November 26, Gloriously Home!

I was writing in my journal early on the morning of November 26, giving thanks to the Father for my spiritual birthday. Recalling that Sunday night many years ago, I gave thanks to God for my mom who faithfully had us go to church morning and evening. And on that November 26th evening the Holy Spirit opened the eyes of my heart to hear the simple Gospel message of the cross and resurrection. I entered into that church an angry, bitter, insecure 13 year old with a hard heart, and left filled with the transforming love of Christ. I thought about how my mom was present at the two most important moments of my life: my physical birth and my spiritual birth.

I was able to talk with her on the phone the night before and could tell she was suffering and knew her time on earth was getting short. I felt I needed to text her and thank her again for being a gift to my life.  This is what I texted:

“Hi Mom, hope you are feeling better and we pray nausea decreases. Also today is Nov. 26. Back on this date in 1978 you took us to Sunday night service at the Naz. church. I was thanking the Father for your faithfulness in bringing us to church and the impact it had. How you came down to altar as I wept tears of joy for the gift of salvation given to me that night. Thank you for all you did to point us to Jesus (♥️❤️)!”

At a little after 9 PM, my step dad, Pastor Bill called and said, “Your mom went home to Jesus.” Bill and his daughter Lori were holding her in bed and singing the words to an old hymn when she made it gloriously home:

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

My mom’s faith became sight as she beheld the loving glory of her Savior welcoming her home. As I write this I’m preparing a message for the memorial service for Patty’s brother Randy, who passed away way too young in his sleep. What gives us hope and even joy in the midst of losing people we love is knowing the glorious homecoming my mom and Randy are experiencing. They are encountering a new world of perfect, glorious love welcomed by God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They also are with the great cloud of witnesses, which includes loved ones who went before them. What a victory celebration they are having!

Now November 26 has another special meaning for me as I think of the gift my mom received when she saw her Savior face to face and she was welcomed gloriously home. It will be a constant reminder to “turn my eyes upon Jesus…” and live with the great anticipation of the glorious home that is to come.

Hold these words of Jesus deep in your heart as you await your home coming:

“I Am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:26