Devotion for Monday, June 11, 2007

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The neighbors had a party last night, they didn't invite me, and this isn't the first time it's happened. This particular man that lives there, I've known almost my whole life, so I wondered if my feelings should have been hurt that he didn't include me! It sounded like they were having a wonderful time with lots of music and laughter and people coming and going... Until about 2:00 a.m. when my husband took it upon himself to invite the local sheriff's deputy to their gathering. It was after that the fun seemed to stop suddenly, my dogs stopped barking and my windows stopped thumping in time to the bass in the their stereo. Although I would have declined the invitation to join my neighbors, there is one party that I can't wait to attend! That is the party that goes on in heaven, each time a soul is added to the numbers in the Lamb's Book of Life! In Luke Chapter 15 verses 8-10, Christ talks about the woman who had 10 coins and loses one. She searches diligently until she finds the one that was lost. Then she calls all of her friends to show them what she has found. "That" he says "is how the angels rejoice when one lost soul repents". A few years ago, there was a dear man in our congregation that was close to 60 years old. He was one of our most faithful to attend services, was a willing worker and would do anything to help anyone. But no one was certain that he'd ever accepted Christ as his Savior! Several years after God moved our family to another church, I got a telephone call from a friend who told me that this sweet man had walked the aisle that morning and asked Jesus to come into his heart! He was 63 years old at the time! I laughed; I cried; I did waht a friend calls the "Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy" Dance. But think about what might have went on in Heaven that morning: Every Sunday for more than 20 years, the angels had watched this man walk out of that church building after rejecting Christ yet again. But something was different today. Satan had been bound to allow the Spirit to touch his heart in a way that it never had before. Maybe it was because of those three women over on the other side of the sanctuary whose heads were bowed in prayer. The invitation begins, and they feel his heart begin to race. His mind is whirling 100 miles an hour, because he knows, finally, what he has to do. There he goes! He's walking down the aisle. A few words with the pastor, and the move to kneel at the altar. Heaven resounds with the words he whispers through his tears. "Father, I know I'm a sinner, I believe your Son died to forgive those sins. Christ, please take away my sins and come and live in my heart." The trumpets begin to blow, the harps begin to play and the angels begin to rejoice...for another child is coming home. The party has begun...and this time...we're all invited. Mylot friends: I wrote this at about 9:00 a.m. About 20 minutes ago, I recieved an e-mail that 4 year old Johnathon had lost his battle with cancer after 2 years of fighting. I asked that you say a special prayer for Julie and Ernie Prado. How fitting that God gave me THESE words today. I know that the angels are truly dancing with Johnathon...because another child HAS come home.