Heaven or Bust: Journey to Glory
A Treasury of Devotional Reflections
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Are You Ready?
Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season. ITimothy 4:2
Anyone who has been a Christian for a while has heard it said that the faithful are expected to "be ready". In the lyrics to a popular gospel hymn, the singer stirs the emotions when she says, "I want to be ready when Jesus comes." When the disciples asked for signs of the end of the age, Jesus told them to keep watch and "...be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." In the parable of the ten virgins, Jesus again emphasized that the disciples were to be like the five wise virgins who were prepared to meet the bridegroom, not like the five foolish ones who took their lamps but did not take the necessary oil to light them. Because they were unprepared when he came, they missed him.
Yesterday during worship service, the idea of being ready was emphasized through His servant, one of our ministerial interns. His actions reminded us that as Jesus' followers, we must be ready, especially when we have no idea a call may come. The pastor who was scheduled to preach lost his voice after the first service. As the clergy lined up to process into the sanctuary, the pastor turned to the intern and said, I need you to preach this service." With no more notice than this, the intern pastor demonstrated his readiness by rising to the occasion and preaching a sermon, his Bible his only resource and reference.
Later in the day I thought about how confidently the young pastor stepped to the podium, and after explaining why he was there, proceeded to deliver a message to which at least one person responded publicly by uniting with the church. I realized that his demonstration of readiness is what God expects of all his followers, both clergy and laity. When we least expect it, we may be called and we are to be ready. Ready to offer unplanned hospitality. Ready with Scripture and other words of encouragement when someone calls for comfort or support. Ready to leave the comfort of home and serve the homeless when the call for volunteers goes forth. Ready to stand firm in our faith that God is in control even though our world may be collapsing around us. Yes, without excuse, without hesitation, without second thought, we are to be ready.
And what enables this readiness? We can take our cue from the young pastor's introductory remarks to his selected text for his sermon. He had been studying that Scripture for some days because he thought it would be one of encouragement for his ailing father. It was his practice of reading and studying his Bible on a regular basis that enabled him to preach that Sunday morning. He was ready because he was prepared. The same holds true for us. When we pray unceasingly, praise continually, and study our Bibles faithfully and consistently, we too will be ready for whatever comes. Be it a call to service or an unwavering spirit in the midst of life's storms.
Question for reflection: What are you doing consistently to be sure that when the call comes, you will be ready?
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Reading the Bible is simple enough, but how do we personalize scripture so that its power is realized in our daily living? Heaven or Bust: Journey to Glory is an inspired book of reflective devotionals written to help Christian believers do just that.
One hundred selected scriptures from both the Old and New Testaments begin each devotional. Written for either personal or group reflection, this spiritual reading resource will inspire, encourage, and often challenge the disciple as he journeys home to the Lord. Each devotion ends with a "Question for Reflection." It is here that the reader stops to confirm that he is still on course toward God's promise of eternity for the faithful.
Like the many in our past who have set out for places that promised something better than what they had and who were determined to get there or else, we Christians embrace our journey in like fashion. Glory bound we are. Nothing will deter us. These devotionals speak to our resolve.
About the Author
For close to 40 years, Beverly Clopton worked first as public school English teacher and then a senior high school administrator in Dallas, Texas, Denver, Colorado, and Los Angeles, California. A professed Christian since age 8, Beverly had passed the half century mark before, she says, " I clearly understood what it meant to be in personal relationship with the Lord." Her "pentacostal" experiences while enrolled in the Disciple Bible study program opened her eyes to how she could better be about Kingdom business. Utilizing her gift of teaching, she became a Disciple facilitator in 2002. During that same period, she gave greater attention to what she calls her primary gift - writing. For years she had filled journals with her God inspired reflections and meditations on scripture. In 2007, she made the decision to turn those journal entries into a book of devotions. In sharing these pieces with friends and women around the nation who call into a weekly prayer line, she was encouraged by their responses that what she wrote was what women (and men) needed and wanted to hear. Heaven or Bust... is the result.
Currently, Beverly is working on a second book that chronicles her "walk through the valley" upon the sudden death of her husband of 29 years. She lives in the Atlanta area with her son and his family.