Mr. Bubble... Gets You So Clean, Your Mother Won't Know You

 

It's been another full day. I shipped another armload of packages, took yet another dog (Dexter) to the groomer, and my husband and I attended my niece's father-in-law's funeral. 

If that sounds gloomy, it wasn't. Don was an affable old fellow, and the service was very special. His three little grandchildren took part in the service, singing and reading scripture; we all sang some beautiful hymns; and the pastor brought an excellent message about heaven. 

It's funny how you can read a certain scripture dozens--maybe hundreds--of times, and yet someone will use it in such a way that it seems as if you're hearing it for the very first time. Kind of like the old York Peppermint Patty commercials! Well, that's the way it was for me today. One of the texts was 2 Peter 1:11:

For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The pastor spoke of the believer having an "abundant entrance" into heaven, and it really struck me. Even though it's something I "know" as a Christian, there was something so refreshing and uplifting hearing it expressed in that way. Since our standing with God is not dependent upon our earning his favor and pardon (Jesus has already "paid the purchase price" for us--another phrase the pastor used) we won't just be squeaking into heaven by the skin of our teeth, as it were, but we'll be abundantly welcomed!

I was still thinking about this when we got home. It was dusk, so I got myself some coffee and the dogs and I went upstairs to my private nook. I lit some candles, popped in one of my favorite Christmas cassettes (Celestial Christmas), and examined this passage of scripture in several different Bible translations. It was wonderful. I felt so uplifted, and very Christmasy, I might add.

When I came back downstairs I put on Handel's Messiah and continued the joyful meditation. It was a nice way to bring the business of the day to a close.

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In case you're wondering about the above photo, 

check this out on youtube (showing my age here!): 

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmUnqrZI4qE