Beginning, Middle and End

9:32 a.m. Today's project is to attend two events with eternal significance of the beginning of a new life, and the end of a life.

Jeanne Ellison left this life last month after walking with the Lord for many decades. Her daughter, Roslynn Prior, called me to let me know she wanted to have her mom's homegoing celebration here in Riverside area. Jeanne had attended Calvary Chapel Moreno Valley until recent months when Roslynn moved her to Bakersfield to care for her. The service will be at 2:00 p.m. at Harvest Christian Fellowship where Roslynn attended for many years. Psalm 116:15 says, "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints." Death is the believer's ultimate opportunity to fully live, just as Jeanne is doing now, in the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

On the other end of the spectrum, 2 hours later, is the long-awaited wedding of RJ McCauley and Melissa Tomchek. A wonderful time awaits us all, with the creativity of Melissa's mom Monica and faithful friends who have donated the gorgeous venue and hours of time. Both RJ and Melissa are leaders in youth ministry at Harvest, and Melissa is employed there. This wedding had been planned for last year, but finances and RJ's unemployment in this tough economy caused a sad postponement. The Lord turned everything around, bringing to reality Proverbs 13:12, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." May these two have a blessed life together!

As with many things in life, there is a middle ground as well. Next week, Steve and I are attending a party for Mitchel and Paige Philpott, a midlife couple who married in a small ceremony earlier this summer. Both Christians, they had suffered tremendously in past marriages, remaining single for years, serving the Lord. Then Paige and Mitch met and fell in love. They are hosting a get-together for friends at their home which I am very much looking forward to!

I love the way that God puts no limitiations on creating joy and happiness for His people, no matter what their stage in life! He values marriage and families and blesses those who choose to do things His way.

The greatest wedding feast of all time and eternity is described in Revelation 19:6-9:

And I heard, as it were, the the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are they who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' "

That's us, brothers and sisters, believers in Christ, that's us!!