VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH
Have you been through the valley of the shadow of death? If so, what was your experience there? I have been through that valley so many times before that I lost count of them. My first experience there was when I was a little child barely six years old. I was pulling a toy cart at the backyard of my grandma in a faraway province where my mother was born. I never saw that old well since I was pulling my toy cart and was walking backwards. The next thing I knew was that I was falling inside that old scary well. It was an eerie experience as though I was transported to another world. All that I could remember was that scenes from my life flashed through the screen of my mind. I was lucky that it was summer during that time and the water level of the well was only chest deep. I became an instant celebrity in that quaint town when I was pulled out to safety still clutching my rubber slippers.
My next near death experiences occurred when I was already an adult. I have been with hypertension for more than twenty years now. I am also suffering from type 2 diabetes. I have congenital scoliosis (bone deformity) on my lower back. I also have acute hernia and prostate gland problem and an enlarge thyroid gland. I have been on the verge of near strokes so many times that I lost count of them. There were times when I thought death was already imminent. I had all the classic symptoms of full blown strokes except the actual stroke itself. Through all those near death experiences, I never panicked but I just relaxed and left my fate to my faithful God.
I was never afraid to die because I knew I would be with Him when I do. For more than twenty years now, He has kept me alive to bear witness to His faithfulness to those who really trust and believe in Him. MAY HIS NAME BE GLORIFIED FOREVERMORE.
Tags: Near Death Experiences, Valley of The Shadow of Death, God's Grace and Faithfulness, Trust in His Unfailing Love
Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Inspirational/Motivational
20 comments:
Thank God you came away from that valley.I have been near it couple of times,once when I caught leptospirosis and the other time when I escaped being hit by a truck thanks to my bike's brakes which obeyed instantly.I am never afraid of death too,when it comes to myself.But I am eternally afraid of my loved ones succumbing to it.
Take care my dear friend.God Bless You and your loved ones always.
i have never experienced anything like that and i wish i wont... not that i am afraid of death... just there is so much i want to complete before it comes :)
i never had any near death experience
I am glad you came through all those times. I appreciate your post. :)
I do think when it is out appointed time to die..that is it.
I heard an evangelist, Hal Lindsey say once..."Once saved, always saved, but if you go off the path and you go to far... God will take you out sooner so you don't lose your salvation" But that seems to go against "Man is appointed once to die" unless maybe I am looking at it wrong.
And it seems there are scriptures that indicate it is possible to lose your salvation...i think in Hebrews and elsewhere.
One I am thinking of is it is better to have never known the Lord then to have known him and looked away. Something like that.
Your posts always get me thinking.
then a Christian friend said once that she heard you can't lose your salvation but that the person never really was saved. But I don't agree with that. Most people are at a point of humbleness and sincerity when they ask Jesus to be their Savior.
I am curious for your opinions... or anyone's.
Thanks for reading my post. I broke it up like that because I know it was so long. I will be taking a break soon and figure people could look at it as time allows.
At the end of the 2nd part I said "The ultimate hug will be from God himself... the unconditionally loving father of us all.
He does hug us. He hugs us in our spirits if we let him. He hugs us through other people. And I even thinks he hugs us when we hug other people to comfort or show them they are cared about...it comes back to us..even at that moment. We can't help but to benefit from showing compassion. It is probably why Jesus said that it was more blessed to give than receive."
In the 3rd part I discussed a tragic accident with a little girl and how little things can help bring a little sunshine.
I left you a comment.
I'm sorry this is so long. :)
So scary all you've been through...
What to say ?
You made me sad to hear all those but I will say you inspire others to enjoy life.
Yes, once I was on scooter with my 3 friends on 31st december and that scooter went in air and then towards a pond which was 4 feet below but nothing serious happened.
I have seen that when death will arrive it will be just a lighting effect or may be faster than that.
I salute you !
Enjoy !
Hi Sameera,
We should not be afraid for our loved ones. That will only cause us to worry unnecessarily. Entrust them to the care of God and have peace in yourself that God will always take care and protect them. We must also be fear free through faith in God that He will take good care of us if we remain faithful to Him. Thank you so much for your visit and insightful comments. God bless you and your loved ones always my dear friend.
