"My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?" John 14:2
For years, it was my daughter’s dream to go to college in New York. However, once she arrived, she quickly learned the reality that New York is a very long distance from Walled Lake. Learning from other families, we were warned to book the flight home for Thanksgiving well in advance. As a result, that served as a source of encouragement knowing that she had a ticket to come home in November to everything and everyone that she missed most. When the homesickness would strike, she was able to count the days to being reunited with family and friends.
A week before her departure, I started to coach her regarding how to travel on the busiest day of the year. She left for the airport three hours before her flight to ensure that she would arrive on time. However, it wasn’t until she checked her bag that she noticed her ticket stated, “See agent at the gate.”
As she arrived at the gate and approached the official looking “agent” behind the counter, his disposition immediately indicated that it had been a very long day for him. Focusing on the computer screen ahead of him, he nonchalantly informed her that, “Yeah, this flight is overbooked, and you currently don’t have a seat. We’ll see if someone will give up their seat, but don’t get your hopes up.”
Frantically, she called me. I immediately pulled up the confirmation email for her Thanksgiving flight. Not only did it remind me of the inflated price that we paid for holiday travel, but it also did indeed indicate that she had a reserved seat. Yet, for some reason, the airline had selected her to be bumped from the flight. Despite her tears and her age, she watched the doors close and the plane depart to Detroit without her.
“No room.” Two little words that have the potential to ignite very strong emotions such as hurt, rejection, and pain. So many times in life, we experience situations when we hear that there is not enough room. “We only have so many seats in the car.” “The doctor is not accepting new patients.” “The concert is sold out.” “We have no available beds.” Even Joseph himself was told there was no room in the inn when he arrived with his wife who was soon to bear a child.
This Advent season, may you find great joy in knowing that Jesus came to save all men from their sins, and there is PLENTY of room in Heaven! “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” John 14:2. In fact, there is so much room that we are all encouraged to invite as many people as possible to join us!
This week, we have numerous opportunities to which you can invite someone to hear about God’s amazing plan of salvation for everyone! Our worship opportunities include:
Friday, December 15:
Preschool/Kindergarten Christmas program at 6:30 p.m. in the church with a reception in the gym immediately following the service. (Students are asked to be in their classrooms by 6:15 p.m. for costume attire.)
Wednesday, December 20:
Special Guest Breakfast from 8:20 - 9:20 a.m. in the Cafeteria
All students are encouraged to invite a special guest to come enjoy a special breakfast before our 9:30 a.m. worship service. To help us prepare, please click HERE to let us know how many guests will attend.
9:30 a.m. Grades 1 - 4 Christmas Worship Service (Students are asked to wear Christmas dresses and attire.)
7:00 p.m. Grades 1 - 4 Christmas Worship Service (Students are asked to meet in classrooms by 6:45 p.m. wearing the same Christmas attire.)
We hope to see you at these special worship opportunities where our youngest disciples will share such a powerful message of God’s love for His people.
Looking forward to celebrating and worshiping the newborn King with all of you, and yes, there will be plenty of room!
Oh Come Let Us Adore Him!
Mrs. Palka
p.s. The rest of the story...The airline did provide a hotel room for my daughter and put her on the 6:00 a.m. flight the very next day so she did make it home for Thanksgiving during her freshman year of college!