A GREATER
REUNION IS
COMING!
The summer is winding down it seems. We are already
in the middle of August and fall will be upon us soon. I am sitting here
reflecting on the last two months. There have been moments of great joy and
moments of despair and uncertainty. But I have learned that in the midst of all
that has been going on in my life, God is still control. He calms my fears and
comforts me in the midst of this latest cancer struggle and chemotherapy and
gave me strength to go on in this very special summer. I was even able to
preach one Sunday, and again, in His strength and anointing.
This summer was a summer of reunions. Some of
these dear ones we will never have the opportunity to see again this side of
heaven. And, Oh, the memories of family dear and the laughter and the tears,
and all those hard miles of traveling through some of the most beautiful
mountains of God’s creation.
My first reunion was in early June, a calm quiet
Tuesday morning when we had a knock on my door, and there were my two sisters,
who I hadn’t seen in a couple of years and who live many miles away, such a
surprise! And oh the joy of that reunion and the tears and laughter!
And then later on at the end of June we journeyed
on to Montana and another reunion with my dear friends, Shirley and Bob. We have been friends for many years, and
through many trials together, another reunion of joy, tears and laughter. And
my dear friend, Shirley, was such a comfort to me, to feel her strength
personally.
Then we journeyed on to South Dakota to meet with
my husband’s family, a very large family. There were eleven of the fourteen
children gathered there in the campground, and many nieces and nephews and
extended family.
During that reunion time we all took a journey to
a retirement home where lives the school teacher who taught twelve of the
children in a one room school house, and that was quite a reunion and the
memories involved.
Then to complete the joy of these summer reunions
was a visit from my daughter and three grandchildren who live on the east coast.
And what a time we had together visiting God’s beautiful Oregon, and sharing
together over meals and laughter. And what a special time it was to be able to share and visit with
another one of my beautiful daughters.
But parting is so hard, saying goodbye in Montana, watching cars drive
away in South Dakota and seeing my family depart at the airport.
And I think about these things in the midst of
uncertainty in my own life, although I know who wins here, and even though I
could get discouraged and want to give up the fight, I will walk on with my
Lord leading and guiding me though this latest trial, because I know a greater
reunion is coming, one where will never have to say goodbye and watch our loved
ones drive away or fly away and no final goodbye hugs with tears.
Someday soon we will meet our Lord in the air for
that glorious reunion up there in the clouds and with all those dear saints
gathered with us, and what a day that will be! Some of us will go on ahead
before then, but we will all meet together with our Precious Lord! Praise His
holy name! Here’s an old, old hymn that some of you may remember:
GLAD REUNION DAY
“There will
be a happy meeting in heaven I know, when we see the many loved ones we’ve
known here below; gather on the blessed hilltops with hearts all aglow, that
will be a glad reunion day.
CHORUS: Glad (That will be a happy day), yes, a
wonderful day, Glad (that will be a happy day) day, yes, a glorious day, there
with all the hold angels and loved ones to stay, that will be a glad reunion
day.
There
within the holy city we’ll sing and rejoice, praising Christ the blessed Savior
with heart and with voice; telling Him how we came to love Him and made Him our
choice, that will be a glad reunion day.
When we
live a million years in that wonderful place, basking in the love of Jesus,
beholding His face, it will seem but just a moment of praising His grace, that
will be a glad reunion day. (Iris Dement).
Blessings in Jesus’ Name,
Pastor Sharon
