"Until the Resurrection" are the words I want engraved on my grave stone. I want to remind my family, friends, and any stranger walking by, the resurrection is my ultimate hope. I want to show my hope in God's promises both in life and death.

It is because of God's love for us that Jesus Christ died for each of us. God gave me the faith to believe and blessed me with hope.

We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:3

My hope is in God's promises. He is with me every day, good times and bad. Paul reminds us

And we know that all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose
Romans 8:28.

The hope I have in Jesus Christ, fills me with peace and joy.

We wait in hope for the LORD;
    he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
    for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love be with us, LORD,
    even as we put our hope in you.
Psalm 33:20-22

Another child of God passed away a short time ago. Her name is Magdalena Schotten. I did not get to know her except a brief encounter through electronic communication. I knew her as an artist who allowed me to use some of her work on the website. Magdalena was a daughter, wife, mother and friend to others. She will be missed. I look forward in hope to meeting and getting to know Magdalena, along with the many other children of God whom I have never met and seeing family and friends again.

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. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
Revelation 21:4

I look forward to that day. I hope you do too. What joy there will be!

Until the resurrection!