To the One who commented today! I just want to say the GOD of this universe loves you with an undying love! My heart jumped out of chest for you and your grandson! I know what it is like-- for my Leah (age 7) is struggling too! I do have to say, that the loving prayers of my sisters-in-Christ have brought her comfort! I am seeing many more smiles on her face! Her smile blesses me so--- with her two front teeth missing! Her eyes even have their twinkle back. I will pray for you and your grandson. You are special, I can tell. I too talk to Kole. Not like I talk to God. I tell him about all those who loved him and about the job he has left us to do. I just want him to be proud of the way we are carrying on his legacy. I can remember one day when he was so sick, and his mom was carrying him to go upstairs---Kole looked at me with love and the most precious grin! He could really love! He could get annoyed as well, for he was very human. I loved watching him wrap his body around my parents in the most enveloping hug you can imagine. He always coupled it with a squeeze and a sparkling smile. All this love being a reflexion of his heavenly Father. Where did our family get this love? It was never sourced in us! We have just known a taste of God's love and it has flown through us. We have not always been perfect in our love. Perfect love can only be experienced in heaven in the presence of God. I know Kole is feasting on amazing, perfect, and mind boggling love. All his annoyance is gone! Kole would tell us to take God up on this love that God so freely offers! We are all invited and we are all the same in value! The difference between the one true God and any other religion represented in this world.......is the fact that "God so loved the world, He GAVE his only Son". God sacrifices for us! Other religions asks for us to sacrifice ourselves or earn our way through good works. Other religions lead its followers to never be sure that they have done enough to earn heaven. God sacrificed His life, while we were yet sinners. Jesus earned it and we just accept it and receive forgiveness and heaven. He never asks for us to earn His love and forgiveness. He never asks for us to die on any type of our "own" cross for Him. He, in fact, tells us to get down from "our cross" (or attempts to pay for or earn His love) for He took our place. What He did for us was enough and complete. We are free and we do not have to add a drop of our own blood/sacrifice more. His blood is all we need! Kole did not sacrifice in dying young. He gained! It takes faith to believe that God loved Kole completely and fully in taking him to heaven at six years and two days. The enemy tells us Kole sacrificed his life in his death from terminal brain cancer. God was with Kole every step of the way. He was surrounded by love and I am positive that there were a host of heavenly angels ministering to his every need! God never turned His back on Kole, like He did to His one and only Son. He was forced to turn His back on Jesus when He became contaminated by the sins of the entire world! We all die, but not for our sins! Unless we choose to pay for them ourselves, instead of allowing God to do it for us! God died for Kole, now Kole truly lives. We cannot pay for ourselves and get to dwell in God's presence forever. If we attempt to live without Him in this world and pay without Him, than we choose to live without Him for all eternity. Living without God is darkness and emptiness! We are living without Kole and still have the light of Christ! Kole was a huge blessing and was our beloved boy, but he was never the source of our light and our love. God is calling us to His light! He calls us through our blinding tears as He leads us to Himself and to His hope. Sometimes, He blinds us with our tears, so that we can hear His call. I believe He is calling---Kole would say "go"! Kole would want all who loved him to be near him for all our eternal future. But most of all, he would want to share his treasure--being his Lord and your Lord. I cannot tell you the joy we feel, as a family, when you out there join the body of Christ with us! It wipes away our tears of sadness and loss and brings tears of joy and great gain. We cheer for you out there and value you all! Just as you have valued us and our Kole! We are all a product of our valued God, who values us with undying love.
Jodi
posted by Kole's family @ 12:54 PM
27 comments
27 Comments:
Thank you so much for your kind words and prayers. I am uplifted EVERY time I read the Blog and remember Kole and the affect he has made on my life alone. I can't even imagine how he touched all the lives of the people who attended the funeral. I now value my grandchildren even more than before. One never knows when we will be called home and our mission is done on this earth. We talk about Kole every time we see each other. I have learned the joys of spending time with my granchildren and to try to make every moment a memory. I again Thank GOD and your family for becoming a part of my life. You are all so precious and good and at times I don't feel worthy enough to know such wonderful, Christian people. May God keep blessing your family richly and please keep up the Awesome Testimony. I thank you for your prayers. Sincerely, MOM P
We continue to pray the God will comfort those who are grieving.
We thank you for taking time to update us on your journey!
We have all been touched in some way by Kole and his family. They have become our family, as we care about them as we do our own. We pray and continually pray for the family.
We thank God for the precious life of his son, Kole....
Yes, Kole did gain. I guess we feel that we, however lost.
How selfish of me to not be simply overjoyed that Kole is with his Heavenly Father for eternity!
Our prayers ask God for understanding and comfort. We pray that the Keller family is surrounded by God's loving embrace.
God bless you and your family.
Thinking about and praying for all of you today
Psalm 103
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord;with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
6 The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.
7 He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.
10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. 12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.
15 Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. 16 The wind blows, and we are gone—as though we had never been here.
17 But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children 18 of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!
19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.
Father, in this time of living without Kole's physical presence and having unanswered questions, help us all be reminded of life's brevity and the value of serving you. Remind us of your goodness, draw us back into your throne room such that we can feel your presence and eat at your table. Rouse our spirits, stir our hearts, help us see the bigger needs of this world and how you are calling each one of us to make a difference in our time for your sake...just as Kole did. Help us be motivated not only for the benefits you offer both temporal and eternal, but by an appropriate fear, respect, awe of your incomprehensible power, perspective and timelessness. Amen.
Kellers-
Just want you to know you are still in our prayers....Judahs and Elles dedication was awesome!! You guys are so beautiful!!!! God bless you!!!!!
Hi guys,
First, please know that we’re praying for y’all each day. Kole has been a blessing to us as we’ve followed his--and your--journey.
Normally, I keep my posts on topic, but there is something I couldn't ignore from your latest post.
First, I’m confused on your comment about Jesus saying we need to get down from our “own cross,” as no such words are in the Bible. He calls us to forsake everything and follow Him. We can’t earn a thing, but you can bet He requires everything from us as His followers. It’s Him working in us, but we need to be an empty vessel and submitted to Him. It’s Him that produces anything good in us.
I want to comment on what you said about God not wanting us to sacrifice for Him. He calls us to give up EVERYTHING to follow Him and it’s a must, not a suggestion. Anything less and we cannot be His disciple. This is the norm for a blood washed, born-again believer, as it was for the early church; though very sadly not the norm for the American sleeping church. See Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Really consider these words. Our life is not our own. We have a Master and we’re His slaves to be used according to His purpose. Remember Jesus taking up the cross meant to go to His place of death, to give up all and surrender His life. We are to die to the flesh and live for Him no matter the cost. We need to die to everything flesh that’s not of God. We are to follow Him as a sold-out, on fire, lover of God that only seeks to please Him. He told US to make every effort to take the narrow road (Matt 7:13). This isn’t about works; it’s about following Jesus and abiding in the vine, submitting your life to Him and our sole purpose for being here—GLORIFYING GOD. It’s not about us, what we want, our goals and desires. In fact, if that is what it’s about for us, we need to re-evaluate who our god is and realize that we’re being lead by the flesh. It’s about Jesus and reaching the lost both outside the church and inside. Jesus Himself said if we don’t abide (remain) in Him, we wither, are thrown in the fire and burned. Some say this is talking about false converts, but consider this: you cannot be “in Him,” getting nourishment from His very lifeblood unless you are a legitimate part of His vine. When and if we decide to be choked by the cares of this world and put anything above Him, we start to pull away from Him and before long, we’ve withered and if we continue in this pattern, we’ll no longer have the Lord or our salvation until we repent.
