Chapter 2 – The Garden
I woke up in the middle of the night and fell to my knees in my mind, even though I was blind and could only see black. In my brain or soul, not really sure which, I knew exactly where I was. Even stranger is, I had been there before.
I began to cry and exclaim “I am so sorry… I am so sorry… I know it is so beautiful, but I am not ready yet. I am so sorry…” With that, a voice sort of surrounded me and came from inside me (not speaking to or at me) and said, “Read about me and you won’t be afraid”.
With that I woke up stunned. I then realized that I had an incredible pain in my chest. I knew that I had suffered a heart attack, but I wasn’t afraid. I knew I would be fine and had just been briefly taken to be in His presence. Which He I don’t know… Father, Son, Holy Spirit. But I belonged, and was a part of His energy, as He was and is mine now that I am aware of it.
Then came a flood of doubts. What the heck was that? Was I dreaming? What does He want me to do with that? How do I not disappoint Him? Why would He visit me? I really just sort of freaked out for a while. But deep down, I knew it was real.
I wasn’t a part of a church at the time and ended up reaching out to a pastor online that I followed on social media. I explained to him what had happened. He helped me to understand that I might not truly fathom the meaning of that in weeks, months, years or even this lifetime.
I would later understand that it would be integral in the testimony of my whole life. He did state that it reminded him of the story of Peter walking on water. He was fine as long as he kept his gaze on Jesus, but as soon as he looked away, he started to sink. As soon as we put our focus on this world, the waters of this life can sweep us away.
The voice of God will never be the voice of fear in your life. Cast the devil away from you in Jesus’ name, which He gave you power to do as a believer and put your focus back on Christ. This can be a daily exercise in times of testing. This is true for all of us with Him, but this has really held true for me ever since that experience in my life.
A couple of weeks later, I stumbled across a website that touted a daily reading plan to read the entire bible in a year. I sent an email to everyone I knew… I didn’t share my experience because I thought people would think I was crazy. But I committed to doing it and promised to send a daily email with the scriptures to everyone who wanted to do it with me.
I did great for a while but must admit that I fell behind and didn’t complete the reading. I did finish sending the emails every day. I know this planted a lot of seeds with my friends and family and for that I am very proud and feel that was part of what God wanted me to do after the visitation.
After my father passed away, I became much more focused on studying the bible. I have committed my life to it and Jesus now (again). I know it is a guide to us directly inspired from God. It is intended to show us how to live on this earth with peace in the Holy Spirit. I also now have a ministry of my own teaching the word of God, which brings me great joy and has brought purpose to my life.
The bible was written by forty different authors over fifteen hundred years!! Think about that!
How can such continuity be accomplished by that many people over that long of a period if not divinely inspired? I think the biggest testament that shows it is true is to look at the Psalms written by King David. Psalms 22 describes some of the events that take place at the crucifixion. This was written a thousand years before Christ was crucified. How in the world can that happen except through God.
Examples:
Psalm 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Psalm 22:7-8 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
Matthew 27:39-43 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Psalm 22:14-18 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Matthew 27:35-36 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there.
Another prophecy seven hundred years before Jesus was Isaiah:
Isaiah 53:3-10 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Immanuel means God with us. I think that speaks for itself… Praise the Lord.