joy in heaven

i just came from spendin' an hour or so at the funeral home. one of my grandmother's best friends joined her in heaven the other day. for much of my younger life, phyllis lived in massillon, but i could always tell when she had come to visit gram, 'cause the laughter from the trailer could be heard all the way up at the house... isn't it such a wonderful blessing to have friends that we can share joy with?

i also finished up my 52 week Bible reading plan yesterday... (not bad for starting out in march of '06!) - obviously one of the last things that i read was the end of revelation, and as i was thinking about phyllis and gram in heaven - i was once again meditating on that passage:

"behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." and He who was seated on the throne said, "behold, i am making all things new." also He said, "write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." and He said to me, "it is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. to the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. the one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son." rev. 21:5-7

praise God for those saints that have gone before us, for a sure hope and for His Son who makes it all possible! "precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints." ps. 116:15