Home
by Cathi Cody
Summer. Summer is almost gone and that means a change is on the horizon! After this summer’s record-breaking heat, cooler weather sounds wonderful!!
My husband, Carl, and I are at the retirement stage of our lives. Fall for us means time to travel... there are trips to be taken! Now we have time for the traveling we love. The energy? As the years pass by, the trips get a little shorter and the time more precious.
I love the concentrated time a trip gives me to be with the love of my life. I love sharing God’s wonders. I love the anticipation of what comes next–what we will see around the next corner. I am the planner in our duo and I love to see the plans unfold, and then come to completion.
The end of a trip can sometimes be bittersweet. It is sad to be finished but comforting to be home… back in my own bed…a washer and dryer… no suitcases… no car to load and unload…no planes to catch or airports to navigate… home is comfortable. I like a routine so that I can remember what day it is! And I love Sunday worship in a familiar Body of Christ. My body and spirit need rest…friends…and family. Home is good! 
Our life is also a journey, but one where we don’t know the length of the trip. We aren’t promised the number of our days, or where our journey will lead…but as believers in Christ, we are promised “Home.”
The book of Revelation ends with a description of what God calls our eternal Home – heaven. Chapters 21 and 22 give us an amazing picture of this new and eternal Home. The most important part of the description is where we see that “...God Himself will be with them...” Revelation 21:3 ESV. Later verses in Revelation 21 describe this Home in detail. It is a vast city adorned everywhere with beautiful jewels. The streets are paved in pure gold, and it is illuminated by the glory of God. And, “they will see His face…” Revelation 22:4 ESV!!
Who will be there?
In John 14:1-3 ESV Jesus told His disciples who will live there. If you are a believer, if you have accepted the gift of eternal life that Jesus offers, there is a room in God’s eternal Home prepared for you.
Though we aren’t promised a set number of days–how long our ‘trip’ will be–we are promised a glorious Home! Just as the anticipation of my earthly home pulls me at the end of a vacation, my heavenly Home is pulling me with the expectation of what is waiting. Now in my 70s, Home is closer. I long for it as I never have before!
I pray each of you has a longing in your heart for your eternal Home…and a deep burden to tell others how they can also have a place in God’s eternal Home! We are not promised tomorrow.
Revelation 22:20 NASB tells us, “He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming quickly.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
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Reflect & Remember
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Read Revelation 21 and 22 NIV and make note of the glorious details of your heavenly Home.
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Read John 14:1-3 ESV. This is Jesus’ promise to those who belong to Him…the promise of a Home with Him.
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If you are not absolutely sure that you will be living in the eternal Home that Jesus is preparing, please speak to a pastor, a trusted friend, or someone in the Prayer Room on a Sunday morning.
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Meet this month's contributor: Cathi Cody
 Cathi is known by many names: wife to her high school sweetheart, Carl; Mom to her children; Cece to her grands; sister; Master Gardener; and Butterfly Nanny. But the name she values most is Daughter of the King. Her Elohim has given her a love of His creation and blessed her with special places where she may observe His world and be taught by Him. She is passionate about His word and loves sharing it. Her vocation is teaching and her calling for the past 15+ years has been to teach women about her Lord and Savior. |
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Mark Your Calendars!
Open House - Bible Studies - Back Porch Retreat
 * Women's Ministry Open House: August 28 between our regular Sunday Morning services. Stop by the Connections Booth on the far west end of the Worship Foyer to get info about upcoming studies, events, and how you can get involved. We'd love to meet you!
* Tuesday Fall Studies start September 13; choose from Morning or Evening Studies; childcare available; registration is now. Click HERE to select your study and also register for childcare.
* Back Porch Retreat, September 23-24: Gather together with other women in Fayetteville homes on Friday evening and Saturday morning for a video study and discussion led by Fellowship's own Sue Addington. It will be a great opportunity to met new women, build relationships, and spend time in the Word. REGISTRATION opens Sunday, August 14. |
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Every Sunday, incredible leaders in our Early Childhood ministry sing, teach, and explore God’s story with children from birth through Pre-K, and get to see first-hand how God is working in the lives of the youngest members of our family of faith. We encourage you to join us in the joy of seeing the next generation learn to love Jesus by serving with us during one service on Sunday mornings and worshiping during one service.
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Fellowship Institute: Torah Class
Fellowship Institute is designed to aid our church members in understanding their Bible at the seminary level. This class will be studying the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. Registration opens August 14 and can be found on the Events & Classes page of the Fellowship website.
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If you are specifically interested in serving through a Fayetteville Women's Ministry group, shoot us an email at fayettevillewomen@fellowshipnwa.org and we'll get you connected to one of our team leaders. |
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(All Scripture references are from the New International Version unless otherwise indicated)
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