A New Home!

Before you get too anxious. No, we are not moving. The title of this blog stems from a conversation that Ephraim and I had this morning. Today, I had the pleasure of taking Carson to school as Troy had his monthly "Utility Meeting". After we dropped Carson off, Ephraim and I headed down Fourth Street.

For those of you who know me well, you know that my mother used to live on Fourth Street. This was not our childhood home, but it was the one my parents lived in after the school corporation took imminent domain over our childhood home on Sycamore Street. Anyway, I digress (surprise, surprise). As we passed my mother's former home, I said "Hi, Omi's old house!".

From the back seat a previously pretty quiet Ephraim piped up and said "Mama, that isn't Omi's home anymore, she has a new home". Of course he is right. He is usually spiritually minded about things, but I wanted to be sure, I understood what he meant, so I asked him, "Where is Omi's new home, Ephraim?". He said "In heaven of course with Jesus!".

I was glad to have Ephraim there to remind me of the brighter side of my mother's passing. I quickly perked up and took the next few minutes to talk to Ephraim about the scripture from John 14 that tells of how Jesus is going to prepare a place for His disciples, for those of us who believe in Him as our personal Savior. My mom believed. Omi is in that glorious place that Christ, Himself prepared for her.

When I went to look up the scripture to share with you here on my blog, my eyes rested on the passages preceding and following it. I want to share them with you:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

What wonderful news! My heart still gets troubled when I miss my mom, but I know I can Trust God! I do Trust in Him and His Son Jesus! He is preparing a place for me too. Not only is He preparing the place, but He is coming back for me. Me, He is coming back for me personally. Some people fear their own death, not me. While I don't desire to do anything that would hasten my death, I do welcome seeing my Savior's face.

The last verse says, "You know the way to the place where I am going". I am so glad that I had parents, grandparents, school teachers, Sunday school teachers, friends, family and spiritual mentors that helped me to figure out "the way". There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus is "THE Way". I pray that you know that with assurance too.

I am looking forward to my "new home" as Ephraim put it. I keep thinking about that song I learned growing up: "Heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace, I wanna see my Savior's face, Oh Heaven is a wonderful, Heaven is a wonderful, Heaven is a wonderful place".

Speaking of our Savior's face, our Bible Study lesson with the kids and the adults today at BSF was about when Moses asked to see God's face. We didn't get specific with the 2 & 3year olds about it, but the older children heard it. I think it must have been so amazing for Moses to be in such close contact with God. Such a personal relationship that he would feel comfortable asking God to see His face. While God said that was not possible, God did allow Moses to see His glory. As He passed by Moses saw His back. That coupled with Moses 40 Day 40 Night encounter with God, made Moses face radiant. He glowed from having been with God.

We were asked today if anyone could see that we were changed by the time we spend with God. I hope that people see a change in me. I hope that my face is more full of grace and radiates God's love to those around me. Not because I want the glory, but because I want to give God all the credit.

I am prayerful that I will see all of you in my "New Home". I know I am looking forward to seeing my mom, my father and all my friends and family that have gone before me in faith. Do you know "THE Way"?