Hannah Elizabeth Diaso – 4/9/1994 – 10/18/2016
Seven years ago today our daughter, Hannah moved to heaven. These aren’t easy days as we think back on what occurred the evening of the 17th going into the 18th. I’m writing this Tuesday night on the 17th of October. Dawn and I found her on the bedroom floor on the 17th a little before midnight. We tried to revive her but we couldn’t. Her death certificate says October 18th, because that’s when she was pronounced dead by the medical personnel. My intention here isn’t to focus so much on the sad details of her homegoing, but I did want to explain a little about what happened when our beautiful graduated from this life to the next. We like to say that she moved to heaven. It’s much softer.
Since that day Dawn and I have been praying for restoration and redemption of what we have suffered and lost. And we can see the hand of God healing us. In his kindness, our heavenly Father is answering our prayer.
This is the seventh year – the seventh anniversary and the number 7 speaks of being fulfilled, completeness. The number 7 is found 463 times in the King James translation. It occurs throughout the Bible, but the most occurrences are found in the first book of the Bible Genesis, and the last book, Revelation. Of course, the Bible starts with the seven days of creation. We can also find the number seven in Zechariah 4 and in Revelation in reference to the Spirit. That gives me great joy because we have been praying for more of the Spirit, more anointing of the Spirit. I ask this for my own life, for my family, and for you. And I can see how God is answering that request.
“And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my Lord?” Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my Lord.” Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:2-6 ESV
John’s vision of heaven in Revelation 4:2-6. He saw the throne room with all these colors and even a rainbow.
“At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:”
Our Papa God also showered his love on us through our granddaughters. Our second granddaughter, Bethany Rain, was just born. That gives us joy during this difficult time of the year, the Lord has given our family a wonderful gift. Especially since David and Emily told us that they were going to name their daughter Bethany Rain God has been highlighting Elijah and his faith. Elijah in faith asked for no rain to fall and it didn’t rain for a period of time. Then he prayed for God to send rain and it started to rain. It is a miracle what God did through Elijah’s prayers, but the passage in James 5:17 says that Elijah was a man with weaknesses like ours. That is why David and Emily chose the name Rain because they prayed for a child after their miscarriage and God answered.
“… The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.” James 5:16-18 ESV
Also, Bethany is where Lazarus was from. In John 11 Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead in Bethany. In John 11:26 & 27 Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” Then he asks Martha a very important question, it’s a good question for each of us. The question is, “Do you believe this?”
There is much more I could write but so as not to make this too long I will end with this – I can see that our Papa God is responding and restoring what we have lost as King David wrote in Psalms 30:5 “Weeping will last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”
God is so good. Pray for us, but also rejoice with us for the hope that we have in Christ!
Video: Hannah-Celebration of Life
If you have trouble viewing this video on your browser you can view it by clicking on this YouTube link: Hannah-Celebration of Life
We rejoice that death has been swallowed up in victory through the death and resurrection of Christ!
In His Grip, Dave
P.S. Help take the gospel to the Border, the Baja and Beyond
BeyondBordersLife.org
