Light of Life

John 8:12 Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

 

The word “Light” is the Greek word “Phōs”, meaning a heavenly light that make manifest, because God ('ĕlōhîm – Father, Son and Holy Spirit)  is light because divine light has the extremely delicate, subtle, pure, with a brilliant quality of truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity associated with it. This godly light is truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity congruous with it, especially the saving truth embodied in Christ and by his love and effort imparted to mankind.

 

John 1:1-4 tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” 

 

The light of Christ is that which is exposed to the view of all, openly, publicly with reason of mind and the power of understanding esp. moral and spiritual truth that is consummate and free from every imperfection, to which the true disciples of Christ will be exalted, equivalent to the kingdom of light. Jesus declares in Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Physical darkness is the absence of light. Spiritual darkness is the absence of God. The Lord explains in John 3:19-20, “this is the condemnation, that the light [Christ] has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

 

The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines “light” as: Light of understanding and wisdom. Illumination of mind; perceived instruction; knowledge; understanding. One part of Scripture throws light on another. In Scripture, light is God, the source of knowledge, and Christ, that was the true light, that lighteth every man. The gospel light that brings saving knowledge. The gifts and graces of Christians unto true prosperity and happiness. The Apostle John proclaims in 1 John 1:7 “if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” This is the light of Salvation by the Savior of the world.

 

Ephesians 5:8-11 explains, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” Expel the darkness in the world by shining the light of Christ and His Gospel of forgiveness and salvation unto eternal life. In Colossians 1:9-12 the Apostle Paul prays: We ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

 

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Have a Happy New Year, in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ 2024 AD.

In Christ, Brian

Word of Life

 

John 1:1-4 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” 

 

The word “Word” (with a capital “W”) in John is the Greek word “logos” and denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus the Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, His minister in creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the world's life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement of man's salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth conspicuously from His words and deeds. Genesis 1:1 tells us that, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The Hebrew word for God here is “'ĕlōhîm” and is plural, meaning the divine ones, the Godhead, the Trinity, the true God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit at Creation’s origin, in the beginning.

 

John 1:14 goes on to say, “And the Word became flesh [God incarnate] and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Bible Commentator Matthew Henry states that “Word” is two-fold: logos endiathetos—word conceived; and logos prophorikos—word uttered. The logos ho eso and ho exo, ratio and oratio—intelligence and utterance. 1. There is the word conceived, that is, thought, which is the first and only immediate product and conception of the soul (all the operations of which are performed by thought), and it is one with the soul. And thus the second person in the Trinity is fitly called the Word; for he is the first-begotten of the Father, that eternal essential Wisdom which the Lord possessed, as the soul does its thought, in the beginning of his way,

 

The Greek word “Logos”  appears 330 times in the New Testament, and there are three primary uses for the word logos: [1] Logos in its standard meaning designates a word, speech, or the act of speaking (Acts 7:22). [2] Logos in its special

meaning refers to the special revelation of God to people (Mark 7:13). [3] Logos in its unique meaning personifies the revelation of eternal God as Jesus the Messiah (John 1:14). God with us, “hāyâ”, the great “I AM” – present, existing, abiding and standing’, the promised blessed Messiah of God, the Lord and Savior of the world. 

 

In John 6:68-69 Simon Peter answered Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” In Him was life [the source of life and life eternal], and the life was the light of men.” The blessed Redeemer of mankind is the Way, the Truth and the Life. In Acts 4:11-12 Peter proclaimed, “This [Jesus Christ] is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

 

In John 8:31-32, 36 Jesus said to those who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” Only Jesus can set the captive free from their sins, because only He died as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. Jesus Crist is the Word of Life. John 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

 

In Christ, Brian

 

Water of Life

Genesis 1:20 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures.”

 

Water is a essential element of life; every organism we know of needs water to survive. In fact, without liquid water, life on God’s green Earth could not exist. From the simplest organisms to the most complex plants and animals, water plays a critical role in survival. Most of the human body is water, with an average of roughly 60%. As a general rule of thumb, a person can survive without water for about 3 days. God designed us and all life to be sustained by water.

