We are not promised tomorrow...
In a 12 month span, our family experienced the unexpected loss of 4 loved ones, my 81 year-old father being one of them, my husband's sister, our sister-in-law's sister (on the same day as my father) and my uncle. Each one of them is truly missed!!!
It is not until somebody leaves us that we realize how much they mean to us, how much we love them and how much of an impact they have had on our lives. That is how I felt when my Dad passed on July 6, 2013.
On June 30, of that same year, Dad had experienced a massive heart attack while in his car parked at a restaurant in Delaware. He had stopped there on his way to visit my brother in New Jersey. Dad was taken to a nearby hospital. The prognosis was not good as he had suffered severe brain damage as well. But, God in His great mercy, spared Dad's life for another six days. This was not only for Dad's benefit but, for his family's benefit too. This is when RECONCILIATION began...
During those last days while Dad was in the hospital, our family was able to spend time with him to say those things that perhaps we had not said before. In the beginning, I think we all believed he would come through. I cried out to God like never before for Dad's physical healing and for his soul. I knew that God could heal him and restore his health but, my main concern was for Dad's eternal state. What would happen to him if he died?
Would he go to Heaven?
"Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life:
No man cometh unto the Father; but by me."
(John 14:6)
Would he go to Hell?
"So shall it be at the end of the world:
The angels shalll come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
And shall cast them into the furnace of fire:
there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
(Matthew 13: 49-50)
Dad believed that since he was a good person, he would go to Heaven. He did not recognize that sin separates us from a loving God and that we need to be reconciled to Him. Not one of us is without sin! There was only one who was sinless and that one was Jesus, the Messiah of Israel. And it is through Jesus, only, that we can be reconciled to God. He was the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. His blood shed on the cross paid for our sins, past, present and future!
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
(Romans 3:23)
The last days of Dad's life were truly a gift to all of us from a loving God. This time was so precious to each one of us. Dad liked a lot of attention and jokingly I told him that he was getting more attention now than ever before. At times, I would look at him and it looked like he was smiling, laughing along with us, even with all the tubes of life-sustaining equipment connected to him. I truly believed that Dad was going to be okay in the physical sense, maybe it was a sense of denial of what had just happened.
When I visited him, I would speak to him about Jesus and how I needed to know that I would see him again, in Heaven, when I got there. I would also bring my laptop computer playing songs about our loving God. I believe the music truly helped "heal" his heart. I know he could hear and understand everything that was going on.
God would "speak" to me through some of the medical staff. I had been playing "Priestly Bride", a song by Freddy Hayler (Listen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of2MIJmiFRk) and the doctor came in and recognized the tune. She said that this was the music that she and her Dad danced to at her wedding. That sounded like a message from God saying I would be dancing with my Dad in Heaven at the big wedding feast that would take place in the very near future in the Kingdom of God.
The respiratory therapist came in and heard a song that I was playing for Dad, "The Table of Grace" by Phillips, Craig and Dean, (Listen at http://youtu.be/-7JClTLVcYw?list=RD-7JClTLVcYw) and she said that it was her favorite song. Her church sings it all the time. I had only found this song while at the hospital that week.
After five days of seeing no improvement in Dad, the doctors recommended that we take him off life support. So, on Friday, July 5, 2013, we did so, according to Dad's wishes. We had expected him to pass sometime soon afterward, possibly overnight. I had left on Friday night with a peace that God was in total control and I did not return until late afternoon the next day. My sister, Linda, stayed with Dad throughout the night and into the next day. When my husband, Steve, and I arrived the next day, we were surprised to see that he was still holding on. Within minutes of our arrival, I found myself alone with Dad. So, once again, I quickly put on the "Table of Grace" by Phillips, Craig, and Dean and began to sing. It was during this song that Dad took his final breath.
As I realized what had just happened, I could only stand in awe at the AMAZING LOVE OF GOD!! How He loves each one of us so much and unconditionally! Dad had just received a wonderful gift from God, the gift of everlasting life! God was letting me know that Dad was now safe with Him. Dad was saved from a life of eternal darkness without God. Satan could not hold Dad any longer. Jesus now had the VICTORY! I know all of Heaven rejoiced!
"Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
(Luke 15:10)
I truly believe that those last days were the very best days of Dad's life. It was during this time that not only did we, his children, love on Dad, but, God loved on him too. It was here that Dad finally met His Lord and Savior, Jesus the Messiah, for the very first time.
Although, God did not heal Dad physically, He healed him fully spiritually. When Dad finally opened the door to his heart, Jesus entered in with...
The Father’s Love
God never quit Gently knocking... on the door of Dad's heart.
