Wonder to the place...

So every once in a while I let myself wonder to the place that so many others have. The place that inspired Bart Millard of Mercy Me to write "I Can Only Imagine" and "Finally Home." The place that motivated Jeremy Camp's newest single - "There will Be a Day," where he speaks of no more suffering, no more pain, and no more tears. The same place that influenced Barney Warren, a famous writer of hymns, to write many many songs about heaven including "Sweet Paradise", "I Have a Home," and "Beautiful." And even the folks that wrote the song that Brad Paisley sings so well "When I Get where I'm Going" in which he sings of shedding only happy tears, shedding all sins and struggles that was carried over the years, and he even sings of maybe riding on a rain drop.

This moment I have wondered to that place yet again. Imagining just what it will be like to see my savior face to face. To finally have Jesus physically wrap his arms around me into the tightest embrace. Sometimes I imagine that I would run as fast as I could and just pounce into the lap of my king. I think because of the visions from "I can only imagine" that I will stand in awe just before falling to my knees out of reverence for my Lord. I think I will weep in admiration and out of exultation. I sometimes imagine Him holding my face in His hands being just as exuberated to have me home as I am to be in His presence. I imagine that God will grant me the opportunity to visit with those I have missed most. I can't wait to hug my pop, my grandaddy, and my Grandma Lou. To share with them the things they missed and to let them know that I've learned from them even though they weren't on earth with me as long as I wished they were. To tell Grandma Lou that I shared the same dream as she did to visit the Egyptian Pyramids (and maybe even tell her I visited them depending on when I make it home) and that even though I was very little when she came home, there was never a moment that Daddy didn't remind me how much she loved me. To tell Grandaddy that I still blow pretty amazing bubbles and every wednesday night I still say a special prayer about him. And to tell Pop that I was a pro at playing cards and I think that I inherited his gentle spirit most of all. Those are the moments that I look forward to second after spending my long awaited time with Jesus. I look forward to seeing my Grandparents Healthy... no pain and no suffering... and cancer free. I look forward to asking Jesus all kinds of questions that I haven't been sure of the answer to here on earth. And I can't wait to meet Mary and tell her I admire her for her strength. I look forward to the great feast in heaven where we we all sit down together and eat... and won't get fat or sin by eating too much, we all know I can do that. :) I look forward to being healthy myself.

I'm so greatful for a Loving God who cared and loved so much that he would send a son and so that I may have a chance at this wonderful place called heaven. I look forward to my day when God calls me home. I know it won't be until He's ready. But I can only imagine what it will be like. What the angels will sing. I can't wait to be embraced by Jesus... I'm just so excited over that.... so excited. :)

"This one's Mine"

Recently I've had a real opportunity to really feel how "claimed" my heart is. That sounds silly doesn't it? But it's so true. First and foremost my heart is spoken for by my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love the song that Mercy Me sings "Spoken For"... and every time I hear it my eyes flood with tears and the realization that God has truly called me His own. The chorus simply says this:

Covered by Your love divine
Child of the risen Lord
To hear you say "This one's mine"
My heart is spoken for

I can't describe to you what my heart feels to imagine Jesus saying, "This one's mine." What an honor that I can never live up to. And what a gracious God. I LOVE that my heart is spoken for by someone so great, so amazingly forgiving, someone so loving, so gracious, so honorable, so powerful, so reigning... I'm in awe that my heart is spoken for by a king.


But my heart is also spoken for by someone else who calls me his own. And when I think of him my heart explodes with Joy and amazement that God (who has captured my heart so) could have blessed me with such a beautiful gift. My husband James is the most wonderful man and the best match for my heart. And I for one, can say that God IS the best matchmaker. It's a beautiful picture to me that first God would speak for me, but then he would also give to me this extraordinary man to care for me and love me, and help me want to be a better person - all because his heart is also spoken for by this Savior, we call Lord. It's quite fascinating even. I love marriage and what it means and what it looks like. I love waking up every morning next to James and falling asleep with him at night. I love that he laughs with me and that he's willing to do absolutely anything for me to see a smile on my face. (and I admit... I take advantage of his willingness at times, and it's something I should be better at). I even love that he doesn't like confrontation, but is willing to discuss our different views on matters just because I "need" too. I love the way he has a young boy's heart, a servant's heart, a wise man's heart, but most of all, I love that his heart is owned by God. :)


Just a little spill.... :)

Family.

