Up yonder with the master.

I called yesterday at around 10 AM to talk to my grandpa. i had planned to call at 11 so my mom could be in his room to pick up the phone. i forgot that we've already turned out clocks forward, but that hasn't been done in the states yet. my grandma was luckily there to pick up the phone and give it to my grandpa. we talked for a few minutes, mostly in german. he then said he was tired and wanted to go.

i went to play basketball for a couple hours and when i got back there was a message on the answering machine from my dad saying that grandpa had died at around noon their time. i called him and asked about details. here's an email he sent to the church, saying basically what he told me:

"Janet called at noon today to tell me that her father, Homer Luckenbill, Jr., had just died and went home to heaven. Praise God! He went peacefully.Homer was in his wheelchair outside the beautician's, who was going to givehim a haircut. Janet and her mother, Jean, were there also. Homer gave abit of a gasp and rolled his eyes (the aneurism apparently had ruptured).Janet wheeled him back to his room. They put him in bed. He was able totalk with Janet and her mother. They called Janet's sister, Nancy, in TN,and she was able to talk briefly with Homer. Nancy said, "Daddy, go to bewith Jesus." Within a few minutes he blinked his eyes, shut them, and wentto be with Jesus forever. About an hour before his death our son, Jared,called from Germany and got to speak with Homer. Jared had sent a CD thathe made for Homer, singing the song "In the Garden" for his grandfather.Homer was listening to Jared sing in the background when he died. God is good!"

Here's an excerpt from the last email that i got from my grandpa about a month ago:

"By grace we are saved, by grace we receive daily love and blessings, by grace we have friends and loved ones,by grace (a gift from God) we have so much!God so loved the world!

He loved, and loves us- and still does, but it has been as a result of His GRACE that we are saved!

I love you very much, but my love cannot save you! Only the GRACE of God can accomplish that.

What a wonderful blessing!! Grace!!!

I have not been too well lately, but by the love and Grace of God one day my soul will depart my body to be with my Lord!, where I shall see those who too have been saved by Grace!"

I feel so blessed to have been able to talk to my grandpa several times in the last week of his life. To have that connection to be able to talk to him in german. I was dealing with the whole thing of being able to be there with him and to hold his hand. I had decided to stay here, instead of returning for a few days. I just didn't want to regret not being there when i had the chance.
It was also so meaningful to be able to sing for grandpa and to at least "be there" in that way. I know it meant something to him, but for me it was one of the only ways to be there to comfort him or be present in his last days. How awesome that I had almost a week to prepare for his death and to say my goodbye.

I praise God that he died in peace with his family around him. He had fought to stay alive until there was nothing more that he could do. He was ready to go home to his father and had several days to spend with family and friends before doing that. What a wonderful, caring, loving, thoughtful grandfather that continually lived out his faith and gave all the glory to God. I can't wait to see him again.

Here's the text of my grandpa's favorite song that i recorded and sent to him.

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

Refrain

I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me is falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

Refrain