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Welcome Committee


Hello friends! Hope this finds you smiling and well......

I thought I would give a nice greeting seeing as though I am going to talk about being greeted and welcomed. But not when you visit someone's home, a retail store or a church service. The Ultimate Greeting.....when we enter Heaven.

I mentioned that we had the privilege of listening to Don Piper speak at our church last month. He spoke about his 90 minutes in Heaven following a horrific car crash. He describes "the celestial greeting committee, the swoosh of angels wings, and the myriads of sounds"

OK, so some say that this might be taken too literal from The Book of Revelations.....but I am happy believing that Heaven is nothing short of AMAZING! Remember, I am a children's bible reader....I believe the Bible literally.....and I am planning on dancing on those Streets of Gold!

But we can discuss that later, one of the things that really intrigued me was when he spoke about who was "at the gates" in that greeting committee......the people whom he knew personally that were ready to welcome him into The Kingdom.

He said that he saw the people in his family that he expected.....his grandparents, close friends and a pastor who had passed before him.....along with people he didn't expect to be greeted by such as a woman who lived in his neighborhood when he was growing up. This woman was the neighborhood woman who took in many foster children. Her station wagon was always packed every Sunday for church, but she still made her rounds in the neighborhood squeezing in any child who didn't have a way to get there. He said that the people who greet you in Heaven are people who have had an impact on getting you closer to God in your life, whether you realize it or not.

So I thought about that.....hmmmmmm, well I know there will be my bestest friend Lili who brought me to that first church service where I just knew this was the God/worship that I have been longing for. (hopefully not implying that she is going first!).....and I know Josh's grandmother, Ruth, will be there.....what a strong woman of faith. I remember an old friend of my parents whose home always had worship music playing and had constant reminders of God's love displayed. There are so many people that I love to surround myself with today who are positive influences and keep me held accountable with my walk of faith. There are people who have graciously given forgiveness for when I have wronged them.....or have reached out to help knowing I would never be able to "return" the favor. I also have listened to many testimonies of people/preachers who have catapulted my faith to the next level. Come to think about it......I am pretty darn sure that many of my blogging friends (that would be you!) will be there too. It might have just been that one post that hit me like a ton of bricks and inspired me......caused me to dig even deeper into The Word.

.....oh crud! This is hard to explain without placing a sentence of death right now on people.

OK, let me switch gears here......

Let me ask you this......if what Don Piper says is true......

(which I do believe.... Who am I to doubt a man who was pronounced dead by four EMTs? A man who was crushed and dismembered. And although he spent 100 days in the hospital and endured over 30 painful surgeries....had no internal or brain injuries and is walking with full use of every body part preaching The Good News of hope and faith. )

.....than who are you going to welcome into The Kingdom? Whose lives have you touched and/or are you touching that are bringing them closer to God? Whose life have you planted that "seed" in? Who have you shown the love of Jesus to? Have you changed someone's outlook for their own life? Who have you brought hope to in their time of darkness? Who have you truly prayed for, even if they didn't know it?

I, for one....want to be busy in Heaven with a list of people to greet. Again, keeping this as upbeat as you can when talking about dying.....but seriously. Wouldn't it be great to have your schedule full in Heaven because you are constantly needed at The Gates? I don't know about you, but I want to be on that committee, in fact....let me go so far as to say, I want to be one of the directors! HA!

But that can only happen when we make this a priority in our lives.....right now, while we are here on earth. So whether you believe in Piper's story is irrelevant. The fact is, as Believers we are called to be Disciples. We are called to pray for the sick, give hope to the hopeless and help find the lost. I cannot imagine that these people will not be revealed to us when we get to kick back and chill out with Jesus. (yes, that is my visual/idea on being up in Heaven....hanging out, and like my friend Jennifer's blog title says.....getting down with Jesus.)

So things to think about and please feel free to share. I'd love to hear about those special people in your life that you can be sure will be greeting you. What did they say or do that brought you closer to God?

And on the flip side.....Let's think about who we are impacting in our daily walk. How many people are you bringing/directing towards Heaven? Maybe today is the day that you have the opportunity to add to your Heaven Hospitality list.

Have a beautiful day......enjoy the SONshine!

~*Michelle*~

21 comments:

Bill (cycleguy) said...

Michelle: I not only think I will be surprised by those who greet me, I also think I will be surprised by those I didn't think I had any influence on who will greet me, either later or when I get there. That will be awesome! Thanks for the post. Makes you sort of long for heaven.

