"And still stronger is the assurance that we have in the teaching of the Prophets; to which you will do well to pay attention (as if it were a lamp shining in a gloomy place), until the Day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts." - 2 Peter 1:19
Well, it’s almost December, and you know what that means: a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on (and no, I’m not talking about the cold weather)! I’m talking about the rat race we are soon to find ourselves in: running around from one party to the next… keeping the roads hot and the cars worn out… frantically trying to get all of our shopping in whenever we can squeeze it in to our schedules.
In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the upcoming month, I really want to try to be more intentional about spending some quality time with God each day. By that, I mean not just trying to ‘fit Him in’ somewhere, but really purposefully meeting with my Savior, for Whom and by Whom this season (and every other) exists. With all that will come at our family during this time, it will be difficult for sure… but it will also be so crucial to us catching the real meaning of Christmas.
Daniel
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
#323.3 – “It’s Been Five Months…”
"For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,' says the LORD…" - Jeremiah 30:17
As Sarah and I were getting ready for work the other day, I noticed that her shoulder (the one that had been eaten up by the pavement the day she took a spill off of Grant’s bicycle) had improved so much… to the point that it really is starting to look like her normal skin again. I commented on it… and she appreciated me noticing. She then went on to say how it had been five months since her accident.
Healing takes time, whether it’s a scratched shoulder, a bruised body, or a heavy heart. Scars both physical and emotional take a long time sometimes to heal… if they ever completely heal at all. Sarah’s shoulder will likely always show some mark of that accident; even when she is ninety years old, you will probably able to look at it and see that something had happened to it.
Hurts leave wounds, and wounds often leave scars… scars that may never go away entirely… but – with God’s grace – those injuries can often heal to the point of the body being useful again. Sarah’s shoulder was so sore the first few days after falling that she could hardly move it… and now, she can do anything she wants with it… with no pain or restrictions. It has healed completely. Oh, that we would go to God and seek His wonderful, matchless grace to do the same where there have been wounds to our hearts and our emotions. And that we would be obedient to do what He says to do to help bring about healing where it needs to take place.
Daniel
As Sarah and I were getting ready for work the other day, I noticed that her shoulder (the one that had been eaten up by the pavement the day she took a spill off of Grant’s bicycle) had improved so much… to the point that it really is starting to look like her normal skin again. I commented on it… and she appreciated me noticing. She then went on to say how it had been five months since her accident.
Healing takes time, whether it’s a scratched shoulder, a bruised body, or a heavy heart. Scars both physical and emotional take a long time sometimes to heal… if they ever completely heal at all. Sarah’s shoulder will likely always show some mark of that accident; even when she is ninety years old, you will probably able to look at it and see that something had happened to it.
Hurts leave wounds, and wounds often leave scars… scars that may never go away entirely… but – with God’s grace – those injuries can often heal to the point of the body being useful again. Sarah’s shoulder was so sore the first few days after falling that she could hardly move it… and now, she can do anything she wants with it… with no pain or restrictions. It has healed completely. Oh, that we would go to God and seek His wonderful, matchless grace to do the same where there have been wounds to our hearts and our emotions. And that we would be obedient to do what He says to do to help bring about healing where it needs to take place.
Daniel
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
#323.2 – “The Honor System”
"For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:21
Since we were trying to get the kids some money for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, I had told the girls that even though I would not be there to see them Saturday, if they would tell me what all they did to help Grammie and/or Debra while they were at the shower, I would pay them some money for their work too. That evening, I got a full report on what all they had done, and I tallied up some funds accordingly. Of course, we were operating under the ‘honor system’; I was taking them at their word for what they had done.
The honor system is only as ‘good’ as its participants; the whole thing falls apart if someone chooses to lie. Any mutual agreement is dependent upon the integrity of the participants. That’s why God’s system of salvation is sort of a one-sided honor system: because we are sinners, our salvation cannot be based upon our goodness; rather, it is based solely upon the goodness of Christ. He is the only truly honorable One in the scenario; it is His righteousness alone that makes the whole thing possible. Our ‘part’, if you want to call it that, is to simply rely upon His goodness and trust His integrity. When we do, the system ‘works’; we exchange our sin-filled lives for His perfect righteousness.
