SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS!--Dad's Heavenly Homegoing!    Maria #232       DFO 2945         10/94
By Maria

Dearest Precious Family,
         1. We have some unexpected news for you, which on the one hand is one of the most thrilling things that could have happened, but on the other, may at first be difficult and saddening. Our beloved Father, Grandpa, King and prophet is now safe in the arms of Jesus, and freed from the weights of this evil world, having gone to his glorious reward. He left us peacefully in his sleep, as he had always wanted, with some of his children gathered around his bedside.
         2. Dad had been feeling quite well since his last sickness, and was getting stronger, thanks to your prayers and the Lord strengthening him. He had even been able to eat potatoes and gravy, and get some exercise. So the Lord had wonderfully answered your prayers. Then just recently Dad suddenly became quite ill, and we were all praying for him. By a miracle, we were able to get a sweet doctor to come and visit us the night before Dad's Homegoing, and he prescribed some vitamins and some lab tests. Dad went to sleep soon afterwards, waking later for two hours, during which time he was able to drink some chocolate milkshakes, which he enjoyed very much. Afterwards, he fell asleep again, and after six hours I felt that he should have more nourishment, so attempted, with one of our helpers, to awaken him. However, we were unable to do so, and began a continual prayer vigil, as we were concerned that his rapid, shallow breathing for hours at a time would be too much for his heart.
         3. We had been praying for some hours when his breathing changed and slowed, which we initially were hoping was a good sign. However, as we watched his breathing and felt his weakening heartbeat, after a short period of not breathing, we saw him take one last little breath or sigh, and he was gone.
         4. By this time, everyone in our Home had gathered to anoint him with oil, and as we began to pray, we asked the Lord to bring him back if that was His will. But as we were praying and weeping, we began to get different verses and visions, all signifying that he had gone to be with Jesus: "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints" (Psa.116:15). "Into Thy hands I commit my spirit, O Lord" (Psa.31:5; Luke 23:46). Three people received visions of his spirit hovering above the bed, happy and free. Someone also had a vision of him having gone through to the Other Side, now younger and extremely happy.
         5. Earlier, I had gotten, "Whom have I in Heaven but Thee? There is none on Earth that I desire beside Thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but Thou art the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever" (Psa.73:25,26).
         6. Several saw Dad so happy and excited, as though he were saying, "There is now no limit to what I can do!--Free at last!"
         7. I had been lying beside Dad, praying for him not long before he left us, and I told the Lord, as I had the last time he was so gravely ill, that I wanted him to be happy and I didn't want him to have to endure the many afflictions and difficulties of old age and illness and the troubles of the world unless the Lord knew it was absolutely necessary for him to remain here on Earth for the Family.
         8. He had been doing so well and getting so much stronger recently, so I realized that the Lord was very capable of doing whichever--either keeping Dad and further strengthening him, or taking him to be with Him where he would be happier and stronger and freer than ever possible here. Just a couple of days earlier he had said, "I wonder if there's anything more I can do to help the Family?" Now, from Heaven, he has his heart's desire to be an even greater blessing to us, his Family, whom he loved so dearly, and he can do all the things that he wants to do in order to help us during this important time in ours and the world's history!
         9. So it is a thrilling new life that has opened up for him!--And for us! Now he will be able to be rewarded for all his years of sacrificial love and labor, and be able to do all that he has ever dreamed of to help us usher in God's glorious Kingdom here on Earth, praise the Lord!
         10. For us, Dad's graduation will bring Heaven so much closer and make the goal much more reachable, and strengthen our resolve to keep pressing ahead till our turn comes. Though we may have to wait for a short while before we're reunited with Dad and our loved ones in that Heavenly City, I know that he is going to be so proud of us for sticking to our jobs and doing our best for Jesus and for him until God calls us each Home in His perfect timing for us, when we've finished the course and the work He has given us to do. Hallelujah for Heaven!
         11. God gets His greatest victories out of seeming defeats, and though the Enemy attacked Dad with sickness, your prayers overcame the Evil One in the most wonderful, marvelous healing miracle of all, the ultimate healing and the ultimate miracle! The Enemy pushed Dad right to the edge and thought to put him out of action, but instead, the Lord snatched him away, forever out of the Enemy's reach, and put him into greater action than he has ever known!
         12. Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal. "O Death, where is thy sting, O grave, where is thy victory? Death is swallowed up in victory. Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord!" (1Cor.15:54-58). Praise the Lord! He is no longer here! He has risen and is now safe with Jesus, and closer to you than ever before possible! Thank You Jesus!
         13. I'm sure that Dad wants you to be happy and to thank the Lord and rejoice with him, at this, the happiest day of his life!--His victory over all pain, affliction, sorrow, and all the burdens of this life, plus his joyful reunion with Jesus, and his freedom to now do all he'd like to in the realm of the Spirit.
         14. So praise the Lord! I love you all and want you to rejoice in Dad's victory and be happy for him. His happiness greatly outweighs the little sorrow that we feel over his not being present with us in the physical anymore. This should make us more Heavenly minded and more tuned in to the Spirit so we can hear Dad's counsel and direction when he gives it to us.
         15. Keep your eyes upon the goal and the victory in your soul, and keep going for Jesus and Dad--who are going to be depending on you more than ever now to do the job! God bless and keep us all in His care.
         Love and prayers, Mama


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