 

Ecclesiastes 1:7 explains that, “All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; to the place from which the rivers come, there they return again.” The hydrosphere (from 'water', and 'sphere') is the combined mass of water found on, under, and above the surface of our planet. Our Creator God made the hydrologic water cycle where water moves from one reservoir to another, such as from river to ocean, or from the ocean to the atmosphere, by the physical processes  of evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, surface runoff, and subsurface flow. In doing so, the water goes through different forms: liquid, solid (ice) and vapor. The oceans covers 71% of the earth’s surface and contain 97% of planet’s water. The ocean plays a key role in the water cycle as it is the source of 86% of global evaporation. But, man does not live by food and water alone.

 

In John 4:10-14 Jesus answered the Samaritan woman at the well, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

 

As physical water which God gives is essential to life and quenches our body’s thirst, the “living water” which Christ gives is essential for spiritual life and the quenching the thirst of our soul. John 7:37-38 states that on the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” Commentator Matthew Henry explains that the Gospel invitation given here by the Lord is very general: If any man thirst, whoever he be, he is invited to Christ, be he high or low, rich or poor, young or old, bond or free, Jew or Gentile. It is also very gracious: “If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink. If any man desires to be truly and eternally happy, let him apply himself to me, and be ruled by me, and I will undertake to make him so. If any man hunger and thirst after righteousness, that is, truly desires the good will of God towards him, and the good work of God in him. If any man want spiritual blessings or the inclination of their souls and their desires is towards a spiritual happiness, he may be supplied by me; let him go to Christ, admit His doctrine, submit to His discipline, believe in Him as Savior and Lord. Come to Him as the fountain of living waters, and the giver of all comfort. 

 

Revelation 22:17, 20 proclaims, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

 

In Christ, Brian

Merry Christmas 2023

Isaiah 9:6-7 “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.”

From our house to yours, we wish you a merry and blessed Christmas. May the joy of the gift of God in the Savior of the world, God with us, fill your hearts with love and give you peace.

Luke 2:9-14 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 

Merry Christmas, Brian

Hark the Herald

Luke 2:10-14 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

 

Last night, we watched our granddaughter’s Christian school’s Christmas program and our youngest granddaughter’s class sang “Hark the Herald Angels sing” on stage. It was wonderful and heart-warning to see and hear her joyful rendition of this classic Christmas Carol. The song goes like this:

 

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th’ angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

 

Christ, by highest Heav’n adored; Christ the everlasting Lord; Late in time, behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity, Pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel. Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

 

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

 

What amazing Gospel truth is conveyed in these lyrical lines of glory, praise and worship in this exultant season where we celebrate the arrival of the promised Messiah; the Christ, the Lamb of God, God with us, the blessed Redeemer of mankind come to save us from our sins. God plan of Salvation is revealed, recognized, realized and reality in the birth of Jesus , the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Savior of the world.

 

Hymncharts’ article states that in 1739, prolific hymn writer Charles Wesley penned a Christmas hymn titled “Hark How All the Welkin Rings” for his and brother John’s collection, Hymns and Sacred Poems. The opening line referenced the “welkin,” an old English word for the sky or heavens, ringing with joyful praise for the newborn king. In 1753, famed preacher George Whitefield reworked the first line to the familiar “Hark! the herald angels sing.” In 1840, esteemed German composer Felix Mendelssohn had written a rousing melody. This upbeat, vivacious score that was intended to honor the spread of knowledge and ideas would end up underscoring the revelation of the divine made flesh; God incarnate Jesus Christ. The infant Jesus was himself the Word manifest transformed to dwell among humanity. This beloved Christmas carol focused on the birth of the Savior of the world. 

 

The eventual wedding of the spirit of Mendelssohn’s music with the soul of Wesley’s poetry would do just that with soul-stirring beauty. Now it is sang and proclaimed by our little ones and us annually in celebration of Jesus Christ – the reason for the season.

 

Isaiah 9:6-7 “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end.”

