Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying the day! Nice and sunny and everything is so green. I made choc covered raspberries today and S.F. Choc chip cookies and went downstairs for donuts. Al went to mens’ group and this afternoon will lead our Bible study here. 
 Devotions from Judy’s heart
  How do we prepare for our Homecoming? It’s a question to ask ourselves as one day our earthly life will be over and we will be going to our forever home that is even now being readied for us. But how do we prepare for we don’t know when that day will come? It came quickly for my cousin’s son Jeff who recently was diagnosed with cancer and shortly after went home to the Lord at only 50 years of age.
  Of course, that day is coming for each of us and Al and I are doing some physical preparations like prepaying our funeral expenses, writing down what we would like done at our funeral services etc. But more importantly it is how we are preparing spiritually and how are we living our lives today, in light of what is awaiting us?
  Whenever we go on a trip it isn’t long before there is anticipation of getting home again. Sometimes Al and I allow taking 3 days getting home from a long trip, but usually as we travel we shorten it to 2 in our eagerness to get home again. I wonder if we have a longing for eternity with the Lord and live each day with that in view. It is easy to get bogged down in earthly responsibilities and problems and fail to remember that this is all temporary. We need not let those heavy things color our mindset but let them be opportunities to help us grow stronger and more dependent on the Lord.
 It is important preparation that we spend time in His presence and His Word more than finding out what is on Facebook or messages on our phones. As it says in Psalm 43:4 “Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.”  As we worship him and delight in His presence our earthly life becomes like a dress rehearsal for worship in heaven!
 We can also prepare by growing in our love for Him, obeying Him, humbly serving others and sharing how they too can spend eternity with the Lord. 
  One day we will see Him face to face and all our sorrows here on earth will be erased for we are Home with Him forever.
  Challenge for today: Make preparations for your Homecoming. 
Blessings and prayers and love, Judy