Give thanks for the fact that God’s perfect system of salvation is based solely on His perfection and righteousness, seeing as it would be flawed and fallible if it were based upon ours. Be grateful for His immense love for us, that He would even be willing to enter into this ‘pact’ with us sinners at all. If you have never accepted His gift of salvation, why not do it today? Talk with someone who is a Christian about it… and share in the joy of this most wonderful ‘trade agreement’!
Daniel
Since we were trying to get the kids some money for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, I had told the girls that even though I would not be there to see them Saturday, if they would tell me what all they did to help Grammie and/or Debra while they were at the shower, I would pay them some money for their work too. That evening, I got a full report on what all they had done, and I tallied up some funds accordingly. Of course, we were operating under the ‘honor system’; I was taking them at their word for what they had done.
The honor system is only as ‘good’ as its participants; the whole thing falls apart if someone chooses to lie. Any mutual agreement is dependent upon the integrity of the participants. That’s why God’s system of salvation is sort of a one-sided honor system: because we are sinners, our salvation cannot be based upon our goodness; rather, it is based solely upon the goodness of Christ. He is the only truly honorable One in the scenario; it is His righteousness alone that makes the whole thing possible. Our ‘part’, if you want to call it that, is to simply rely upon His goodness and trust His integrity. When we do, the system ‘works’; we exchange our sin-filled lives for His perfect righteousness.
Give thanks for the fact that God’s perfect system of salvation is based solely on His perfection and righteousness, seeing as it would be flawed and fallible if it were based upon ours. Be grateful for His immense love for us, that He would even be willing to enter into this ‘pact’ with us sinners at all. If you have never accepted His gift of salvation, why not do it today? Talk with someone who is a Christian about it… and share in the joy of this most wonderful ‘trade agreement’!
Daniel
Monday, November 15, 2010
#323.1 – “Incentive”
"Only fear the LORD, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you." - 1 Samuel 12:24
Sarah was gone Saturday with all the staff ladies. The girls went to a baby shower for their aunt Debra with Grammie. So that left me and the boys at the house. We three men managed to get a whole lot of work done in that one day (not that we wouldn’t get a whole lot done with the women folk there). We pulled weeds… trimmed bushes… pruned trees… hauled all of that to the road… and hammered nails on the deck and fence. All in all, my two assistants really helped a lot. They did so at least partially because they had a good incentive: this was the way they were earning money for Operation Christmas Child. Every task had a price associated with it, and they were tallying it up as we went. By the end of the day, they had the majority of what they would need to fill a shoebox each.
Now… if I can just get Joshua to remember that the money he earned is for somebody else!
Having a good incentive is crucial to being motivated to do anything. When Christ went to the cross, His motivation was the relationship He would have with us. By accomplishing the task before Him - seeing His own death through to the end - He proved that He deems us worthy of such a monumental thing.
So should we have what He did on our behalf long ago as our motivation to respond to His love by giving our lives every day in His service, with a grateful heart.
Daniel
Sarah was gone Saturday with all the staff ladies. The girls went to a baby shower for their aunt Debra with Grammie. So that left me and the boys at the house. We three men managed to get a whole lot of work done in that one day (not that we wouldn’t get a whole lot done with the women folk there). We pulled weeds… trimmed bushes… pruned trees… hauled all of that to the road… and hammered nails on the deck and fence. All in all, my two assistants really helped a lot. They did so at least partially because they had a good incentive: this was the way they were earning money for Operation Christmas Child. Every task had a price associated with it, and they were tallying it up as we went. By the end of the day, they had the majority of what they would need to fill a shoebox each.
Now… if I can just get Joshua to remember that the money he earned is for somebody else!
Having a good incentive is crucial to being motivated to do anything. When Christ went to the cross, His motivation was the relationship He would have with us. By accomplishing the task before Him - seeing His own death through to the end - He proved that He deems us worthy of such a monumental thing.
So should we have what He did on our behalf long ago as our motivation to respond to His love by giving our lives every day in His service, with a grateful heart.
Daniel
Friday, November 12, 2010
#322.3 – “Garbage for Breakfast”
"… You our God have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such deliverance as this." - Ezra 9:13
This morning, I asked the kids to help me get ready to leave the house. Everyone earned a dollar by doing a few extra jobs - emptying all the trash and taking it outside… cleaning up the kitchen… taking tools to our van for me - all of that in addition to our normal routine. I told them up front the money they would earn would go towards their Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes for other children (Sarah and I talked about it and felt like it would be good for them to earn the money they use towards these gifts, so that they have a real sense of ownership in the process). They agreed and worked like little troopers… and we got out of the house on time and off to school.
