Coming to the end -- for my dad

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My 86 year old dad is dying. There is no stopping that, and it's a good thing by now. He has dementia, has given up eating, getting out of bed, and even going to the bathroom. He's simply given up, and considering there is very little thinking part left in his brain, there is little reason not to give up.

BUT, he is also Catholic in such a way that he went with if he stayed a good Catholic God owes him whatever he wants for his eternal vacation. (Heaven.) And what he wanted was God to let him go to any planet he wanted to go to. So, definitely not a believer.

He never listened to the gospel. If I said it again, he couldn't understand by now. So, my prayer is that God has mercy and gives him salvation even now. Because there is no more time. He's getting evaluated today to go to hospice care. I don't know why he's being evaluated, because the signs are already there that he is at the end, but that's regulations for you.
 
Lord we pray for the salvation , healing and your blessings upon the dad, of depleted. Lord please be with him and bless him. In Jesus Holy name, Amen!
 
In agreement with Levi's prayer. I know this is hard Lynn. But, am thinking that his spirit could be able to receive yet. Possibly you could speak to him about trusting in Jesus, similar to those who minister to patients in coma's.

I would try it.
 
Depleted said:
My 86 year old dad is dying. There is no stopping that, and it's a good thing by now. He has dementia, has given up eating, getting out of bed, and even going to the bathroom. He's simply given up, and considering there is very little thinking part left in his brain, there is little reason not to give up.

BUT, he is also Catholic in such a way that he went with if he stayed a good Catholic God owes him whatever he wants for his eternal vacation. (Heaven.) And what he wanted was God to let him go to any planet he wanted to go to. So, definitely not a believer.

He never listened to the gospel. If I said it again, he couldn't understand by now. So, my prayer is that God has mercy and gives him salvation even now. Because there is no more time. He's getting evaluated today to go to hospice care. I don't know why he's being evaluated, because the signs are already there that he is at the end, but that's regulations for you.
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I'm so sorry Lynn. I would say give it to him. The Lord may give him a moment of clarity.

My mom died last year. I had off and on for years spoke to her about the Gospel. She always resonded with "I'm good, I'm good" wanting to move away from that conversation. She was a sorta wishy washy catholic.
Honestly, the best person I ever knew. I also knew that meant squat for salvation.

Well, about a year before she died, we went to see her after a service on a Sunday. I prayed about talking to her again. So I was sitting on her couch, about to play a card game with her and my family, when I got a text from a friend who didn't know I was going to see her.

He said " Should I be praying about anything for you?" I told him I was about to talk to my mom about the service and it's relation to salvation.

The sermon was about the man who Jesus healed that the Pharisees thought "who is this man that can forgive sin"

Jesus not only healed him but forgave his sins. THAT WAS HIS REAL NEED!! Sin forgiveness.

My mom had enough people praying about her breast cancer. She needed the Gospel for her MUCH bigger sin problem.

Well, we were blown away when I asked her if she wanted Jesus to save her and she said "YES BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW"

So, I gave her the Gospel and she accepted Him and believed! She lived almost a year longer, but visibly had no more fear or anxiety about her condition, and died an incredibly peaceful death.

So don't give up. Give your dad the Gospel again, whether he understands or not.

Praying for him and your peace!
 
Dear Lynn, I understand. My husband could do with a prayer when his time comes also. I will ask God to help your dad in such a way. It's a comfort to myself that people like you exist, because your faith is so great. I ask you Lord to touch Lynn and reassure her that her dad will be in good hands. Amen
 
I really mean he couldn't understand if I did tell him again. Last year, when hubby was teetering on death, Dad was in the process of getting a lawyer to go to court so he could be committed. He didn't understand (mentally) what was going on, but his emotions understood completely. He kept calling, and i kept having to retell him John was in serious shape and doctors could be calling me at any moment to either tell me they needed my consent to do something or that John was dead. Dad could not remember that (mentally.) When I repeated it, there was a flicker of a memory, but it faded quickly. In five minutes, I told him John had a massive heart attack five times, but he couldn't remember.

