December 31st, 2008

I was doing my daily devotional today that I haven't been very good at reading daily. In fact this is the first time I have even opened it and it happens to be the last day of the year. HA. Well its in a book called Springs in the Valley which was written over 50 years ago! The copy I have was copywritten in 1939 and was given as a gift (handwritten in the front) December 5th, 1950!! The author is Chas E Cowman who was a missionary. Anyway, on to the devotional which those of you here in Italy will be able to picture the short story very well!

December 31st

"For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come." Hebrews 13:14.

A great world conqueror was leading his victorious army back to Italy - and home. Onward they marched over rivers and plains, and through wooded forests until they reached the foothills of the towering Alps. Here the thinning ranks of the worn and tired soldiers began to falter as they trudged on over the rocky defiles of the mighty mountain passes. As they climbed higher and still higher, the blinding snow and stoms well nigh discouraged the stoutest hearts. Stopping on an eminence where he could overlook all his men and be heard by them, and pointing upward across the mighty barrier, the great general shouted, "Men, beyond those Alps lies Italy!"
Italy! Waving fields, beautiful orchards, sparkling fountains! Mother and fathers, wives and children, sweethhearts! Home! Ah, Sweet home!

Fainting hearts revived. Tired muscles found new strength. Onward and upward that brave army pressed against every obstacle and won! They reached home.

Another scene. All over the world are members of Prince Emmanuel's (Jesus) army. Many have won decisive battles with the enemy, great victories over sin. They have struggled along life's rugged highway, and many have become worn and weary in the conflict. Long have they marched, homeward bound. But now they have reached great mountains of difficulties, strifes, wars, threatened dissolution of all social and moral standards - the might Alps on the stream of time. To this vast army their Captain shouts, "Christian soldiers, beyond these mountains of difficulty lies Home!"

Heaven! Waving fields of living green, kingly forests with never-fading foliage, sparkling fountains! The tree of life, and the rive of life! Long-lost friends, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, children, loved ones! Thank God, we are nearing our heavenly home!

"I've been to the rim of the world, and beyond, But I'm headin' home tonight" - E.W. Patten.

This really spoke to me today as Sunday night my grandfather on my dad's side passed away. Its good to know that he is finally Home! He was saved and so I know that he is in a better place. He finally made it over those difficult mountains and made it to Heaven. We all are dying daily. Statistics show that the ratio for death is 1:1, we all will die someday. For my grandpa it was pretty unexpected, I mean this wasn't his first heart attack, we didn't really know it was his last either. We didn't get a warning that it was coming it just came. Nobody dies without God's "ok" so I have comfort in knowing that he is no longer in pain. I am glad that I can know for sure that I will one day see the baby I lost. I am sure that right now my grandpa is holding that baby. He wasn't able to stay here on earth to hold Amanda's baby like he wanted to, but he left and is now able to hold mine. One day I know I will see him again along with my great grandparents, uncles and aunts who have all gone before and it will be a great reunion!