When I think back about people I’ve met through the years, so many of them I remember were members of Christian Churches all over the world. Our church has a history of supporting missionaries in wild, wonderful, and often dangerous places. Some were members here who left for a mission field. Others have been members who moved for various reasons and established themselves with a church where they landed. It’s so good to remember them. Some we grieve for because they have gone home to our Lord.
I was thinking about home and how the word differs in definition with everyone. Home can be a place, a building, a church, or even a person. One of the ways we connect with others is through knowing what struggles they faced on their way home. We can, however, know that it is possible for Joy and Sorrow to coexist because of Jesus and what He’s done to get us to our real home in Heaven. We can miss someone terribly, but remember the joy we have because they were such a light in our lives.
A Bible School song comes to me so often when I try to find my joy: “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart… down in my heart to stay.” Through the years I’ve learned other verses… “I’ve got the wonderful love of my blessed Redeemer way down in the depths of my heart…” Keep singing.
Psalm 40:1 “I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me and heard my cry.” … 3 “and he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and trust in the Lord.”