So I guess you could say that my kids had garbage for breakfast!
Doing something for someone who could never possibly pay you back is a treasure unique to Christ’s way of thinking. He - the God of the universe - came down as a man in order to die on a cross so that we (dirty rotten sinners) could actually have a way to a meaningful relationship with Him. We bring nothing to the table but our filthy rags… He brings His righteousness. We could never in a million years of trying begin to earn that love… He gives it freely to all who put their faith in Him. He got a much worse deal than garbage for breakfast… and we get the fullness in Him living in us! What a wonder! What a blessing!
May we all revel in His love for us today. May we show that purely selfless love to another person who, like us, is flawed and doesn’t deserve it.
Daniel
This morning, I asked the kids to help me get ready to leave the house. Everyone earned a dollar by doing a few extra jobs - emptying all the trash and taking it outside… cleaning up the kitchen… taking tools to our van for me - all of that in addition to our normal routine. I told them up front the money they would earn would go towards their Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes for other children (Sarah and I talked about it and felt like it would be good for them to earn the money they use towards these gifts, so that they have a real sense of ownership in the process). They agreed and worked like little troopers… and we got out of the house on time and off to school.
So I guess you could say that my kids had garbage for breakfast!
Doing something for someone who could never possibly pay you back is a treasure unique to Christ’s way of thinking. He - the God of the universe - came down as a man in order to die on a cross so that we (dirty rotten sinners) could actually have a way to a meaningful relationship with Him. We bring nothing to the table but our filthy rags… He brings His righteousness. We could never in a million years of trying begin to earn that love… He gives it freely to all who put their faith in Him. He got a much worse deal than garbage for breakfast… and we get the fullness in Him living in us! What a wonder! What a blessing!
May we all revel in His love for us today. May we show that purely selfless love to another person who, like us, is flawed and doesn’t deserve it.
Daniel
Thursday, November 11, 2010
#322.2 – “Cauliflower for Dinner”
"Remember, and forget not, how thou provoked the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD." - Deuteronomy 9:7
The other night, I was helping Ruthie study for her geography exam of the 50 states and capitals. I would call out the state and she would give me the capital. She would get most of them without hesitation. There were a few, however, that seemed to trip her up (ha ha – get it? trip… states… oh well, I tried!). One match that she had a hard time making was Denver, Colorado.
At one point, she and I were walking through the house, reviewing that state/capital, when Sarah overheard us. She interjected a memory tool for Ruthie to use: she suggested that Ruthie think about how Denver sounds like ‘dinner’… and how Colorado sounds like ‘Cauliflower’… and to think about having cauliflower for dinner (now you’re getting a glimpse into what I live with all the time)!!!
Well, I don’t know if that helped Ruthie or not, but I sure won’t ever forget that the capital of Colorado is Dinner (I mean Denver)!
It’s amazing when you stop and consider how God has made the human brain with a capacity for memory… and yet, it is to our shame that we as people are so prone to forget God. We tend to be like cats with God – we just love on Him whenever we want or need something, and then dump Him as soon as we’re full, or happy, or whatever. We forget how good and true and right and pure He is, and we don’t remember how much we need Him constantly in our lives.
And that’s one of the reasons why it is so important that we stoke the fire of our relationship with God on a regular basis. He is living, and our relationship with Him should be a living one as well. His love deserves our ‘remembering’ Him in prayer and Bible study.
So have some cauliflower for dinner tonight… and remember God!
Daniel
The other night, I was helping Ruthie study for her geography exam of the 50 states and capitals. I would call out the state and she would give me the capital. She would get most of them without hesitation. There were a few, however, that seemed to trip her up (ha ha – get it? trip… states… oh well, I tried!). One match that she had a hard time making was Denver, Colorado.
At one point, she and I were walking through the house, reviewing that state/capital, when Sarah overheard us. She interjected a memory tool for Ruthie to use: she suggested that Ruthie think about how Denver sounds like ‘dinner’… and how Colorado sounds like ‘Cauliflower’… and to think about having cauliflower for dinner (now you’re getting a glimpse into what I live with all the time)!!!
Well, I don’t know if that helped Ruthie or not, but I sure won’t ever forget that the capital of Colorado is Dinner (I mean Denver)!
