“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The LORD knows those who are His ...” (2 Timothy 2:19)
Shortly after Mom went to be with the Lord, my stepfather decided it was time to move. I was helping him pack and was given the task of sorting through old photos. When I returned home I opened the box of photos I had put aside for us kids and took a walk down memory lane.
I came across a clump of papers that I had no memory of placing in the box. I unfolded it to find six pages of my Dad’s handwritten notes of his testimony that he shared at a prayer meeting (that I obviously did not attend) on September 28, 1976. This was only four months after his first heart attack, and eight months before the second one that took him from us.
Dad had been rushed to a Christian hospital after that first heart attack. So, I assumed that he had come to Christ as a result of accepting the truth during his stay in the biblically based care facility while facing his own mortality.
Ours was a close and loving family, yet over those twenty years Dad was with me, I do not recall a time he joined the rest of us at Church, or prayed, for that matter.
Then I found his notes over forty five years later …
Dated: 9-28-76
- Prayer
- Praise Jesus Christ – Amen!
History:
- Formative years: 4 – 6. I was a religious Fanatic – dramatic impact on my young life.
- I was baptized & confirmed in the Episcopal Church
I never stopped praying!! Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name …
· On Feb 11 1956 I married a Catholic and attended Mass regularly at St. Ann’s for 3 years, then dropped off after moving from Arlington
· Feb 1962 I found a Lump in Neck at 34 years old
o It was Lymphocytic Lymphoma = Cancer of lymph glands
I was given 7 to 10 years
- I prayed at the foot of my children’s beds (4 & 5 years old)
Prayers Answered – Jesus directed me to a doctor that believed in arresting diseases
No problems since 1962
I Praise Jesus Christ for the fact that I am standing here tonight
· 4 years ago – my wife started to come here – she tried to witness but I had no desire
· In November 1975 – I had the desire!
May 30 1976 HEART ATTACK!! (3 warnings in same week)
- My family and I were 132 miles from home!
- It was 47 miles from nearest hospital
· Chest pressure for more than 2 hours (like a 400 lb. Gorilla)
o I was calm & prayed
o My wife asked ‘why me’ – 2 terminal diseases – She was a born again Christian
o Theresa – (my daughter) ran to neighbors and called 911
· Pressure subsided, with oxygen, on the way to the Hospital.
· Doctor informed me I had had a HEART ATTACK
o Asked about Cancer– How far had it progressed? I told him it had been totally arrested for 14 years
o I was back and forth to the ICU with chest pressure
o Prayed - NO fear – Peace & Trust
o I spent 22 days in Hospital 97 miles from home
o I left with instructions to walk on a flat surface in the open air …
I Praise Jesus Christ for opening my eyes to His beauty …
“And He walks with me and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the Joy. We share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.”
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14)
'… rejoice that your name is recorded in heaven.' (Luke 10:20)
"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:6)
Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30)
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:18-17)
I know that Mom and Dad are enjoying eternity with the LORD. I hold on to that same hope in Jesus Christ and pray that all will accept God's gracious invitation. Jesus says,
“I am the resurrection and the life.The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15)
“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:7)
Mom & Dad
"LORD, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John 6:68)
The Hymn Dad quoted is called In the Garden
Written by by C. Austin Miles, 1912
I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses...
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other, has ever, known!
He speaks and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that he gave to me,
Within my heart is ringing . . .
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other, has ever, known!
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other, has ever, known!