On behalf of the family of ________…thank everyone for being here. Though today is a difficult day for Clayton, family and friends, the Bible makes this promise:
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, very present help in trouble… ************************************************
Even in our most difficult times God is always there because He loves us unconditionally.
Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Let Pray:
Dear heavenly Father, we gather here today to remember the life of ___________.
We also gather to celebrate the life that she enjoyed here on earth…Father thank you for each memory that she left with her husband Clayton and her family and friends.
Her life has touched many …in many different ways.
We ask now that you comfort each one today…bless this gathering in remembrance of Rosie and Lord in the name of Jesus we pray that your peace and presence will be upon us during this time and we pray this in His Holy and precious name, Amen
*****Opening song*****
Family, Friends testimony
At this time I’d like to ask anyone that would like to share something from the life of Rosie you may come forward or you can stand where you are ….you may do so at this time.
Message
As we gather here this morning to remember Rosie and how she touched peoples lives.
I’m sure there are mixed emotions this morning.
On one hand there is sadness…not for Rosie …because she is in a far better place…but sadness because the loss of a loved one…..a good friend…a sister…a wife …best friend and companion.
But on the other hand, there is great joy because of the relationship that Rosie had with the Lord Jesus and that she has already been in His presence.
Because the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:6
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
*****And for the believer folks.. there is no greater joy than to be in the presence of the One that loves them like no one else can…..Bible says: nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
**************The Bible also says….
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) ….We walk by faith…..just what is faith?
….Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God
I ask Rosie about her faith years ago when I visited Clayton in the hospital. She assured me then that her faith was in the Lord Jesus.
Clayton also told me the other day that Rosie read her Bible every day for the past few years.
So what did reading the Bible do for ________?
***Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God….
1. God speaks to us through His word….that’s why it’s called a personal relationship….it’s one on one with God…its one on one with our Saviour.
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Our faith comes by trusting in Jesus as our Saviour…..and our faith and trust in Him becomes stronger and stronger as we hear and read His word…
****It doesn’t mean that we are saved anymore if we read and hear Gods word everyday but,
it does mean that those promises He made us becomes more of a reality in this life and we become more confident in His word.
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Bible also says that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
In other words…We hold on to those promises because of our faith….we have the evidence of those promises in God’s word.
We know that Rosie was a Registered Nurse and being in the profession she had to put a lot of trust in the Doctors and research in the 5 years of her battle.
But, it’s evident that over time she put more and more trust in God and His promises each day as she read His word.
***God’s word builds spiritual muscles so to speak …the more we read Gods word..the more courage we have to face the troubles of this world…even death….
Kay told me just the other day that Rosie was not afraid to face death…why?...because she knew she wasn’t going to face it alone….and being a Nurse…Rosie knew what the results of her sickness would be over time….
But she put her trust and her eternal future in the hands of the Saviour.
Psalm 56: I will trust in thee. 4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
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***God’s word comforts us in any situation…gives us assurance and a blanket of security and gives us a glance of the reality of what life is really all about.
*** Gods word always leads us to Jesus…
Life is about a relationship with our creator….but mankind sinful nature got in the way right from the beginning with Adam and Eve ….and things haven’t changed…Gods word say “for all have sinned and come short of His glory...
Mankind’s relationship with God was destroyed because of sin and we were given the death sentence.
***So God came to this earth as a man called Jesus and mended that relationship once again by His death on the cross and paid the price of our sins… For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life
Rosie put her trust in Jesus and the promises He made in His word…
Those promises of forgiveness of sins and a mended relationship with God through Jesus Christ and His promise of an eternal home with Him.
*** Gods promises….Rosie _______is living today….Rosie is not dead….Oh No…she has only gone ahead …ahead of those who are left here.. that put their trust in the Lord.
***Rosie is more alive today than ever because …faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
***When we hear or read the promises in God’s word….we just can’t comprehend or even imagine what is in store for those who belong to Him….as a matter of fact…the Bible says we can’t in ….
2 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him
Those promises Jesus made is as fresh today as it was when He spoke them…
********Let just imagine for a moment the day Rosie could have read one of Gods greatest promises as the Holy Spirit directed her to open her Bible one day to John chapter 14 and verse 1 and God began to speak to her….saying Rosie…
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: (And Listen Rosie) 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Don’t you know that Rosie’s heart was filled with joy and peace …that peace the Bible say surpasses all understanding…
****************************POEM****************************************
It’s hard not to grieve the loss of a love one….but, I can assure you on the authority of the word of God that Rosie has no more pain…..no more sorrow…
Because Gods Holy Angels escorted Rosie to her heavenly mansion Thursday, July 18. 2013…the promises that God made to all of His children …Rosie Staples is living today.
Rosie put her trust in Jesus…because she found that when there is nothing left but God …God is all you need.
***Who will you turn to when death knocks at your door? With all of man’s knowledge….with all of man’s technology…..he cannot defeat death….
Bible says in Hebrews ….it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment
But, the Bible also says in Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
You can have that same assurance that Rosie had by asking Jesus into your life.….
…..They are going to play the last song in a moment called “I Can Only Imagine”
Folks..we can’t imagine spending an eternity of pain and torment. The worst thing.. Being separated from God…but that’s what happens without Jesus.
I had rather try to imagine how assume Heaven is… than how terrible Hell is going to be.
But, that’s the 2 choices we have in this life….If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your Saviour…do it right now….
I’ll will pray with you while the song plays or you may see me after the service…and you to can have that assurance of life everlasting through Jesus Christ…..don’t put it off…because someday it will be too late.
We have the evident in God’s word and have the promises of life eternal….. Time is running out in this world…ask Him into your heart today.
**************SONG******************** Only Imagine
Once again on behalf of the family…thank you for being here…and my condolences to Clayton and all of Rosie’s family.
If all hearts are clear…I will dismiss in a closing prayer….all hearts clear?
CLOSING PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you once again for the life and memories of Rosie Staples.
Thank you to those that cared for her and give her comfort during her sickness.
Father we thank you for the family and friends today that come in support with love in their heart for Rosie.
Bless my brother Clayton and give him strength in his days ahead in his loss of his wife…his friend and companion.
Father give him comfort him with the assurance that he will see her again.
Lord we thank you most of all that she is living all the promises you have made in your word….no more pain and sorrow because death has been defeated by you.
Thank you for each and every promise you made and we will give you honor and glory and praise in the name of Jesus Christ …amen
********************************Poem*****
If tomorrow starts without me,
And I’m not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn’t cry
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
We didn’t get to say.
I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you’ll miss me too;
But if tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand,
And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I’d have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.
I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared,
And all the fun we had..
But when I walked through heaven’s gates, I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me, from His great golden throne,
He said "This is eternity,
And all I’ve promised you."
Today for life on earth is past,
But here it starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last,
And since each day’s the same way
There’s no longing for the past.
So if tomorrow starts without me,
Don’t think we’re far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I’m right here, in your heart.
Love in Christ Jesus, Ronnie Miller www.themillersbiblestudy.com
