Tuesday afternoon my niece called to let me know my dad died at home as he slept that morning.
I don't know if my dad was born again before he died, but am sure that God could have revealed HIMSELF to my dad before he died if this was HIS will. (Update: on 2/4/18 I was given a dream in which my dad was like my "brother". I believe this was showing that my dad was born again.)
A little while after talking with my niece I called and talked with my mom.
One of the first things she said is that she is glad my dad is no longer suffering. I'm very glad of this also. For several years my dad had trouble breathing and various other physical problems.
At one point my mom started naming others they have known who have previously died and said my dad was with them now. I gently told her that in the Bible we're told that when a person dies they are asleep. And I told her that those who are in Christ will be raised from sleep when HE returns to meet HIM in the air and be with HIM.
She listened quietly as I told her these things.
My dad's body is being cremated and there is not going to be any kind of service. My younger sister has gone to stay with my mom for a few days.
That evening I remembered that at times during the past few years I've thought of what might happen when one or both of my parents died and have asked God to please somehow work this out in a way that would be easy for me ... although I couldn't imagine how that could be done.
But that's exactly what happened.
Since my dad was not unusually sick (for him) nor in a hospital before he died, and also since there will be no funeral service, there has been no expectation and pressure for me to go to Oklahoma. Neither my mom nor my niece even mentioned my going there.
It amazes me to see how that prayer has been answered, and I'm very thankful to God.
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Another answer to prayer ... before calling my mom I went over with God several concerns, including that I wouldn't know what to say to mom. I asked that HE would give me whatever HE wanted spoken.
When I spoke with my mom there was such calm and the words were just "there".
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I Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep (dead).
For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
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I Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
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* Then we will be like the angels in heaven.
Matthew 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
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