learn more about the cost of following Jesus. As you weigh your cost of following Jesus Christ, please read Nabeel Qureshi’s book too. At the end he gives information on how life turned out after saying yes to Jesus. It was full of adventures, nice surprises and many public platforms. He lived a very full life in his short time on earth.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crazy-love-podcast/id1007053996?i=1000719597690
Ex-Hollywood Witch Turned Christian Reveals Occult’s Dark Secrets
What an out of this world testimony that I just heard! I also learned about the drug ketamine which Matthew Perry of “Friends” tv series overdosed and died of. In Hollywood, this young lady said that people take it to enhance spiritual experiences. I can’t believe that this young lady is still alive with all the drugs she took and her crazy insane life while pursuing occultic ambitions. She even had a very bizarre alien-like visitations and physical manipulations done by these demonic beings on her body. She was in so much pain that she went to ER and they were stumped on what they discovered. I don’t know what to think.
I’m so blown away by the younger generation of believers who are so open about their lives and mistakes! They are so different from me, Gen X asian immigrants. I think we are more similar to the “Downton Abby” series characters – not the aristocrats, the servants. Please give this young lady’s testimony a listen. Wow, wow. Imagine if a young lady like her came into our church or community group for help. I’m not sure if we’ll be able to handle this. Well, you could reach out to her directly and talk with her pastor and church leaders. She mentions her church on the interview.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/maybe-god/id1329159271?i=1000718876002
Here is her website if you want to check out her story more.
Mere Christians
This podcast was great too. It’s about this book showcasing five Christians who made a huge impact in their career and activism for God’s glory. Since their audience is mostly women, the authors talked more about their moms. It was so encouraging.
“Fred Rogers, the TV host from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, demonstrates how your selfless service to others can reveal glimpses of heaven on earth.
Fannie Lou Hamer, the courageous civil rights activist, models how to pursue justice without hating the unjust.
Ole Kirk Christiansen, the founder of LEGO, shows how to persevere through life’s most difficult trials and find God’s purpose in play.
Hannah More, the audacious poet largely credited for abolishing slavery throughout the British Empire, exemplifies how to change the world through culture and not just politics.
C.S. Lewis, the literature professor and bestselling author of The Chronicles of Narnia and Mere Christianity, invites you to embrace your unique opportunities to proclaim the gospel and make disciples.”
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-proverbs-31-ministries-podcast/id757953988?i=1000717299514
Wisdom series
Pastor Tim Keller’s podcast is currently doing the Wisdom series. Please check it out.
I so wish that I found his church when I was a young professional in NYC in the 90s. I would have soaked this wisdom series up. It’s so good.
Journal of Faith 