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July 1, 2008
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Going Home, by Sarah Stirman
The phone call came on a Tuesday morning, just as my family was yawning
awake to face another busy day. Not at all unexpected, but unwilling to
verbalize what was reality, my dad simply said, "Well, you know why
I've called." And I did. My grandfather's victory was won: he was
finally free of a body imprisoned by pain.
I set about my day making plans for leaving my home -- getting my
children's school work squared away, church obligations taken care of,
and substitute plans in place for my absence. My husband performed the
same juggling act for his work. The next morning we packed up here, my
"grown-up home" where I have a family and a job and a mortgage and
friends and church family and church obligations -- and headed to my
childhood home. We left West Texas, with its scrubby mesquite trees and
arid climate and drove to my childhood home, the claustrophobic
embracing trees of North Louisiana with its oppressive humidity and
heat. We gathered to celebrate the life -- earthly and eternal -- of my
grandfather, a crucial part of my heritage of faith.
The morning we left Louisiana, I took a walk as the rest of the world
came awake. I watched the sun rise over the bayou and cherished this
place, my home -- the place that knows my people, my kin, the place
that knows from whence I came, the place that has known me and loved me
from the beginning. It is so comfortable here. Here I feel so much "at
home" ... but not quite.
My thoughts turned to my "grown-up home," where I would be going later
that day -- the place where my friends surround me and love me in spite
of my weaknesses, the place where I raise my family and serve the Lord
in His church. So much "at home" ... but not quite.
Then I thought of my grandfather. He was finally home. He was where I
long to be. The world says, "You can never go home again." Scripture
says, "I am going to prepare a place for you" (John 14:1-3). We haven't
even been home yet! The world says, "Home is where the heart is."
Scripture says, "Set your mind on things above" (Colossians 3:1-4).
Our heavenly home knows from whence we came:
For you created my inmost being;
Put on my heart a longing for my Home.
you knit me together in my mother's womb
(Psalm 139:13).
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:15-16).
Our heavenly home also loves us in spite of our weaknesses. Better yet,
"My power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Paul reminded the Philippians of our citizenship in heaven (Philippians
3:20-21). Each time a precious saint of this earth passes into heaven,
I am reminded again that this earthly house and body that I am blessed
with are only meant to be temporary shelter, not a permanent dwelling (2
Corinthians 5:1-10).
Lord, don't let the attractions of this world block the beauty of
my eternal home. Remind me daily of the things of You that are
truly important and lead me to recognize the things of this world
that are simply burdensome distractions. Put on my heart a longing
for my Home.
---------
(c) 2008 Sarah Stirman <sarahstir79605@yahoo.com>
RELATED LINKS:
* Standing at the Gate
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200503/20050323_gate.html
* How to Get to Heaven
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200208/20020818_heaven.html
* A Little Taste of Heaven
http://www.heartlight.org/two_minute/2m_990120_taste.html
* The Cleft of the Rock
http://www.sarahstirman.blogspot.com/
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200807/20080701_goinghome.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
VELVET ELVIS: REPAINTING THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, by Rob Bell
In this provocative, hopeful book, Bell asks what the church might look
like if today's believers fully embraced "the way" of love, peace,
sharing possessions, compassion, risk, forgiveness, and harmony.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?254
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