 

In Christ, Brian

Are You Ready - Part 3

 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

 

The term “caught up” in this passage is the word “raptura” from the Latin language; this is where we get the word “rapture”. Continuing our study on the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, our lesson tells us that in a nanosecond, the Lord Jesus will call all Believers to Himself. We will simply vanish from the earth. No one who has confessed Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord will be left behind. It is a fulfillment of the Gospel truth in John 3:36 that “he who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” 

 

2 Peter 3:2-13 tells us, “Be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of person sought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

 

The “Good News” to Born-again Believers begins with “bad news” that all have sinned and the wages of sin is death; the wrath of God against sin. But, if anyone believes that there is a just and holy, sovereign Creator God, that they have sinned by disobeying and violating His righteous Commandments, Laws, Statutes and Decrees, regrets their sin and is sorrowful to the point of repentance, believes and accepts God’s gift of grace by receiving Jesus Christ by faith as their personal Savior through His atoning sacrifice on the Cross to die for their sins, believes that He rose from the dead to defeat sin and death, and accepts and obeys Him as the Lord of their life, will be saved.

 

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 says, “I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

 

Jesus Christ is coming back for His church, which is Good News for those who believe and are ready. The Rapture is exactly what the people of God are ready, waiting and watching for it, for because of Jesus they spend eternal in with the Lord Heaven. Praise be to God! 

 

Rejoice in Christ, Brian

Are You Ready? Part 2

Matthew 24:3-14 Now as He [Jesus] sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

 

Since Jesus spoke those words, there have been many times in history that by this list appeared to be the end times. Right now is certainly one of those times as deception occurs in media and politics, there are active wars in the Ukraine and  Israel, Clean water is in short supply worldwide, we just went through a worldwide COVID pandemic, and natural disasters occur. Talks of a socialist controlled one-world government are progressing, the God-rejecting world-system promotes Darwinian evolution, rejection of biologic identity and Biblical worldview. Atheistic secular humanism promotes naturalism, unnatural attractions and relations, racial hatred, ending of infant and elderly life and criminalizing people of faith, which offends them. Persecution of Christians and the Word of God happen on a regular basis. Talking with many residents during our evangelism outreach to the community, they do not see any way to stop this dark lawlessness. Every day we are one step closer to the end of days and the coming of the Lord. But, who is to say if the Holy Spirit brings revival again? Or not!

 

Jesus continues in Matthew 24:37-44, But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Luke 17:28-30 adds, Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

 

It was obvious that when my father’s Senior Living facility’s Prayer group asked to study the biblical accord of the “End Times”, that it was going to be an eye-opening experience and a thought-provoking reality check for everyone. But, it is  a necessary one because we are either for God or against God; In God We Trust and obey or In Man we trust and obey. Jesus said in Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” Since the Fall of Man to sin in the Garden of Eden, God has had an overarching plan of redemption and restoration which included End Times for this world, Tribulation and Judgment.There is a plan! Are you ready?

Let's look into this topic even deeper in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Are You Ready? Part 1

  

1 Corinthians 15:42-58 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

 

The Bible Study at the Independent and Assisted Care Living Facility [aka rest home, retirement community, or old folks’ home), which I facilitated every Tuesday morning, was rescheduled to merge with the existing Prayer group. They asked me to start a new series on the Second Coming of Jesus Christ for His church and the Rapture of Believers in the End Times according to the Bible. We began last Tuesday with a a short video, then questions and discussion on of the Apocalypse; the revelation, disclosure, uncover, and reveal of the account that Lord Jesus Christ gave of Himself to the His Church and events that will occur at the end of this age. 

 

The biblical account of the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden well account the introduction of Sin into the world, causing entropy, disease and death; a lost and dying world. It is commonly agreed that nobody is perfect and  Romans 3:23 confirms that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Being that all Sin is willful rebellion against the authoritative Commandments, Laws, Statutes of our just and holy Creator God, Romans 6:23a rightfully declares that the wages of sin is death; eternity in Hell.

 

But, our loving and merciful God provided a plan and path to Salvation. Romans 6:23b proclaims, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Why? 2 Peter 3:9 states that the Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance [Real penitence; sorrow or deep contrition for sin, as an offense and dishonor to our just and holy Creator God, a violation of His holy law, and the basest ingratitude towards a Being of infinite benevolence. This is called evangelical repentance, and is accompanied and followed by amendment of life], so He provided a Way. But why? John 3:16-17 announces that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Sadly, not all accept God gift offer.

