Dear Ones,
Hope you had a good weekend! The oven is going and I am busy making   food prep and soon going to Aldi’s and my exercise class. Yesterday was quite an emotional day but very blessed day. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
    One day there will be no more sickness or sadness or death and we will reign with the Lord forever. How I look forward to that day and was reminded of it yesterday afternoon when we went to the funeral of my cousin’s granddaughter, Jensyn, who was only 6 years old. There were hundreds and hundreds of people there and when I paused to think about it, I was amazed that one little girl who had never walked and never talked would be loved by so many and bring so many people together to praise the Lord. She made a difference or this huge number of friends and family would not have gathered to honor her memory.
   I woke up very early this morning with the hymn by Bishop Theodulf (in1851) singing in my mind, “All glory, laud, and honor to you, Redeemer King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring….The company of angels is praising you on high, and we with all creation in chorus make reply…” I could just picture little Jensyn singing with the angels as she is now with the Lord and able to dance and worship the Lord.
  The funeral was not like any I have been to, for as we came into the sanctuary the 7 siblings of Jensyn were up on the platform leading everyone in praise. They sang Goodness of God by Jenn Johnson which is all about loving the Lord and how He is faithful and good even going through the darkest night. We joined them also in singing I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin and the chorus really struck me, “And I will rise when He calls my name. No more sorrow, no more pain. I will rise on eagles’ wings before my God fall on my knees. And rise. I  will rise.”
   I doubt there was a dry eye when they shared about Jensyn’s last hours.  Along with the pastors, both parents and a sibling spoke and gave glory to the Lord. Her daddy said to the pastor while she was dying, that he knew how to care for his daughter but he didn’t know how to say good-bye to her and let her go. For all of us, it is hard to say our good-byes to our loved ones but like the words of the last verse of the last song we sung, Gratitude by Brandon Lake: “ I’ve got one response, I’ve got just one move. With my arm stretched wide I will worship You.” Let us worship Him all our days here on earth as we wait for the day to sing with the angels on high.
Challenge for today: Spend some time in worship no matter if you are going through the darkest night. 
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy