My Father's House

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:2


Thanksgiving always reminds me of heaven and what it will be like one day as we sit in the Father’s House sharing in a very special meal. After all, the home I share with my wife was previously the house my own Father and Mother shared up until the day they each went home to be with Jesus. One of the things I enjoy most about holidays is the chance they give each of us to turn them into special days that become the sweet memories we look back on for the rest of our lives. One of my fondest memories of Thanksgiving are sweet potatoes. Whenever I see a sweet potato I always think of Thanksgiving Day. Even as I sit here in the very early hours of Thanksgiving morning I can vividly remember watching my mom standing in the kitchen just across the room from where I sit making her famous sweet potatoes. I can’t remember if her recipe called for sweet potatoes with some brown sugar or if it was brown sugar with a few sweet potatoes mixed in. All I know is they were delicious and if that constituted eating your vegetables, I would gladly become a vegetarian.

My father’s house is also the house our kids remember most growing up and where they ate some of their most memorable holiday meals. My Mom went all in during holidays. My dads only had one job, Ok, maybe he had two jobs. One was, stay out of the kitchen until my mom said it was “time”. And his number two job was, he got to cut the turkey. I miss watching my dad cutting the turkey as he was “all boy” when it came to trimming the bird. He started off great and cut perfect slices of meat. Then, as he got closer to the bones he must have grown impatient cutting so he just began pulling the meat off the bone with his fingers, (and unbeknownst to most he would lick them along the way between pulls). By the time he was finished picking and pulling and slicing the turkey, the plate looked more like a pile of meat that had been ravaged by a bird of prey as it was all torn up and in such small pieces you couldn’t even pick it up with a fork. It did however make for great turkey sandwiches the next day and beyond as the turkey was already in bite size pieces.

I am thankful today my Mom had so many different types of linen table cloths that she loved to put on the table and me telling her the table was going to collapse from the sheer weight of them all. I miss the holiday plate settings and all the different forks and knives and spoons my mom would put out that graced the Thanksgiving table. I miss her decorations and the centerpieces that she adorned the table to set the tone for the special occasion. I miss her outfits that she wore that aligned perfectly with the holiday being celebrated. Red was her color.

Yes, there is so much I miss on Thanksgiving and yet its in my missing that serves to make me even more grateful for what I have and for those who are here with us today. God has blessed me with a beautiful wife, three wonderful children and our soon to be eighth absolutely adorable grandchild. I’m extremely thankful for my mother and father in law as well as my brother and sisters, my brother and sister in laws, many nieces and nephews and extended family that I am unsure even how we are all related but am thankful that somehow we are. I am grateful for a wonderful church family made up of an amazing staff, key leaders, first time guests, regular attendees and volunteers who bless my wife and I in ways no words could fully explain. We are family!

When I think of Thanksgiving I think of my Father’s house, I think of heaven and the Last Supper, a meal Jesus shared with His disciples prior to going to the Cross. Jesus knew as He sat at the meal there was a day coming when He would be together again with them and us, seated at a table enjoying what is known as the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb” in heaven that we read about in the book of Revelation! Yes, loved one, the greatest Thanksgiving celebration ever is still yet to be when we all get to heaven and like the song sings, “and what a day what a day that will be! One day we will all meet up again in the Father’s House, every one who has ever placed their hope and trust in Jesus will be there.

This Thanksgiving the song, “Big House” by Audio Adrenaline is playing in my head. To think one day we will all be seated around a big big table with lots of room and where there is lots and lots of food. A meal made possible by the Lord where we will once again enjoy being with those we love and those who have gone before us. Yes, “What a day, What a day that will be!” So, take time today to count your blessings, be thankful for what you have and express your gratitude to Jesus for getting everything ready so we can enjoy life in the Father’s House one day!

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

John 14:3


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I LOVE YOU!


Here is the song “Big House” by Audio Adrenaline. Imagine it as you celebrate today!


I don't know where you lay your head
Or where you call your home
I don't know where you eat your meals
Or where you talk on the phone
I don't know if you got a cook
A butler or a maid
I don't know if you got a yard
With a hammock in the shade

I don't know if you got some shelter
Say a place to hide
I don't know if you live with friends
In whom you can confide
I don't know if you got a family
Say a mom or dad
I don't know if you feel love at all
But I bet you wish you had

Come and go with me
To my Father's house
Come and go with me
To my Father's house

It's a big big house
With lots and lots a room
A big big table
With lots and lots of food
A big big yard
Where we can play football
A big big house
Its my Father's house

Ibidibidee bop bop bow whew! yeah!

All I know is a big ole house
With rooms for everyone
All I know is lots a land
Where we can play and run
All I know is you need love
And I've got a family
All I know is your all alone
So why not come with me?

Come and go with me
To my Father's house
Come and go with me
To my Father's house

It's a big big house
With lots and lots a room
A big big table
With lots and lots of food
A big big yard
Where we can play football
A big big house
Its my Father's house

It's a big big house
With lots and lots a room
A big big table
With lots and lots of food
A big big yard
Where we can play football
A big big house
Its my Father's house

Come and go with me
To my Father's house
Come and go with me
To my Father's house

It's a big big house
With lots and lots a room
A big big table
With lots and lots of food
A big big yard
Where we can play football
A big big house
Its my Father's house