"Teach Us To Number Our Days" Series

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris

Friendship Baptist Church

Anniston Alabama

29 September 2006

Funeral Services for Lynnette Ashley Grant

BIG IDEA: BECAUSE LIFE IS SHORT, WE NEED TO NUMBER OUR DAYS BY TAKING OUR FAITH SERIOUS.

REFERENCES: Ec.1:4 (One generation goes its way, the next one arrives, but nothing changes - it’s business as usual for old planet earth – MSG); Psalm 90:12-17; Psalm 90:12 (So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. );Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 (Everything has its time: To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven; A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted); Job 14:1 (Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble); Job 2:9 (Mrs. Job’s dealing with the loss of 7 boys and 3 girls; and what looked like the imminent death HER HUSBAND – JOB); Psalm 90:10 (The length of our days is seventy years-- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away);

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: PSALM 90:12

II. READ THE PERICOPE: PSALM 90:12

III. READ THE TEXT: PSALM 90:12 ( So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. – KJV)

IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the grieving parents and family to affirm to others that LIFE IS SHORT, AND WE NEED TO NUMBER OUR DAYS BY TAKING OUR FAITH SERIOUS.

V. SERMONIC THEME: “TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS”

INTRODUCTION:

I have said it in private, … and now … I’ll say it publicly … Deacon Roy and Minister Bert Grant … I can’t possibly imagine how your hearts must feel … AT SUCH A TIME AS THIS … ! But, if it’s any consolation, … please know … you’ve done well.

God is pleased with the young lady that Lynette Ashley Grant became.

The fearless take charge leader with the forever present smile. The basketball player - with the non-stop energy that seemily ALWAYS rose for the competitive occasions as she proudly wore number 23 .

**********TAKE 5 BEATS***************

MOVE 1: Whether it was basketball or volleyball; Lynnette could always be found putting her best foot forward.

a. And her best foot forward was usually ENOUGH to win!

b. For you see there is no limit to what our children can accomplish, when they know that their parents are always pulling for them.

c. Lynnette knew that her two greatest fans were within her reach. She knew her dad and mom were either present or on their way to her game.

d. And believe it or not;

e. even though she would be obviously following her coaches game plan – ironically, whenever Roy hollered-out instructions for her (from the fan bleachers);

f. she always responded accordingly. Deacon Roy … God Bless you! You’re the MVP Coach!

***********TAKE 5 BEATS**********

MOVE 2: Bert, my images of you and Lynnette finds Lynnette sitting between your legs, as you guys watched the boys or girls junior varsity play basketball.

a. Or perhaps, it was seeing Lynnette, hugging on you after church.

b. Everyone knew that you guys were buds!

c. The loving friendship NETTI openly displayed towards you (and you towards her) was one of a kind!

d. The letter that you and Roy received on last evening (at the WAKE) for the first time from one of NETTI’s professors is just another example of how unique your relationship with one another were.

e. My wife, Dedra, an educator by trade … says it best when she said (and I quote): “It’s not normal for a teenage girl to have such an awesome relationship with her mother; because usually that’s where the friction lies.

f. God bless you, Minister Grant, NETTI loved her MVP Mom!

***********TAKE 5 BEATS***********

MOVE 3: My brothers and sisters …Life is precious; Life is sweet; Life is Short;

a. It has been said that the phrase “life span” refers to a period or length of time … in which … an individual lived.

b. According to the “United States Decennial Life Table” … the average “Life Span” for males in the State of Alabama is 69.59 years of age; while the average “Life Span” for a female in the State of Alabama is 77.61 years of age.

c. The Bible says, … in Psalm 90:10, … The length of our days is seventy years … -- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

d. NETTI, as her mother affectionately called her was 18 years of age.

***********TAKE 5 BEATS************