The Promise of Home by Rose McCormick Brandon

Great confusion awaited the disciples. They were soon to encounter the chaos of the cross. They wouldn’t understand it. They expected Jesus to set up His kingdom and to rule with Him in a world dominated by His peace. They will someday, but they couldn’t see the vast river of time separating the cross and resurrection from the established Kingdom of God. 

                They, and we, are still waiting in the river. Jesus' message to them is His message to us today: 

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:1-3 NLT

                Sin and madness appear to rule. Events take place that cause our agendas to explode. Anarchy shrieks and lawlessness threatens. Scoffers deride Jesus’ message. They heap scorn on us who wait for His coming. 
               Don’t be discouraged by mockery. Jesus always keeps His promises. When the time is right – when our home in Heaven is ready, when the last soul kneels at the cross, when the Almighty gathers all the threads of history and ties them together – then, He’ll come and take us HOME.
                How the heart warms at the thought of home. A sanctuary. A place of relaxation. We can go shoeless, shirtless, pyjama-clad, hair undone, and feel no guilt. Because we’re home. 
               A much greater life than one of security and ease awaits us. Our true and eternal home. We may not have identified it as a longing for God’s house, but it’s been there, always, niggling at the soul, a nameless pining. A yearning for HOME. 
                 When the drapes open to let in today’s light ask, “Is it today, Jesus, that everything will be ready?” Perhaps not today, maybe not tomorrow, but some day, oh my, the curtain between heaven and earth will rend and a blast of heavenly light will release all His followers from the dust and carry us home. 

                Today, my Lord, let me ponder the heavenly home you’re preparing for me. It’s beyond my imagination, still, I can dream of it as I wait for You. 

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Rose McCormick Brandon is the author of four books, including Promises of Home – Stories of Canada's British Home Children, plus dozens of personal experience pieces, devotionals, short stories and essays. Rose’s work has won awards in the personal experience and short essay categories. A member of The Word Guild and The Manitoulin Writers Circle, Rose and husband, Doug, summer on Manitoulin Island where her pioneer ancestors settled and the home of his favourite fishing holes. The rest of the year, they live in Caledonia, Ontario, near their three children and three grandchildren. 

A Promise Kept by Rose McCormick Brandon

May 14, 1948. In a thirty-two minute proclamation Ben Gurion established modern Israel. Dancing, singing and cheering followed. Less than twenty-four hours later, enemies numerous and more experienced, attacked. In an Old Testament display of power God took the side of the Jews, fought for them and won.

God fulfilled His ancient promise to Israel: Listen to me, you nations nearby or across the sea. I scattered the people of Israel, but I will gather them again . . . I will rescue them from enemies who could overpower them. My people will come to Mount Zion and celebrate; their faces will glow because of my blessings. I’ll give them grain, grapes, and olive oil, as well as sheep and cattle. Israel will be prosperous and grow like a garden with plenty of water. Jeremiah 31:10-12

May 14, 2018. An historic day. Israel celebrated its seventieth birthday. Seventy years since the fledgling nation danced in the streets. On this day, the United States officially moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. A brave step. Until now, all the nations of the world have refused to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The U.S. promised many times to move its embassy, but all those promises were broken. 

As in 1948, most peoples of the world watched unable to grasp the significance of this event. Many sneered. Some attacked. This time mainly with words. 

David established Jerusalem as Israel’s capital 3000 years ago. Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41) 2,000 years ago. Now, against all odds, a people disconnected from their homeland for almost twenty centuries have returned. Impossible. Except that God decreed it. Israel began with 650,000 citizens in 1948. Today, there are more than six million. And more arriving.  

God’s promises are always fulfilled! Always! You can take the promises of God and build a lifetime on them. They won’t collapse, wear out or disintegrate. No world leader, no matter how lauded and admired, can stand against His promises. God is an immoveable rock. Those who oppose Him fight a losing battle (Matthew 21:44). 

He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4). God blesses those who bless Israel (Genesis 12:3).

“What a glorious day! Remember this moment!” Benjamin Netanyahu, May 14, 2018

            Praise you Lord God! Time may pass. People may forget. But, You never forget Your promises. 

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Rose McCormick Brandon is the author of four books - Promises of Home – Stories of Canada’s British Home Children, One Good Word Makes all the Difference, He Loves Me Not He Loves Me (with Sandra Nunn) and Vanished (with Shirley Brown) – plus dozens of personal experience pieces, devotionals, short stories and essays. Rose’s work has won awards in the personal experience and short essay categories. Her story, Manitoulin Connections, was published in Chicken Soup for the Soul, O Canada. A member of The Word Guild and The Manitoulin Writers Circle, Rose publishes two blogs: Listening to my Hair Grow (faith writings) and Promises of Home (stories of child immigrants). Rose and husband, Doug, summer on Manitoulin Island where her pioneer ancestors settled and the home of his favourite fishing holes. The rest of the year, they live in Caledonia, Ontario, near their three children and three grandchildren. 

Hope Meets Grit - by Heidi McLaughlin

Hope is not optimism or a good luck charm. It takes grit to walk through darkness and believe in something better for tomorrow. On a recent Facebook post I declared: “The darkest storms make way for the greatest sunlight.” I believe this with all my heart because God is a good God who promises that our future plans are good and abundant. But how do we survive those endless, dark seasons without any cracks of sunlight?

We need to have grit to grab hope.

