Memorial Service For
Cecelia Holland Morrell
April 27, 2007
(55 year old Christian lady)
John 14:1-6
14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 "In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
4 "And where I go you know, and the way you know."
5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?"
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Revelation 14:13
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: ’Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."
We have gathered here this afternoon to CELEBRATE the home going of Cecelia Holland Morrell.
Each one in this place has special Memories of Cecelia…and that’s good.
An old Gospel Song says:
“Precious memories, unseen angels,
Sent from somewhere to my soul;
How they linger, ever near me,
And the sacred past unfold.
Precious memories, how they linger,
How they ever flood my soul.
In the stillness of the midnight,
Precious, sacred scenes UNFOLD.”
When I think of Cecelia… I remember a Lady who:
1. Loved God….she was a Christian and a Witness to her faith in God.
(And let me add….her faith WAS STRONG).
Several days ago when the doctors told Kevin,
Cecelia only had a few days to live, Kevin told
her and her reply was: “I’ll see you In Heaven.”
Cecelia had made preparations to MEET GOD.
Have you? Jesus said “I AM the way, the Truth,
and the Life, no man comes to the Father but by me.”(John 14:6)
2. She Loved Her Church…Berryhill Baptist was
indeed fortunate to have a member like her. For
many years Cecelia sang in this choir…she loved JOYFUL songs….Songs of Praise. Just think WHAT A SHOUTIN TIME IN GLORY Cecelia is having today. There in the presence of Jesus, along with all the Saints above, along with the Angels in Glory…they have gathered together
To Sing that CHORUS:
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive POWER, and RICHES, and WISDOM, and STRENGTH, and HONOR, and GLORY, and BLESSING.” (Revelation 5:12)
3. Loved Her Family….Kevin you were indeed blessed to have a wife like Cecelia. Kevin you told me that Cecelia is the one WHO LED you to the Lord…You were indeed doubly blessed to have a wife that cared about you Physically, but Spiritually as well.
Carly…(Cecelia’s daughter).
Your mother loved you so much and those
Grandchildren…they were the apple of her eye.
4. Loved Her Friends…she stood with her friends
through thick and thin. Many of you here today
could stand and testify that when you were down
Cecelia was there and lifted you up.
5. Loved LIFE AND made the most of every situation she FACED.
Even when she was FACED WITH Cancer….she was a fighter.
She battled Cancer with a fierce determination. She learned many lessons in the SCHOOL OF ADVERSITY.
Cecelia learned that CANCER is so limited:
-“IT CANNOT CRIPPLE LOVE
-IT CANNOT SHATTER HOPE
-IT CANNOT CORRODE FAITH
-IT CANNOT DESTROY CONFIDENCE
-IT CANNOT SHUT OUT MEMORIES
-IT CANNOT SILENCE COURAGE
-IT CANNOT INVADE THE SOUL
-IT CANNOT QUENCH THE SPIRIT
-IT CANNOT LESSEN THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION.”
FOLKS:
The promise of Scripture is that when a Child of God passes from this world below, they are WELCOMED into the world above...HEAVEN.
The bible says: “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8). That is, the moment a CHILD OF GOD dies….The SOUL goes immediately into the presence of God...
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PETER MARSHALL in one of his sermons told about a boy who had a TERMINAL ILLNESS.
“One night the boy was especially quiet and so his mother asked him what was BOTHERING HIM.
Mother, he said: WHAT IS IT LIKE TO DIE, does it hurt?
She was silent for a moment and then she said: “Son do you remember how you use to play so hard all day, that when night came you’d be too tired to undress and get into bed and that you would sometimes fall asleep on the couch in the den. And when you woke up in the morning you’d be surprised to find yourself in your own little bed, in your OWN ROOM. You were there because someone had LOVED YOU and taken care of you—YOUR FATHER had come and with his BIG STRONG ARMS he carried you into your own room and put you into your own bed.
The MOTHER went on to say: NOW DEATH IS LIKE THAT.
We just wake up some morning to find ourselves in ANOTHER ROOM…In our own room where we REALLY BELONG….BECAUSE THE LORD JESUS LOVED US SO MUCH…That’s He’s prepared a place for us, and HE WILL come and take us there.
FOLKS: Once they leave our presence, they enter into the PRESENCE OF GOD.”
FOLKS: This is the hope that sustains every Child of God.
That was Cecelia’s HOPE and now her REALITY.
On April 26th Cecelia heard the words of the Savior, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34)
Just think….of one day:
-“Stepping on shore and finding it heaven.
-Of taking hold of a hand and finding it God’s hand.
-Of breathing in NEW AIR and finding it HEAVENLY AIR.
-Of feeling invigorated and finding it IMMORTALITY.
-Of passing from storm and tempest
to perfect calm.
-Of waking up and finding that you’re HOME!”
Yes, my friends…April 26th was Cecelia’s Coronation Day.
MARY MASON wrote a poem called: “It’s Coronation Day”.
“The house (he/she) lived in seems so still;
The eyes no longer see;
The lips, half smiling, do not speak.
Is this finality?
Our hearts shout, “No! It’s not the end!
Her life has just begun!”
TODAY is Coronation Day:
For her, the victory’s won!
Already she has kissed her Lord
And loved ones gathered there;
She’d not return here if she could.
Swap heaven for despair?
Of course, we’ll miss her. Tears may fall,
But they’ll not be of grief.
We sorrow not as those who have
No hope; we have BELIEF!
The tomb is empty! Birds still sing!
Because Christ died, man lives.
Death does not mean finality;
The grave its triumph gives!
Her feet have touched a gloried shore;
Old things have passed away;
She’ll never taste of pain again—
It’s Coronation Day!”
I thank God for having known Cecelia Morrell as
a friend and for her love shown to me in so many
different ways.
May God bless Cecelia’s Memory and may her influence continue on…in the lives of all who knew her.
“The Lord Bless thee, and keep thee;
The Lord make his face shine upon thee;
And be gracious unto thee;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and
Give Thee PEACE.”
Amen
As Preached on April 27, 2007
By: Rev. W. Alan Beard
Senior Pastor
Berryhill Baptist Church
Charlotte, N.C.