It's 13 months later. He's much worse. He honestly can't remember the beginning of a sentence by the time someone finishes the sentence. If I cut down the gospel to "Call out to Jesus," he'd try to figure out who Jesus was, and then forget the rest. And then forget he was trying to figure out who Jesus was. He's stopped talking because he knows he won't remember what he wanted to say. (My siblings spent two hours with him together and he never talked. He just smiled or his eyes wandered away.)

That bad.
 
at certain times, it's best to just keep silent and let those around express themselves
when they otherwise wouldn't...

I would push him 'outside' and let him hear the sounds that have brought him peace,
from when he was a very young child, those sounds that always bring us that special comfort,
the sound of God through His beloved nature...it's a medicine that cannot be compared to,
those intimate natural/voices of Jesus...
 
Lynn I could say i am so sorry for your loss but I know that words are not enough i cannot even begin to imagine what it must feel like as i have never lost a loved one to death before. But don't give up hope on seeing him in heaven, always remember that it only takes one prayer to shake the mountains and it only takes a tiny bit of faith for the impossible to be possible.

I believe this with my entire being and until his final breath God is still there with his arms wide open, I don't know about you but I don't hear the fat lady singing
 
I'm praying for you and your precious daddy. Remember that with God all things are possible. You never know what your faithful, loving presence and words and sharing of the Gospel may do for your dad, even though he might not be able to respond immediately.
All you can do is follow as Jesus leads. Remember that you're precious to God, and that He sees what you are going through.
He will get you through this.
Love and comfort and strength to you.
 
Lynn, I pray that you will have a "knowing" just the right words to say - and I pray for your dad to have a revelation of Jesus even while he is sleeping if not awake. You can say all the words, but it is the presence of Jesus that touches a person's heart.

That presence can come even when they get to the point where there is no more response. Trust the love of Jesus for this man, and that He will move mountains to reach his spirit. Let your faith begin to praise that this will happen.

Be comforted my friend.
 
Sister Lynn, I believe that the dementia could be a blessing in disguise for your dad. Jesus said, "to whom much is given, much shall be required." Now I don't want to get any of the old-fashioned fundamentalist haters going on this topic but a situation like Lynn's father is (IMHO) similar to someone who lacks the mental capacity to understand the Gospel- they are not damned because their brains aren't functioning properly. Granted- dad's had plenty of opportunities but Lynn- as you share with him simply look for a sign of understanding from him- a tear, a twinkle in his eyes... even Catholics understand their sinful state (I should say especially Catholics)- all he needs to do is understand that it isn't about keeping the sacraments but about believing that Jesus paid it all. Keep it simple- I have led Catholics to the Lord, and the only hard part for them is understanding that it's only by God's grace (Eph. 2:8-9). I would suggest- "Dad, do you know that Jesus loves you? He died for you to forgive you." I will be praying for your family dear sister.
 
It's amazing to think how much bigger God is than the problems we face and the uncertainty that taints our thinking. God sees your father's heart and will be the only one to judge him. We as humans do not have the capability to guess what might happen to him for eternity. You have prayed believing that God wants no one to perish. Did you know that your Dad's spirit is still very much alive and coherent, even though his body is fading? You can speak words of life into his ear and he will hear it. We are spiritual creatures housed inside a body, and the body is limited but the spirit is not. I would encourage you to continue to pray outloud to your father and speak words of life. Speak words about salvation. Pray the sinners prayer out loud. His spirit man inside will hear you. There is still time to communicate with your father even though his body can't show signs of any comprehension. Don't give up. Pray without ceasing.
 
lovingladyo4 said:
It's amazing to think how much bigger God is than the problems we face and the uncertainty that taints our thinking. God sees your father's heart and will be the only one to judge him. We as humans do not have the capability to guess what might happen to him for eternity. You have prayed believing that God wants no one to perish. Did you know that your Dad's spirit is still very much alive and coherent, even though his body is fading? You can speak words of life into his ear and he will hear it. We are spiritual creatures housed inside a body, and the body is limited but the spirit is not. I would encourage you to continue to pray outloud to your father and speak words of life. Speak words about salvation. Pray the sinners prayer out loud. His spirit man inside will hear you. There is still time to communicate with your father even though his body can't show signs of any comprehension. Don't give up. Pray without ceasing.
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Dad was Dad for 80 years. I've seen what God sees with Dad's heart -- it's always been dark and twisted. Why I need God to act despite Dad being Dad.
 
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