Hi all,
Continuing with meaningful things the Father, Lord, or an angel said that changed me...
An angel's perspective on worship
I was on staff at a mega-church, and because of my position the pastor liked us to sit in the 2nd or 3rd row behind him. This matters because at the time the church met in a basketball arena, with the basketball court covered temporarily with carpet, and the congregation was in the arena seats above it, looking down at the floor. To the left was the worship team, in the middle was the pulpit, and to the right was open space to be used later for an altar call.
In the worship my eyes were suddenly opened to the Lord's realm. Just like with Elisha and his servant in II Kings 6:15-17 who saw both the natural army surrounding them and the angelic army surrounding them at the same time, so too were my eyes open to see both realms at once. This is most often what happens to me; I see both realms at the same time.
While the worship team was playing and singing to my left down on the floor, right in front of me in that open space were 50 or 60 angels all dancing together, following the worship team's worship (and the congregation's). What struck me was their child-like innocence. They appeared to be young men, early 30's, but with the innocence and sweetness of young children.
You've no doubt seen toddler boys and girls playing together and realized they don't have any idea that boys and girls are different from one another. In those toddler's understanding, the idea of gender isn't even in their minds - that's how these angels were, except the appeared to be men in their early 30's.
I looked over to the worship team and it was clear they didn't have a clue what was going on. My (guardian) angel was standing on the steps of the first row, below where I was standing. I looked at him and at that moment he turned around to look at me. I said:"You guys dance?!" His reply changed my perspective forever:
"That which is given from heaven, is enjoyed in both realms."
About 10 years earlier the Lord allowed me to have a visit to heaven. As we passed 2 young children playing, I noticed they were accompanied by 14 relatives, all a generation or more older - great grandparents, aunts and uncles and 'greats' of each, to about 4 or so generations, but their mom and dad weren't there. I asked about them missing and was told those children died in a car accident, and their parents are still on earth.
He said; "When it is possible, children are raised by relatives here in heaven." I asked for chapter and verse and he said:"Have you not read Ephesians 3:14-15 which says, 'For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole FAMILY in heaven and earth is named."? There is but ONE family. It doesn't matter whether in heaven or earth, there is but one family."
Many have written books, teachings, songs, poems and more that are truly heaven inspired, but may not ever be seen by others in this life. Some are confident the Lord told them their work will be seen by many, but it isn't happening and they wonder why. If it is given from heaven, in the age or ages to come these things will be seen, read, heard, and sung by others - your gift will see its intended purpose - but maybe not in this age. It is still heaven given however, so take heart!
Chris and his reward...
Our oldest son, Chris, was born by emergency C-section with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, which resulted in brain damage. As I write this he is 44, but mentally about 4 years old, with the innocence of a child. He was at home his first 24 years, but when his little brothers graduated high school and went off to further their education, we quickly realized how much they had helped, and their absence forced us into the realization we could not care for Chris and work at the same time.
We made the most difficult decision of our lives, to put him in a group home. After much searching we found a Christian founded one about 2 hours away. The night we got the call they could receive him, Barb and I cried many tears feeling like the worst people in the world, until she finally went to sleep. I remained awake talking to the Father. "Father, put his brain damage on me" was one thought before countering that with the right thought that Jesus did that. I then echoed what Barb and I had earlier prayed:"If you aren't going to heal him, then take him home. We've both been to heaven, and we know where he is going, so we'd rather miss him for even 50 years on earth if it means him being free from his damaged earth-body."
Suddenly Jesus stood in the room.
He didn't greet me like He normally does, He simply began:"Would you have Chris miss out on the fullness of his reward by me taking him home early, just because you feel bad about having to put him in a (group) home?" "No Lord, I'm sorry, I had not thought of Chris' reward. I (we) want him to have the fullness of his reward, but under a couple of conditions:That he not suffer abuse nor neglect." With a single downward shake of His head He said:"Done" and disappeared.
As of this writing Chris has been there over 22 years, and it was very rough at first. But now he enjoys his group home during the week, and coming home on Fridays when he tells staff:"Dad's coming Friday!" He loves his Friday night dinners Barb makes for him, and Saturday morning sleeping in. Most mornings he lays in bed an hour or so and watches his favorite shows or movies we have on DVD. I take him back on Saturday afternoon.
