I Can Only Imagine

After worship this morning, I got in the car (after refereeing a minor scuffle about who got the front seat), and as we left the parking lot, said several things along these lines:

"Wasn't worship amazing?  The music - amazing!  Dad's homily - amazing!  Imagining heaven - amazing!  All the confirmations - amazing!"

The kids agreed that it had been a great morning.  And this afternoon, as we raked the many millions of leaves, I pondered it.

The homily talked about the resurrection of the body, and what heaven will be like.  At the end, my husband asked everyone to close their eyes and imagine all the things, moments, people that bring us immense joy.  And then he said to multiply it by infinity. . .and perfection.  And that is what heaven will be like.  My friends, I was teary as I thought of all the people I love, the scenery that speaks to me, the music that heaven will surely be filled with.  My eyes filled up at the love the Father has for us -- to send His Son to save us from our sinful selves, and then to give us such beauty when we live with Him in eternity!  What a generous God He is!

As I pondered all this this afternoon, while raking the endless leaves, the homily reminded me of something I had written a couple of years ago.  You can read it below (or linked here) -- it's all about how God fills our lives with our favorite things.  The list I had compiled in the blogpost included so many of the things I was thinking of while imaging heaven.  If God gifts me with so many beautiful things here on earth, imagine heaven!  In heaven we will be flooded with our greatest joys and best of all we will be in God's holy presence.  I can only imagine!


Raindrops On Roses and Clean, Crisp Sheets       March 19, 2018

Many of you might know that I attended the Theology of the Body Institute's first course last week.  It was equal parts moving, soul-searching, informative, heart-rending and faith-strengthening.  It was an experience I won't ever forget.  I look forward to the days and weeks to come as I unpackage all my materials and notes.

One of the things our instructor said early on in the week was about a song from my all-time favorite musical.  Yep - you guessed it - Jesus Christ Superstar!  Haha - just kidding.  If you know me at all, you know it is The Sound of Music.  His children had recently performed in the musical, and many themes from it were fresh in his mind.  And at the top of his list was the song "My Favorite Things".  He began singing a few bars and asked us to join in if we knew the words (ummm. . .I know the words).  Maria sings the song to remind herself and the children to think of their favorite things when they are afraid (or when the dog bites or the bee stings).

Our instructor took this song a step further, and reminded us that God knows all our favorite things.  He knows our favorite things sometimes before we know them.  And even better, God sings the song of our favorite things to us all the time.  Our lives are filled with the music of God singing to us those things which move us and shape us and bring us joy.  That admiration of the majestic mountains?  God singing to us.  Overcome with the vast beauty of the ocean?  God singing to us.  A bunny hopping across the neighbor's yard while on a walk?  God singing to us - what?  Does he only sing that verse to me?  Surely I'm not alone in that one.

The thought of God knowing me. . .little me, in an enormous universe. . .and caring to put in front of me all of my favorite things truly brought tears to my eyes.  Here I am, living my (small) life, and the God of the universe is loving me enough to give me joy.  He knows my heart and chooses to love me anyway.  His love and forgiveness are vast.

So - here are a few of my favorite things.  What joy I derive in them!  And what joy to know that God knows even more of my favorite things, and has plans to reveal them to me in the future.

My children's faces
Bunnies hopping across the yard in spring
Clean, crisp sheets
Sweet romance movies (think Anne of Green Gables)
Peanut butter in all manner of preparation
Worshiping with my church family
My home
Laughing with my children
Potato Chips
My sweet students
Taking a walk with my husband
Singing beautiful choral music
80s music
Musicals
A good book
Coke Zero
The ocean and Lake Michigan
Shadow's euphoria at my arrival home
Big family celebrations

Oh dear reader. . .the list could go on and on -- and I don't even know everything that goes on this list!  But God does.  He knows my heart and loves me so much that He sings this song to me every day.

What is God singing to you, my friends?