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Going home

If you’ve ever moved away from your home where you lived for a very long time, you’ll understand the excitement that accompanies going home for a visit. Seeing familiar sights, people I love, the tastes of the foods I’ve missed, all get me super pumped to get there! I was born and raised in the small mid-western town of Woodstock, Illinois. A beautiful town with a quaint city square, complete with cobblestone streets that are over 200 years old.

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Having a new address | What I miss

The Lord moved us south, and I love it there, but there are some things missing that I can only get in the Chicagoland area.

Our “must eats”

• Chicago style hotdogs! Bring on the steamed poppy seed bun, Vienna beef and traditional toppings. (My mouth is watering)
• Italian beef is completely absent where I live now. It’s practically a crime☹ Whether you like your bun dipped (a must, I think), or not, it’s absolutely mouthwatering.
• Chicago style pizza. My hubby is not a fan of the thick crust, but I am! Bring on the Lou Malnati’s or Gino’s East deep dish with the sausage patty topping. Wow. . .They also have a lovely coffee shop, with my favorite treat–their gluten-free chocolate chunk cookies. They’re truly amazing!

Places to go

As I sit thinking about where I want to go when I get home, it mostly centers around food, family and friends. But this time, we’re going to be “tourists’!

• The Field Museum in Chicago. My daughter has always been fascinated with ancient Egypt. We’ve been to this museum many times and it’s a huge favorite. They have the coolest stuff to see—even giant iridescent beetles and butterflies!
• We’ll wander over to the Shedd Aquarium while we’re at it. The big round tank right by the entrance alone is worth the entry fee. Gorgeous!
• Lincoln Park Zoo is on the list, but we’ll have to wait and see how cold it is when we get there. I’m a southerner now (wimpy) 😊

We celebrate!

Taking in the food is pretty great, but even better is spending time with the people I love. Oh, we stay in touch through social media, text and phone, but there’s nothing like giving and receiving hugs and catching up in person. Arriving and seeing them face to face is incredible! It’s the best part about going home.

Going home, at last

When I started thinking about writing this post, the title “Going Home” kept sticking in my mind. Even though I don’t live in Woodstock anymore, it still feels so good to be there and I get so excited to go.

It’s prompted me to think back to a bittersweet time 15 years ago when my dad left this earth and went to heaven. I’ll never forget that day when I walked into the hospital and saw my sister in the hallway. She walked up to me and gave me a big hug and said, “He’s going home”. Those poignant words have stuck with me and often remind me that I’m here on this earth for only a brief time, and then I’m “going home”.

Are you “going home” too?

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” John 14:6. To some, it may seem “narrow minded” to only have one way to get to heaven, but frankly, I’m relieved that it is as easy as, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. . ” Acts 16:31

The truth is, we’re not going to heaven by “being good” or “doing good”. We are all measured by God’s holy standard and there is no possible way that we could ever be completely pure and holy. So, because He loves you and me so much, God provided an easy way for us to be forgiven, cleansed and seen as holy when He looks at us. It’s easy for us—just believe and receive this free gift of salvation and new life, but it was not so easy for Jesus. He died a painful, death on a cross carrying all our sins in His own body, to pay the high price for making us clean in His Father’s sight. But out of love He gladly gave up His life for you and me. That’s a weighty, powerful sacrifice in order to get us home!

At this time of year, I’m reflecting on the sacrifice that Jesus made when He willingly left heaven in order to come, be born as a babe in Bethlehem with a single mission, to get us home. There’s a lot more to the story, of course, and that’s a post or two for another time. After all, God gives us His Word, which is nourishment for our soul, and He doesn’t give us that nourishment all at once, like drinking out of a fire hose. He feeds us daily with what we need to hear and know in order to know Him more, trust Him more and take in how much He wants us near Him.

A final new address | A continual celebration

If you’re reading this and you don’t have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, take a moment to pray and read the book of John in a [amazon_textlink asin=’1433548402′ text=’Bible’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’inspiredblog-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’b8c6925d-e75f-11e7-95fa-3764e186fe82′] and reflect on the truths that He feeds you as you linger. All who come to Him in faith will be saved and be given new life. You may have to wait a bit for that glorious time of going home, but you don’t have to wait for that new life. He gives you that right away. So, pray along with me now and don’t wait another minute.

 Dear Heavenly Father,

Please forgive me for all the sins I have committed (anything I have done, said, or thought that is outside of your good and perfect will). I cannot save myself or have a relationship with you without Jesus and His death on the cross for my sins. I believe that Jesus is Your Son who died on the cross, rose on the third day and bore all my sins, so that I could live. Lord Jesus, please come fill my heart, give me eternal life and be my Lord and Savior. Amen

Romans 10:9-10 says, “⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” So if you pray and believe, you are saved, the angels in heaven are rejoicing, and you’re “going home”! Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” That’s pretty awesome!

Share the good news!

One last thing, if I may suggest, tell someone you know who is a Christian. They will be so excited and be an encouragement in your life.

Dig into God’s Word

Take some time to study God’s Word. Any relationship takes time to bud and blossom into a beautiful companionship. Open your Bible daily and read and reflect. I wrote a post on a simple way to study your Bible that’s great for a beginner or a more mature believer. Find it here. I’ve also included a one-week Philippians study that has a coloring devotional component. Just fill out the form below.

God be with you, bless you and keep you this Christmas and the days ahead.

Sally

Numbers 6:24-26 ‘“The Lord bless you and keep you the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’

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