WE SHALL BEHOLD HIM

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure." 1 John 3:1-3

I will keep this short since I am at my parents house and want to enjoy every second with them. I celebrate my 20th year of Salvation....name written in the LAMBS BOOK OF LIFE....having the Holy Spirit dwell in me this Easter. I am overwhelmed at how each year my love and deep desire of being in God's presence grows.......even in the years that I demanded to selfishly do things my way. 20 years of being able to be called a child of the King. I can't help but cry. His Word is true...He has never left me nor forsaken me......even when I deserved it. He has grown me and pursued me. Made me feel alive and joyful and has tenderly loved on me when I am lonely. 

Easter, for me....at this current stage of my walk with God, is not only about Jesus dying on the cross for me but year after year my longing to be Home increases. On the drive to my parents house yesterday I was talking with Him and just thanking Him for the longing I have to see Him face to face. People may say "well, you long to be with Him in Heaven because you don't have kids or a husband......." I understand that point of view. Sure I want to be married and see my kids grow and serve God BUT....I long to be in Heaven more. I long to feel what it is like to sing praises to God in His Presence. What it is like to see Him and be with Him. To ask Him about the things that are in the bible that He did not allow details to be written down. So i am thankful for my salvation today and thankful that I am free. But I thank Him more for what is to come. To get this life over with so that we can have the most joyous time together FOREVER! No tears, no death, no hurting.......I so look forward to that. "Be of GOOD CHEER, for I have overcome the world".............

.......I wrote the the above this morning.....it is now evening and as my mom and I sat in the dining room singing a hymn that I have posted for you I asked her a very simple question..."Mom, this new bible of mine does not have the flag on the scripture taught the night I was saved..." Mom, being the ninja that she is, almost instantly flipped to the portion of scripture in her bible.  I excepted Christ as my Savior on one of the last nights of a revival in March in Dayton, Tx....a town outside of Houston. When I looked up the verse I was BLOWN AWAY........it was the very feelings I had and have had every Easter growing up..........

Revelation 21 

The New Jerusalem

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son".

Can I get an AMEN or what? I don't know about you but God is blessing my soul right this moment. I remember the night I became His for eternity like it was yesterday. But I sometimes find my longing to be with Him much stronger than others. I don't think it is by mistake that the sermon was on what is to come in the new heavens and the new earth. My longing began then and there and I am so amazed by how God has worked since. I long for Him, to see Him face to face. That very thought is what helped lead me to salvation and that thought is what continues to grow stronger and stronger in me as I serve Him ! OH I PRAISE HIM FOR THAT! I just love HIM SO!!!!!!!!

We just ate mom's "Lush" dessert..yum yum and the storm is rolling in as we speak....so I leave you with a beautiful Hymn that I have been singing since Wed, "We Shall Behold Him". Most appropriate for the feelings I have inside. Says everything in a beautiful song.

I have chosen Sandi Patty's old 1983 version. Sandi Patty is a favorite of mine and was my very first concert in Houston, TX in 1987ish....we even got to go on stage...anyway, I was raised on her voice singing the GREATEST HYMNS around. This video is back in the "big hair" days but you can not watch this without feelings the Holy Spirit ALL OVER HER! and when she starts to do sign language while she sings....OH SOMEBODY GIVE ME A TISSUE! TO God be ALL GLORY AND HONOR!

Oh Father, I love you so! I lay myself before you in humble praise for what you have lavished on every life you hand crafted.  Open the eyes of those that stand in darkness...not even aware of their emptiness. Use us to help light their way! Thank you for the cross. I sing this to you with all my heart..longing for the day I am face to face with you......

They sky shall unfold
Preparing His entrance
The stars shall applaud Him
With thunders of praise

The sweet light in His eyes, shall enhance those awaiting
And we shall behold Him, then face to face

O we shall behold Him, we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His glory
O we shall behold Him, yes we shall behold Him
Face to face, our Savior and Lord

The angel will sound, the shout of His coming
And the sleeping shall rise, from there slumbering place
And those remaining, shall be changed in a moment
And we shall behold him, then face to face

We shall behold Him, o yes we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His glory
We shall behold Him, face to face
Our Savior and Lord
We shall behold Him, our Savior and Lord
Savior and Lord!

Amen and Amen!