As the sun awakes, it brings the clouds to life with the reflection of color. Each pink, orange and purple shade bring my senses to life. As I gaze up I think about Heaven, and I start humming an old hymn When the Roll is Called Up Yonder; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ze1R4oSvus
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain
Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
James M. Black 1983
This hymn takes me back to those young tender years, on Sunday as I sat safe, secure and tucked in between family members on a long wooden church pew. Wearing a scratchy lace dress, tight shoes and yes little white gloves seemed to be the usual attire. As my mother opened her seasonal white or black Sunday purse to place the gloves, I was given a piece of gum to keep me quiet as the sermon would begin. The gum was always hard and stale as it sat inside the purse that hung in the closest from season to season. If you needed a tissue, she had those tucked into the small clutch and when you blew your nose the tissue smelled like the gum. I loved to sing, so when they started the organ or piano I would clear my throat anxious to join all the congregation sending a harmonious sound up to the rafters.
Good memories like these, remind me of my first love…Jesus.
In my late teens and young twenties I lost sight of this love, chasing after what the world sold as love. But this morning as I sit’n’sip hot tea on my patio watching the sun come up I am overwhelmed with gratitude and praise. God never lost sight of me…whom he loves. Never did he leave me nor forsake me. He threw a lavish party when I returned and never ceases to bless me daily now, as I live for HIM.
You can return to your first love. Jesus is waiting with arms open wide to welcome you back.
Join me today as we spend the time needed to build a love relationship with the Lord. talking to him, confessing our wrongs and yearning to do right.
“Father, we have been on a rough road chasing what the world calls love and life. We long to be deceived no more, we long for you and your truth. Thank you for calling us back. In Jesus name Amen.”