HOME - HOME - GOING HOME
Isaiah 9: 2 - 6
I read just recently that one in six Americans move
each year, and according to the Census Bureau, 43 million Americans, or 16% of
the U.S. population, moved to a new residence during any one year. I also
learned that we move for a variety of reasons, among them: to be nearer (or
further) from our families, because of our jobs, and because we are able to
afford a larger or more expensive home.
With these thoughts in mind I stopped and I counted
the times Kitty and I have moved in our fifty seven plus years of marriage.
Care to guess? Fifteen times! We’ve moved for a variety of reasons, most of
them having to do with my decision to enter the ministry. Moving is very
traumatic. Believe it or not, we moved on December 17th—a week
before Christmas once; and the next day I had a funeral. We also moved one
time to a new pastorate that was in the midst of a series of revival
services. I’m sure we all have our “war stories” about moving. Few tasks rival
the physical difficulty and emotional drain of moving your entire household,
whether it’s across town or across the nation.
Christmas for me, and for most Christians, is all
about the joy, wonder, birth of the One whos name is to be called Jesus.
Don't you just love this season of the year. But others are experiencing a
far different holiday season this year. I am thinking of all those mothers,
dad's, husbands and wives who are facing their first Christmas without having
their son/daughter home for Christmas. I am thinking of the families of over
2,000 service men and women who have died in Iraq who also won’t have their
loved ones home for the first time this Christmas. I am thinking of the
families who dread the coming of Christmas because of the pain of loss they
will feel - the loss of a loved one.
Now, as we approach another Christmas, I want this
Christmas to be one that we might learn anew that our God is the God of
nevertheless—the God who is making all things new. Isaiah speaks to you and
me, saying in this passage, “Nevertheless, there will
be no more gloom for those who were in distress…the people walking in darkness
have seen a great light; on those living in the shadow of death a light has
dawned..” That verse contains one of the greatest words I believe we
will find in the entire Bible. It’s the word
nevertheless: My friends, no matter what you
are facing, as a child of the King He is coming to take you home.
"SAFELY HOME"
I
am at home in Heaven, dear ones;
Oh, so happy
and so bright!
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting
light
All pain and grief is over,
Every
restless tossing passed;
I am now
at peace forever,
Safely home
in Heaven at last.
Did you
wonder I so calmly
Trod the
valley of the shade?
Oh! but
Jesus' love illumined
Every dark
and fearful gade.
And He came
Himself to meet me
In that way
so hard to tread;
And with
Jesus' arm to lean on,
Could I have
one doubt or dread?
Then you
must not grieve so sorely,
For I
love you dearly still:
Try to look
beyond earth's shadows,
Pray to
trust our Father's Will.
There is
work still waiting for you,
So you
must not idly stand;
Do it
now, while life remainith -
You shall
rest in Jesus' land.
When that
work is all completed,
He will
gently call you Home;
Oh, the
rapture of that meeting,
Oh, the
joy to see you come!
[I do not know the author; do you?]
><))):> In
"HIS"
Service
Bro. Roy