Our precious brothers and sisters that are dying, suffering and being murdered daily--at this moment--for their faith know the cost and will tell you that the American Church needs to learn what following Jesus is all about--it's giving up everything we desire to follow Him NO MATTER WHAT. In fact, America is considered a mission field by our brothers and sisters in other countries, as the American church as a whole is so corrupt and ungodly. We’ve forsaken our first love by putting everything before God and justifying ourselves. Jesus spoke plainly about this in Revelation 2. You’ll also notice there that the church hated sin, had good deeds and so forth, yet Jesus rebuked them and gave them a stern and serious warning. Following Jesus has a cost. For those in other countries the cost is obvious and for those here, it’s not. Why? Because our message has lulled the church to sleep. The message is wrong. It requires little sacrifice, life change, denying fleshly lusts and the church allows immorality in its midst without a second through. What is the American church told? Just say a prayer, believe and you’re in no matter if you return to the mud or whether you remain in Christ. This is not the message of the Bible, but it is the message of the church. It’s no wonder many of our churches are dead and God has departed. Rather than the church changing the world, the world has changed the church.
Yes, being saved just requires our faith and repentance, but one cannot get to heaven unless they abide in Christ and many don’t. Many get choked by the cares of this world (read the parable of the sower) and are unfruitful. For so many proclaiming the name of Jesus have never died to themselves and certainly don’t follow Him. For many years I was one of them and it grieves me to have wasted that part of my life.
I would suggest a book called “How Saved are We” by Dr. Michael Brown. It’s a rude, rude awakening for the luxurious American church and any other church that bears rotten fruit. It’s a message we all very much need to hear. His website is here: http://www.icnministries.org/
There is so much that I would love to include in this post, but I didn’t want to make this into a novel, though I guess I did anyway LOL. I was very vague and I apologize, but I would love to talk more about this if you wish.
Dear Luke 9:23,
Thank you for your thoughts as I think you touch on some very significant realities regarding the American church as a whole; in general the American church is missing His point and not pursuing a true reflection of and sacrificial life in Christ. To your point, unfortunately America has become one of the leading targets for missionaries from other countries because of our state of being lost. Your message is one the church, us individuals, and our children need to hear and absorb, so thank you.
I would say though that it is important to recognize the validity and need for Jodi’s points as well as yours as we consider the full picture of our God in the areas of salvation/love/forgiveness.
As I read Jodi’s previous post, I see it from the perspective shown in Romans 3-5. With the same validity, I see your points from the perspective in Romans 6 and James; both are valid from their given perspectives.
As we consider God's salvation/love/forgiveness, we cannot earn it as Jodi was stating, it is only by grace; a gift given by the Father through the Son (the prodigal son). At the same time as you state, if our salvation/love/forgiveness is genuine, our lives would/must reflect our commitment to Christ and if they do not, then actual salvation is suspect. To your point, this is where many “self-proclaimed Christians” are being lulled to sleep and will miss out on eternal life with Christ.
Christ does not ask us to die on a cross as Jodi stated as some sort of attempt to pay for salvation/love/forgiveness; that was done by Jesus on His cross and His alone. Any sacrifice a human makes will not earn them passage into heaven; entry is through Jesus alone fore He is the only way to the Father. As you state though, as a true follower of Jesus, each one of us is called to take up our own “cross” daily and follow Him, which symbolizes the sacrifice of our own vices/desires for those of Christ.
I could go on, but my point is that both perspectives are valid and are crucial to understanding our God. They go hand-in-hand, one without the other does not tell the full story of Christian salvation/love/forgiveness.
God Bless!!!
I will keep it simple...
My understanding from what was initally posted is that...
"the price was already paid"....
no need for us to do "penance" and pay for what was already done...therefore..."get down off our cross"...
No sacrifice is needed for salvation..."believe and receive"
Now, what is required of us as Christians after we have received our salvation is another story....we are definately held to a high accountability...
This is how I understood the initial "blog"...
We think of the Keller family and relatives often, and continue to pray for God's strength and peace.