 

John 1:9-14 explains that Jesus Christ was the true Light which gives salvation light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the God-rejecting world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 3:16-17 explains the Good News that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. O’ Jesus Christ is coming and this world is going to end, but where we end up is a choice to be made carefully. Are you ready?

 

Let’s continue this message on the End Times in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Flipped

 

2 Corinthians 5:8 “To be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

 

December 14^th, marks the date of my cousin Laura Walsh Plunkett’s passing. Growing up 2000 miles apart and sixteen years difference in age meant nothing when we met for a family reunion in August of 2007 and connected via e-mail a month later, as we quickly discovered that we were not just biological cousins, but brother and sister in Christ also. Laura wrote on September 21: “You are a very loving soul and I can totally see that. We are both Christians and it is so interesting to me that we both take it so seriously...yet another similarity between us. I do a lot with my church and have found that my faith really kept me grounded when I was diagnosed with cancer.” 

 

When Laura was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 32, she began a quest to write a book with her mother and daughter to help other women. Laura went to be with the Lord, her Maker, in 2008, but in 2012 her book titled “Flipped” was published for readers. She started a Breast Cancer awareness foundation named “Pass It On”, spoke publically on the subject and keeping a positive attitude (which is where the term “Flipped” originated – flipping your attitude from negative to positive), and Blogging @ http://loloplunkett.blogspot.com. In case you are wondering, Yes, she is the reason that I started Blogging myself. I picked up some copies of her ten chapter book on Amazon.com for family and friends, and added a finishing thought from the e-mails Laura wrote to me, so here there is an eleventh chapter that the world should hear and be blessed by from this dear Christian woman that “flipped” my life forever. 

 

Chapter Eleven – Laura’s Faith

 

I have ALWAYS believed this experience is about God healing me, not me dying. It gets hard at times because even among other Christians, I have found that everyone’s faith is different. Faith is a spiritual gift, of which there are many. Each of us have our own strengths and weakness when it comes to the gifts....but faith is one that has always come easy to me. I try not to take for it granted and always want to help others understand that I continue to feel protected and buffered by God. I continue to feel that He is protecting me. 

It is so interesting because this whole experience has been surreal for me...in some respects. What I mean is, I continue to feel privileged by my cancer at times. That may sound wacky so I will explain. We have had so many miracles along the way...with doctors, surgeries, modern technology with medicines. I have always felt very guided by God, very directed to do very specific things. The decisions that we have made have always seemed so easy to me, even though others may think we have always taken the hardest road. I have always just taken the road that seemed to make sense for us. My husband is very pragmatic, practical. I have always looked to him for logical reassurance, for understanding that we are making the right decisions when it comes to my health. He has always believed in me, always been gifted with the same knowledge that we are okay....just fine.

With my most recent confirmation of two small tumors on my lungs, one of my breast cancer survivor friends rushed over to my house and panicked...asked if I was okay, etc. She started talking about my faith, about how I have a strong resolve and strong faith and she just didn’t understand how this could happen to me. Her indirect question was how God could let this happen to me. I just consoled her and told her that I had prayed to have access to good information regarding these two spots on my lungs. We had been watching them for a year and I wanted them out of me, regardless of if they were a cancer or not. I did not care what they were, I wanted a clean slate. That is what I am looking for, waiting for....full restoration, just like Job. She was sort of shocked as she seemed so devastated by my situation. But, if there is anything I could share with someone who doesn’t have cancer, it is to just believe that God can heal us. The New Testament talks about Jesus healing people by their own faith in Him. I cling to that and believe it fully. I know I am loved by God and have received way to many blessings by this disease. 

Don’t get me wrong, I wish I wasn’t a cancer survivor. If I could take it all back or start all over, I probably would. But, then I remember the story of Job or Noah or Jonah or Abraham. All of them went through suffering and God allowed it to happen because that is just the way life is on earth. Suffering happens. It just does. I am a better person because of all of this and my family (extended, included) are much better, closer. We care about other people more and try to take on causes outside of our world.