And this time, Dad opened the door.
In a 12 month span, our family experienced the unexpected loss of 4 loved ones, my 81 year-old father being one of them, my husband's sister, our sister-in-law's sister (on the same day as my father) and my uncle. Each one of them is truly missed!!!
It is not until somebody leaves us that we realize how much they mean to us, how much we love them and how much of an impact they have had on our lives. That is how I felt when my Dad passed on July 6, 2013.
On June 30, of that same year, Dad had experienced a massive heart attack while in his car parked at a restaurant in Delaware. He had stopped there on his way to visit my brother in New Jersey. Dad was taken to a nearby hospital. The prognosis was not good as he had suffered severe brain damage as well. But, God in His great mercy, spared Dad's life for another six days. This was not only for Dad's benefit but, for his family's benefit too. This is when RECONCILIATION began...
During those last days while Dad was in the hospital, our family was able to spend time with him to say those things that perhaps we had not said before. In the beginning, I think we all believed he would come through. I cried out to God like never before for Dad's physical healing and for his soul. I knew that God could heal him and restore his health but, my main concern was for Dad's eternal state. What would happen to him if he died?
Would he go to Heaven?
"Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life:
No man cometh unto the Father; but by me."
(John 14:6)
Would he go to Hell?
"So shall it be at the end of the world:
The angels shalll come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
And shall cast them into the furnace of fire:
there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
(Matthew 13: 49-50)
Dad believed that since he was a good person, he would go to Heaven. He did not recognize that sin separates us from a loving God and that we need to be reconciled to Him. Not one of us is without sin! There was only one who was sinless and that one was Jesus, the Messiah of Israel. And it is through Jesus, only, that we can be reconciled to God. He was the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. His blood shed on the cross paid for our sins, past, present and future!
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
(Romans 3:23)
The last days of Dad's life were truly a gift to all of us from a loving God. This time was so precious to each one of us. Dad liked a lot of attention and jokingly I told him that he was getting more attention now than ever before. At times, I would look at him and it looked like he was smiling, laughing along with us, even with all the tubes of life-sustaining equipment connected to him. I truly believed that Dad was going to be okay in the physical sense, maybe it was a sense of denial of what had just happened.
When I visited him, I would speak to him about Jesus and how I needed to know that I would see him again, in Heaven, when I got there. I would also bring my laptop computer playing songs about our loving God. I believe the music truly helped "heal" his heart. I know he could hear and understand everything that was going on.
God would "speak" to me through some of the medical staff. I had been playing "Priestly Bride", a song by Freddy Hayler (Listen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of2MIJmiFRk) and the doctor came in and recognized the tune. She said that this was the music that she and her Dad danced to at her wedding. That sounded like a message from God saying I would be dancing with my Dad in Heaven at the big wedding feast that would take place in the very near future in the Kingdom of God.
The respiratory therapist came in and heard a song that I was playing for Dad, "The Table of Grace" by Phillips, Craig and Dean, (Listen at http://youtu.be/-7JClTLVcYw?list=RD-7JClTLVcYw) and she said that it was her favorite song. Her church sings it all the time. I had only found this song while at the hospital that week.
After five days of seeing no improvement in Dad, the doctors recommended that we take him off life support. So, on Friday, July 5, 2013, we did so, according to Dad's wishes. We had expected him to pass sometime soon afterward, possibly overnight. I had left on Friday night with a peace that God was in total control and I did not return until late afternoon the next day. My sister, Linda, stayed with Dad throughout the night and into the next day. When my husband, Steve, and I arrived the next day, we were surprised to see that he was still holding on. Within minutes of our arrival, I found myself alone with Dad. So, once again, I quickly put on the "Table of Grace" by Phillips, Craig, and Dean and began to sing. It was during this song that Dad took his final breath.
As I realized what had just happened, I could only stand in awe at the AMAZING LOVE OF GOD!! How He loves each one of us so much and unconditionally! Dad had just received a wonderful gift from God, the gift of everlasting life! God was letting me know that Dad was now safe with Him. Dad was saved from a life of eternal darkness without God. Satan could not hold Dad any longer. Jesus now had the VICTORY! I know all of Heaven rejoiced!
"Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
(Luke 15:10)
I truly believe that those last days were the very best days of Dad's life. It was during this time that not only did we, his children, love on Dad, but, God loved on him too. It was here that Dad finally met His Lord and Savior, Jesus the Messiah, for the very first time.
Although, God did not heal Dad physically, He healed him fully spiritually. When Dad finally opened the door to his heart, Jesus entered in with...
The Father’s Love
God never quit Gently knocking... on the door of Dad's heart.
And this time, Dad opened the door.