I'd also like to comment on the one who commented as Luke 9:23: I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts, but I think that most of us who have followed Kole's blog for any length of time would take Jodi's comments regarding sacrifice and our cross in context. It is rather obvious from the testimonies and writings of this family that they have "their heads on straight" as far as sacrifice. An "easy believism" has never been a part of their mindset. Furthermore, I was a bit confused as to your comment that "we'll no longer have the Lord or our salvation until we repent." I believe the Bible is very clear that once we "have" the Lord, we cannot in any way lose Him or our salvation. Heb. 7:25 - saves "forever" and "always" lives. John 3:16 - "everlasting" life. Eph. 1:13 - sealed with the Holy Spirit. John 10:27-29 - "eternal" life, "no one will snatch them out of My hand." Phil. 1:6 - He finishes what He has started in us!
If the life that He has given us is temporary, then we never had it. If God doesn't keep you saved, who does? You? (Eph. 2:8-9).
I'm not suggesting that anyone who says a simple prayer and then never shows evidence of their salvation is a true believer. I'm suggesting that the person was never saved at all, as genuine salvation would produce fruit. But at the same time, this family has been such a testimony and God has used them through this very difficult time to be a witness to so many. I think it should be clear to those who have sought help here that God is able to save us from any sin and keep us saved despite any sin. Once we come to Him, accepting His sacrifice of His Son as our salvation, He holds us in His hand, and no one (not even We) can pluck us from His hand. This is an amazing thought and should sustain us in the hard times and strengthen us in the weak times.
May God continue to comfort and bless the Keller's and their loved ones.
Our purpose and focus on this blog is to follow the Keller's through a difficult journey, lifting them up as they experience the multitude of emotions that come along with loving and grieving.
We support them, although we cannot walk it for them, we walk it with them.
They have been and continue to be a support and literal life line to so many of us, because they have chosen to share the most intimate part of their lives with those of us they don't even know...believing that Christ will use them to minister to those in need...because HE loves us....and because they love us!!!
What a precious gift they have given us at a time they should be receiving!
This is good dialogue...
Although I appreciate the thought of not being able to lose your salvation, how does one explain Hebrews 6:4-6???
4 For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come—6 and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.
Hi Janni and Steve,
I think about you guys and pray for your families. Of course I think of Kole and how he made so many smile.Heaven got a little brighter with his warm smile.
Dear Ones,
Thanks so much for your uplifting testimonies. Our prayer is that God would continue to strengthen and encourage you.
In reference to the Hebrews 6 passage mentioned, since we know that Scripture does not contradict itself, we know this passage cannot refer to a true believer. I believe it refers to someone who has understood the gospel, has "tasted" but not "digested" what they have heard, have witnessed God's work, but not accepted it. Once the sacrifice of the Savior has been completely rejected, there is no more sacrifice for us. Christ was the ultimate, complete, once-for-all Sacrifice, just as Jodi was saying. If you believe the Hebrews passage is referring to a believer, then it would be saying that once you lose your salvation you cannot regain it. I don't know of anyone who believes that concept.
So, we accept Scripture as teaching that once a true believer, Christ keeps us--"eternally." What a comfort that Steve and Janni have assurance of Kole's presence with the Father, and the assurance they will see Kole again (soon,in light of eternity!), without the fear of "losing" that assurance! And, the thought of being assured of seeing Christ is tremendous!
Thank you again Jodi & Janni for your steadfast and strong testimonies! I'm sure one day you will hear "well done!"
God bless you through the weekend. You remain in our thoughts and prayers....
Steve/Janni/Elle/Jude/Jodi,
We are lifting all of you up in prayer today...hope to hear from you soon to better understand what areas of struggle you are facing such that our prayers can be more focused.
God bless you and your family as you go through this week.
I thought I had already posted this comment, so if it posts twice, please forgive me :).
I will reply to the comments ASAP. I don't want to rush through it and try to do it now.