It’s amazing when you stop and consider how God has made the human brain with a capacity for memory… and yet, it is to our shame that we as people are so prone to forget God. We tend to be like cats with God – we just love on Him whenever we want or need something, and then dump Him as soon as we’re full, or happy, or whatever. We forget how good and true and right and pure He is, and we don’t remember how much we need Him constantly in our lives.
And that’s one of the reasons why it is so important that we stoke the fire of our relationship with God on a regular basis. He is living, and our relationship with Him should be a living one as well. His love deserves our ‘remembering’ Him in prayer and Bible study.
So have some cauliflower for dinner tonight… and remember God!
Daniel
Monday, November 8, 2010
#322.1 – “Privileges”
"Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time." - Colossians 4:2-5
Ever since Anna turned twelve, she has exercised her right to ride up in the front passenger seat of the van (according to the law-watcher of our house, she was not supposed to do that before twelve years old; good thing Sarah keeps up with stuff like that… I’d probably have had the kid riding up there at age six and a half!!!). Anyway, there has not been a day since last week that she has chosen to ride in her old seat in the back as long as the front seat was available.
I don’t know of a kid who turns sixteen and has a car that doesn’t really care to drive. I’ve never heard of a boy who starts having facial hair that doesn’t want to shave (I actually started long before I had any real hair on my face; now I wish I could go without shaving permanently!). Never seen a woman whose been offered a discount at the check out line that hasn’t taken it. The point is that once a privilege is offered to us, we usually jump right on it.
And yet, how many times have I had the privilege to pray to the Almighty and passed? How often do I have time to look into His character through His Word and have not taken that opportunity? And how many chances have I had to share Jesus with someone and not done it?
Forgive me for my lackadaisical attitude towards You, Lord. Press upon me the importance of each opportunity I have to further my relationship with You.
Daniel
Ever since Anna turned twelve, she has exercised her right to ride up in the front passenger seat of the van (according to the law-watcher of our house, she was not supposed to do that before twelve years old; good thing Sarah keeps up with stuff like that… I’d probably have had the kid riding up there at age six and a half!!!). Anyway, there has not been a day since last week that she has chosen to ride in her old seat in the back as long as the front seat was available.
I don’t know of a kid who turns sixteen and has a car that doesn’t really care to drive. I’ve never heard of a boy who starts having facial hair that doesn’t want to shave (I actually started long before I had any real hair on my face; now I wish I could go without shaving permanently!). Never seen a woman whose been offered a discount at the check out line that hasn’t taken it. The point is that once a privilege is offered to us, we usually jump right on it.
And yet, how many times have I had the privilege to pray to the Almighty and passed? How often do I have time to look into His character through His Word and have not taken that opportunity? And how many chances have I had to share Jesus with someone and not done it?
Forgive me for my lackadaisical attitude towards You, Lord. Press upon me the importance of each opportunity I have to further my relationship with You.
Daniel
Friday, November 5, 2010
#321.4 – “Post-Birthday Surprise”
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again, and then, in his delight, went and sold everything that he had, and bought that field." – Matthew 13:44
Yesterday - as we were pulling out of our neighborhood – I stopped at the stop sign (novel idea, don’t you agree?) and looked to see if there were any cars coming down Hwy 72 (just plain good sense). There was a car coming, which caused me to wait for a moment. As I was sitting there, I looked over to my right and saw what looked like a dollar bill in the grass right beside the passenger side of the van… just a few feet away. I pointed it out to Anna, who was sitting in the passenger seat. Knowing she wasn’t going to have to get anywhere close to the highway (disclaimer for all grandparents reading this), I told her to step out for a second and check it out. She did… and discovered that it was a ten dollar bill. Since her birthday had been the day before, and she had been the one to go after it, I told her it was hers. She was excited about it. I told her that she should be excited, because finding money just lying around is an extremely rare thing!
If only everyone understood how rare is the love of God… how perfect and pure and precious! If they could get a glimpse of the wonder and the absolute amazement of the splendor of our King… to see Him for who He is… to realize what a treasure He is. If only they would be willing to give up whatever they are clinging to and go after Him! Oh, that we as the Body might help them see a true picture of His likeness, in order that all of these things might come to pass!
