Category Archives: Personal Update

Emil’s Testimony of Heaven

I DIED AND WENT TO HEAVEN, a true story by Emil

In 2010 I went in for some dental work and it was decided to give me gas for the procedure. After the mask was put on me, I was feeling no discomfort or pain. I was laid back in the dental chair, listening to the dentist and his nurse. My feet were in front of a window and I could see outside. Shortly after the work began, I noticed a coldness starting in my feet. I thought it was from the air conditioning vents below my feet or maybe from the window. I watched the traffic go by to stop from thinking about my cold feet, but the coldness began moving from my feet into my lower legs. Then along with the coldness, a heaviness started at my feet and then up my legs. It felt as if someone was slowly pulling a lead blanket up over me from my feet! As the coldness and heaviness increased, I began singing to myself one of my favorite worship songs! I was enjoying the worship which started out faintly but very quickly began to intensify and so did the Lord’s presence! As the song increased in volume within me, the joy within me grew with it! I began singing to the Lord and found myself becoming totally engulfed in worship. The more the worship increased, so did the heaviness and the cold. Soon everything around me seemed to fade into the background and my focus was now totally consumed with only Jesus. My love for Him grew immensely. In a very short time, I was full of praise as I sang to myself with all of my heart to the Lord. Pretty soon I was engulfed in worship and absolutely, totally and completely in love with the Lord. My worship to Jesus and my all-consuming love for Him was like nothing I had ever experienced before in my life! I was singing to Jesus with every ounce of my being. I was so happy and exploding in love for Him. It was as if I couldn’t contain it! All sense of the world around me disappeared in my state of worship and love! Then the worship in me got even louder! I could literally hear every organ within my body begin to sing with me to the Lord! Not only could I hear it but I could also feel it! As the music and the worship continued to grow louder and more intense, the love began to radiate on the outside of my body as well! I looked at my arms and I saw that every hair on my arms had a mouth! I could see every cell, and every cell had a mouth! Millions of tiny mouths singing with me to the Lord! I literally had become a choir unto myself! The love I felt for the Lord was indescribable! My whole body, every cell, every organ, every hair was singing at the top of our breath to the Lord! I was sooooo in love with Jesus! 

Then at the height of this all-consuming love and worship, the ceiling began to open up and a bright wonderful light opened up over me! I had no recollection of my surroundings or the dentist and his assistant working on my mouth. Their voices had faded into the background as I was completely engulfed in the presence of the Lord! When the whole ceiling opened up, I saw an incredible blue within a circle of a beautiful brilliant white cloud way up. I never realized at that point that I was actually dying, I never thought of anything outside of what I was experiencing in the moment. I began to rise up. I was moving upward and I could see beneath me! I could see myself in the chair below. I could see them working on me. I never thought, “Oh, I’m dying. Oh, I’m going to heaven.” I never thought anything. I was so wrapped up in the Lord and singing with everything in me. As I was going up, the singing got stronger and stronger. I looked up at the blue circle and cloud all around it and I could see a billion brightly-glowing people, all clothed in white, looking down at me, watching me as I was coming up. I was going up, singing and singing like I was my own orchestra—”WOW,” I thought, “they’re all singing the same thing I am!” Then suddenly I realized that they weren’t singing with ME! I was singing what the billions of glowing people were singing! I was singing what ALL of heaven was singing! It was so unreal when I realized I was singing heaven’s song! I then realized that all of heaven was waiting for me. Billions were watching me, waiting for me! As far as my eye could see were glowing faces in brilliant white robes. 

As I came into the circle of clouds and into the indescribable blue, into the midst of billions of welcomers, into a place of pure love and worship like I had never experienced before, all of a sudden, Jesus was there! He was on the edge of the cloud and He floated out to the middle. I was screaming with JOY within myself! I was looking at Him! I was looking at Jesus! He came out to me until I was 3 feet from Him. Then He looked at me and put up His right hand in a stop motion. He spoke to me and gently and lovingly said “Wait, before you come in, I have one question to ask you.” I was like EEEEEE, so excited and happy! “Sure, yes,” I said, “What???” Jesus asked, “Do you think you’re done?” I said, “What??” Again He asked, “Do you think you’re done?” All of a sudden, it was like a Sci-Fi movie! I could see white fireballs with long streaks of light coming at me from every direction, coming in at a hundred miles an hour! Thoughts came into me: Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! was the loud sound each one made as they entered into my mind at warp speed! It only took a second! Prophetic words I’d received over the years, words someone spoke to me, promises I’d gotten from the Lord. Then I began to have thoughts like, “Oh, we’re doing the food pantry at our church, we’re doing this with the church, oh, we’re doing this with the youth center, oh, You said we’re going to do this on the roadside, and oh we’re going to do that…NO! NO! NO! I’m NOT done!” Jesus looked at me so incredibly lovingly and then said to me in a voice of compassion, “Well then, go back,” and He motioned with His arm downward. I said immediately. “Yeah! Yeah!” and I started going back down and as I did, the light got a little dimmer, the song got a little quieter, the blue began to fade, the billions of people began to leave, and the hole into heaven got smaller and smaller. 

