Showing posts with label My Father's Death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My Father's Death. Show all posts

Friday, May 4, 2018

Anne Graham Lotz: 'My Father's Death May Be a Shot Across the Bow From Heaven' - ANNE GRAHAM LOTZ CHARISMA NEWS

(Facebook/Anne Graham Lotz)

Anne Graham Lotz: 'My Father's Death May Be a Shot Across the Bow From Heaven'

ANNE GRAHAM LOTZ  CHARISMA NEWS
When I was a girl growing up, Mother led us in family devotions every day. She read the Bible, prayed and that was that. When Daddy was home, he led in family devotions. But when he read the Bible, he would stop and make a comment, ask a question and lead us in discussion. So, my mother taught me by her example to love reading my Bible every day, and my daddy taught me by his example to think about what I was reading. A little over 10 years ago when my mother went to heaven, my daddy started asking me to read him the Bible. At first, it was very intimidating. And then it became such a joy. Because he was hard of hearing, there were times I would sit in front of Daddy, knee to knee, and he would ask me to give him a full 60-minute message. He never took his eyes off my face. Once in a while, he would interrupt me, ask a question or we would discuss what I was saying. But he loved to hear God's Word.
As he got weaker, we went from 60 minutes to five or 10 minutes. But the pattern was always the same—whoever was in the house was called to gather around him whether he was at the kitchen table, or sitting in his study chair or more recently when he was in his bedroom. But before I read a passage of Scripture, I would explain why I had chosen it. Then I would read the passage to him. I would always end by telling Daddy I loved him.
At Daddy's funeral service, with 2500 people in front of me, and millions more watching the live broadcasts, for the last time I led in "family devotions." The passage of Scripture I chose was 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. The reason is this: I believe from heaven's perspective that my father's death was as significant as his life. I know that Feb. 21, 2018, was the date God had preordained to take my father home. Why? What was significant about that day? When I did a web search, I discovered that Feb. 21, 2018, was the day when the Scripture reading for Jews focused on the death of Moses.
Moses was the great liberator. He brought millions of people out of bondage to slavery, got them to the edge of the promised land and then God took him to heaven. At that point, God brought Joshua to lead them into the promised land—to take them home.
Like Moses, my father also was a great liberator. He brought millions of people out of bondage to sin, and he has gotten us to the edge of the promised land—heaven. Then God called him home. Could it be that God is now going to bring Joshua to lead us into the promised land? To lead us to heaven? To take us home? And do you know what the New Testament name is for Joshua? It's Jesus!
I believe my father's death may be a shot across the bow from heaven. Is God saying, "Wake up, church. Wake up, world. Wake up, Anne. Jesus is coming!"? Jesus said in Matthew 24:14 when the gospel is preached to the whole world—as it was during my father's funeral service, as it is through churches, missionaries, ministries—then the end.
First Thessalonians, Chapter 4 beginning with verse 13 says this: I will write it out for you the way my mother taught me by putting my name in, to make it personal. Then I'll write it out the way my daddy taught me, with a few comments:
"I do not want you to be ignorant, Anne, concerning those who have fallen asleep." "Fallen asleep" is just the biblical term for when God's children die. It's when you close your eyes to this life, and you open them to the face of Jesus. It's when your faith becomes sight. So ... "I don't want you to be ignorant, Anne, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if you believe that Jesus died and rose again," and I do! I believe Jesus has risen from the dead! He's alive! "If you believe, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord."
This is God's Word. It's not fantasy. It's not a wish. It's not a hope-so. "This we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself—Joshua, Yeshua, Jesus—will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first." That's my daddy. That's my mother. That's my husband. "Then you and I who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."
And this is the comfort. There is hope for tomorrow. This life is not all there is. The best is yet to come. So on the day of my father's funeral service, I chose to make a pledge that in view of the soon appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in front of all those watching and listening, I will preach the Word. I will do the work of an evangelist—I will share the gospel. I will run my race and live my life, so that five minutes before I see Jesus I have no regrets—I will live my life to exalt and glorify the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I challenge you to make the same choice, until the whole world hears and Jesus returns! 
This article was adapted from the message Anne gave at her father's funeral service, March 2, 2018. It originally appeared at annegrahamlotz.org.

