We are home, and we hit the ground running. I finally finished Randy Alcorn's big book on Heaven while we were away. The last part of the book was worth the two years it took me to get there! God is preparing us for the time we will spend with Him forever on the New Earth! So often I am consumed with the here and now that I forget about the there and then! Here's an excerpt that I hope will bless you:

Heaven should affect our activities and ambitions, our recreation and friendships, and the way we spend our money and time. If I believe I'll spend eternity in a world of unending beauty and adventure, will I be content to spend all my evenings staring at game shows, sitcoms, and ball games? Even if I keep my eyes off of impurities, how much time will I want to invest in what doesn't matter?

What will last forever? God's Word. People. Spending time in God's Word and investing in people will pay off in eternity and bring me joy and perspective now.

Following Christ is not a call to abstain from gratification but to delay gratification. It's finding our joy in Christ rather than seeking joy in the things of this world. Heaven -- our assurance of eternal gratification and fulfillment -- should be our North Star, reminding us where we are and which direction to go.