From time to time I hear people say, “Life shouldn’t be this hard.” Other people recoil from the idea of spiritual warfare. I know, I used to be one of those people...

There was a time when I thought I would never “get out of the woods,” but it was a different kind of “woods” than you might expect...

I don’t know about you, but in my past, there were lots of plans that I made that turned out to be dead ends or so I thought at the time. I had hopes and dreams that lead to nothing but disappointments. There were years when I thought the “pain” would never end. At the same time, I had a strong belief in God, believed that Jesus was my Savior, but I hadn’t fully placed my trust in Him. As time passed, situations would arise that mirrored past scenarios and I would be afraid it was history repeating itself until…

Picture a busy intersection, traffic backed up, horns honking, tempers flaring, a car races through a red light as cars start to block the intersection from the other direction, a truck swerves around a corner, brakes screeching, a driver guns his car motor as he backs up, a pedestrian risks his life crossing the street – all this happening at the same time. Now, imagine a different kind of intersection,

I am not talking about Houdini. I am referring to how easy it is not to deal with the world’s oppressive and broken systems, violence on every street corner, abuse happening behind closed doors, and our own judgmental and passive attitudes. How many times have you read these words spoken by Jesus as He stood before Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36)? How many times have you heard these words used to justify that the “kingdom of God” is only a spiritual kingdom called heaven where we, if we are believers, will go someday, where at last we will escape the depravity of this world? I know I am treading on dangerous ground here, but please hear me out. The bottom line is that heaven has often been portrayed as a “way out,” an escape route.

Has God given you a vision for your life, your family, or your community and beyond? Does it feel like there is one set back after another and that the vision will never come to fulfillment? At these times, it can seem like someone has turn out the light. Instead of flipping the light switch back on by remembering God’s countless promises and His faithfulness, do you stumble around in the dark wondering, “Did God really say that?” Oswald Chambers gives a hint of why the vision is slow in coming...

One time I purchased tickets to a concert well in advance, putting them in a safe place. When it came time to go to the concert, I couldn’t find the tickets! Embarrassed, I had to call my friend to tell her our concert date was cancelled. I never did find the tickets.

You may wonder why I named this blog “Heaven on Earth.” You may be thinking, “She’s been slurping that Russian vodka again. Hasn't she been watching the world news on TV, unemployment rates, and everything else going wrong on this planet?”