On the day my grandmother passed away...

On the day my grandmother passed away a series of unusual, exciting, and frightening events happened. It was as if heaven came rushing down to earth to capture my grandmother's spirit with great anticipation and great fury, all at the same time. Let me explain.

I've been thinking about this since that somber day on November 17th, 2013. My family was awaiting the moment when my Grandma Hazel Carson (my mother's mom) would breathe her last on earth and open her eyes in the eternal presence of Almighty God. It wasn't a day we were looking forward to but we all were bracing for the impact.

It was a Sunday.
Of all days of the week, it was a Sunday that this bitter-sweet moment for Grandma came. But let me add some details to this sweet story.

10:00am
It was a Sunday morning at Victory Christian Center. The worship was deep and the Lord was so ministered to by the love of His people that He manifest His love and presence in the service so sweetly; moving us, stirring us, changing us. After the worship came the usual video announcements in which water baptism was promoted. Directly after that, Pastor Ed (my father) took to the platform to preach.

11:00-11:30am
As I walked backstage, through the offices, and then into the lobby to make my way into the sanctuary to sit and hear the message, I was stopped by another Pastor with a first-time guest to Victory. This guest needed information on being baptized and dedicating his children.

Walking to the Information Center we began talking about his requests. After handing him a small card to fill out to be baptized something amazing happened. It was a 'suddenly' moment, a you-better-be-ready-to-witness moment! On the baptism card there is an important question we all must answer genuinely and with conviction: Are you saved?   Yes or No. (At Victory, we believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone; that we are saved by grace through faith. Full immersion water baptism is a next step in walking in obedience and relationship with Christ. Salvation comes first.)

After I asked this young man this vital, pivotal, eternal question he asked, "What does saved mean?"
I knew right then and there that we needed to have a conversation. I was excited to have this opportunity. We immediately found a couple chairs in the lobby to sit and talk. I shared the Gospel with this young man and 20 to 25 minutes later, with tears filling his eyes, truth convicting his heart, and a deep sense of hope stirring...he was born again right there in the lobby. Wow!

Check this out.

11:30am-Noon
At the same time I was witnessing to this young man in the lobby, Pastor Ed was in the sanctuary preaching about...HOPE! Yet again, the amazing ways of God taking place. While Pastor Ed is preaching on HOPE to the congregation, someone is being born-again in the lobby.

One very funny and happy note. At the same time I'm witnessing in the lobby, our conversation paused for a moment as ushers wheeled out one of the pregnant mothers in the church...she went into labor. Haha! What a Sunday! And it's not over.

Let's recap. I'm witnessing in the lobby, Pastor Ed is preaching on HOPE in the sanctuary, and the a pregnant mother is being wheeled out to deliver; and then we get word that a TORNADO is destroying homes only 45 minutes West of Bloomington where Victory is located. (I noticed our ushers and security team outside looking for signs of swirling clouds while this young man and I talked.)

Let's skip forward a little bit. This young man was born-again in the lobby and we exchanged contact information. As a Pastor of Victory, I started getting other leaders and members coming to me with concerns about the weather. It was a frightening situation that did need some guidance and caution. We didn't need 300 people running crazy from the building to their cars.

With a hand written note that 'a tornado touched down in Washington, IL' I approached the platform where Pastor Ed was preaching and placed it on his notes and Bible and walked away; trying note to seem to obvious and stir up any attention. Pastor Ed read the note...and went on preaching. Knowing my dad, I just smiled and laughed a little. After a couple minutes, he read the note aloud, rebuked the storm, (some humor occurred when he threw the note and it spun in the air and landed right back on his notes and pulpit,) and then he finished his message and dismissed the people.

Here's the next part of this amazing Sunday.

During all of this...my grandmother took her last breath and saw Jesus face to face. Shortly after the service concluded and we were greeting the people, someone came up to me with word that my grandmother has passed away. My family gathered our coats and things and left to head for grandma's house. It was so windy and storming so strong outside that at one time we had to move people from the lobby to the sanctuary; cautious of what was behind the wind and blowing in it. The storm broke in time for us to leave, thankfully. We had to get to grandma's house. Our last goodbyes needed to be shared.

Why am I sharing all of this with you? Why is all of this significant?

Let me recap once more.
1. Deep worship, praise and thanks lifted to God
2. A sinner became a saint; a sinner was born-again, forgiven
3. A mother went into labor
4. A tornado was ripping apart a community
5. Grandma went to be with Jesus
6. Hope is preached to the people

God is here. We must worship Him, give Him thanks NO MATTER what! We must be ready to witness, to share the Gospel and lead someone into salvation. New life happens even in death! God is here. I've heard it said that the 'faith of the people' is what saved many people in Washington, IL because they were at CHURCH services when the tornado hit! (I am not saying God caused this tornado, just like I don't believe God gave my grandma liver cancer!) Yes, lives were lost and homes were destroyed but in the midst of it all...GOD IS HERE!

Don't you see? HOPE. Those who have Jesus Christ, have hope! My Grandma Carson died from liver cancer. It was a painful, debilitating battle she WON because she had hope. Cancer didn't win, GRANDMA WON! She served the Lord faithfully. She loved Him faithfully. She taught her family to do that same. HOPE!

If you are saved, you are NOT WITHOUT HOPE! If you do not have Christ as your Savior, you do not have hope. Let this challenge you to the core right now. Call on Jesus! Call on Him right now. Stop reading this and begin to call on Him. Save me! Rescue me! Deliver me! Forgive me!

There is so much more that I could say and share regarding that unusual day but I will refrain and close with a prayer to settle this truth of HOPE in our hearts.

"Lord Jesus, You are the Messiah, Savior and King we have hoped and waited for. Jesus, we are in desperate need of You. We need Your forgiveness and grace to be poured out upon us. We are desperately lost and hopelessly undone without You. Save us. Redeem us. We call on Your Name Jesus to make us Your own, to redeem us back to the Father. We need Your hope. We need Your grace. Please wash us, cleanse us, forgive us for the wickedness that we have partaken in. Forgive us for being friendly with the world. We deny ourselves, take up our cross with You Jesus, and choose this day to serve the Lord. We want to be ready to meet You face to face; whether that day comes when we breathe our last breath or a tornado comes calling, we want to be ready. Father, surround us and call our names. Fill us with Your Spirit and make in us new creations. We are Yours forever."

Rest in Hope. Rest in Grace. You are loved.