Friday, March 16, 2018

Anne Graham Lotz: The Surprising Gift God Gave After My Father's Death - CHARISMA NEWS

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Anne Graham Lotz: The Surprising Gift God Gave After My Father's Death

ANNE GRAHAM LOTZ  CHARISMA NEWS
"He makes me lie down ..." (Ps. 23:2a).
Following the death of John the Baptist, Jesus knew His disciples needed quiet time to process what had taken place. He knew how difficult it was to minister to others while their own hearts were breaking. So He invited them to come away by themselves and get some rest (Mark 6:31).
I, too, have heard the Lord whisper that same invitation to me in a unique way following my father's move to heaven and the swirl of events that were triggered by it. I received the call about my father at 7:40 a.m. ET on Feb. 21. On Friday, Feb. 23, my son drove me four hours to The Cove in western North Carolina, where some of my family was gathering. My two daughters, their spouses and my three granddaughters followed.
Early the next morning, we rode in a motorcade escorting Daddy from The Cove to the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte. Then my son drove me three hours back to my home. Tuesday, I drove back to Charlotte in order to be on the plane early the next morning as family members accompanied Daddy to Washington, D.C. We traveled by motorcade to the nation's Capitol, where Daddy was laid in honor in the Rotunda. Following a brief, meaningful ceremony, I stood for over 90 minutes greeting Cabinet officials, senators and congressmen who came to show their respect and offer their condolences.
That afternoon, I stood for three hours to speak to anyone who came into the Rotunda, from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Gorsuch and Justice Alito to people whose identities I'll never know but whose tears flowed freely with mine. That night, I went to the White House as the guest of the president and first lady for a private family dinner. The next morning, I traveled once again by motorcade to the Capitol as Daddy was removed by an honor guard. Next, we escorted him to the plane for what would be his last flight and the return trip to Charlotte. He was taken once again by motorcade back to the library.
That night, I attended a dinner for about 200 extended family members and also sat in on a program briefing for the funeral service. Early the next morning, I found myself once again in a motorcade that took me to the library to await the beginning of the noon-time service. Following the service, I stood in line to speak to people until no one else was left to greet in the tent. At 3:30 p.m., a processional was formed, and we walked with Daddy to the gravesite where, after a brief service, he was finally laid to rest. I returned to the hotel, and the next morning, drove the three hours back home.
To say I was beyond exhaustion physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually would not come close to describing my state of being. But the Lord knew I was poised to plunge into frantic activity in order to catch up on two weeks of work that had been paused. He knew that while I needed rest, quiet and isolation, I wouldn't take it unless I was forced to do so. So Sunday afternoon, I became ill. I assumed it was just total exhaustion or the effects of the icy wind under the funeral tent, but later in the week, I was diagnosed with the worst strain of the flu. For the past eight days, I have been forced to lie down. To do nothing but rest. By myself. I know the Lord who is my Shepherd is the One who has made me lie down.
In my fevered state, I have only been able to process a small portion of what I've experienced. Yet some things are clear. I do know that my father's life—and death—promoted the gospel, exalted Jesus Christ and glorified God. I do know that in the three weeks since word of my father's homegoing was made public, the gospel has been proclaimed worldwide over and over in every conceivable way by individuals, news media, ministries, entertainers, talk shows, churches ... and then the end will come. (Matt. 24:14)
On a personal level, I also know I couldn't have made it through all of the above without your prayers! You, God's people, have carried me through, not just somehow, but triumphantly. Thank you with all my heart!
I also know, after I have rested a while and recuperated from this illness, that there is one thing I will do: "Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal to the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14). 
Anne Graham Lotzsecond child of Billy and Ruth Graham, is the founder of AnGeL Ministries and chairman for the National Day of Prayer Task Force. She has authored 15 books, including her latest, The Daniel Prayer.
This article originally appeared at annegrahamlotz.org.