 

For the most part, I just feel like a messenger for other people. I feel like I was supposed to go through this stuff, that God allowed it to happen to me because He knew I would not be destroyed by it. He gave me strong faith so that I would get through all of the treatments. He made my body so it would heal quickly from surgery. He made my heart strong so that I could take the wonder drugs that have side effects on the heart. He made my body strong enough to fight the disease off as best it could for several years without medicine...and the tumors remained small, which is miraculous. I understand that there is a chance I could die from cancer, but I don’t think I will. I think the very opposite, that I was meant to live with it...not die from it. I feel privileged to even understand the distinction, but I do know that other cancers do not have the luxury of screenings and medicines...like mine does. I know that it is likely my cancer would have spun out of control already if these medicines had not been around. I shudder to think about it, but that is when I remember the power of God and how much He loves me. Just like Job, he allowed him to go through suffering. He did not want it, but He allowed it so that I could grow through it...not be destroyed by it.

I do wonder why I get to live while others may die. I do envision myself living this long life. I know there is a chance I will have to go through surgeries again, but I don’t think I will. I think the tumors are gone. I think we will always take medicines for my disease, but each year they come out with even better meds. Already, my medicines have moved from IV to pill form and they are more effective than before. Doctors can’t prevent cancer, in terms of why cells replicate out of control. But, they can determine characteristics of certain cancers and try to treat them that way. Meaning, my type of breast cancer has a protein that attaches to the cell that fuels the cell growth. So, the medicine attacks seeks the protein and destroys cells with the protein on it. Very smart, huh? I think doctors have realized that the process of cell degradation, which is cancer, happens in all bodies. The best way to prevent tumor growth is to help boost your body’s immune system in many ways.

No doctor can tell me why I got cancer, however, I believe it was probably due to the fact that I am prone to depression and that I did not deal with it very well when I was younger. I am a sensitive person with a sensitive body. I believe that when we are sensitive, emotionally, our bodies are sensitive too. I have sensitive skin and everything. I have allergies galore. so it makes sense that if I got cancer, my body would be sensitive to its growth. I also have a fast metabolism and I am young so my cells regenerate quickly. The good cells do and the bad cells do. So, because of my depression and anxiety that I was not dealing with, I think my immune system was poor. I was self-sacrificial in the worst way...gave too much of myself with nothing left for me. I am not sure how I got this way because I grew up in a loving home, but I do think that because of these factors...and chance...I got cancer. I continue to think that it was all controlled by God, so I use the word “chance” very loosely.

 

I know cancer and suffering are NOT easy topics. I think many Christians and non-Christians use the topic to put a wall in between God and them. It is easy to be that way. It is only through the grace of God that I do not have that bitterness. I really do think there are two types of people in the world...people who are afraid of life and people who want to control life. I don’t know why, but I do think it is the way. For those who want to control things as a coping mechanism, I think they often have more difficulty with understanding the hard things in life. I have one friend who is a Christian who helped me a lot when I first got breast cancer. She was diagnosed about a year before me and really led me to a great doctor. But, bitterness has eroded her....to the point that she almost expects to have a recurrence. It is bizarre to me because she is perfectly healthy now, yet she feels devastated that cancer happened to her. She has continued to focus on the negative aspects of her situation....which will do no good. There are many bad parts of cancer, but there are many gifts that can come from it. It is all about choice.

For me, I come from that part of society that has feared life...and felt unworthy of God’s love, and love in general. Because of that, I was depression-prone and have let others control my life. This is not in any major way...overall, I have spent my life being a good girl. But, I wasn’t the girl that God wanted me to be...i hadn’t reached my potential or even shot for it because I didn’t think I was worthy of it. For some reason, I think this personality trait has helped me to accept the bad a little better. In many respects, I was expecting it to happen. My anxiety conditioned me to always anticipate the worst. I am no longer like this, can truly see the joy in situations and don’t anticipate the worst. But, I am fully relying on God for my health and my life. I am flying blind most of the time, but the gifts are endless.

I am still afraid to be myself, I worry about what others think of me...that people will misjudge my kindness for me having ulterior motives, etc. But, I know that God is working to change lives through me. I am honored by it, so honored! I hope that my story helps you understand the loving nature of God. Cancer is a difficult subject. I find that I know many people’s stories. I can’t understand why people succumb to cancer because I don’t have that perspective. 