All of a sudden, I was back in my body and immediately aware something was wrong! It took everything in me to force myself to speak and this really, really deep voice that felt like it was from a huge mile-deep black hole in me said, “I…..don’t…..feeeeel…..gooood.” The startled dentist looked at me! Then he looked the nurse! Then they both looked at the gauges on the tank of the gas they were giving me. The dentist in a panic jumped out of his chair, literally dove over me and landed on the other side of my chair on the floor in front of the two gas tanks. Frantically he turned the dials connected to the gauges. He turned the one dial one way and the other tank dial he spun frantically with his hands in the other direction. Then he turned towards the nurse and said in a loud voice, “You forgot to turn on the oxygen. You were killing him!” She had only given me the nitrous! He turned pure white and both the dentist and the nurse slumped back in their chairs. He put his hand on my chest and said, “Don’t move! Don’t move! Just breathe! Take deep breaths and just relax!” They finished my dental work after I assured them that I was ok to continue. I paid and left. I did not share my experience with them. I was so in awe, I couldn’t put it into words at that time! Karen had dropped me off and had driven across the street to the grocery store. When I came out of the dentist, she was not back yet so I walked across the street to the store just as she drove up. I got in the car and Karen asked, “How did it go?” I replied, “Good. I died and went to heaven.” Immediately she stopped the car: “You what!?” And I replied, “I’m so sorry, Honey—but I never once thought of you!!”

The most incredible thing of all of this is that I had always been afraid of dying! I was so afraid of all the regrets, the sins in my life, things I wish I would have, could have, should have done. What was amazing was I had absolutely no thought of sin in my life at all while I was dying. I never once thought of sin! I never thought of regret! I never thought of disappointment! None of that was there. I didn’t even know I was dying. I was still in my body but I could see heaven, I could hear heaven, I could feel heaven, and the love that came was something I wish I could put into words but I can’t. It’s a love and a joy that I can’t express. I wish I could have kept that feeling! They say God’s Word doesn’t fall void! What’s so amazing is that every prophetic word, every Rhema word, every word in the Bible, everything we were doing and everything the Lord said we would do–all came back to me at one time. The MOST amazing thing is that I was there! And Jesus asked so lovingly, “Do you think you’re done?” Jesus gave me the choice! Just think, if I would have said yes, I would be in heaven right now! Jesus Himself let me decide. So I guess you can clearly see, I’m not done yet. Karen and I have a lot more to do before we go home to be with Jesus! 

One thing everyone asks me, “What was the song I was singing with heaven?” I wish I could remember but I don’t! Why am I sharing this story after 10 years? The Lord told me it was time!

Returning to “Normal”

This week it feels like we are returning to normal, or what has become normal around here. The town of Sioux Rapids is still recovering from the flood. The streets are open and clean but most of the downtown main street (2 blocks) businesses are still closed. Some of the buildings will be bulldozed as they’ve been deemed unsafe. It will have a whole new look after that is done. Most businesses are looking for new places to set up. A friend of ours who had a very successful craft and gift shop is letting a hair salon move into that small building and she will build a bigger shop on property she owns behind it. That is exciting. One single woman lives above her store and she lost everything in the flood. The community is coming together to clean out and rebuild her buiness which seemed impossible at first. So lots going on behind the scenes, not to mention the houses that were trashed.

Our Spencer set-up spot just opened back up so we are getting the trailer out and ready to go. The businesses in that parking lot are still closed and everyone’s favorite thrift store will not re-open, a huge loss to Spencer and surrounding communities within a 50 mile radius. Good news has emerged this week that several restaurants are getting ready to re-open.

We look forward to putting out our Open banner again tomorrow.

Why a Child?

The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon who Jesus was, what He was going to do, and how great He would be. And yet because Jesus was in the form of a little helpless baby, Simeon ran over and picked Him up! (Luke 2:25-32) Simeon held GOD in his arms that day! That was God’s intent! Jesus came as a baby so that we could approach Him the same way Simeon did, without fear or reservation on our part. He was fully approachable, incredibly lovable, totally accessible!

