Absent from body....Present with LORD

A dear friend of ours has breathed his last on this old earth and entered his Eternal Home! Frank Brown went to be with the Savior he loved this morning. What a joy it was to be able to say good by to him last night. We sang, we prayed, we read the Word, we cried.....and looking beyond our sadness of loosing Frank, we rejoice as he is now in the presence of the One whom he loved and served so faithfully.

It is an amazingly peaceful thing to know that whatever we go through in our lives...be it flood, fire, death....our great God is there to lead us through. My husband read to Frank last night, some verses from John 10. "And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him; for they know His voice." Our LORD so gently lead Frank all of his Christian life and then through the valley of death.....and it was only a momentary shadow.....for the instant his mortal body failed he was with his Savior. I thought of the song "God Leads His Dear Children Along". And am so thankful for the Gentle Shepherd's leading, all the way to the finish, in Frank's life.

May Frank's life continue to be a challenge and encouragement to us all to press on, be faithful to the finish, and finish the race with joy......................all the way to the end!

In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet,
God leads His dear children along;
Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet,
God leads His dear children along.

Refrain:
Some through the waters, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.

Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,
God leads His dear children along;
Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night,
God leads His dear children along.

Though sorrows befall us and evils oppose,
God leads His dear children along;
Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,
God leads His dear children along.

Away from the mire, and away from the clay,
God leads His dear children along;
Away up in glory, eternity’s day,
God leads His dear children along.