Andrea said...

I pray I will be overwhelmed by the lives I have impacted. I pray every aspect of my life (good and bad) shows GODS love to others and draws them closer to HIM. Even in my weaknesses and mistakes...I pray GOD brings good.
I am envious that you got to hear Piper speak. I read his book a couple of years ago. WOW!!

Love, hugs, and prayers,
andrea

PS: I have an update on amden on arise 2 write.

jasonS said...

The joy of heaven with the urgency of 'what are we doing right now on earth' -great way to present it! Thanks.

RCUBEs said...

That sounds exciting to be met by people who had influenced our faith! And likewise by those we had influenced. I like Don Piper's preachings. And that's awesome that he's working in so many lives that need to hear about the Good News.
So, see you rubbing our feet on that heavenly mat? :) God bless you richly sister!

Mich said...

What a beautiful thought, the ability to see those we loved so dearly once again.

Thanks for the post, it made me stop and think. It saddens me to think of who will not be there to greet me.

Sara @ Domestically Challenged said...

I agree with the others. I think we will all be shocked by who we greet and who greets us. The impact on lives is so much more complex than we can ever imagine, isn't it?

God Bless you!

Together We Save said...

I have some family I can't wait to see... only in God's time.

Beth E. said...

I am looking forward to seeing all of my family members and friends who have gone before me. ALL of them have impacted my life in a powerful way!

I miss my grandmothers and my aunt so much...really looking forward to seeing them in that welcoming committee!

Thanks for this lovely post. I'll be thinking about that welcoming committee for days to come.

Looking forward to kicking back and chillin' out with YOU! :-)

Billy Coffey said...

I love, LOVE, the picture you paint here, Michelle. That was beyond wonderful.

Alicia The Snowflake said...

I can think of quite a few special people who will be there at the gates when I arrive. It brings a smile to my face to think about it. I do hope I am daily making an impact for the Kingdom of God. There are so many people I want to see there.

Take care my friend!
Thanks for another great post!

Warren Baldwin said...

Great challenge to live our lives in a way that counts for the kingdom and for the good of others. I've read Don's book - it is very moving. Good post.

alicia said...

Michelle, thank you so much for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment- and yes, I would love your recipe for salsa!

This was a very thought provoking post that unexpectedly brought me to tears. You totally switched gears on my halfway through and it was like a thump on the head saying "yeah, who ARE you going to greet" I have been a person with a bad attitude lately and not really showing God's love to... well... anyone. Thanks for the wake up call.

Lisa Smith said...

What good food for thought!!

Thank you for your prayers... I've missed my "hippy" friend... you're sooo cool and I'm glad you'll be there to greet me!!

xoxo

Deborah Ann said...

OMG, I LOVE John Piper! I read most of his books. How awesome that you got to meet him in person!

Can't wait to meet up with you on the other side. We'll have a good laugh over all the foolishness down here...

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Good morning! What a great way for this Ozarks farm chick to start her day. I too am lookin' forward to dancin' in the streets and beltin' out wonderful greetings. But while here on earth we a destined to be the greeters for God. That I'm practicing daily.

From the happy hills and hollers of the Missouri Ponderosa, ya'll have a wonderfully blessed day!!!

Laura said...

I have not read this book, Michelle. But it sounds fascinating. I wonder if it's the same for everyone, though, you know? I'm always wary to think I have it figured out. But it would be cool, no? However we are received, I know it's going to be awesome.

It's great to meet you here, new friend :)

Tracy said...

Thanks for this post. I find this whole concept of the people who've impacted me being there to greet me in heaven, along with the question of who I'll be greeting, captivating food for thought.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Hey girl, I just wanted to thank you for poppin' in with your sweet comment. Come, visit often, the door of the Ponderosa is always open.

You have yourself a fantastic Friday!!!

Kim said...

I have no doubt you will be busy....very, very busy.

Anonymous said...

I've got a lot of people I'm going to be looking for...but one in particular. It's been a long time since I held her in my arms. An aunt gave me that book to read after Missy's death. Some parts were too painful at the time, but there was one line in it that I still remember--how can she be 'lost' if you know where she is! My baby isn't lost! I know where she is!

kanishk said...

Thanks for this lovely post. I'll be thinking about that welcoming committee for days to come.
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