04/11/2024
One of my favorite people ever, my beloved Uncle Pete, is now in glory with Jesus. He treated me like his third daughter. Words can’t describe how compassionate, loving, kind he was. How beautifully he loved others with the love of Jesus - everyone he met - with such love, humor, genuine intentionality. We have so many beautiful memories together since I had the joy of living in the same city now for 9 years together.
His love for people of all nations was passed to me. He and Pat have served and loved thousands of people from around the world, our community, and in prison together for many years - sharing the heart and love of Jesus in its truest form. Not self righteous religion, but true relationship with the most amazing, real Savior and King he adored and lived for here, and now lives with in glory.
It’s seriously just stunning to think about. Our family said our last goodbyes to his body this past weekend with many tears… but here’s what is seriously so amazing, glorious, joy and peace and hope filled that is truly SUPERNATURAL… his spirit is with Jesus in glory and we’ll see him again someday. 😭🥰❤️🔥
I just know he’s having the most amazing time - seeing all the people he loved who went Home before him… his Dad and Mom, his brother George, so many relatives, so many people from history past. Perfect body - no more pain or struggle. Totally satisfied - no more constraints of time or the struggles of this earth. Now perfectly satisfied in the presence of a perfect God forever.
There’s no way to get bored there, friends! There’s no more longing for what’s next! You’ll be with God, and with others, in perfect loving relationship like He always intended it before sin and death entered…
But that’s why Jesus came - to overcome sin, death and hell - and restore us back in relationship with our Heavenly Father (He’s better than many people make him seem - don’t let broken people keep you from an amazing God, yall, just don’t!) and be filled with His Holy Spirit!
Pete confessed with his mouth and life that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the only Way, Truth and the Life. He believed in his heart that God raised Jesus from the dead (yall, if God can speak this universe into existence, He has no trouble raising His Son from the dead!).
There truly is no other way to the Father except through Him. Jesus said that Himself. It’s not hateful or bigoted or ignorant to say that. If Jesus, who is God in the flesh (He still has the scars in His hands and feet to prove it!), said that, it’s humility to recognize Him for who He is… and believe Him.
And oh, Pete did! He lived an abundant life in Him even through the struggles of this life, and now He’s with Him in perfection!!!
I wonder what jobs he’ll have, what cool things he’s tinkering with. You know we won’t be sitting around on clouds playing harps, yall. 🤭 Though I’m sure Jesus will let you if you want to. 🤓
We will have perfectly meaningful relationship with God, people, animals, work. It’s going to be absolutely stunning and glorious!
Friends, heaven and hell are real. Pete would want you to know that. Please, please, please do not get caught up in the trivial things of this life and neglect the most important decision you need to make - for this life, and the next!
We live a very short life here compared to eternity after our physical bodies die. Don’t believe that you won’t exist, or you’ll just reincarnate, or that you can’t know for sure where you’re headed, or that hopefully your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds - that’s not how it works.
We all naturally are headed for hell - that’s the consequence of sin (anything we think, say or do that breaks God’s law because He is the Righteous Judge, and breaks His heart because He is the most perfect, loving Heavenly Father).
That’s why Jesus came and lived a human life, died the death we deserve - taking our punishment upon Himself and shed His blood for us! So that all we have to do is believe in Him, confess that He is Lord, receive His forgiveness of our sin that He took the punishment for on a cross over 2000 years ago (seriously, what love is that! 😭), and now we can be washed clean and made new! Now we can have a relationship with Him - here, and there! I don’t know how we could deal with this grief without the absolute joy and complete confidence that Pete is with Jesus and we’ll be reunited with him again someday!
Do you want to talk more? Please reach out, judgment free - just love.
We love you, Uncle Pete, so excited for the day we’ll be reunited and get one of your bear hugs again. 💙💙💙