SERMON NOTES:

Prayer Requests
Y Pray for Jennifers neighbor, Jenna Undersander, who was just diagnosed with cancer. Y Pray for all the orphans in the world, especially whose parents died unexpectedly. Y Pay for peace worldwide! Y Pray for Kate, friend of Sally Leitch, who is on bedrest. Y Steven Van Meter, son of Kevin & Pam Van Meter, who is serving our country in Afghanistan. Y A.J. Pratt, wife of Gwin Pratt. Gwin is the pastor of St. Luke Presbyterian Church. A.J. is suffering from a serious disease. Y Pray for Jerry Hermsens brother, Vern, who is in a home for Alzheimers. Y Pray for Jerry Hermsen who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Y Pray for Diana Zile-Young, friend of Ivers, who is better but still struggling with alcoholism which is destroying her liver. Y Pray for Rose Tendoh to find a job with Gods guidance. Y Pray for John Thiessen as he lives with cancer. Y For Bobbie Pearson, friend of Gloria Ivers, whos suffering from cancer. Y Pray for Beverly Dols, John Ivers sister, who suffers from lung cancer.

Y Pray for David Schwartz (friend of George & Dianne Black) as he is suffering from cancer. Y Pray for Ward Sessing, member of the Presbyterian Church of the Way, who is in the final stages of cancer. Y Pray for Donna McCullen, wife of Ken McCullen, who is suffering from cancer.

DEVOTION
The celebration of Easter is a grand opportunity to think about heaven. As Christians we believe that Jesus was raised so that all of us could experience heaven. As Pastor Paul shared in his Easter sermon heaven is not only a realm where we go, its also a realm that can break out here on earth. The Bible has many references to heaven. The word heaven is used 609 times in the Scriptures. It refers to many different ideas. This week we have the opportunity to learn about a few of these ideas. Enjoy! Comments about the devotion can be Emailed to pastor@colpres.org

Monday, April 1 Read Genesis 15:1-6

The ancients believed that heaven existed above the earth. They, of course, did not have the benefit that you and I do of pictures from space. You and I know that outer space exists above the ozone layer. In this story God asked Abram to look toward heaven and count the stars. This idea of looking upward to heaven is reflected in this passage. Heaven is not a physical space, but more a realm that is somehow above us.

2
When we see the stars on a clear night its hard not to be impressed with the immense size of the galaxy. How can we not say, wow! Its this experience of being wowed which will be part of heaven. Prayer: Thank you for giving us heaven. Thanks for this vision of heaven that you gave to Abram. Open my own spirit that I might be wowed by the prospect of heaven.

3
the Kingdom of heaven. He was a physical reality of heaven breaking out on earth. Jesus is the best example of the reality of heaven Jesus also came from heaven into the earth. We believe that Jesus has always existed with God, whom Jesus called Abba. We read in Ephesians that Christ existed before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) When we read and reflect on Jesus we are reading and reflecting on heaven. Prayer: Give me the eyes to see heaven breaking out on earth. I give thanks that Jesus is the best embodiment of heaven. May my understanding of him deepen my understanding of heaven.

4
Prayer: Thank you that you go to prepare a place for us. I am grateful that there are many dwelling places in heaven.

Friday, April 5 Read Acts 1:6-11

This story is very similar to the story of Elijah going to heaven. Jesus was taken away to heaven in a cloud out of the sight of his disciples. Just as Elijah was taken in a whirlwind into heaven. After Jesus left two men in white robes spoke to the disciples. The white robes illustrated that the men came from heaven. The men encouraged the disciples not to look up toward heaven. They promised that Jesus would return, but they did not need to focus incessantly on his return. Jesus ascension into heaven gives us hope about the reality of heaven. Jesus was true to his promise that he went to prepare a place for us. Thanks be to God! Prayer: I give thanks that you ascended into heaven. You have gone to prepare a place for us. Give me the faith to believe in heaven.

Tuesday, April 2 Read 2 Kings 2:1-12

Heaven was not an idea only explored in the New Testament. Here it is clear that Elijah went into heaven. This story of Elijah foreshadowed the story of Jesus ascending into heaven. Elijah was one of two people in the Bible who did not dieEnoch was the other. In reading this story its easy to imagine the tornado in the movie Wizard of Oz. Dorothy was launched from her home in the tornado to a distant and strange placeOz. Elijah was launched by a whirlwind into heaven. Oz and heaven were different placesbut the launching of the person by a natural event was the same. Prayer: Its hard to believe, O God, that Elijah could be taken up by a whirlwind into heaven. It takes faith! Just as it takes faith at times to believe in heaven. Give me this faith today!

Thursday, April 4 Read John 14:1-7

This passage from John is often read at funerals. In my fathers house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:2-3 The implication of this passage is that heaven is big and wide enough for us. There are many dwelling places in abba, fathers househeaven! We can take comfort in Jesus words. We also read that Jesus was preparing to go to heaven. He was getting ready to go to his abbas house. He was preparing this place for each of us. On Easter we receive a glimpse of heaven through the story of the resurrection.

Saturday, April 6 Read Revelation 4:1-11

This chapter from Revelation shares a vision of heaven. God is seated at the throne with twenty-four elders seated around the thrones. The elders were dressed in white robesagain symbolizing heaven. People have argued whether this chapter symbolizes heaven or describes heaven. Whatever our view we can grasp the hope

Wednesday, April 3 Read Matthew 3:1-3

In these three verses John spoke quite a lot about Jesus. Jesus represented and was

2
of heaven that is shared in this chapter. What a wonderful and powerful vision! Prayer: Thank you for this vision of heaven. Help me grasp the reality of heaven in my own heart and live with this confidence!