I have pretty much the most amazing family in the world, and yes I love them to the utmost standard of lovin'. :) Tonight and last night as well, I spent the evening at momma and daddy's playing Wii of all things with my sister, momma, James, and even Daddy joined in for a little while. Can I just tell you that there is not a single thing in the world that I love most than to sit with my family, (whether it be just James and I, or down to the people I've spent my entire life thus far with) and just laugh. It doesn't matter if we're laughing over a game of Wii and the sillyness that it creates or the laughter we get when we share stories we remember from growing up. I absolutely love seeing my family laugh. I love how my dad's face glows red when he get's really tickled over something. And how my mom and sister will shed many tears from laughing so hard. I absolutely love James' Gallant laughter that not only rattles windows at times but will make anyone follow with their own giggle. Laughter is good for your heart in so many ways.
So, whenever I get to heaven.... Laugh for me. :) Because, I'll be laughing. And It's one of God's GREATEST gifts.

So I decided to attach a FEW of the many pictures of my family in the midst of their laughter. :D Just to share a little of what I get to experience....

How 'bout them Cowboys...

So James and I went to target this weekend to exchange something we had bought for our bathroom that was broken. If you know James, you know that you will never see him with out a baseball cap on, unless for some requisite reason which requires him to look nicer than a cap and jeans. :) Well football season requires a football hat, and despite the embarrassing playoff loss to the Eagles, James still sports his "official sideline Dallas cap" wherever we go. Well this particular weekend I made the comment to James before ever walking out of the house that just maybe he should put on the bass pro hat, or the red head hat, or I mean even the not so favored hawaii hat given that it was Superbowl weekend and you know... since Dallas had that embarrasing loss and all. James gave me that "are you kidding?" look grabbed his Dallas hat and walked toward the door. Then he turns and says with his gentle smile and in a semi-serious voice, "Steph, you just don't get it. I'm a true fan."

Well, we get to target and Steelers Jerseys and caps are just bursting with excitement everywhere you look. And I thought to myself (again)... "seriously, I can't believe my husband is really sporting his Dallas cap in this crowd." Well you wouldn't BELIEVE what happened next. We've got caught up in the familiar dollar items at the front of the store and in walks another dallas fan. Not just one who is wearing a Dallas cap, but this guy is decked out from head to toe. He has the Dallas baseball cap on and the Tony Romo Jersey. My first thought was oh my, how nuts is this guy! And then here it comes.... This guys looks to James raises his fist in the air and belches out an "OH YEAH, How bout them Cowboys!" James giving his fist and a "Yeah, Man." in return. These guys acted like the cowboys were in the superbowl. haha.

I laughed my way all the way to the bathroom. And then it hit me... what James has been trying to tell me all a long. A true fan sticks with their team no matter what. Not that I didn't know that. But I certainly wasn't going to be the one wearing the Dallas cap this past weekend. :) And it made me think about how I live my life as a Christian. I wondered if often times do I shy away from wearing Christ on my sleeve depending the Crowd I walk into. Never am I embarrassed of my God because he's lost a big Game by forty points. :) But how often do I walk into a room full of folks that have different beliefs than I and I am afraid to take the first stand and say the truth. James and the other Dallas fan wore their team on their sleeves in a crowd of people who weren't Dallas fans, but I'm sure in target there were a few other Dallas fans. Had they walked by at just the right time, when these guys were raising their fist in the air cheering for the team that didn't make it, they probably would have joined in also. It's about taking that first stand, not being afraid to wear Jesus on your sleeve no matter wear you go. And who knows.... you may find someone else, just one other person who agrees.

And just so you know, James didn't wear his Cowboy hat during the superbowl. No, it sat smack dab in the middle of our entertainment center where everyone could see just who the favored team in our house was. :)

So how bout them Cowboys... :)