abigya
Member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2006
- Messages
- 1,085
In memory...
by Chip Brogden
Dear ,
I have just received word that Bibi Godschalk, our sister in Christ from the Netherlands, went peacefully to be with the Lord yesterday afternoon after an extended illness. Bibi volunteered much of her remaining time in this world to the translation of my writings into the Dutch language, and she did so with diligence, faithfulness, and excellence.
Bibi and I occasionally spoke on the telephone. A couple of years ago she asked me to write a few words to be recited at her funeral, knowing it would be sooner rather than later. I was honored and humbled by this request. In her memory, I would like to share these words with you as well.
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Some problems are so great that they can only be solved through death and resurrection. The Bible says that Jesus must increase, but we must decrease. Those who understand this have no fear of evil, even when they walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Why? Because they know that death is simply part of decreasing, so that Christ may increase. Death is not the end of life, but the beginning of life.
Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains alone, but if it dies it brings forth much fruit. Likewise, when we lose our life we find our life, and we discover that with every decreasing of self there is an increasing of Christ to take its place. And so a disciple of Jesus accepts the decreasing, knowing that "these light afflictions, which are but for a moment, are working in us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."
He must increase, but we must decrease. It MUST be so, therefore it IS so. How hard for us to understand now, but when we embrace the decreasing of death and pass through to the increasing of Christ, there with Him on resurrection ground, we see that what we have lost is insignificant compared to all we have found: for to live, is Christ, and to die is gain.
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Thank you, Bibi, for your testimony and service to the Lord Jesus. I look forward to meeting you in the Kingdom of God.
by Chip Brogden
Dear ,
I have just received word that Bibi Godschalk, our sister in Christ from the Netherlands, went peacefully to be with the Lord yesterday afternoon after an extended illness. Bibi volunteered much of her remaining time in this world to the translation of my writings into the Dutch language, and she did so with diligence, faithfulness, and excellence.
Bibi and I occasionally spoke on the telephone. A couple of years ago she asked me to write a few words to be recited at her funeral, knowing it would be sooner rather than later. I was honored and humbled by this request. In her memory, I would like to share these words with you as well.
---
Some problems are so great that they can only be solved through death and resurrection. The Bible says that Jesus must increase, but we must decrease. Those who understand this have no fear of evil, even when they walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Why? Because they know that death is simply part of decreasing, so that Christ may increase. Death is not the end of life, but the beginning of life.
Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains alone, but if it dies it brings forth much fruit. Likewise, when we lose our life we find our life, and we discover that with every decreasing of self there is an increasing of Christ to take its place. And so a disciple of Jesus accepts the decreasing, knowing that "these light afflictions, which are but for a moment, are working in us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."
He must increase, but we must decrease. It MUST be so, therefore it IS so. How hard for us to understand now, but when we embrace the decreasing of death and pass through to the increasing of Christ, there with Him on resurrection ground, we see that what we have lost is insignificant compared to all we have found: for to live, is Christ, and to die is gain.
---
Thank you, Bibi, for your testimony and service to the Lord Jesus. I look forward to meeting you in the Kingdom of God.
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