Daniel
Yesterday - as we were pulling out of our neighborhood – I stopped at the stop sign (novel idea, don’t you agree?) and looked to see if there were any cars coming down Hwy 72 (just plain good sense). There was a car coming, which caused me to wait for a moment. As I was sitting there, I looked over to my right and saw what looked like a dollar bill in the grass right beside the passenger side of the van… just a few feet away. I pointed it out to Anna, who was sitting in the passenger seat. Knowing she wasn’t going to have to get anywhere close to the highway (disclaimer for all grandparents reading this), I told her to step out for a second and check it out. She did… and discovered that it was a ten dollar bill. Since her birthday had been the day before, and she had been the one to go after it, I told her it was hers. She was excited about it. I told her that she should be excited, because finding money just lying around is an extremely rare thing!
If only everyone understood how rare is the love of God… how perfect and pure and precious! If they could get a glimpse of the wonder and the absolute amazement of the splendor of our King… to see Him for who He is… to realize what a treasure He is. If only they would be willing to give up whatever they are clinging to and go after Him! Oh, that we as the Body might help them see a true picture of His likeness, in order that all of these things might come to pass!
Daniel
Thursday, November 4, 2010
#321.3 – “It’s His Job”
"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." – Luke 19:10
Yesterday Grant and Joshua were up here at the office after school. Joshua was playing on his video game (I let him play because he told me he didn’t have any homework; I later found out that he did… but it only took five minutes to do). After several minutes of serious gaming, Joshua ran across a problem he could not solve or a play he could not make… and so he sought the only true expert in such matters in our family – his older brother. The only problem with that was that Grant was working on his homework (with some extreme encouragement from dear old dad). Naturally, Grant was more than willing to put aside such a tedious trifle as homework to take care of more important matters like showing Joshua how to beat the computer at the baseball game he was playing.
I came around the corner about that time and saw what was going on and immediately put an end to it, and furthermore told Joshua that he was not allowed to disturb his brother (for gaming advice) while he was doing his homework. This, of course, brought out the little defense lawyer in Joshua. When he got overruled, the whiny baby showed himself. Once his game got taken away, the child who will sit and listen appeared. At that point, I explained to him (for the third time) that his brother’s job was not to help him hit a home run on the video game, but rather to do his homework!
God no doubt has lots of ‘jobs’, if we can call them that; there are many things He oversees and does (many more than any of us can fathom… which is pretty amazing in itself!), but there is really one thing that remains His focus at this time: seeing lost souls come to know Him… to be reborn… and to be made into His likeness. It’s His singular passion. It’s what He does.
I wonder (and I say this with an awareness of how desperately I fail at this) just what our world would be like if those of us who know Christ had the same passion and focus?
Daniel
Yesterday Grant and Joshua were up here at the office after school. Joshua was playing on his video game (I let him play because he told me he didn’t have any homework; I later found out that he did… but it only took five minutes to do). After several minutes of serious gaming, Joshua ran across a problem he could not solve or a play he could not make… and so he sought the only true expert in such matters in our family – his older brother. The only problem with that was that Grant was working on his homework (with some extreme encouragement from dear old dad). Naturally, Grant was more than willing to put aside such a tedious trifle as homework to take care of more important matters like showing Joshua how to beat the computer at the baseball game he was playing.
I came around the corner about that time and saw what was going on and immediately put an end to it, and furthermore told Joshua that he was not allowed to disturb his brother (for gaming advice) while he was doing his homework. This, of course, brought out the little defense lawyer in Joshua. When he got overruled, the whiny baby showed himself. Once his game got taken away, the child who will sit and listen appeared. At that point, I explained to him (for the third time) that his brother’s job was not to help him hit a home run on the video game, but rather to do his homework!
God no doubt has lots of ‘jobs’, if we can call them that; there are many things He oversees and does (many more than any of us can fathom… which is pretty amazing in itself!), but there is really one thing that remains His focus at this time: seeing lost souls come to know Him… to be reborn… and to be made into His likeness. It’s His singular passion. It’s what He does.
I wonder (and I say this with an awareness of how desperately I fail at this) just what our world would be like if those of us who know Christ had the same passion and focus?
