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For the last few weeks my dad has been in a hospital in Glendale, California. At 89, he is not well. His body is weak, but his mind and faith have been strong. Last week I changed my travel plans and drove many hours to that hospital for a surprise visit on Father’s Day. When I arrived, he wasn’t “all there” mentally. He slept most of the day, for he had been heavily sedated the night before. The next day he didn’t remember that my brother, sisters and I had even been there the previous day. He was also somewhat delirious. Not knowing how long he would live, that night I prayed that Jesus would restore his mind enough so I could say goodbye in a meaningful way (if his death was near). A lot of others have been praying for my dad, too.
Then an amazing thing happened. On Tuesday his mind began to snap back. Then I left to go eat dinner with his wife, and then returned once more in the evening. Wow! He was “all there.” My dad began quoting Bible promises, one after another, like this one: “…though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. He knew these verses by heart and expressed them flawlessly. We then prayed. His face was glowing. The Holy Spirit was there in power. Before I left his room my dad raised his hands, and then strongly jerked them in triumph like a runner who had just won a race. I left his room walking on cloud ten praising God that He loves me and my dad, and that I will see my father again in glory!
Thankfully, my dad has improved in the last few days. We don’t know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future. I appreciate so much those of you who have prayed for me, my dad, and my relatives. Thank you! My great comfort is in knowing that when his time does come, he will “sleep in Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:14), joining millions of others who are now “dead in Christ” (vs. 16) and who also peacefully await in their graves the sounding of the last trumpet when our Lord returns. On that Glorious Day “we shall be caught up together with them [with “the dead in Christ” who are resurrected] in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (vs. 17). Paul has encouraged us to “comfort one another with these words” (vs. 18).
God is so good!
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21 Comments
beautiful time with your Dad. Yes What a day that will be – looking forward to seeing my mom and dad again when the trumpet sounds and the dead are raised 1st. Oh what a glorious meeting in the sky!!!! Praying for you Steve and your family. God bless you all.
I am Anne Wohlberg’s cousin from Alabama. First, please accept my condolences for the loss of your Dad. I am so very sorry. Anne dearly loved him so much. She is really going to miss him.
I had the privilege of meeting him a few times since Grace moved to California! What a Godly man!
Please know our thoughts and prayers will be with you.
Praise the Lord. Thank you for sharing this with all of us. He certainly does have a glow about him in the photo. Prayers.
My heart is overwhelmed with joy! Praise God for your good tidings and your father’s faith.
I will keep your father and family in my daily prayers. Please keep us posted.
I am so glad, Steve, that you have that reassurance, given of God, of your dad and his faithfulness to Jesus Christ. He gave me that also on the death bed of my father. Who till that time did not know Jesus but excepted him when he understood. God is indeed good to us, is he not , amen. I am still praying for you all. I hope you are still doing better with your health. Keep up the good work. Thank you for your ministry.
Praise our God for answering prayers! Will continue in prayer for you, your Dad, & family. God bless you Steve ?
Your dad looks full of peace and joy despite his circumstances. The promises of God are true and powerful just spoken. God is Love.
How wonderful that Jesus loves you & your family very much.If they die we can accept that peacefully if we know they are resting in God’s Will.He will do what is best.
Hi there Steve,
Glad to see the Lord’s working in your fathers life. May the Lord be with you and your father and family during this time. Our prayers are with you.
Pastor Justis St. Hilaire
Praise God! I’m so glad you got more time with him.
Your story about your father uplifted me. I love that picture. I know that you had him in the best hospital there in Glendale. I live in Oklahoma now but I used to live out there in Glendale and 58 years ago when I was only 5 years old that hospital saved my life when I had meningitis. My mom was always forever grateful for the care we got at the hospital in Glendale even though we were not Adventist. I was born and raised a Lutheran but I am now and always will be a Seventh-Day Adventist. Will keep you all in prayer. Thank you for your wonderful ministry.
Dear Steve,
Your dad and I were great friends and I am looking forward to the Day when Jesus will return and we shall be with Him and one with another. Please pass Kindly my regards when you talk to him next time, other by the phone or in person. May God continue to bless your Ministry.
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Stephen Jakovac
Thanks for sharing your experience with us Steve, of a certainty I know that God is answering the cry of his elect. Don’t be surprise we are going to see some mind shaking results when we cry out to him for help in faith. He is working mightily now on our behalf like never before. Sit back and watch Him work, we are in the season!
Thank you, Pastor Steve for sharing. Jesus is coming very, very
soon and I can’t wait for all this pain and misery to be over.
I am so looking forward to seeing my loved ones again.
Thank you for your wonderful ministry, and may God
Bless you, your Dad, and the rest of your family.
It’s no secret what God can do our heavenly father love us unconditional. My Dad is 93 and so bless he’s in Jamaica praising the Lord
Amen!
Thank you so much, what a beautiful promise! All glory and praise to God on High! His return is at the door!
Your Dad got our family through a devastating injury to my son Eric. He came to Cedars to minister to him and to us. His presence when he walked into the room was enlightening. Over Thanksgiving many years ago when everyone was planning for the holiday Gene came for a visit. Eric was in a coma and the doctors were not very encouraging about his future. I was crying and your Dad said ” what’s Eric’s favorite meal?” I replied prime rib. He said ” when he gets out if this place, I’m going to take all of you to the best prime rib restaurant in L.A. After that I never doubted it would happen, and it did. Over the past twenty years, your Dad called my son often, prayed with him and encouraged him. He always seemed to know when we were going through a crisis. He even remembered birthdays, including my daughter Kristin who was honored to share the same date, April 2nd. He is always in our prayers and we thank God every day he came into our lives.
Thank you for sharing this story. Gene has been an absolute blessing to me and my family and has been a source of love and support and encouragementl I have especially cherished his birthday calls and signing – “happy birthday” has never sounded better. Sending great love and gratitude to Gene! ???
gene was a prayer partner with me one other best. I leave for Los Angeles tomorrow from Italy and will be home on Wednesday. It was laid on my heart to google your dad and I got to see that smile.