I hope that makes sense. I do not mean to sound cold to other"s situations. I just want you to understand that I do not pretend to have all or any of the answers. I can’t make sense of a lot of people’s cancers. So, I try to help people when they first get diagnosed. From a scientific perspective, I know that is the crux of time when things really matter....when you need to push for the most aggressive treatments. However, I really try to help people think about their health...before any diagnosis so prevention can take place. I want to demystify cancer so people understand it happens in our bodies all the time, that we can equip ourselves to stave it off. I am not overburdened by my experience...my surgeries or medicines. For the most part, I am perfectly healthy and strong...able to take on all the things I need to. God prepared me for this awakening and continues to condition me for each experience. It is HE who carried me through the bike ride six weeks after surgery, not me. I am just an example of what HE can do. It is up to each of us to tap into it. I want people to tap into His grace NOW so they don’t have to experience cancer at all.

You know that God loves you and you live that love in your life, regardless of the sadness you have experienced. I am certain God is smiling down on you because of that. I hope that you can look back at any of those situations and find God in them, know that He was embracing you the whole time...that He was so close to you that you couldn’t see Him. I trust that God is working through us and I am so glad that you can do the same. It is a blind trust, but please know my tone is always one of love and my heart is open to help! Each word has been written with love! 

 

For myself, when things got hard or get hard, I picture God wrapping his arms around me, embracing me fully....or the peace dove holding me tightly in its wings. It is a picture of the emotional equivalent of the protection I feel from HIM. He wants to do that for all of us, is waiting for us!

How blessed are we!
With love, Laura 

 

Today, I honor you Laura.

Brian

O Come Let Us Adore Him

  

The lyrics of an old Christian Hymn are: “O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant! O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him Born the King of Angels: O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”

 

Pastor Kyle noted that in the Christmas song “Angels we have heard on high” one stanza invites us: “Come to Bethlehem and see Him Whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!” - (Latin for "Glory to God in the highest"). Adoration (the act of paying honors to the divine being; the worship paid to God. Adoration consists in external homage, accompanied with the highest reverence to the Supreme Being) is the natural response of born-again Believers saved by the loving grace and love of their heavenly Father. To adore on bended knee demonstrates the posture of their hearts and lives as one of obedience in total obedience as living temples of God and His glory. 

 

Pastor goes on to say that today, we are distracted and tempted to adore fame and fortune, dreamy places and trendy things, trinkets, music, celebrities and stories. Yet, anything that we place between God’s face and ours is an idol. Like no other time in history, access to Christian resources and worship music creates availability to God’s Word easier, which is a true blessing for knowing God and making Him known. But, having all the uplifting words and feel-good music mean nothing without a surrender life to God and receiving Jesus Christ. We need more of the power of Jesus flowing through our lives. And through lives metaphorically stand at the foot of the Cross confronted with the reality of our sin and salvation in Christ, who suffered the punishment that we deserved, dying the dead that we deserved then rose from the grave so that anyone who would repent and believe in Him as the Savior of the world sent by God the Father would not perish in Hell but would have ever-lasting life. Jesus ascended to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to indwell the Believer’s heart working in us as our counseling Helper and the ability to live the life to the Lord always intended for us, living the power and adoration of God every day through a surrendered life.  

 

In Matthew 22:37 Jesus said that the greatest commandment is, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ It is an easy commandment to obey because God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. Jesus Christ, Emmanuel – God with us, is the message of Christmas and the reason for the season. 

 

In Christ, Brian

It Well With My Soul – Part 3

 

Michael continues: God’s holiness starts with separation. Holy means to separate from the darkness of this fallen world according to the purpose for which God has called us. Holiness is defined by the 1828 Webster’s dictionary as: The state of being holy; purity or integrity of moral character; freedom from sin; sanctity. Applied to human beings, holiness is purity of heart or dispositions; sanctified affections; piety; moral goodness, but not perfect. Sacredness; the state of anything hallowed, separated and consecrated to God or to His worship; applied to churches. 

 

Righteousness is defined as: Purity of heart and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life to the divine law. Righteousness, as used in Scripture and theology, in which it is chiefly used, is nearly equivalent to holiness, comprehending holy principles and affections of heart, and conformity of life to the divine law. It includes all we call justice, honesty and virtue, with holy affections; in short, it is true religion. Living rightly before the eyes of the Lord.

