Dave had the lesson discussion to begin our day's service with.
This is the time in which everyone can share their thoughts on the lesson topic.
Praise Time was led by Karen and accompanied by Bonnie and Aase and it was so lovely to hear the duo of piano and organ again.
Thank you so much for sharing your talents with us. We enjoy it.
The program went along so nicely with Jerrie Lou telling a wonderful old story of a water bottle and a dolly arriving at the place they were needed at just the right time.
Dave shared On a Hill Far Away in song while playing his guitar. It was really good to hear him sing and play again. That song is still full of inspiration and love.
Rich shared the Bible reading and prayer and it is always good to hear his voice!
Lori got up to speak and started with this beautiful smile setting the tone for the rest of the service... hope, encouragement, and exuberance.
Lori called her Sermon Title Face to Face
She began with Titus 2:11-14.
Then a quote from CS Lewis " If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, then most probably explanation is that we were made for another world."
She went on to share about face recognition technology that is in our world today and it matches a human face with a digital image against a data base of faces, but God really gave people that amazing ability from creation. We can see a person once and recognize that face later on.
Lori shared a story from her work in the field of speech pathology and working on a case of a man who had a motorcycle accident which left him with a brain injury. This man could speak and comprehend language but one of his problems from this injury was that he lost his ability to recognize faces or picture the lay of the land in his mind.
He could no longer recognize his own brother by his face... he needed to hear his voice. How sad a situation for him.
God gave us a wonderful gift and it is also very sad that in dementia people often lose this ability to recognize their family or close friends.
In Selected Messages 3:316 it reads,
"God's greatest gift is Christ, whose life is ours, given for us. He died for us and was raised for us, that we might come forth from the tomb to a glorious companionship with heavenly angels, to meet our loved ones and to recognize their faces, for the Christ-likeness does not destroy their mage, but transforms it into His glorious image. Every saint connected in family relationship here will know each other there."
We won't have face agnosia. We will KNOW.
You might want to look up Desire of Ages p 786 and 787 to read the quote about what death is to the Christian.
Lori encouraged us to not focus on the time of trouble but to spend time thinking of eternity.
OHC p 285 and 286 is another good place to read Mrs, White telling about the atmosphere of heaven.
Do you enjoy God?
Do you cultivate a relationship with Him? Matthew 7:21-23 helps us remember what He told us about knowing Him.
When He comes in the clouds will you be able to recognize Him, KNOW Him?
It will be so wonderful to be embraced by Jesus and see Him face to face. \
Lori had sharing time here to have people share what they were looking forward to in Heaven.
Then the service ended with a Sandy Patti song video We Shall Behold Him.
So thankful for this church service and that we can recognize each other.
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