From the Heart of My Sister

They say siblings think alike.  It must be true because my sister and I have been thinking along the very same lines lately without even talking to each other.  She wrote this, and it really touched my heart.  I knew it would be a blessing to you as well.

My sister, JoAnna, with Audra

We heard yesterday that Bro. Danny Hall passed away.  My heart breaks for his wife and family, though I know that they know that he's in a much better place and that he's so happy to finally be there.  Still the pain that his wife must bear in the night when the truth of her loss sets in.  Their memories together will stay with her forever.  He ran his race well!   Bro. Danny's testimony, faithfulness, and love for his Lord will stay with us as an example for us to follow.

Christian

Whenever I hear of someone going Home, my own heart almost hurts with envy!  Maybe that's not right, but oh, how I long to go! I know that must sound morbid to some, but my heart envies those who are finally with their Lord.  Finally walking those beautiful streets.   Finally reuniting with loved ones.  Finally free of this world!  Finally Home!  Oh, the joys they must experience there!  Sometimes I feel like a child who got left at home when all my friends got to go to the zoo!  How I long for the trumpet to blow!  It brings tears to my eyes, tears of longing!  When I hear of a saint passing on to glory, the reality once again hits me of how real Heaven is.  The beauty of it, the glory, the face of the Lord.  I can only imagine what it will be like! 

He'd open it at random, lean over the Bible and mumble as he "read". Then he raised the Bible over his head shouting "AMEN!"

Audra

I remember those days and nights before Rebekah died.   I remember seeing how her face lit up with a smile seconds before she breathed her last breath.  If Heaven could bring a smile to a six day old baby's face, oh, it must be wonderful!  I think of those verses about how the pain of this life is so small when compared to the joys of Heaven, the fact that we can't even begin to imagine what it'll be like!  I lay in bed many a night thinking about it, trying to picture it in my mind.  There's hardly a day that goes by where I don't look up at the sky wondering, "Could this be the day?" 

Andy with Christian

When Rebekah died, a part of me left this world.  I am more torn now than ever before.  Though I know that my work is not finished here, my heart longs to leave this place.  My heart longs to see my baby girl again.  My heart longs to see the One Who loves me so much. The One Who died for me.  The One in Who's hand my very existence lies.  Yes, I long to go, too.  There's nothing holding me to this world.  Oh, I'm not the perfect Christian by any stretch.  And how often do I fail my Lord!  How often do I fail to do the things I know I should.  How often do I get so busy that I shove the more important things aside for later.  No, I'm not perfect.  But somewhere deep inside of me, there's a longing to be perfect in God's eyes.  There's a yearning to hear Him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant!"  Oh, I know when I get there, I'll be so far back in the line, I'll just see the faint glow of God's throne somewhere off in the distance!  My dad ingrained one thing in me over the years, though.  That is Don't Quit!  Just keep plodding along, no matter how tough, lonely, disappointing, or painful it gets.  Just keep on going one step at a time.  So tomorrow, I'll wake up again, and ask, "Could this be the day?"  Even so Come, Lord Jesus!!!"

It's me again.  It won't be long.  One just has to read (or watch) the news to know that things are happening in the world exactly the way the Bible said they would right before the Lord comes back.  It could be days.  It could be months.  It could be years, but I do not think it will be very many years.  So exciting!  I echo her prayer, "Even so come, Lord Jesus!" 

* Swiss steak, baked potatoes, and corn