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Listen while you read: "I Will Sing The Wondrous Story"1 (Lyrics) |
Psalm 100:1-3,5 – Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of His pasture. For the Lord is good and His love endures for ever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (NIV)
Once again, a family reunion was arranged, and many of the family journeyed hundreds of kilometres to be together. From the beginning, there was excitement, anticipation, and joyful preparations for the event. The destination property looked like a campground with tents and camper trailers.
The journey had been safe and many landmarks were observed: distant mountains, bridges crossing rivers, sleeping villages, woods beside the highway, and history all around. A two-year-old got very excited seeing wind turbines, shouting, "Look, look!" After hours on the road, also was heard, "Are we there yet?"
The long weekend was a successful encounter with all participants. There were nature walks, campfires, and sauna and hot-tub visits, along with good eating, and waking up in the morning for more. It was all fun, as well as a bonding time among 2- to 63-year-olds.
The downside was that I was left behind to recuperate from a recent lung infection, missing my family and seeing and watching and listening to the family humour and laughter around me. They were in my thoughts and prayers. It was delightful to hear a twelve-year-old tell me that I was missed at the family reunion. He said that I am the head of the family. It brought tears to my eyes.
Just as we have received an invitation to a family reunion here on earth, so we have a standing invitation to attend the eternal reunion of God's family in heaven. Turning to God is the key to taking our place in the family of God. To toss out such an invitation spells eternal separation from God. Jesus is the answer, and when we have Jesus, we have it all.
As I missed my family reunion, I ended up thinking how God, the head of His family, will miss many at the family reunion of all times. For a God-fearing mother, the issue of how the family turns out once they've left home to try their own wings can be a load to carry. All we can do is to pray and speak the blessing of God upon them.
As we journey through life, there are landmarks that keep us mindful of each other: anxious times finishing academic schooling, finding a job, births, marriages, the death of loved ones, health issues, and other challenges. The Bible is our map and compass showing us how to stay on the path of righteousness. It also shares the good news of the joy of forgiveness. So we should observe these spiritual signs showing us how to find our way to God, with a resounding "Are we there yet?"
My soul is filled with a triumphant song of praise and gratitude as I listen to the reports of a safe and perfect family reunion. How much more triumphant will be our arriving at the heavenly family reunion because of God's love through Christ Jesus, our Lord and Redeemer!
Prayer: Lord God, thank You for all family reunions down here on earth and finally in Your heaven. Grant that none will be left behind but that all may be found triumphantly in eternal life. We celebrate joyfully in Jesus' name! Amen!
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So true Kirsti.
Lovely Kirsti! Thanks for sharing.
Dear Kirsti
I loved your devotional from today.
How good it is to get together with family! And what a reunion we have to look forward to in heaven some day. Blessings.
Thank you so much for this message. We are about to have our reunion and many of our young have wandered away from church. They believe in God, yet don’t worship Him. This message has wonderfully put together the reason we need to come together. I just love it!!
God bless.
Thank you Kirsti for this beautiful and encouraging testimony. It soothes my aching heart as I pray for the miracle needed to bring about the healing of the fractured relationship between two of my immediate family so we can have the coming holiday celebrations together as we have for the past ten years. I know God answers prayer and I believe in miracles. Today is critical and I really needed your devotional.
Dear Kirsti,
What a great family reunion you speak of! I’m sorry you couldn’t be there, but I’m very glad you could write of it.
And how well you compare it with the reunion in heaven to which we are all invited!
I hope you can get this devotional out to all those who attended. Possibly with your Christmas cards?? You, no doubt, have more to share than there was room for in the devotional.
Keep writing.
Good Morning Kirsti:
A beautiful devotional assuring us we will never have to miss our family reunion for sickness or any other earthly reason once we get to be with our Lord in our heavenly home. God’s plan is perfect and we will gather together, as His children, whenever we want to.
I can’t wait to see those who have gone on before me and will watch carefully for those who will follow me into eternity. What a marvelous place it will be.
A devotional that makes us realize how wonderful the fellowship will be in the home prepared for us by our Saviour.
Hi Kirsti,
The last paragraph before the prayer was the one that meant so much to me. With almost all of my family living in troubled land the final reunion in heaven will be the one I look forward to.
“And then what happy meetings on Canaan’s golden shore. What knitting severed friendships up where partings are no more. Their eyes with joy shall sparkle that brimmed with tears of late. Orphans no longer fatherless or widows desolate.”
That is my favourite verse of the hymn, Ten thousand times ten thousand. My memory is not what it used to be but that is more or less what that verse says.
God’s blessing on you Kirsti.
Thank you Kirsti,
Beautiful words, Loving message.
Be Blessed.