One day as he and I drove into town to run errands, and his play list on my phone was playing on the car, I inwardly sighed at hearing the same children's songs going on now for some 40 years straight. He reached age 4 mentally and then just stopped, so its been over 40 years of that age level songs. I said within myself:"Father, I'm tired so tired of Donut Man, Veggie Tales and Barney. I long for an adult relationship with my son." Suddenly as I drove my eyes were opened to a screen like a TV in the air in front of the car. This was the scene:
I was in heaven standing next to Chris who was seated and talking to many people sitting on the ground in front of him. I could only see the top of Chris' head and his shoulders as I was standing by his left shoulder. But he was normal size, not like he is now in his wheelchair. I am 6'6" tall (1.9m) and he would be my size if he was normal, but he has Barb's side of the family big bone structure as well. I was impressed with what a big man he is in heaven.
I asked:"Father, what am I seeing?"
"You're seeing Chris in heaven." "What is he doing?" "He is telling people what it was like to be trapped in a flawed and imperfect body, telling them of his life and what he was thinking and whaty he learned at various times in his life." Then it was gone. It was the Father's graciousness to encourage me and Barb not to be weary in well doing, for this life is not all there is.
One day Chris will be whole. He loves the Lord, and is quite content waiting to heaven to be whole, which is frustrating for us his parents, but that is where he is in his faith. We are one family in heaven and earth. Things given from heaven are enjoyed in both realms.
I include this to encourage anyone and everyone, whether you've lost a love one to heaven, or care for a 'special child' or someone who was once 'normal' but is now doing downhill or has suffered an injury. This is not all there is. There is a heavenly future, for in the big picture, this life is a tiny part of our eternal life and the ages to come. Learn what we can, develop Christ-like character, and walk with God. Know what you can, but be content for now with the 'secret things belong to God'. (Deuteronomy 29:29)
More things that I've been told next week, until then, blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected] or [email protected]
Continuing with meaningful things the Father, Lord, or an angel said that changed me...
An angel's perspective on worship
I was on staff at a mega-church, and because of my position the pastor liked us to sit in the 2nd or 3rd row behind him. This matters because at the time the church met in a basketball arena, with the basketball court covered temporarily with carpet, and the congregation was in the arena seats above it, looking down at the floor. To the left was the worship team, in the middle was the pulpit, and to the right was open space to be used later for an altar call.
In the worship my eyes were suddenly opened to the Lord's realm. Just like with Elisha and his servant in II Kings 6:15-17 who saw both the natural army surrounding them and the angelic army surrounding them at the same time, so too were my eyes open to see both realms at once. This is most often what happens to me; I see both realms at the same time.
While the worship team was playing and singing to my left down on the floor, right in front of me in that open space were 50 or 60 angels all dancing together, following the worship team's worship (and the congregation's). What struck me was their child-like innocence. They appeared to be young men, early 30's, but with the innocence and sweetness of young children.
You've no doubt seen toddler boys and girls playing together and realized they don't have any idea that boys and girls are different from one another. In those toddler's understanding, the idea of gender isn't even in their minds - that's how these angels were, except the appeared to be men in their early 30's.
I looked over to the worship team and it was clear they didn't have a clue what was going on. My (guardian) angel was standing on the steps of the first row, below where I was standing. I looked at him and at that moment he turned around to look at me. I said:"You guys dance?!" His reply changed my perspective forever:
"That which is given from heaven, is enjoyed in both realms."
About 10 years earlier the Lord allowed me to have a visit to heaven. As we passed 2 young children playing, I noticed they were accompanied by 14 relatives, all a generation or more older - great grandparents, aunts and uncles and 'greats' of each, to about 4 or so generations, but their mom and dad weren't there. I asked about them missing and was told those children died in a car accident, and their parents are still on earth.
He said; "When it is possible, children are raised by relatives here in heaven." I asked for chapter and verse and he said:"Have you not read Ephesians 3:14-15 which says, 'For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole FAMILY in heaven and earth is named."? There is but ONE family. It doesn't matter whether in heaven or earth, there is but one family."
Many have written books, teachings, songs, poems and more that are truly heaven inspired, but may not ever be seen by others in this life. Some are confident the Lord told them their work will be seen by many, but it isn't happening and they wonder why. If it is given from heaven, in the age or ages to come these things will be seen, read, heard, and sung by others - your gift will see its intended purpose - but maybe not in this age. It is still heaven given however, so take heart!
Chris and his reward...
Our oldest son, Chris, was born by emergency C-section with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, which resulted in brain damage. As I write this he is 44, but mentally about 4 years old, with the innocence of a child. He was at home his first 24 years, but when his little brothers graduated high school and went off to further their education, we quickly realized how much they had helped, and their absence forced us into the realization we could not care for Chris and work at the same time.
We made the most difficult decision of our lives, to put him in a group home. After much searching we found a Christian founded one about 2 hours away. The night we got the call they could receive him, Barb and I cried many tears feeling like the worst people in the world, until she finally went to sleep. I remained awake talking to the Father. "Father, put his brain damage on me" was one thought before countering that with the right thought that Jesus did that. I then echoed what Barb and I had earlier prayed:"If you aren't going to heal him, then take him home. We've both been to heaven, and we know where he is going, so we'd rather miss him for even 50 years on earth if it means him being free from his damaged earth-body."
Suddenly Jesus stood in the room.
He didn't greet me like He normally does, He simply began:"Would you have Chris miss out on the fullness of his reward by me taking him home early, just because you feel bad about having to put him in a (group) home?" "No Lord, I'm sorry, I had not thought of Chris' reward. I (we) want him to have the fullness of his reward, but under a couple of conditions:That he not suffer abuse nor neglect." With a single downward shake of His head He said:"Done" and disappeared.
As of this writing Chris has been there over 22 years, and it was very rough at first. But now he enjoys his group home during the week, and coming home on Fridays when he tells staff:"Dad's coming Friday!" He loves his Friday night dinners Barb makes for him, and Saturday morning sleeping in. Most mornings he lays in bed an hour or so and watches his favorite shows or movies we have on DVD. I take him back on Saturday afternoon.
One day as he and I drove into town to run errands, and his play list on my phone was playing on the car, I inwardly sighed at hearing the same children's songs going on now for some 40 years straight. He reached age 4 mentally and then just stopped, so its been over 40 years of that age level songs. I said within myself:"Father, I'm tired so tired of Donut Man, Veggie Tales and Barney. I long for an adult relationship with my son." Suddenly as I drove my eyes were opened to a screen like a TV in the air in front of the car. This was the scene:
I was in heaven standing next to Chris who was seated and talking to many people sitting on the ground in front of him. I could only see the top of Chris' head and his shoulders as I was standing by his left shoulder. But he was normal size, not like he is now in his wheelchair. I am 6'6" tall (1.9m) and he would be my size if he was normal, but he has Barb's side of the family big bone structure as well. I was impressed with what a big man he is in heaven.
I asked:"Father, what am I seeing?"
"You're seeing Chris in heaven." "What is he doing?" "He is telling people what it was like to be trapped in a flawed and imperfect body, telling them of his life and what he was thinking and whaty he learned at various times in his life." Then it was gone. It was the Father's graciousness to encourage me and Barb not to be weary in well doing, for this life is not all there is.
One day Chris will be whole. He loves the Lord, and is quite content waiting to heaven to be whole, which is frustrating for us his parents, but that is where he is in his faith. We are one family in heaven and earth. Things given from heaven are enjoyed in both realms.
I include this to encourage anyone and everyone, whether you've lost a love one to heaven, or care for a 'special child' or someone who was once 'normal' but is now doing downhill or has suffered an injury. This is not all there is. There is a heavenly future, for in the big picture, this life is a tiny part of our eternal life and the ages to come. Learn what we can, develop Christ-like character, and walk with God. Know what you can, but be content for now with the 'secret things belong to God'. (Deuteronomy 29:29)
More things that I've been told next week, until then, blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected] or [email protected]
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