A heavenly reunion awaits...

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Thursday!  My goodness, am I ever pooped this morning!  I have, thanks to a sweet cousin with frequent flyer miles, been on a whirlwind trip to California to attend a memorial for my Aunt Ella….96 years old, she outlived 11 siblings….a good and faithful servant, sharing God’s love in so many ways all of her life….ready to meet our Father face to face!  How blessed I was to be there and share in a service of Praise and glory in her memory.  I cannot even find words to express the joy I had in seeing cousins and friends that I had not seen in many, many years….sharing memories, catching up, promising to never let so much time pass before we see, at least talk again!  A real reunion buzzing with stories, laughter, tears, pictures of kids, grandkids….overflowing with love, hugs, pictures (one cousin is a professional photographer and she brought her camera!  Can’t wait to get those pictures), joking, teasing, memories, future plans, love and more hugs!  Finally, sadly we all had to say our goodbyes and head in our separate directions….my sister and I had a 3.5 hour drive back where we would meet up with my niece and nephew, have a quick pizza and head to her house for the night….another hour and then in the morning little over an hour to the airport….we knew we had to get going, but oh my we hated the reunion to end…..as we drove off overflowing with joy, love filling our every thought, we thanked our Heavenly Father for the blessing of this time together….for the blessing of Christian family!  Cheryl and I yacked non- stop all the way to dinner and then my niece and I took it up from there, but when I finally settled down for the night, snug on Manda’s couch, in the quiet darkness, reflecting on the day I felt….peace, yes my whole body, inside and out was over taken by a peaceful…pounding….if that makes any sense….peace.  I laid still, feeling calm and relaxed……”Father, I feel You, Father….thank you for such a wonderful reunion today….You just bless us so much….thank you.”  “Oh Kathie, My precious child, you are most welcome.  I love you, it pleases Me to bless you….but Kathie….I am preparing a reunion for you and your family that will far exceed your reunion today.  I am preparing a place for you here with Me in heaven……the most magnificent reunion you could ever imagine…..you and your family of believers will be with Me in heaven someday for life everlasting with Me….Now that is a reunion for you to plan for….to count on…..look forward to…..rejoice in!  Bless you my child.”  I fell asleep with a smile on my face, in my heart….I am His child, I will have a heavenly reunion….life everlasting.  Father, rejoicing in Your love!  All glory and honor to You!!!

 

 

Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to with me that you also may be where I am. John 1:1-3.  …..rejoice that your names are written in heaven.  Luke 10:21.  But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.  Philippians 3:20-21.  Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4: 4-7. 

Love you all!

 

Are you a Mary or Martha? Luke 10:40-41

Good Morning Friends!  Totally taken with His LOVE, Tuesday!  Tomorrow Kim and I are flying to California both to attend Craig’s memorial service and also to see our son Shawn, who is still in the hospital.  Gosh when one lives on a ranch there is so much to do to get ready to go away.  I am thankful for all the neighbors and friends that are pitching in to take care of our cows, sheep, lambs, donkeys, chickens, bunnies (well Cooper and Katy are taking care of the chickens and bunnies…) and dogs.  Kim has been working tirelessly outside to get things all set up, while I have been taking care of packing and inside arrangements.  Last night I got serious about packing….wanting to just take carry on-s I had to carefully pick just the things we really need…..let’s see, I need jeans and capris, several shirts and shoes, oh gosh a light jacket, can’t forget our “Nana and Papa” shirts because we will get to see grandkids (that’s a plus), hmmm got to get all our pills, make-up…got to make sure I get what I need, but that nothing is over 2 oz. Oh gosh, gonna need some jewelry…which earrings…can’t take them all, and we need some snacks…oh gosh what would be easy to carry on, not too bulky, don’t want anything to melt…Oh I need to pack a good shirt for Kim, and something for him to read…oh he will need his glasses and we need our phone chargers…..the needs seem endless…And I sure don’t want to forget anything we NEED!!  This morning while taking care of a few more “NEEDS”  running around a bit crazy…my thoughts were drawn to an incident in God’s word…Jesus had gone to visit Mary and Martha….while Martha was busy in the kitchen taking care of everything they “NEEDED” for Jesus’ visit, Mary sat at Jesus feet and listened to HIM…..Mary sat with Jesus, while Martha stressed over  the things they “NEED”……To say the least, Martha was a bit ticked at her sister, she went to where Mary was sitting with Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!”  Don’t you just know how Martha felt, she just knew Jesus would take her side, so indeed she was surprised when Jesus relied, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one this is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:40-41.  Whoa……!!!!  Martha was obsessed with earthly “things” while Mary “sat with Jesus”  Mary got it!!!!  That’s all we “need”  Jesus, our Savior alive in our hearts, filling our minds with HIS love, forgiving us, sending the Holy Spirit to nurture our faith….Jesus, our God and Savior…..the ONE and ONLY “thing” we need!  Father forgive us when we get obsessed with earthly “things” bring us back to what matters, the only thing that matters, faith in YOU!  Father, thank you for sticking with us when this earthly stuff gets hectic, leading and guiding us all the way!  All honor, glory and praise to YOU!

 

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6.  We live by faith, not by sight (or things).  2 Corinthians 5:7.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2.  Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all this ‘things’ will be given to you as well.  Matthew 6:33.  Though you have not seen Christ, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.  1 Peter 1:8-9.