Shedding tears isn’t something that I do often.  I did at least twice today (Sunday.) 

Having the privilege to preach again was a great experience.  I slept very little on Saturday night because I had so much on my mind.  It reminded me of when I was 10 years old and I knew Dad was taking me fishing early the next morning.  I had that kind of excitement about this morning.

Early this morning I prayed, “Lord, let some soul come to You today.”

This morning was an amazing morning.  Several people came forward and made commitments to the Lord.  Many of those were first time commitments, including my niece, a teenager, and some young adults.

38 years ago this fall my oldest sister was the first person to walk the aisle during my first revival.  Today her daughter walked the aisle and gave her heart to Jesus.  Tears of joy streamed down my face when I looked up and saw her coming to Jesus.  Those tears continued as I looked around and saw others making commitments to our Lord.

When church was finally over and everyone had left,  I was alone in the sanctuary and I stopped and thanked the Lord.  Wow.  Had He done far more than I had asked.

I had shared during the sermon that God had given me a download the day before about a passage of scripture to use.  A good friend came by last week and gave the download idea.

So on the way home from church God gave me another download.  It was as real as any time God has spoken to me.  One of the prayers my mom never saw answered was for my niece, her granddaughter, to come to know Jesus in a personal way.

The Bible tells us that the only time the angels rejoice is when a lost person comes home.  I never had that figured out until this afternoon in the car.  Contrary to what others believe, I do not believe our loved ones are watching us.  How could heaven be a place where there is no more mourning or crying or pain if they could see this world?

So if mom can’t see what’s going on in this world, how would she know about her granddaughter?  Here is the download.  It is a marvelous picture.  Angels are ministering spirits that I believe are messengers.  This morning I could see my niece’s angel heading back to heaven to bring the news before the throne.  I could see the angel standing before the host of heaven.  Many angels were there calling out the names of people who had recently given their hearts to Jesus.  And in my mind I could see that when a person’s name was shouted in the courts of heaven, the angels and the redeemed would shout, “Glory! Amen! Hallelujah!”  Then another name was called, then another.  And then an angel called out Jessi Stumbo and I could see my mom’s face and I could see her falling down in worship to the Lamb.   I almost had to pull the car over because I couldn’t see for the tears.

As I have thought about that this afternoon I think there were other names mentioned from our small church this morning that brought Hallelujahs in heaven.  I have a feeling that there were some other grandparents who now know that their families will someday be complete in heaven.

Pain and suffering are worth it for a soul to be saved.  Jesus gave us the example.  What the enemy meant for evil, God used for His good.  Sometimes there aren’t answers to the why questions we ask.  Sometimes the answers are quite clear.  I see far more clearly today than I did yesterday.