I hope everyone is doing well!
Kellers, Jodi,
Thinking of and praying for you guys today. I'm sure these days continue to feel like the mud and mire.
On a more selfish note, I hope to hear from you soon (especially Janni) as this blog is my initial place to go when I am searching for something to pull me into thinking spiritually. It has been good for my spirit to be connected to you and God through this blog and I hope it does not fade away.
God's blessings and comfort be upon the Keller family this weekend...
Rather than leave a ridiculously long reply, I went ahead and posted it on my website. You can find it here: http://www.thebiblicalfamily.org/response.htm
Just thinking of you today Kellers and praying for your journey through this difficult time. May you be lifted out of the mud and the mire and once again draw near to God's voice.
Just wondering how everyone is doing. We continue to lift you up in prayer. You are in our thoughts as we go through our daily routines and work schedules.
During times of pain and suffering; in times of questioning and doubting our God; may we remember that God is God and we are not; we cannot even fathom the things of God. May we absorb that difference and the reality of our utter dependence. Because his nature is of love and not hatred, may we lay down our anger and selfishness and lack of understanding and choose to trust him.
Job 38
The Lord Challenges Job
1 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom
with such ignorant words?
3 Brace yourself like a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.
5 Who determined its dimensions
and stretched out the surveying line?
6 What supports its foundations,
and who laid its cornerstone
7 as the morning stars sang together
and all the angels[a] shouted for joy?
8 “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries
as it burst from the womb,
9 and as I clothed it with clouds
and wrapped it in thick darkness?
10 For I locked it behind barred gates,
limiting its shores.
11 I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come.
Here your proud waves must stop!’
12 “Have you ever commanded the morning to appear
and caused the dawn to rise in the east?
13 Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth,
to bring an end to the night’s wickedness?
14 As the light approaches,
the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal;
it is robed in brilliant colors.[b]
15 The light disturbs the wicked
and stops the arm that is raised in violence.
…
31 “Can you direct the movement of the stars—
binding the cluster of the Pleiades
or loosening the cords of Orion?
32 Can you direct the sequence of the seasons
or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens?
33 Do you know the laws of the universe?
Can you use them to regulate the earth?
34 “Can you shout to the clouds
and make it rain?
35 Can you make lightning appear
and cause it to strike as you direct?
36 Who gives intuition to the heart
and instinct to the mind?
Job 39
The Lord’s Challenge Continues
19 “Have you given the horse its strength
or clothed its neck with a flowing mane?
20 Did you give it the ability to leap like a locust?
Its majestic snorting is terrifying!
26 “Is it your wisdom that makes the hawk soar
and spread its wings toward the south?
27 Is it at your command that the eagle rises
to the heights to make its nest?
Job 40
1 Then the Lord said to Job,
2 “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?
You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”
Job Responds to the Lord
3 Then Job replied to the Lord,
4 “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers?
I will cover my mouth with my hand.
5 I have said too much already.
I have nothing more to say.”
The Lord Challenges Job Again
6 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
7 “Brace yourself like a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.
8 “Will you discredit my justice
and condemn me just to prove you are right?
9 Are you as strong as God?
Can you thunder with a voice like his?
10 All right, put on your glory and splendor,
your honor and majesty.
11 Give vent to your anger.
Let it overflow against the proud.
12 Humiliate the proud with a glance;
walk on the wicked where they stand.
13 Bury them in the dust.
Imprison them in the world of the dead.
14 Then even I would praise you,
for your own strength would save you.
Job 41
11 Who has given me anything that I need to pay back?
Everything under heaven is mine.
Job 42
Job Responds to the Lord
1 Then Job replied to the Lord:
2 “I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’
It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,
things far too wonderful for me.
4 You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!
I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.’
5 I had only heard about you before,
but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
6 I take back everything I said,
and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”
We continue to lift you up and will be praying for you this weekend.
Happy Father's Day Steve (Jr. & Sr.)!
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