Memorial for Barbara Elliott

``Just hours before he'd be crucified, he was talking to his disciples, and he had told them what was gonna happen. And they were sad, and they were worried, and they didn't know what was gonna happen to comfort them. He said, 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'm 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 may be where I am. [01:30:40] (47 seconds)  #TrustHisPromise

Apostle Peter wrote a letter to some Christians who are having some very difficult times. Many of them had lost everything just for their faith in Jesus Christ. And he wrote in this letter we call first Peter. He said, praise be to the god and father of our lord Jesus Christ. In his great mercy, he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, that can never spoil, it will never fade because it's kept in heaven for you. [01:20:27] (45 seconds)  #LivingHopeFromGod

As apostle Paul proclaimed, he said, the most beautiful word of all of scripture, it's grace. The most beautiful word that simply means it's unearned, unearned favor by God. He said to the Ephesian church, for by grace, you have been saved through faith and not of yourselves. You can't light enough candles. You can't say enough prayers, he said, because it is a gift of God, not of the works that we do, that we should not be able to boast. Our boasting is of the gift that God has given us. [01:24:47] (42 seconds)  #SavedByGrace

And then three years later, this John the apostle was an eyewitness to the cruelty and the viciousness of a Roman crucifixion, And it was that same Jesus on that cross who willingly, purposely, and is determined in the ages past, died for the sins of the whole world. But for John, that was not the end of it. It was just the beginning. As he witnessed that Roman soldier take a spear and drive it up through the side of Jesus into his heart to ensure that he was dead, the same John along with at least 500 people saw this same Jesus alive. [01:26:33] (43 seconds)  #SawJesusAlive

And now for her, there's no more tears and no more sorrow, just everlasting joy. If there's one thing she's hoping for up in heaven right now longing with the deepest of what heart she has is that everyone in this room would trust Jesus, that she could be reunited once again with all of us in his holy presence. But until that day, as we walk in this fallen world with all the trials and tribulations, the troubles that we see, a world that seems out of control, may we all be able to say, it is well it is well with my soul. [01:31:53] (53 seconds)  #ItIsWellWithMySoul

And I just love the way Peter phrase it, a living hope. Now I put my hope in a lot of things. I keep hoping the Sacramento Kings are gonna have a winning season. It ain't working out. I keep hoping I'm gonna win the lottery. That ain't gonna work out because I don't even play the lottery. But that living hope in the original language is much more expressive than just saying living hope. It's not the kind of hope that I'm oh, I hope I get that job. I hope I get that car. Oh, I hope I get another guitar. But it's a hope in the original Greek, something that is active and certain. [01:21:11] (43 seconds)  #CertainLivingHope

And the apostle Paul, he was given a gift at one time. They were God opened up the heavens for him to let him see what heaven would be like. And he came back, and he was so excited trying to explain to this church in Corinth, you guys have no idea what's waiting for you. He said, there is no eye has ever seen what's there. No ear has ever heard nor has it even entered the hearts of man. You can't even think how glorious it's gonna be. He said the things which God has prepared for those who love him. [01:22:48] (37 seconds)  #HeavenBeyondWords

But Barbara being welcomed to heaven was not based in upon her being such a great wife or a great mother, a great grandmother, and being giving to so many. But it's much deeper than that and much simpler than that because it's because she loved Jesus as her lord and savior. That's it. Period. The bible teaches we cannot do enough. [01:23:45] (29 seconds)  #SavedByFaith