In Psalm 73, the Psalmist laments about the oppressiveness of the wicked and the darkness of this fallen world. However there is an inflection point, a point of repentance... of turning around. In verse 17, the Psalmist said, when I went into the sanctuary, into the house of the Lord, then I understood their end. He shifted his focus from the darkness of the world into the light of the sanctuary where God dwells. The sanctuary is the place where God is welcome to help Himself to the lives of His people. According to 1 Corinthians 6, Paul wrote by God’s inspiration, ““Do you (collectively) not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”

In the sanctuary, God revealed the end of the destruction of the evil that permeates this world of darkness. According to verse 18, surely he has set their feet on slippery places. When the blind lead the blind, they both fall in the ditch. God allows the prosperity of the worldly people to allow them to fall in their own pride and conceit. The outcome of the ungodly will come to naught. Therefore the Psalmist concludes that nevertheless God has taken hold of our right hand. The right hand is the hand of blessing. When confronted by the darkness of this world, our responsibility is our response to His ability. Our responsibility is to walk in the light as He is in the light. 

The Lord is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Beside you Lord, I desire nothing on earth. As for me, in the nearness of my heart unto thee is my good. I have made the Lord my refuge so that I can tell of thy goodness to all the earth. Our calling isn’t to condemn the unjust but that God through His mercy and grace would turn their hearts from the darkness of this world and unto the glorious light of the gospel of truth. Our calling not to be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good. Our Lord Jesus Christ came not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.

Despite the darkness of this fallen world, our joy is in the Lord and our hope is in the redemption of our vile bodies, His purchased possession, at His return. Therefore, let your light so shine among men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven. 

Whom have I in heaven but you Lord? Our flesh and our heart will fail, but our portion is in you alone, for in Thee and in Thee alone, it is well with our soul that we may ever live to the praise of the glory of Thy grace!

Your brother in Christ, Michael

It Well With My Soul – Part 2

Michael continues: Psalm 73 is a “Psalm of Asaph”, one of David’s chief choir directors. David himself was a musician. Part of rejoicing is to lift up our voices as a choir in harmony unto the Lord as we “tune our hearts to sing thy praise.”

Psalms 73:1-28 “Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride serves as their necklace; violence covers them like a garment. Their eyes bulge with abundance; they have more than heart could wish. They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth. Therefore his people return here, and waters of a full cup are drained by them. And they say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?” Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease; they increase in riches. Surely, I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning. If I had said, “I will speak thus,” Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children. When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me — Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awakes, so, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind. I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.”

It’s easy for Believers to stumble when we look at the God-rejecting world around us. The Psalmist began this psalm with a lamentation. It seems that the fallen world around us is full of chaos, confusion, and darkness. Why would God allow the darkness? From the perspective of our fallen sin nature, God will appear like an unkind friend, an unnatural father and an unrighteousness judge to allow it, but He is not. God is not like the injustice and the unrighteousness of this world. Darkness is the absence of light. If we look around us we’ll be stressed, if we look at ourselves, we’ll be depressed, if we look at others, we’ll be distressed, but if we look at the Lord, our God through Christ’s eyes behind our eyes, we’ll be blessed. In verse 2 the Psalmist looks at the battle inside his own soul. The spiritual battle is first a battle for our own soul ... for our own hearts and minds. In 2 Peter, there are seven characteristics to add to our faith to make our calling and election sure. 

 

2 Peter 1:2-10 “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,  to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.”

 

People begin to stumble when they focus on the selfish motives of their sinful flesh. According to verse three of this Psalm, when Asaph looked through eyes of envy and covetousness at the seeming prosperity of the wicked, he began to lose his joy. The God-rejecting people of the world seem to be better off than those who profess the Lord’s righteousness. The foolish who prosper in the riches of this world wear their pride like a golden chain. These slaves of sin look for opportunities to exert their power over the righteous in Christ. They revel in their pride and in their power over their innocent victims. The ungodly even dare to speak to God as if they are powerful and God is not. But as Romans 6:20-22 declares: “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

Let's read the conclusion to Michael's message in the next post.

