From Graduation to Glory

By Don Ella Cruz

How often do we pray for our children and their struggles? The struggle for Justin to graduate his senior year kept me in the presence of God, seeking Him for direction. I heard God telling me, "He's going to graduate." His words gave me the strength to persevere and not give up, not knowing I would be walking from my son's life to his life in glory.

My flesh struggled with not being ready for God to allow what had been settled in heaven. I had to spiritually process it without sharing a word. God kept me from telling anyone because they could have interfered with His plan. When the appointed time had come, no matter how my heart cried with continuous prayers, knowing God's perfect love for me, there was no changing His mind. I struggled with surrendering my will. "Turn him over to me," I heard God speak in an audible voice, "so I can allow what is going to happen."

My flesh had to come into an agreement with what God was doing. I remember saying, "Not my will, Lord. Your will be done." Justin took a step from graduation to glory. When Justin's feet no longer touched the earth, his final steps were from flesh to spirit. God told it all to me, but the point of when I had to experience it--that's when I really knew. I was able to see that God has many great things to do with Justin but not here.

God, You made that be our secret.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886859072

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From Graduation to Glory

Don Ella Cruz

ISBN 979-8-88685-906-5 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88685-907-2 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Don Ella Cruz

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Lord, Show Me My Children's Future

Lord, What Is Going on Here?

Dreaming in the Supernatural Realm of God

It Appears That Everything Is Going Contrary to the Will of God

How to Be Quiet and Know When to Speak Can Be a Struggle

Lord, How Do I Plan for My New Grandbaby?

How to Focus on God During Trying Times

Focusing Forward on Justin's Life as I Look to God

Trying to Remain Calm

Moving Forward

Lord, I'm Beginning to Feel Spiritually Strange

Weekend Business Closing

Why Is Heaven Invading My Natural and Affecting My Spiritual?

Lord, Allow Me to Help You Out

Lord, What Are You Hiding From Me?

Lord, I Need Your Direction

The Beautiful Peace That God Gives

Remember God First

This Back and Forth Struggle Has to Stop

I Found My Rest in You, Lord

Desiring God Became My Focus

Intimate Worship Makes Me Sensitive to the Spirit of God

I'm Watching How God Is Choosing to Express His Perfect Glory

My Security and Trust Are in You, Lord

Lord, What Kind of Trouble Is Knocking at My Door?

When the Heart and Mind Are Overtaken by Evil

Help Is on the Way

Lord, I Desire My Healing to Be in Your Timing

About the Author

I want to encourage parents and mothers especially who have been through a lot of emotional pain, to know about the consistent companionship of the Lord as we journey through this life and to remind everyone out there about the glories that lie ahead of us when we graduate from this earth.

Chapter One

Lord, Show Me My Children's Future

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you

and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

—Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

I will never forget the day I went before the Lord asking Him to show me my daughter's, Erica, and my son's, Justin, future after they graduate from high school. Erica was a senior, and Justin was a junior at that time. God honored my request and showed me their future in a vision. What God showed me was amazing!

I became very excited so I decided to tell them at the same time—that way, Erica and Justin would hear each other's future. Erica was first. I said to Erica, God showed me your future. He allowed me to see you in a white hospital coat standing bent over in front of your patient who was sitting on this examination table in what appeared to be a patient room inside a doctor's office. I remember watching you bend over, and your hands were reaching for your male patient's feet. Then the vision ended before you touched them. I said to Erica, That's it! A podiatrist! You are going to be a foot doctor!

Then I turned to Justin, all happy and excited, and said, "Justin! Your future is different from Erica's. When God showed me your future, He didn't show me natural things like what you will do physically. The vision God gave me for you, Justin, is totally different from Erica's. The way the Lord opened my eyes to see—I was able to catch a glimpse of it. Oh my, Lord! Justin! It was beautiful and glorious! All I could see for you was glory! Your future is glorious! When the vision ended, I remember how it left a bright shining smile on my face.

All my heart knew to say was, Thank You, Lord, for my son's future is secured in You. Justin had no response as to what I shared with him. I said to Justin, I will go back before God and try to get more details about your future. When I did, I said, Lord, can You show me more concerning Justin's future?

God never gave me physical evidence but allowed me to see again what He showed me in the vision. There was beauty in what He left with me, and I felt awesome peace and had no worries. I was at rest, knowing Erica and Justin have a future set by the Lord. I thank You, Lord, for having a planned future for my children. Lord, I know they belong to You.

Lord, You spoke to me and said, Don Ella, go forward in the ministry I've given you, and I would see after Erica and Justin. God gave me His word concerning my children.

I learned when God gives me visions and/or dreams, they come to pass. I might not get the full revelation at first, or in the beginning, but time reveals all things. There is a set time and order to the things pertaining and belonging to God. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV) reads, He has made everything beautiful in his time; also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end.

Chapter Two

Lord, What Is Going on Here?

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

—Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV)

As time grew close for Erica to graduate, I would hear her talk about finding a job and moving out into her own place. No way! Erica is moving out into her own place! Lord, do You hear Erica's words? God, You have to move and do something quickly. I didn't see this happening. Lord, did I not guide and keep the vision before her? Have I failed to do my part as a parent in guiding Erica's decisions?

Lord, I have to figure out what is going on with Erica. God, You showed me a vision of Erica in a white hospital coat bending over and reaching for her patient's feet inside a room in what appeared to be a doctor's office. When God showed me the vision, Erica was young and mature and had a youthful look about her. This led me to believe that this accomplishment would come to pass quickly for Erica immediately after high school graduation.

Erica stayed on the honor roll throughout elementary, junior, and high school. She passed the Ohio Graduation Test before she was required to take it. Lord, what is her hurry to get a job and move out immediately after graduation? I don't understand! In order to become a podiatrist, Erica must get a bachelor's degree first and then apply to an accredited podiatric medical college. Erica having a degree in Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), Lord, would be a blessing for her.

Working conditions for a podiatrist can happen in private or group practices, foot clinics, hospitals, and/or health departments. The list goes on. A lot of work is required to obtain this degree. Further seasoning is needed before Erica can practice independently. The payoff for the hard work, looking at the podiatrist's income, is comparable to some physicians. It will be well over a hundred thousand to fewer than two hundred thousand a year, looking at the multitude of people she will help.

This is a very humble position to serve the Lord and be financially taken care of all at the same time. Lord, I thank You, and I trust You. Lord, I'm dreaming big for my daughter. There are no