My Brand New Home!!

IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL DAY!!!

Sunday's are my most favorite day of the week! When you're traveling through this weary land sometimes you need a sanctuary a place of retreat, where you can rest and lay down your burdens. A place where others are sojourning the same road, bearing one anothers burdens, traversing to the same city and encouraging each other to press on.

I received a call early yesterday morning from Susie, she called to tell me "John's gone home." John Preston was a man I met over 10 years ago when he was holding a revival here in Phoenix. He was a tall, slender man with a booming voice... a 'gentle giant' many would say. He was one thing for certain and that was a 'PRAYER WARRIOR!' He had the biggest heart for souls, all he wanted was to enlarge the Kingdom and then go to his 'Brand New Home.' In fact that was his favorite song.

"Wait'll you see, my brand new home,
wait'll you see it's beauty fair,
nothing down here can compare,
wait'll you see my brand new home...
I'm gonna' occupy for FREE," then he'd always insert
"Jesus Christ" here and then finish it off with a certainty
"WAIT'LL YOU SEE MY BRAAAAND NEEEEW HOME!"

When the Spirit of God would come in the sanctuary, around the table or wherever he might be, John's eyes would fill with tears and a far off look would consume his face... almost as if he were looking at a world beyond the one we know and longing would fill his countenance. He impressed in me a strong desire for that BRAND NEW HOME. John went home yesterday morning around 8:30A.M., and my selfish heart is only saddened by the loss of his mortal presence in our midst, but my hope and determination is renewed.

I also realized today, Heaven isn't going to be a strange place to John (oh how I wonder what he's doing now in that city), it won't be a strange place because he always held a piece of heaven in his heart - living here as he'll live there. In fact, one revival there was an altar service and the presence of God was there in such a real way... one of the children came towards the altar and John picked her up. Someone in the church thought it was so precious that they took a photo of him holding her and when it was developed their was an amazing image of an angel with a haze surrounding John and Natalie. (I will post the image in this section when I get a copy of it so check back.) You see -- this is what he lived for!!! He lived to die!! Only to live again!! What a wonder and a hope we possess!! Amen!!

I had just prayed for John this week, as I knew he was very ill, and God allowed me to see his entrance and the rejoicing there would be in heaven when he arrived. In my mind I could see Christ's arms outstretched to him, saying 'well done, my child, enter in.' John then telling Christ how he remembered the day he breathed breath into his life, the time when he formed him... and then Christ asking him about his life on earth... straining to remember John said he remembered some, but John continually asking if it was just a moment, not too long... just a little while, when I was there on earth, right? Christ confirming, yes, it was just for a moment.

I testified to this today and God came, Praise His Name. God's presence filled the sanctuary today, through tears in testimonies, songs of Praise and the reality of the hope that we possess through the blood. Several testified 2 or 3 times throughout the service, Hallelujah's and Amen's resounded as others encouraged them on. You see, the last several months, it seems not a week has gone by without someone 'going home.' God is calling His children home and yet, for the last few months, God has saved more than 10 souls in our AZ/CA churches alone. God is trying, he's pleading, he's longing... time is wrapping up and many things in this life are mere distractions when compared to eternity.

The last few weeks have been extremely trying for me, but the service today, the reality of the God we serve, His sovereignty and strength have challenged me to trust Him more.

More than anything WE'VE GOT TO MAKE IT!!! We've GOT TO KNOW our name's inscribed in the lamb's great book of life... MORE THAN ANYTHING!!! My desire is renewed!! It won't be very long... just a moment longer and then we'll all be home!! God help us to keep our eyes on eternity, heaven and a new life eternal!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some pictures from today... enjoying time with friends and fellow travelers on this journey! :)

(Angie)
Sunday afternoon dinner at Susie's is a highlight on Sundays...
good food & good fellowship.

(Juliana Arnold-Jones and Angie in the background.)
Everyone pitching in

Cooking Spanish Rice at Susie's is always fun.
We always have a knock-down-drag-out
about letting me take some of the left over rice home with me.
Her answer is usually an adamant, NO!
Haha.. I got some today! She's so selfish, she wants it
all to herself. She says, "if you want more, make more - that's mine!"
She's usually the MOST giving person in the world...
I guess we all have our moments.

(Beautiful Shania)

Susie is one of my dearest friends in Phoenix - she calls me 'little sister,'

though she really is old enough to be my mom, but I try not to remind her of that. =)
Also proof that I wear more than baseball caps and hiking boots... haha!! 8-)

(Cher being silly)
(Bryan Jones & Ethan)
(Clinton & Ethan)

I am so glad I'm a part of the family of God!