My Heavenly Bucket List

My heavenly bucket list, those things I want to do when I leave this world to spend eternity with God, my Abba Father. Not a very long list (yet), but I think I’ve covered about a million years. Some items on the list are down right silly and ostentatious, while others are of a more serious nature. While talking with others about this list I’ve been met with both amusement and horror. Inevitably the comment is made, “God doesn’t need you to tell him what you want to do or what you’d like him to do.” Almost as if I was stepping out of line asking God for seemingly frivolous things. Come on, this is Heaven, “won’t it just be one long worship service of songs and sermons?”

I believe God does want us to request things from him, from the frivolous to the humungous. I’m not sure of who told me, but this image has always stuck with me: God waiting expectantly in front of a huge warehouse of magnificent gifts for each of his children. All they have to do is to ask for something so he can bestow gifts upon those he loves. God also commands us to talk to him; we call it prayer here on planet Earth. Besides, what would be the point to creating human beings to interact with if we didn’t communicate back? God wants, craves our attention, and not just about the horrible, big things.

You can agree that when things are horrible or spectacularly good God wants to know about them. Do you believe he also wants to hear the little things, the silly and frivolous things (sometimes they turn out not so small and silly.)? How wonderful it will be to spend eternity with God. I can’t wait to explore everything, met everyone (including all the angels!) and spend my time doing whatever God asks of me.

What’s on My Heavenly Bucket List?

1. Forget flying, I want to instantaneously transport myself everywhere. (I never got the idea of the journey being the fun part.)

2. I want my house to change daily based on my needs of the day. If I’m having a ton of people over – give me a huge ballroom, if I’m entertaining a few people – a cozy tea room, if I’m reading or writing – a quiet library, and if I’m having a backyard BBQ – the biggest backyard ever!

3. I also want to change location often (how else will I meet everyone if I stay in one place!).

4. I’d like to be able to breath underwater and withstand great pressure so I can dive with the wales.

5. I want to sing in the heavenly choir.

6. I want to learn to do and know everything possible (this might take a few million years!).

7. I want to talk with John and understand his special relationship with Jesus.

8. I want to have a time each day to sit and talk with Jesus and God.

9. I’d like to be able to SEE the Holy Spirit.

And the list goes on and on…Forever is a lot of time to fill up.

I don’t know if God will ever fulfill any of these requests. He might ignore each and everyone. That’s ok. He knows me better than I know myself and whatever he chooses will be breathtaking and extravagant! But, some how I think he will.

What’s on your Heavenly Bucket List?

Fire!

God is an All Consuming Fire. Think, consume the whole universe! We are called to be on fire for Christ, to be a spark, and a light in the darkness. So, I ask you, what kind of fire are you?

Let's consider the various types of fire we have and what they do.

Forest Fire - This type of fire is very painful and can be seen as destructive. But, as we've often heard, forest fires can be good. They destroy the old, often dead growth, to make way for the healthy, new growth. Forest Fires can be cleansing. These fires clear the land for those who follow to till and sow the fresh soil. Think Martin Luther.

Bonfires - These bring to mind the outdoors, columns of flames, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. Often there are lots of people grouped around these kinds of fires. Many people are touched by bonfires and there is a lot of fellowship going on. Think Billy Graham.

Wood stove - These are the behind the scenes, hard working, keep you warm all winter long kind of fires. Often not noticed until the heat is gone. Think my parents, John Watson, The Froh's. Ok, so you may not know these people specifically, but God does and he knows better than I all the things they do. I'm sure you know someone like this. Pray that God keeps their burners well stocked with wood!

Fire Place - Romantic, cozy, only a few people grouped around it. These fires offer intimate heat to a few people. These people provide comfort and warmth when you need it. They are always ready with a prayer for you, an apt word, a loving hug, or even just a quiet presence. Think of those people you run to when you need comfort or a special word. I think of Diane Watson or Kim Cobb

Candle - The simplest, often smallest, of the fires. Compared to the others, these fires don't seem that great or grand, but they are needed. We need a candle to light our way, to light our book, to produce a spark. These people often work one-on-one with others. They work hard to light the way for others to follow, to provide insights and direction in personal study. Me.

I ask you again. What kind of fire are you?

Mansions in Heaven

As our world seems to be rushing head long into the Apocalypse, I've been dreaming of Heaven and the New Earth. It's very exciting to think of eternity and all that I've always wanted to do, people I want to meet, conversations I want to have with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and just being in God's presence physically. My imagination runs wild, although I know it doesn't compare to the wonderful and amazing things God has planned for me.

There is one black mark marring my perfect picture of life on the New Earth. The city. The city that is 1400 or so miles square! Paved with gold, adorned with every known jewel, and inhabited by every person who has embraced the one and only Truth (ok, that part will be nice). I do not like cities, nice places to visit, but not for me to live. I also hate ostentatiousness (my new word). I don't like gaudy or things that are gilded. I want green grass, lots of trees, gardens, and lots of animals around where I live. Give me an old Victorian home with lots of amazing wood work, secret passageways, hidden reading nooks, and a massive libraries and a nice kitchen. My ideal and the way the Holy City seems to be portrayed in the Bible don't seem to line up.

For a while that freaked me out. Where would I live? Would I be forced to live in the city in a house walled with jewels and gold? Would I be cut off from the nature I so love, and clean air? For a while I no longer wanted to go to Heaven, but I certainly didn't want to go to Hell!

Then, wandering into my brain from a source outside myself (read Holy Spirit speaking to me), saying my pastor likes to use. If we both thought the same, did the same things, agreed on everything, liked the same things, one of us would be redundant and unnecessary.

Here I sit, in a house and life I never wanted, asked for, or thought I would enjoy. How much better God knows me than I know myself. I can look back through the years and observe God's faithfulness in my life to care for me, give me the things I need, and even things just for the shear enjoyment of them. Obviously He loves me greatly and wants to make me happy. Knowing me as well as He does, and I know the number of times He has been right in knowing exactly what I wanted compared to what I thought I wanted, I need to have faith. He has been faithful and consistent the whole time I've known Him, what makes me think He'll change once I get to Heaven.

For the most part I rest contented in the thought that whatever place He has prepared for me will be exactly what I want and need. But, I have had numerous chats with Him about what I'd like...