--The Beauty of Your Redemption is, and always will be 'Christ in you the hope of glory."
---(Colossians 1:27)

--WHEN THE SPLENDOR IS GONE~

--"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail."
--[Lamentations 3:22] --

--I can never recapture the splendor that was our daughter Melissa. Fading from my memory are those wonderful times when we watched her joyfully playing high school volleyball. And it's sometimes hard to remember the shy smile of contentment that crossed her face when we were doing family activities. Her death at age seventeen dropped a curtain on the joy of her presence.

In the book of Lamentation, Jeremiah's words show he understood that the heart can be punctured. "My splendor is gone," he said, "and all that I had hoped from the the LORD" (3:18). His situation was far different from yours and mine. He had preached God's judgment, and he saw Jerusalem defeated. The splendor was gone because he felt defeated (v.12), isolated (vs 14), and abandoned by God (vv. 15-20).

But that's not the end of his story. Light shined through. Jeremiah, burdened and broken, stammered out "I have hope" (v.21)--hope that comes from realizing that "because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed (v.22). And here is just what we need to remember when the splendor is gone: God's compassions never fail. They are new every morning" (vv.22-23).

Even in our darkest days, God's great faithfulness shines through. While on this earth, believers will never see their loved ones for the last time. We will join them in Heaven when we pass on, [or] when the Lord returns, whichever comes first. ~~

--"Thank You, Father, that You're the God of compassion. Even while I walk through the valley of darkness, morning will follow as I remember Your compassion and Your faithfulness. We look forward to a City not made with hands. Come Lord Jesus, Come. ~ In Jesus Name~ amen"
--ODB/DB
--"As For Me and My House we Will server the Lord. I will paint the blood above my door." [song title= 'Passover' / (Dave Bell & Chris Eaton) ] <https://youtu.be/mKCHJ_0pYI8>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~