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Click credit links below each pic, for licensing names/details/tags/etc.. Most pics cropped/reduced in size

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Today’s Devotional – July 4th

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Look Up & Lift Up Your Heads! Part 1

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There is one day of the year when many people in this nation look up, and lift up their heads.

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It’s called “The 4th of July”, or “Independence Day”, in which we celebrate our independence, from foreign rulership.

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4th of July fireworks on the Charles river – Boston MA – cropped image – Creative Commons license 3.0

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ANOTHER “INDEPENDENCE DAY” COMING!

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Well, there is soon coming the Day in which we will become independent of our servitude under a foreign dictator, “the god of this world”, Satan.

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And just like Independence Day on the 4th of July, so too we are told to look up…“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring…And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:25-28

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Yes, we are living in the Day when all these signs will be fulfilled. And it is at this time that Jesus commands us to, look up, and lift up our heads, for our “redemption draweth nigh!”

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Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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RE-FOCUS OUR EYES UPWARD

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One very important reason to begin looking up, is that God’s people have been looking down too much, at the things of the earth!

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We have been immersed in all the cares and pleasures of the world. Our hearts have been entangled in the things of the earth for much too long.

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And God is wanting us to begin to re-focus our attention on heavenly things, as is written…“let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;” Hebrews 12:1, 2

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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped/altered image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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ABANDON OUR EARTHLY DUTIES?

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Now does fixing our eyes heavenward, upon Jesus, necessitate abandoning our daily earthly duties? Of course not! But it does require us to no longer make the things of earth our great focus!

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It’s like that old little song…“Turn you eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face! And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace!”

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Yes, when we fix our eyes upon Jesus, all the things of this selfish world will lose their tight grip on us!

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And even though our great focus will be heavenward, we will still work and live, and provide for our family’s needs and comfort and happiness! And yet, our great motive for doing these things will now be because it is no longer I that live, “but Christ liveth in me!” Christ will now be living out His life through me!

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Family Prayer Before Meal – Wikimedia – US-Govt. – Public-Domain

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PERFECT PEACE!

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And so, the next question is: “Is this kind of selfless life a joyless, austere existence?”

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Certainly not! Listen…“Thou (God) wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee!” Isaiah 26:3

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Now what could be better than, “perfect peace”?

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And so, let’s look up and behold the signs which God has written in the Sun, Moon, and stars! Because these signs will proclaim the very same message which today’s devotional is proclaiming!

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Family Portrait – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

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“Dear Lord, Help me to take my eyes from off of this sad old planet, and fix them firmly upward, into the heavenlies…

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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A HEAVENLY HOBBY

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“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold Who hath created these things; that brings out their host by number: He calls them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth.” Isaiah 40:26

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ABOVE PICTURE – Starry Night at La Silla – cropped  and altered image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.

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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.

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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.

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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.

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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…

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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”

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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.

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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!

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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.

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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.

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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.

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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” Luke 21:25

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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)

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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS

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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).

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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).

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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).

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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.

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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.

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ABOVE PICTURE: Orion the Soldier and the Revelation 12 Dragon (Hyades & Pleiades, etc.) – winter constellations – www.signsofheaven.org – not for commercial use

ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses

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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS

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Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…

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Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!

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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!

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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.

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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.

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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)

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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and altered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS

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Now of course, the Bible commands us to, “pray without ceasing“. The Christian is to constantly talk with our Heavenly Father throughout the day.

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But the Bible also holds up the godly life of Daniel, who, when captive in Babylon, still set aside three times daily, in which he knelt for special prayer.

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And furthermore the Bible also says… “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17.

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Even those who are bed-fast or in a prison cell can begin to imitate Daniel in this way. And if one is fortunate to be able to walk, then this thrice-daily prayer regimen can be combined with three walks daily and even nightly.

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Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – public domain

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READ MORE…

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To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Arcturus (the star that wise-men follow!)” 

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing details & tags, and all other necessary information on any particular photo. Most tall, narrow photos have been cropped or reduced by this website to make them a better fit on phone screens.

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