Sometimes hope feels like an exploded dandelion seed floating in the air teasing my fingertips as I try to grab it.  Hope is not nebulous.  It is real and tangible but it takes backbone to step into it. I am at the three-month marker after the death of my second husband. It’s been a long, cold and hard winter outside and in my soul.  As I wait for my new season to arrive I need to do what my brother-in-law Bill says, “Give ‘er snoose.” Not entirely sure what it means but I know it entails hard work.

Give ‘er snoose.

With determined grit I step into hope every day. Here is how I do it:

• Whether I feel like it or not, I get out of bed, feet on the floor and start my day. Time with God, a shower and I make intentional appointments with friends to get out of the house each day.
• In spite of how I may feel, I start each day writing in my Gratitude Journal.
• I keep my body strong by eating healthy and walking 5 km every second day.
• I DECLARE that I will live in God’s light and that God has my glorious future. Out loud I speak against defeat, discouragement and despair. I will not allow the enemy to sabotage my thoughts with negativity and hopelessness.
• I stand on God’s promises with hope for my future. I look up verses that proclaim God’s truth for my fulfilling life. “So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.” (1 Peter 5:10)
• I remember God’s faithfulness in the past. I suffered through the death of my first husband, watched my father die of ALS and my mother of a pre-cancerous blood condition. God was with me in those grieving journeys and He restored my soul and placed a beautiful “new normal” in my life. Because God did is then…He will do it again.
• After a thundering, black storm the sun emerges and we enjoy a gorgeous rainbow. A visual imagine of an eternal promise.  Life is circular. Babies are born-we die. Winter is here-spring comes. We die-we go to Heaven. The suffering seasons we are in do not last forever.  “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. “(James 1:2)

There are many more but I will end on this note. God is the I Am of all I Am’s. The name of God is YHVH, which means “I Am.” When I say, “I am Heidi McLaughlin” that means that my “I am” only exists because of His. I know that everything in my life flows from Him and He would never intentionally hurt himself, so why would He hurt me? The only time He hurt himself was when He sent His son Jesus Christ to die for my sins and freedom. 

What kind of radical love is that?

That’s the hope I cling to each day. My God who loves me like that will walk me into a new and glorious future. I believe it with all my heart.

Heidi McLaughlin lives in the beautiful vineyards of the Okanagan Valley in Kelowna, British Columbia. Heidi has been widowed twice. She is a mom and step mom of a wonderful, eclectic blended family of 5 children and 12 grandchildren. When Heidi is not working, she loves to curl up with a great book, or golf and laugh with her family and special friends.

Her latest book RESTLESS FOR MORE: Fulfillment in Unexpected Places (Including a FREE downloadable Study Guide) is now available at Amazon.ca; Amazon.com, Goodreads.com or her website: www.heartconnection.ca

My Double Rainbow Revelation-by Heidi McLaughlin

            In January of each year I walk, pray and wait for God to give me two words or a phrase that will be my “teachable moments” and spotlight for the coming year.  January 2005 was the year I received a phrase that jolted my life.

            That year it was already the middle of January and I still had not received any direction and I knew it was time for another long walk. On a cold and dark evening I bundled up and walked through the vineyards and then up and down the hills of our beautiful neighbourhood.  Each time I put one foot in front of the other, I repeated this prayer: “God, do you have two words or something that will give me focus for the coming year?” I walked, waited and listened.  Halfway through my cold and dark adventure, a phrase came to me that was as clear as a banner across my forehead. “Reflect my Glory!”

            It almost took my breath away. Glory! That is a huge and mysterious phrase. God You are so Holy, Glorious and Majestic, what does that mean? How do I reflect your Glory?

            Those three words became even more ominous as I researched the word “Glory” and found it encompassed every single area of my life.

·      Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for glory, whom I formed and made…” (Isa. 43:7 NIV).

             EVERYONE

·      “So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31 NIV).

            EVERYTHING

            After two months of studying this phrase and still not fully grasping the whole concept, I became as brave as Moses at the burning bush and said: “God, will you show me what it means to reflect Your Glory?”

            Weeks and months passed but I never gave up hope. One day in June of that year my husband Jack and I decided to go for a long walk. Even though it had been raining all morning we bravely ventured out with our umbrellas.  On this splendid spring morning the summer flowers and foliage had been washed by rain and were bursting with fresh brilliant colors. The grapes on the vines were just beginning to take shape. God was really showing off that day.

            Close to the end of our walk the sun broke through the clouds and we saw the most magnificent rainbow. If that wasn’t enough, what I saw next literally took my breath away, The most glorious second rainbow. But for the first time in my life I realized that the second rainbow was a REFLECTION of the first. It took my breath away because I knew this was God’s way of showing me what it means to “reflect His Glory.”  It showed me this: That I am a reflection of His beauty, His promises and His love. I stood in awe wanting to fall on my knees and worship.

            For me it was a revelation that I wear His coat of beauty and love wherever I go and whatever I do. With everything I do and say. I always ask myself this question: “When I write, speak or am among other people. Did I leave God’s love and beauty?”

            The discipline of asking God for two words each year has been one of the simplest, yet one of my most powerful spiritual practices. This year God gave me: Rejoice and Glorify.  I wonder what He will teach me this year.

Heidi McLaughlin lives in the beautiful vineyards of the Okanagan Valley in Kelowna, British Columbia. She is married to Pastor Jack and they have a wonderful, eclectic blended family of 5 children and 9 grandchildren. When Heidi is not working, she loves to curl up with a great book, or golf and laugh with her husband and special friends. You can reach her at: www.heartconnection.ca