Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 NIV

Therefore encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:18

The comfort is that we will all be together. I have a grandfather I can't wait to see. He held me on his knee. I remember

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-3 NIV

Jesus promised that:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with

for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night....So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled....Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." Genesis 28:16 NIV

Is your head as hard as mine sometimes? Does it sometimes take a boulder to fall on you before you realize what is going on around you? (My wife will have a hearty amen to this one!)

After selling our business last

He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112:7 NIV

Ever have any bad news in your life? If you have lived very long, of course you have. How do you handle bad news?

Bad news is something none of us can anticipate, and certainly not look forward to. The call that comes in the middle of the night is

For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care. Psalm 95:7 NIV

Imagine with me for a moment. (Come on....you can do it) Let me take you back a few centuries. Let's go back to a place and time where life was a bit slower.

David is watching over his sheep. It is pleasant outside. The stars are shining bright on

Then He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." Luke 8:48 NIV

The woman had been subject to years of bleeding; twelve years to be exact. She had given up all hope of being made well. Many had tried to heal her, so she must have been a woman of means. She had struggled with her illness in a land that was not accepting to

She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her. Genesis 23:2 NIV

Does it surprise you that Abraham would mourn for his wife Sarah? Of course not. If you have read the Bible very often, you know that Abraham and Sarah are one of the great Biblical couples who had a deep

He recognized it and said, "It is my son's robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces." Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. Genesis 37:3-4 NIV

Jacob assumed that his son Joseph was dead. We know how the story ends and that Joseph turns out okay and is later

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:4 NIV

When Nehemiah heard the status of the Jewish nation he sat down, wept, and mourned. Mourning was his natural response to observing the sin of his nation. If you continue to read Nehemiah chapter one you see

Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But King David mourned for his son every day. 2 Samuel 13:37 NIV

Mourning may be the proper response to a loved one who has gone astray. I often receive requests for prayer because someone's child is no longer walking close to the Lord. I have received countless requests from a

Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. Acts 8:2 NIV

One final thought on mourning. I hope you have seen that mourning was a Biblical term for the assigned period of healing of the heart after a serious set of circumstances. People mourned over the loss of a loved one, either to death or separation. They mourned over sin, both

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. Philippians 1:12 NIV

Paul was in prison. The Jewish leaders and Roman officials were probably having a good laugh at Paul's predicament. Paul had no freedom, according to the world. He had lost his worldly status and riches, and as far as those

As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Philippians 1:13 NIV

Everyone knew why Paul was in prison. No one walked around the prison thinking "I wonder what Paul's in here for?" Paul lived a life, even while in chains, that left no question about where his priorities

Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. Philippians 1:14 NIV

If other Christians had not seen Paul's courage in prison, they might not have spoken out for the gospel where they lived and worked. Isn't it motivating to see others living victoriously for

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important

And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. Philippians 1:18b-19 NIV

Paul rejoices because he knows Jesus is being lifted up through his trial! Now that is a proper Christian

Then He warned His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ. Matthew 16:20 NIV

Peter had just answered the most important question in the Bible. Jesus had asked "Who do you say I am?" Others had claimed that Jesus was John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets, but Peter boldly proclaimed that Jesus was the Christ, the

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all 2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV

Why do you serve Christ? Yesterday we examined why Jesus would ever tell the disciples not to tell someone He was the Christ. We saw it was out of a concern that people accept Him out of choice whether than out of a sense of persuasion. Today,

And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:15 NIV

Why do you serve Christ? Who are you trying to please with the way you live your life?

I must confess. There was a time when I enjoyed receiving recognition from my service for Christ. I was

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 2 Corinthians 5:16 NIV

If Christ died for us, and if we now live for Him, then our view of others has to change. No longer do we see people through the world's eyes, but since Christ now lives within us, we see others

Therefore, is anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Do you feel like a new creation today? Sometimes we don't. Circumstances of life sometimes try to cloud our view so that we won't recognize the awesomeness of being a new creation. Yet, God's Word is true! If you are in Christ, then