Jesus came to be an ordinary person before He became our Savior. Jesus came not as a warrior, not as a ruler. Instead, He came in the fullness and the height of innocence. Jesus first needed help from His parents to teach Him how to walk. Then Jesus taught us how to walk in this world with the Father! Jesus came first to be one of us, someone who identified with us, and someone with whom we could identify.

Jesus coming as a child means that He is able not only to understand adults but children as well. Jesus knows what it is like to be a two-year-old, to be 12 years old, to be 18 years old. And Jesus knows what it is like to be 30 years old. Jesus can relate to anyone and everyone, no matter what our age.

Jesus knows what it is like to have trials and hard times, to have responsibilities. Jesus affirms us, “Yep, it’s really like that down there!” Why can He say this? Because Jesus walked a mile in our shoes!

So why did Jesus come as a child? Hebrews 4:14-16, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Merry Christmas from Emil and Karen!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

A friend texted us today: “Jesus’ love is bubbling over today! Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart, more than anything this world could ever give which isn’t lasting!” And she closed with, “Give His love away today!” Today and every day, Jesus longs for us to receive His bubbling-over love which then automatically overflows to those around us! Receive it and give it today and every day! His love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out!

February Already!

January was packed full for us. It’s always a busy month for Karen as she closes the ministry books for the year, sends out giving statements, and prepares fresh documentation for the new year. The huge amounts of snow and ice since before Christmas kept Emil busier than usual with a shovel and the snowblower. Because of the weather, we had to cancel most of our Friday night gatherings. We were even snowed in twice for a few days at a time. We have a new grader this year who clears the gravel road in front of us but leaves a berm of snow at the end of our driveway which grows taller each time he makes a pass. Emil was able to catch up with him yesterday morning and asked if he would please plow the end of our driveway when he came back. He turned out to be a very nice guy and readily agreed. He spent at least 5 minutes clearing our driveway soon after. Now even people without 4wd vehicles can get into our house! We look forward to seeing the people we’ve been missing when we resume our gatherings this Friday night. We pray you all who have been experiencing the same weather have stayed safe and warm and to you all who have been in the sunny and warm climates–enjoy! And love and blessings to all! God is GOOD all the time and in any weather!

Happy Resurrection Day!

Friday afternoon Emil draped the cross for Good Friday. The winds have been so fierce here, the dark sky and wind seemed very appropriate. Thank You, Jesus, for loving us so much that You willingly died a brutal excruciating death, sacrificing Yourself to take our sins upon Yourself. This morning we awoke to a beautiful golden sunrise and draped the cross in gold and white. He is RISEN and SO ALIVE! Within a few hours, during worship at church, it began to snow—also very appropriate because when we receive Jesus’ forgiveness and ask Him into our hearts, our sins are washed whiter than snow. We pray for many many to receive His forgiveness this Day and spend the rest of their lives getting to know Him! He is GOOD!

The Child by Emil

The birth of a baby so soft and gentle
The glow in the eyes of the parents
Small little fingers and stubby little toes
Eyes that strained to find something on which to focus

Pink wrinkly skin, faint traces of hair
This baby, this Child, was none to compare
A lamb in human skin, a warrior within
And a Holy Spirit which none could compare

A child sent on a mission, a child greatly feared
Was he a Conqueror? Was He a Destroyer? Was He a Dove?
This was truly God sent in a small little package
Just waiting for the chance to grow up

A king born in a stable? A Savior in a crib?
So weak and so helpless, so tiny and frail
He had a heart of compassion at such an early age
He yearned for a world now thrown into a rage

If you would have looked deep into His eyes
I wonder what you would have seen
Maybe a tear for the souls
He came to save

He couldn’t wait to be about the Father’s business
Not wielding a hammer, a nail, and a log,
Which all too soon would secure him to His fate
He was nailed to a tree

This tiny baby
Just wait till He grows older, just you wait and see
That this little baby
Would save you and save me!

Summer in Iowa is BUSY!

We finally realized why we’re so busy! Summer in Iowa is fairly short! There is MUCH to be done outside during these few months. We live on 7 acres, 2 of which are trees, leaving 5 acres to maintain. In addition, we have 4 outbuildings, 2 of which we use right now. They ALL contain “stuff” left by the previous owner, stuff we need to go through–some looks antique-ish (maybe we could sell) and some looks firepit-ish. So after we come in from the roadside, the rest of the daylight hours are spent working on the most urgent projects! We prioritize and re-prioritize all the time–including what we can realistically get done this summer and what will have to wait until next summer…and possibly the next summer…and so on! In the midst of this, we are so grateful to God and constantly thank Him for positioning us in this house, on this property, in this community, with these people!