In Christ, Brian 

It Well With My Soul – Part 1

This week Michael writes:"It Is Well With My Soul", also known as "When Peace, Like A River", is a hymn penned by hymnist Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss. First published in Gospel Hymns No. 2 by Ira Sankey and Bliss (1876). This hymn was written after traumatic events in Spafford's life. The first was the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer and had invested significantly in property in the area of Chicago that was extensively damaged by the great fire). His business interests were further hit by the economic downturn of 1873, at which time he had planned to travel to England with his family on the SS Ville du Havre, to help with D. L. Moody's upcoming evangelistic campaigns. In a late change of plan, he sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sea vessel, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford's daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, "Saved alone …". Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died. 

The original lyrics are: 

When peace like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know “It is well, it is well, with my soul”. It is well, (it is well), With my soul, (with my soul). It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control, that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul. It is well, (it is well), With my soul, (with my soul). It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! It is well, (it is well), With my soul, (with my soul). It is well, it is well, with my soul.

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: If Jordan above me shall roll, no pang 

shall be mine, for in death as in life, Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul. It is well, (it is well), With my soul, (with my soul). It is well, it is well, with my soul.

But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait, the sky, not the grave, is our goal; Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord! Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul. It is well, (it is well), With my soul, (with my soul). It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, a song in the night, oh my soul!  It is well, (it is well), With my soul, (with my soul). It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Horatio Spafford found blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul in the Lord. A question for today is, “Is it well with our soul?” If we look at the world around us and at our own circumstances, we’ll be stressed, depressed and distressed. However, our joy is in the object of our joy ... our joy is in the Lord. Nehemiah 8:10b says, “ This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Joy is a deliberate choice to position our heart inside of God’s heart. Therefore, Philippians 4:4 says, Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. Within the joy of the Lord, although the storm rocks our boat and the waves crash around us, it is well... it is well with our soul.

Let's continue Michael message in the next post.

In Christ, Brian 

 

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!

 

1 Chronicles 16:29 “Give to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!”

 

The old Civil War Battle Hymn of the Republic, inspired by Jeremiah 25:30-31, begins:

“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword: His truth is marching on. Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.” God be praised! Author of these words, Julia Ward Howe, lived in times that were anything but dainty or delicate. She lived in time of war, the Civil War. And she, like many of that time, including President Lincoln, had come to see that horrible war as God’s judgment on a land that had enslaved, and cruelly and unjustly treated a whole race of people. See Abraham Lincoln’s Proclamation of Prayer & Fasting of March 30, 1863. 

 

Psalm 29:22 repeats the words of 1 Chronicles 16:29. “Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”

 

But, we don”t use that word much anymore, so what does the word “glory” mean? The Hebrew word for glory is “kāḇôḏ” and is a weighty, but only figuratively in a good sense, meaning glory, honor, glorious, abundance, riches, splendor, dignity of the highest status. The majestic Creator God of heaven and earth deserves our glory for Him and His glory. Psalm 19:1 proclaims, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” The divine perfections and excellence of God’s creation surrounds us in nature; out in the Cosmos, in the air, on the earth and under the sea. Psalm 148:13 “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven.” Glory be to God in the highest!

 

Psalm 97:6 “The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory.” Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines the word “glory” as: (1) the glory of God’s majesty everywhere and in everything as brightness; luster; splendor and magnificence. (2) the glory from man towards God as praise ascribed in adoration; honor. (3) In Scripture, glory is the divine presence of God. Psalm 62:7 “In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.” 

 

The Apostle Paul shows us that God gave glory to Jesus in 2 Peter 1:17 stating, “For He [Jesus] received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Glorification is the act of giving glory or of ascribing honors to. Exaltation to honor and dignity; elevation to glory; as the glorification of Christ after his resurrection.

 

For the Born-again Believer, who believes in God, repents of sin, receives Jesus Christ as their personal Savior by his atoning sacrificial death for their sins, and as the Lord of their Life to follow, learn from and obey, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. When a true Christian, a disciple of Jesus Christ, comes to the end of this earthly existence, they receive glorification and are ushered into eternity in heaven as a citizen of the kingdom of God. The felicity, ecstasy, and eternal happiness of heaven prepared for the children of God; it is celestial bliss. All this is glory. Psalm 72:18-20“Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only does wondrous things! And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.”

 

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!

In Christ, Brian