Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I was slow in getting going this morning and by the time I entered the Presence of my Most High God to offer my praise, my thanks, and to lay a few requests at His Feet, I struggled to put into words what my Heart felt and I found myself sitting in silence instead. As I looked across the front porch at the rockers this morning I thought about half of them will be filled up tonight with family and an empty place will remain where the rest of the family should be. It’s crazy…but beautiful…that every time I look across at these rockers I think about people who have come and gone from the front porch and from my life. Some have only gone for a season, and some of them have made it Home before me. None of them are “lost” and none of the memories fade because I refuse to let them. If I close my eyes I can still see them and if I sit in silence I can hear the sound of their voice and their laughter. What a blessing to Serve a God who has given me a precious family, countless friends, and a mind Designed to recall in Living Color.

We all deal with loss in our own way. Some people mourn a loss for the rest of their lives because their heart refuses to mend. Some people get angry when family and friends don’t fill up a rocker often enough, and some get angry at God when He calls a loved one Home. Some find comfort in visiting a gravesite and somehow the visit and a one-sided conversation make them feel close to the one who is no longer here. Sometimes conflict is the reason for an empty rocker and too often the conflict is never resolved due to pride and stubbornness…but love should “keep no record of wrong.” Some people recall the anniversary date of the passing of a loved one as much (or more) than a birthday…while some still celebrate the birthdays of the ones no longer here. There is no right or wrong way to deal with loss but there is only One Way to endure it, and that’s with the Peace and Comfort that only comes through a Relationship with Jesus Christ and when we have that part Right, all those sweet memories can be Recalled in Living Color at will because He made it so.

There is a season for everything under the sun. Sometimes people step away from our lives only because the season has ended. It might sting at first, but it’s the kind of thing that heals over time as another sits down in their rocker. But it’s never easy to face the end of a Season on earth when someone we love is called Home before we are. We can’t imagine life without them here on earth and there’s a void where they used to be. But when we know that the Record has been Set Straight and we’re confident that they left this earth to go Home, there is a Peace that surpasses all understanding and Joy in knowing we can see them again in a place that has no tears or sadness.

I want everybody to have that kind of “blessed assurance” – to KNOW where they’re headed and to KNOW where their loved ones will be waiting for them…and THAT’S what drives me to share my Faith day in and day out! There IS a place more beautiful than man can imagine and there is a place we can call Home forever. All it takes is Accepting Jesus Christ as the Savior – to accept that He died for us all so that we might have eternal life too…so that we have a Place called Home! That’s the Big Piece of a life puzzle that must be Set Straight in order to have the kind of Peace I have.

I had a Family Reunion this morning with just me and my God. My Heart lept with joy as I recalled the voices and the laughter of the ones that have gone Home before me. One day we’ll be together again – that’s the Blessed Assurance when Jesus is yours. If you aren’t sure where you’re headed when you draw your last breath then we need to talk. If you aren’t sure where your loved ones will be headed when they draw their last breath then YOU need to talk. Jesus is ours and Home is our destiny for those who love Him. Hallelujah!

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine O what a foretaste of glory divine

Heir of salvation, purchase of God

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood

Perfect submission, all is at rest I in my Savior am happy and blessed

Watching and waiting, looking above

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long