Daniel
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
#321.2 – “Ruthie and Ashlyn Kate”
"He (Paul) laid before them and explained that the Christ must undergo suffering and rise from the dead; and "It is this man," he declared, "who is the Christ--this Jesus about whom I am telling you." Some of the people were convinced, and threw in their lot with Paul and Silas, as did also a large body of Greeks who were accustomed to join in the Jewish services, and a great number of women belonging to the leading families. But the Jews, becoming jealous, engaged some worthless fellows from the streets, and, getting a mob together, kept the city in an uproar. They attacked Jason's house, with the intention of bringing Paul and Silas before the Popular Assembly." - Acts 17:3-5
Anna bought a doll for her birthday, and named it Ashlyn Kate. We knew that Ruthie would likely see this doll and want one of her own, but we also knew that Ruthie tends to be pretty selfless about such matters… and we figured she could wait until Christmas for her own. Sure enough, Ruthie didn’t whine or complain at all about not getting a doll (she did get a few other little things while the shopping excursion was going on). She has only asked to play with the doll once since then… and the rest of the time she has been content to let Anna enjoy her birthday present.
Jealousy has no place amongst the community of believers. It will choke out any growth and ruin relationships if given room to breathe. We must keep our hearts in check with the Holy Spirit to see if we are harboring any feelings of jealousy towards another, and we must rely on His strength to overcome those feelings and realize the full extent of the grace we ourselves have been given. For when we understand how much we truly have (and how much, therefore, we have for which to be thankful), we have no reason for which to be jealous.
Daniel
Anna bought a doll for her birthday, and named it Ashlyn Kate. We knew that Ruthie would likely see this doll and want one of her own, but we also knew that Ruthie tends to be pretty selfless about such matters… and we figured she could wait until Christmas for her own. Sure enough, Ruthie didn’t whine or complain at all about not getting a doll (she did get a few other little things while the shopping excursion was going on). She has only asked to play with the doll once since then… and the rest of the time she has been content to let Anna enjoy her birthday present.
Jealousy has no place amongst the community of believers. It will choke out any growth and ruin relationships if given room to breathe. We must keep our hearts in check with the Holy Spirit to see if we are harboring any feelings of jealousy towards another, and we must rely on His strength to overcome those feelings and realize the full extent of the grace we ourselves have been given. For when we understand how much we truly have (and how much, therefore, we have for which to be thankful), we have no reason for which to be jealous.
Daniel
Monday, November 1, 2010
#321.1 – “Old Friends”
"In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." - John 14:2-3
Anna will be twelve years old this Wednesday. She already got her big birthday treat, which was going to see her friend Erin (who now lives in GA) this weekend. We took a trip Saturday to Alpharetta (which was a good place to meet for lunch and some birthday shopping). It is astonishing to me see how close Anna feels to Erin, being that they don’t see each other now more than once every few years (Erin is the oldest daughter of our friends Ronnie and Kim, with whom we served in our first church ministry position after college… Anna and Erin grew up in the nursery together, and have been close ever since). Upon meeting, they immediately hugged each other. Then they sat by each other at lunch… talking and laughing. They spent the whole afternoon together, and Anna enjoyed every minute of it. We did too. It is nice to see old friends.
That reunion brings to mind the reunion we will have with all the saints of God upon the return of Christ. What a truly joyful time that will be… seeing friends and loved ones of old… all in one accord and with one purpose of bringing glory to our great Redeemer. Oh, how we ought to look forward to that Day… and how we should let that eternal perspective drive our minds and hearts to missions and evangelism and bringing others along with us to that great Reunion!
Daniel
Anna will be twelve years old this Wednesday. She already got her big birthday treat, which was going to see her friend Erin (who now lives in GA) this weekend. We took a trip Saturday to Alpharetta (which was a good place to meet for lunch and some birthday shopping). It is astonishing to me see how close Anna feels to Erin, being that they don’t see each other now more than once every few years (Erin is the oldest daughter of our friends Ronnie and Kim, with whom we served in our first church ministry position after college… Anna and Erin grew up in the nursery together, and have been close ever since). Upon meeting, they immediately hugged each other. Then they sat by each other at lunch… talking and laughing. They spent the whole afternoon together, and Anna enjoyed every minute of it. We did too. It is nice to see old friends.
That reunion brings to mind the reunion we will have with all the saints of God upon the return of Christ. What a truly joyful time that will be… seeing friends and loved ones of old… all in one accord and with one purpose of bringing glory to our great Redeemer. Oh, how we ought to look forward to that Day… and how we should let that eternal perspective drive our minds and hearts to missions and evangelism and bringing others along with us to that great Reunion!
Daniel
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