A Near Death Moment.

Have you experienced a Near death moment?[cincopa AQEAUjqunxGO]

I have had a few significant and unforgettable moments, but there was one in particular, a near death moment in which I was most grateful. It began in 2002.. I had just graduated from my studies in Adelaide, South Australia. I wanted to do something for the Lord, so I joined a group of Christians on an evangelistic bus tour to the Northern Territory for 2 weeks. Among our group, there were several unbelievers with us. We would travel from place to place, slept in our sleeping bags in various venues, making our way to the top end of the NT at Darwin. And then head our way back to Adelaide. Along the way, we organized sketches, dramas, played games, and so forth in attempts to share the Gospel with the unbelievers among us. We were having a great time.

On this occasion, we had to swim as a group along a deep narrow river, which Australians called billabong. Most of the group members could swim except for the little children and me. Naturally, I stayed behind and played at the shallow end of the billabong. Unknowingly, the area where I chose to stay in was the edge of the deep billabong. As I watched the others making their way through the billabong, I was curious. I decided to patter my feet a little a way to see how far I could swim thinking I could step on the ground. When I stopped, my feet could not reach the ground. I panicked and looked through the water..  Discovered I was looking at deep water, 3-4 stories deep. At that moment, I was struggling to breathe. I remembered raising my arm to get attention, just any one close by.

Meanwhile, incredibly, 2 sisters from Sweden were a short distance ahead of me. The most amazing thing happened. While I was struggling for my life in silent, the 2 sisters turned their heads back simultaneously, saw me struggling, swam back to rescue me. They saved my life that day. When we were at the safe end, they shared with me something I would never forget. They both heard a voice at the same time, telling them to turn back! What had been most amazing was, we were trying to reach out to them.. Yes, they were both unbelievers. God used them to save my life. God is the most amazing God! He works wonders when we most needed.

Carl Gustav Boberg (August 16, 1859 – January 17, 1940)

Today’s story is about this Swedish poet and writer who was best known for his poem: “O Store Gud” (O great God) from which the great hymn: “How Great Thou Art” derived. He experienced a near death moment and later wrote this hymn in gratitude of God.[cincopa AABAchatnRbO]

The story

” The inspiration for the poem came when Boberg was walking home from church near Kronobäck, Sweden, and listening to church bells. A sudden awe-inspiring storm gripped Boberg’s attention, and then just as suddenly as it had made its violent entrance, it subsided to a peaceful calm which Boberg observed over Mönsterås Bay.^[6] According to J. Irving Erickson:

Carl Boberg and some friends were returning home to Mönsterås from Kronobäck, where they had participated in an afternoon service. Nature was at its peak that radiant afternoon. Presently a thundercloud appeared on the horizon, and soon sharp lightning flashed across the sky. Strong winds swept over the meadows and billowing fields of grain. The thunder pealed in loud claps. Then rain came in cool fresh showers. In a little while the storm was over, and a rainbow appeared.

When Boberg arrived home, he opened the window and saw the bay of Mönsterås like a mirror before him… From the woods on the other side of the bay, he heard the song of a thrush…the church bells were tolling in the quiet evening. It was this series of sights, sounds, and experiences that inspired the writing of the song.^[7]

If you wish to know more about Carl Boberg, below is the link from Wikipedi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Great_Thou_Art_%28hymn%29#Inspiration

“How Great Thou Art” has been a great inspiration for me personally. God is truly worthy of our praise and worship. If you have truly experienced a near death moment and experienced His awesome presence through it all, you will agree with me, that no one is much more worthy than God because He gave His all, for us all. The Bible says in John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

 

How Great Thou Art

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q8ESzK5pCw