Hope From The Scriptures

Opening Scripture

The Scriptures provide us with a sufficient source of enlightenment and encouragement.

The can bring both correction and comfort.

The Psalms are an especial rich source of comfort as nearly every emotion and every circumstance of life can be found there.

Here are just a few passages appropriate in times of grief, sorrow and loss.

In you O Lord I have taken refuge, let me never be ashamed. Incline you ear to me, rescue me, quickly. Be to me a rock of strength, a stronghold to save me. For you are my rock and my fortress -- you are my strength.

Be gracious to me O Lord, for I am in distress. My eye is wasted away from grief, my soul and my body also. My life is spent with sorrow and my years with sighing. But as for me I trust I You O Lord, I say You are my God. My times are in you hand.

How precious is your lovingkindness, O God, an the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. For with You is the fountain of life.

I waited patiently for the Lord and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.

Since I am afflicted and needy, let the Lord be mindful of me; Your are my deliverer; do not delay O my God. You are my refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me. Your righteous hand will save me. The Lord will accomplish what concerns me. Your lovingkindness O Lord is everlasting. Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Sing praise to the Lord, you His godly ones and give thanks to His holy name. Weeping may last for the night but joy come in the morning.

PRAYER

I pray for those suffering the emotional storm of grief and loss, confusion, anger, fear, anxiety stirred by the death of one so loved.

I pray for your divine comfort and the encouragemtn of the Scriptures for each family member and friend of Gloria today.

Pour out your peace on all her family and friends that share such fond memories of her place in their lives.

Draw us into a deeper experience with You that we may know the wonder of relationship with the Almighty and realize the hope that comes from knowing you.

EULOGY -- (Read separate sheet)

Video of remembrance

Remembrances of family and friends

WORDS OF COMFORT AND HOPE

Solomon encouraged periodic trips to the house of mourning.

For there he says,

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting,

Because that is the end of every man, and the living takes it to heart. Eccles. 7:2

It is good to remember that none of us escape the tragedy of death and loss and pain.

It is good to take the time to contemplate the meaning of life here and hereafter.

At such times as this, a myriad of questions rise to the forefront of our thinking.

None of them simple. Most of them complex.

Through God’s help and the truths found in the Scripture, we can courageously face many of these questions.

We can mange many of the mysteries surrounding death,

We can grapple with the guilt that sometimes grabs us and takes advantage of the moment.

We can handle the emotional heaviness that comes with suffering and loss.

It is my hope to offer some help in the few moments we have together today.

I. MANAGING THE MYSTERIES SURROUNDING DEATH with UNDERSTANDING

Some of the questions that arise at time like this may be answered from Scripture.

If we wonder why everyone must face death and suffering in general -- there is written Divine revelation to enlighten us.

Death entered human history when sin entered human history.

It is the consequence of disobedience laid out by the Creator from the beginning.

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned - Rom 5:12

Death was not in the original, ideal plan.

God created us with free choice.

Along with that privilege of choice came a corresponding responsibility to make the right choices and consequence for not doing so.

"The day you eat you will surely die."

Not only did Adam and Eve make a wrong choice, but man has chosen to disobey God ever since.

All have sinned and come short of God’s standard.

All of the evil and suffering in our world is the result of man’s wrong choies and in order to eradicate evil, God would have to eliminate free will.