“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” – Isaiah 43:1 {ESV}
As I think of the distinct possibility of earth saying goodbye to one of the finest Christians I ever knew, I think of the joy that will be instantaneously hers. Deborah Samples is scheduled to have all of her life support equipment removed sometime today. My prayer has been and continues to be that God would mercifully remove her from this world. Her heart and mind and soul have longed to be released from earth’s limitations for a long time before this car accident. She is not afraid of death and all that is important to her here is in capable hands; Deborah’s life work has been valuable and there seems nothing remaining for her to do. My mother in law is very close and I wish her the most peaceful of exits from here…and a celebratory entrance there.
The excerpt above from Isaiah comforts me because it is akin to what Deborah (and all believers) will experience when our departure date finds us. When God says in that verse that He has called Israel by name, it is not simply that He named Israel. The Hebrew verb indicates that God is speaking of a summons, an invitation which requires the one being called to obey by presenting himself. He tells us not to be afraid because we are His alone. Isn’t that true? Deborah is Danny’s wife. She is Amy and Mark’s mother. Deborah Samples is the one and only MaMa to Alicia and Landon. She belongs as a sister to several brothers and sisters of her own. Yet, in the end, she is God’s and His alone. He summons her and none of our protests can sway Him. He loves her more than we could ever begin to love her. He has provided for her during her earthly journey and has been preparing a place for her in the heaven of heavens. I discern that it is time for her to move up and forward where she will enter into the fullness of her inheritance. How could we wish to deny this to her?
When your day comes, are you ready? Will his summons catch you unprepared? It has been wisely said that all of us have an unavoidable date with dust. God has declared through His Son that we need not fear this appointment. If we have been graced to bow before the throne of Jesus Christ then we have all that we need for our departure from the finite vapor into the fullness of victory. In each of us who has believed, we sense a longing to go there. We will see things that we have never fathomed. There will indeed be the glorious reunion – far more than being sentimental, this assurance is glorious because we will be free from all that ever obscured our personal experience of God Himself. The ecstasy of Heaven is not that I will see my loved ones again. Heaven’s pinnacle is that we will finally rest glorified eyes upon our Master, Savior, Shepherd, Protector, Provider, God and King.
Deborah may very well see Him before our sun sets today. When will you see Him? He inevitably summons us all into His presence-some for an embrace and some for a banishing. In the end, we will all answer His call. Summoned…I long for that call upon me. May his immeasurable grace have me fully fit for my own departure and arrival. May the same be your reality.
Precious words, Jeff! Thank you for sharing your heart with us!
Kept!!
Thank you Jesus for allowing us to know this:
Stepping into Eternity
When my earthly life is over & my last breath is drawn
I will be stepping into eternity ~ all trials & troubles gone
The beauty of the pearly gates & the streets of gold
Is beyond any measure of anything I can behold
There will be no more heartaches, pain, sorrows or tears
No more hurting, no more sin & no more fears
There will be no more darkness no sun nor moon
Only the light from Him… I pray for it soon!
I think alot of that day & how wonderful it will be
All this is great but the best is Jesus’ face I will finally see!
Just had 2 gentlemen from First Baptist of Snellville come into our place of business. We now have another Church Body praying for the Lyle Family and Meadow Baptist Church – God will hear us and we Praise Him today.
My heart aches for you. God gives mercy and peace when it is needed. I know Mrs. Samples will be welcomed in heaven by all who went before. They will take her to see Jesus. I’m looking forward to heaven also. Praying daily and often. Thank you for the video message on Sunday. John Reed was an amazing blessing on Sunday. HIs enthusiasm ‘Whoo hoo’ was contagious. We left with even more gratefulness for what God can do and has done for us. Carolann
As i read this my heart hurts for her family, but PRAISE OUR LORD she will be made whole again. never to suffer from pain and will walk with our LORD. she will be where we all long to be one day. my prayers are for thoses left behind to go throught the pain of letting a love one go home, it does not make it easy for family to let go on earth but knowing one day you will see her face again does help a little. Bless all her family and friends.