Hi Lena,
Death is something inevitable in one's life. We should not fear death but treat it with utmost respect. And we should not worry about that because if it is our time go, then no force in the universe can prevent that from happening. Of course, sometimes God intervenes for His own glorious purpose. Thanks for your visit and comments. God bless you always my friend.
Hi Tintin,
Good for you for I know you will not relish the experience. Just enjoy life and be happy with your family and friends. Thanks for your visit and comments. God bless.
Hi Seaspray,
That's okay, I enjoy long comments so long as you enjoyed writing it. The phrase "once saved, always saved" has been quoted out of context so many times that people abuse its integral meaning. It was once coined by the Baptists (I think, but I'm not so sure)to give its members a sense of security and because of the promise in the Bible specifically John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." The promise is categorical. But just like the other gifts of God, salvation can also be lost through backsliding and the hardening of the heart as a person turns His back to Jesus Christ. Then we have the warning from the Book of Hebrews that, "he is like a dog that returns to his vomit or a pig that wallowed again in mud." Paul warned us to, "continue to work out your salvation." And, "the devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour." It is not the sinners he is seeking (for they are already his) but the children of God. But I honestly believe that God will afford His backsliding child all the opportunities to repent up to the very end but if the backslider refuses to repent and bow down to Jesus Christ then he loses his salvation. If that is not so, then Judas is now playing footsie with Jesus Christ and the eleven other disciples for he once accepted Jesus as His Lord and savior and performed miracles in His name together with the other disciples.
We must focus on God's promise that a true Christian will be "transformed from glory to glory until he reaches the whole measure of the fullness of Jesus Christ." If we have not yet attained that and have not exhibited the fruit of the Holy Spirit, then we are not totally surrendered to the Lord and is not a complete Christian. Some so called "Christians" want to have their cake and eat it too. Thanks for your visit and comments. God bless you and your loved ones always.
Hi Dr. Deb,
I think all those things happened for God's purpose. Thanks for your visit and comments. God bless.
Hi Hobo,
Actually death itself is painless. There may be pain and suffering that accompanies one's death but at the exact moment of death, there is only light and a sense of peace and expectation. As it is, death is a transition from darkness to light. Thanks for your visit and comments. God bless.
Hi Mel,
thanks for inspiration!
Your post and comments are very helpful and makes the look at life differently.
I'm scared, I know it, especially about my kids/Kevin/.
But after reading your post
I am much more unruffled.
God bless you and your life, your work and your lovely family!
Hi Krystyna,
We must entrust ourselves and our family and loved ones to the arms of our loving Father. If He did not hesitate to send His only begotten Son to save us, will He not give us everything that we need (not want) if only we ask these from Him? He has numbered all the hairs in our head and our alloted time on earth has long been destined, so let us just trust in His unfailing love that He will do the best for us and our loved ones. Thanks for your visit and comments my dear friend. God bless you and your loved ones always.
Oh very nice. I like what you wrote. It is something that is bigger than life itself. Glad to drop by here. Makes my time worthwhile. May god bless you.
Hi Ohiit,
Thanks for the visit and the compliments, but as always, TO GOD BE THE GLORY. God bless.
same thing I felt Mel when I had my twins.. It was him waiting for me.. The most wonderful feeling one can ever experience. Have agreat day Mel
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If we are walking with the Lord, we need not fear death. Death would be a reunion with God and our loved ones. Thanks for the visit. God bless.
It's my first visit to this blog and I appreciate the extreme contradiction with the one I used to visit. This one is dark and gloomy and with much more character. I love that line about your being pulled out of the well still clutching your rubber slippers. Can I use that in future short stories? Don't sue... Hahaha. Take good care, Sir because I could feel a lot of people care for you, and you can count me among them. God bless.
Hi Hanging On A Hyphen,
Actually, the mood in this blog in not that gloomy. It just so happened that the topic of the post you read was about death and the caricature I chose for the post was the image of death himself. If you will see the other articles here, they are far from gloomy. You can use that phrase anytime you want. I don't have a copyright for that phrase. He, he, he *lol* Thanks for your visit and comments. God bless.
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