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Grace Summit Community Church is a nondenominational church which focuses on authentically living out what the Bible teaches. It’s also a church with a big heart—toward its members, guests, and those in our community.
Grace Summit leadership and members desire to make a difference in our world by demonstrating through our lives that God is real, that He loves people and that He wants a relationship with each person. The mindset of “making room for more” underlies the plans and activities of Grace Summit as we strive to include and connect with more people in all we do. We’d love to have you be a part of what God is doing here at Grace Summit!
This Week's Message
02.05.2012 Heaven is Real, part 2
JemmaAudio
I would like to start by sharing with you 3 songs that have been a strength to me – they bring me to my knees – Josh Wilson, In the Morning, Kerrie Roberts – No Matter What, The Cry – Take My Hand and Walk.
It was sometime around 3:00 am. I hadn't slept much, listening for and watching my husband. He started talking to his mother. I asked him several times if he wanted me to call his mother. I told him she would come over to see him. He kept telling me no. He would start talking to her again, and again I would offer to call and have her come over. I told him she would be here, she wouldn't care it was the middle of the night. Everytime I offered to make the call he verbally told me no or shook his head no. It was about this time that I realized something spiritualistic was happening. I got a paper and pen and started writing down our conversation. I asked him have you talked to Jesus? His response "yeah". I then asked him what he talked to Jesus about. His reply was "food". This may sound peculiar but you need to understand William hadn't had normal food since mid August. (This was October 30, 2011). He then said "I see my mom. Hi mom come back and say hi mom." This has me stumped because his mom is still living. But again he told me not to call her.
These snipets of conversation lasted over about a 2 and 1/2 to 3 hour time frame. It was about this time I thought to get our book out that describes the stages of death. The book said when our loved ones seem to be in both worlds they typically have about a week left. So, ok, I know the end is near.
I asked him who do you see? He responded with "everybody." I wanted to know who everybody was so I started asking if he saw specific people who would already be in heaven. I asked him if he saw his paternal grandmother. "No." I then asked if he saw my grandpa and grandma. He did not respond to this question. A while later, he seemed to wake up and said "more, there they are." I then asked if he saw my grandma again and his response: "Yeah, hi grandma." The sound of his voice I will never forget. I hope I do it justice trying to explain it. It sounded like he was an excited little boy, no grown up man to his voice at all.
Around 4:00 he said, "I'm going to talk to Jesus." I told him to go talk to Jesus, have a nice conversation. Sometime after that he said, "I'm gonna go talk to Jesus some more." I then told him to go talk to Jesus and if you want to stay with Jesus, you do not have to come back. You just stay with Jesus. A while later he came back and said "I can't get my numbers." This phrase has me confused today. I tried to ask what he meant. I asked if he meant a phone number but he didn't respond. I told him Jesus didn't need his phone number. It doesn't matter if I know what he meant by his numbers. He knew, and that is all that matters. A while after this he came back one more time and in a very childlike voice said "mommy, where'd my chair go? Sit."
I had drifted off to sleep and awoke close to 7 am. A while after that, I noticed that Bill was gulping like a fish out of water. I again got out our signs of death book and it said when patients do this they typically have hours to days. I immediately got on the phone to Bill's parents and told them I wasn't sure I was reading the signs right but I thought they should come right over. They said they were getting ready and would come. I then woke up our oldest son and told him basically the same thing. That I wasn't sure I was reading the signs correctly but asked if he wanted to come be with his dad. He came up and I then went to get our youngest son. By the time we came down, Bryan said his dad gulped like a fish one more time and then didn't breathe again. I called his two sisters that live locally and explained what was happening and told them to come. Bill's parents arrived approximately 12 minutes after I phoned them. They did not get to talk to their son that day. He had already passed by the time they arrived. His sisters also missed speaking to him that day.
I have been a believer and saved Christian for most of my life. My grandparents made sure I went to church and were a very positive influence in my life. I've always believed in heaven. This was the most exquisitely beautiful experience I have ever had. I can't describe the pain of losing your spouse, but God let me have these incredible few hours. This is my personal glimpse of the glory to come. The glory that is just waiting for all of us. This beautiful place that we can do nothing to earn. All we have to do is ask.
Philippians 4:4 -9 (revised standard)
Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.
This passage, I finally understand. I have that peace and the glory belongs to God alone.
Jemma
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Grace Summit Community Church | 2960 Bailey Road | Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44221 | 330-922-3550
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