Saul heard a voice from heaven. It was Jesus, whom he had been persecuting. It came suddenly, and a light from heaven flashed around him. The experience was so intense that Saul fell to the ground. The light was so strong that he was blinded. After his encounter with the light and the voice, Saul’s life was changed forever.
At his baptism in the Holy Spirit, Saul regained his sight and took his new name.
Saul who persecuted people of the way, became Paul a believer in the Way.

Voices from heaven change everything...
Rev. 5:11-14. John heard voices from heaven. In fact John journeyed into heaven. John stood among the four living creatures, the angels, the elders – there were myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. John heard them singing praises - and then he hears “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea.”
Glory! Wow! What an amazing sound that must have been - the sound. I heard 'the sound' in worship at Dayspring church recently, following a brilliant teaching from David Crabtree. It blew me absolutely away. A 'sound' of 700 or so people making a 'sound' of worship. Truly I wondered if this was something like John experienced - it seemed there was more than 700 or so voices!

John shared his vision with the Church.
Now we sing many songs, we worship, maybe frailly, maybe not quite like as recorded by John in his revelation - we sing songs from Chris Tomlin, Hillsong and many others recording great and brilliant songs, causing my spirit to soar as I sing them.
It has occurred to me though to ask, “do I think we have it all”. I sing these songs a lot and tire, too often too quickly. And while we have these brilliant songs, the Bible says there's a lot of singing going on in Heaven.
I’d like to encourage all the Christian musicians – I think there’s a heap of brilliant songs just waiting for you, you'll only get it by revelation - Heaven is full of music!

Voices from heaven change everything...

In today’s world, if we reported in some circles that we were hearing voices from heaven we would be suspected of fanaticism or mental instability.

Maybe though we encounter voices and visions of heaven everyday and just don’t notice them. We Christians, because we are rooted in scriptures that tell miraculous stories, we expect our words and visions from God to come in flashes of light and thundering sound. And, of course while they may, these voices and visions are also right in front of us.

In John 21:1-19 Peter and the apostles hear a voice from heaven. It is the resurrected Christ. This voice from heaven isn’t flashy or loud.
The voice they hear tells them not to give up on catching fish. The voice they hear tells them, “Come and have breakfast.” What a scene: the risen Lord, the King of the Universe, the Alpha and the Omega, sitting on the beach making breakfast.
Yes, it is miraculous that the apostles encounter their risen teacher. Yes, it is miraculous that they catch so many fish that they can’t hold them all. But in the midst of the miracles is simplicity. In the midst of these miracles is everyday life.
This is where Christ still wishes to meet us. He meets us in the movements of our life. We need to eat; we need to work. And the risen Christ is there among us. God chose to come among us, and even after the miracle of the resurrection, God chose to make us breakfast.

I understand in some churches – Church of England (Anglican) for one, that when they take communion they pray that God would “open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work". In essence they are praying that God would open our eyes to what is right in front of us.

Where do we see God today? When I see Christians pouring out love upon other people, I see Jesus. And why not pour out love - Romans 5:5 tells us that God has poured His love into our hearts....

Our life is a miracle, so incredibly fragile. When will you die – this moment, the next?
A person I had only met a few times died. It was a shock as he was only a few weeks older than I am, a heart attack. Alive and well, then suddenly on his knees saying "Jesus, Jesus", and he's gone...

Do you know what I see now – I could go at anytime. Every breath may be my last – what am I doing with it?
What about your life – where are you going?

I see God in creation it beats me when you say you cannot.
Seeing a stream, a forest, a beach, Mount Tomah gardens deserves a certain reverence. God’s creation deserves our love and respect.
We miss too often miss this in the business and weariness of our lives. Look down to the ground and see grass and gravel: there’s evidence of God. Look up to the stars: there’s evidence of God. Look out among the people and buildings and trees: there’s evidence of God. Look at the person next to you: there’s evidence of God.
Jesus said, and still says "Come follow me", "I am the light of the world, I am the one you seek". Take time, look into creation, everywhere is evidence of God. Not enough for you? Ask Him to reveal Himself further to you. I did, and I found what I was looking for.

Years ago, my lovely Mum gave me a bumper sticker with a simple phrase on it "Jesus = Peace". It was some time before I listened to God calling me to himself - "looking for God in all the wrong places" I was, however when I did become serious, I did meet Him, and I did find peace, my soul was and is at rest.

After the resurrection, Christ could have entered the cities and by-ways in glory and light. He could have really amazed the crowds and gotten more people to take seriously what the apostles were preaching. But he didn’t. He kept entering into everyday life.

Everyday life is blessed.

As recorded in John 21: 1-19 Christ puts Peter to the test. He asks him three times if he loves him, and each time He instructs Peter to take care of the people: feed them and tend to them. The third time Christ asks the question Peter is hurt. But Peter had denied Christ three times. He needs to make amends for that denial. Christ is rooting Peter in the Christian mission: feed and tend and love the people.

It’s about people.

It’s about feeding and caring for souls, and it’s all right in front of us.

In the first chapter of Acts, as Christ is ascending into Heaven, two men in white robes appear and say to those gathered, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

In other words, “Don’t stand here gazing up forever. Go on your way and make known the Gospel. Through your lives, live, breathe and be who you are - a son/daughter of the living God”