Jeff, just wanted you to know that your family continues to be in our thoughts and prayers. I have asked our Pastoral Staff to pray for Amy and Deborah as they meet for prayer this morning. We also have them on our church prayer list. Thank you for keeping us updated thru your blogs and twitter. I check them several times a day.
Praying for the Lord’s blessing and an extra measure of grace and comfort for all of your family.
Although, I only met her in person a handful of times, Deborah holds such a special place in my heart. She was a blessing to me with her notes and faithful prayers after we lost Megan. God used her to minister to my soul in such profound ways during that first year. What a faithful prayer warrior. She let me know that she prayed for me every day. I was so blessed by her care.
Now, I am praying for her and that she will have peace and comfort in these last days.
I am still praying for all of you. Still willing to do anything I can to help you.
Am still praying for God’s will for Miss Deborah.
May God Bless and Keep all of you, as I know He will.
God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
Ephesians 2:5-7 …
even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the ***immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus***.
As I shared with my father, when he had to make the decision to take mother off the life support systems, that if the Lord had wanted mother to stay here with us, then that is what would have happened. BECAUSE the Lord had saved mother just 6 months before taking her home–and what a testimony she had!!–I so understand brother Jeff all that you and yours are experiencing today and in the near future.
If it is Go’d timing for Deborah to be taken home to heaven; then, no doubt, there will be others who will come to the Lord for the first time or renew their committment to Him.
With much love and many prayers, Sister Deborah
I could not hold my tears when I read about Mrs Deborah Samples.We have never met her but we know that she is about to see the glory of heaven and see our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.We are waiting for our day to be called home.We are washed by His blood.There will be no more sorrow, no suffering,no sickness but joy and glory.Praise be to the Holy Name of God.We are still praying for complete healing of Amy in the nearest future.I think we heard that she will be having her surgery on her right foot the coming Thursday and she will be ready to go back home a few days later.This will gather all family back at home.Please let us know in what way could we offer any help.God bless you,
Sam & Zack.
We hurt for you and for Bro. Samples and family. We continue to pray for you as we always have. I hate that the doctors keep changing their minds and putting you all through this. We have no doubts that Amy’s Mom is ready to be in Gods presence and that He has the chosen time. We miss you and love you. You are an inspiration as always.
If ever a person was ready to meet their Maker and God it is Deborah. It was a honor to sit under her teaching and gain understanding of the Bible as I never had before. When God has her mansion ready to move in, He will come to receive her unto Himself so she can live with Him forever. His timing is perfect. Our prayers continue for her loved ones who sit vigil by her bed, that God will give them peace and understanding. We continue to pray for Amy as she continues to heal and also for you and your children as you begin a new way of living when she returns home. God is good and He knows just what we need before we know we need it. May God Bless.
We are continuing to pray for all of you. We love and miss you.
I just went over and read the last few entries on Deborah’s blog. She certainly will not be disappointed if she awakes in the presence of the King today. God bless you all. J
Having many loved ones already in Heaven – I have recently been able to imagine what they know, how they feel. Words to a song Meredith sings, ‘there is no guilt here, there is no shame, no pointing fingers, there is no blame – what happened yesterday has disappeared, the dirt has washed away, and now its clear – there’s only grace, there’s only love, there’s only mercy and believe me it’s enough, your sins are gone without a trace – there’s nothing left now – there’s only grace.” What a heart lifting song – those we love are in the presence of God – enveloped in grace and love – what a joy! I miss my parents and my brother – for myself – but, I would never want them to leave the precious presence of the LORD. Your and Amy’s experiences will deepen your faith and your empathy – and most importantly your love for God – What an amazing God we serve – what we have left here are moments – memories – to cherish until we see God face to face and are reunited with joy with those we’ve loved here on earth.
Hugs and Prayers to you, Amy and the Sample family
Still praying. Love you bro.