Homecomings

Today I experienced something new…a homecoming. My pride and joy, my oldest daughter Alli came home from a summer mission trip in Russia. This is the longest we have ever had one of our children “away” from home. We arrived early at the airport so we could see Alli and Jess as soon as they cleared customs. We waited and we waited…no sign of them. There is about a 400 feet hallway that connects the waiting area with customs. You are not permitted to go any closer but you can stand in the waiting area and watch for your loved ones. I kept straining to see Alli…and there she was! My girl! I was so excited! We all lined up and started waving! What a sweet reunion for the Cremeans family. God is so good to us and we are so proud of Alli and Jess (Jess is one of our “adopted” kids from Eastern University). They did such a great job and I know that their lives will never be the same.

As I watched and waited today I was reminded of Luke 15 where Jesus tells about the wayward son who left his Father to spend his inheritance. Finally, after he had wasted all his money and got a new perspective, he returned home. The Bible says something interesting…it says that the Father was watching and waiting. It says that when his son was still a long way off that he spotted him and began to run…he ran to his son and put his arms around him and rejoiced. The wayward son had come home. Jesus wanted us to have some insight into the heart of the Father. The truth is that the Father is watching and waiting for people all over the Delaware Valley. He loves them desperately and has done all the work so they can be reconciled and forgiven. Fellowship Church is the place that becomes the “long hallway” where people who are far from God take steps toward a loving Father who is watching and waiting for them to come home.

It doesn’t get any better than seeing your daughter come home after a long time away. I’ll sleep well tonight knowing she is home under her Daddy’s roof. God reminded me today, in the midst of it all, how excited He gets when just one wayward son or daughter comes home. Don’t ever give up. Keep praying for that friend or loved one who has lost their way. One of my best friends is living this nightmare right now…but his faith is strong…maybe the strongest I have ever seen…I believe God is going to bring his daughter home soon. So for those of you who share today’s blog with me let me challenge you to remember how good homecomings are. This Sunday there will be many at Fellowship who are lost and looking for answers…for a way out…a way home. Let’s make sure we are paying attention…that we are focused on why Fellowship exists…to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus.