“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

I always had a zest for life!! I simply loved it!! I was afraid of nothing.. nicknamed Beth the Brave by my kindergarten teacher…. I was ever ready for the next adventure and to be quite honest, I felt myself charmed. I had a huge family whom I knew loved me and in essence, I was the center of their universe. I married well, raised 2 pretty good children and besides two very unfortunate very bad cases of our house flooding in Oak Ridge to the point of having to be gutted twice, nothing bad had really ever happened to me. We weren’t the richest, I was never the prettiest, smartest or most popular… but I was happy… most of the time. I have always loved Jesus and felt I belonged to Him, but I sure wasn’t ready to leave all this anytime soon to go to Heaven.

Enter The Millennium!! I remember New Years Eve that year, waiting for Y2K to obliterate all that we knew… but I also remember my mother saying “the next 10 years will bring a lot of change”!! I had never really lost anyone or had difficult times. That was about to change in a big way!! From 2002-2007, my family buried 11 people, including my precious, most treasured 18 year old daughter. Since that year of 2002, it seems we live waiting for that other shoe to drop.

Please understand, I know in the grand scheme of things, we still have it pretty good and there is greater suffering going on that what occurs in my family. But the point I want to make is, every single day brings me one day closer to my eternal home, and brings me more longing for the day I get to go there!!

Sara had the world at her feet. A few weeks before her accident, I asked her, “Are you happy baby??” I expected joyous exaltation!! What I got was a very pensive, “I guess, but it feels like something is missing”!! When she left us for Heaven, we found several journals she had been keeping. In one of those journals, we found these words….. “As a baby in utero we have all we need. We are safe and warm. We have no idea of the loving parents just waiting for us to arrive and the wonderful life waiting for us. It is like that with our life here and a Loving Heavenly Father just waiting on us to be cradled in His arms. I am not made for this world, maybe that is why I am never truly happy here”. What a gift those journals were and still are. What more validation do we need of where our daughter is and that we must do all we can to get there.

We saw a wonderful movie last night about CS Lewis and his conversion. He said there is a very big difference between Joy and Happiness and we may need to search our hearts as to which we seek. This is one of his most famous quotes: “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” The time these men spent trying to discern truth is absolutely incredible. They could debate without hate, they respectfully listened, read, thought some more… it was all that really mattered. Finding what is true!! I read last week that “it is better to prevent, than lament.” It had nothing whatsoever to do with spiritual matters, it was a publication for the workforce about troubleshooting. But isn’t that what we should be going?? Living our lives troubleshooting for ourselves and those around us so that we all will experience rebirth into the Family of God and our Heavenly Home.

What about you?? What if it were today?? Are you ready, prepared, maybe even excited about that joyous reunion. I would suggest, as CS Lewis did you search your heart. Are you seeking a happy existence here, or a joyous one!! I pray you are doing all you can to prevent our God saying, Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” Oh there will be some lamenting then!!

Friends.. hang on!! Whatever journey you currently find yourself taking… this is not the final destination. This is NOT our home. You can have complete peace and joy just in that fact alone. Happiness is fleeting, things of this world are fleeting. If you are not fulfilled, search your heart, get in His Word and Pray!! Be involved in furthering His Kingdom in whatever way you can. I can promise you, peace will follow!!!