What a Week

This has been an interesting week, filled with thoughts about heaven. My grandpa died on Monday morning. My pastor's wife died this morning. Dave Hammond is the children's pastor at Calvary Evangelical Free Church in Rochester, MN (my home church). He's also the pastor who married us. His wonderful wife, Peggy, battled cancer for eight years. She was an absolutely amazing woman. Her cancer was such a part of her testimony and instead of turning bitter and questioning God, she allowed God to use the cancer in her life to bless so many others. I learned so much from her. She's also the one that I had "the talk" with before John and I got married. We always tried to visit them every time we made it back up to Minnesota. It's strange to think that she's now gone, but I rejoice that she is now free from pain and entering in to her eternal reward in heaven.

Times like these remind that death is not natural. It was never meant to be like this. Death is a result of our sin. But Jesus came to conquer death. His death and subsequent resurrection defeated death. It doesn't have the final word.

Faced with the loss of two precious people so close together makes me wonder about heaven. What will it be like? What happens in the first few moments you are ushered into eternity? What will it be like to see Jesus face to face? What will it be like to meet fellow believers from all over the world and from all different times?

So, yes, there is a time of grieving over what has been lost in this life. But there is ultimate comfort in knowing that both my grandpa and Peggy are in heaven, seeing Jesus face to face.

"I Can Only Imagine"

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

[Chorus:]
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

[Chorus]

I can only imagine [x2]

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you

I can only imagine