On behalf of Linda, Cindy, Lee, Lynn, Al, Laura and the whole extended _______ family.
Thank you.
Thank you for your prayerful support ... and for taking time this day ....to celebrate the life .... of ... Anne Mally ________.
Wife, Mother, Mother-in-law, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Great Great grandmother ... and to all ... friend.
And from what I have been told ... as a child growing up in the _______ household ... you were not going to get away with very much ... with Mom.
There was a television show in Cleveland Ohio ... that many of us watched... back in the 50's and 60's ......called Captain Penny.
And he would always end the show.... With these words:
"You can fool some of the people.... all of the time, ....and all of the people ... some of the time, ... (Slow) but you can't fool ... mom."
And that truth ... held true ... in the _______ household ... as well. (Pause)
Moments with mothers ... and with grandmothers.... Often become the foundation ...of memories ... that in turn ... become stories ... that are shared within the family... for many years.
And as Children ... I have found ... we relate....... to our mothers ...differently .... through the years.
Age 4, we say... "My mom.... She can do anything!"
Age 12, ... "Well ... Mom doesn't know....... Everything."
Age 14, ... "Mom doesn't know... Anything!"
Age 18, ... "Mom is out of step ... with the times."
Age 25, ... "Well, ... mom.... knows a few things."
Age 35, ...... "Before we decide to do that, ... let's get Mom's ...opinion."
Age 45, ...... "I wonder what mom would say ......about this?"
Age 65, .... "I wish I could talk ... with my mother." (Long Pause)
Mother and home ... when you mention one ... you just automatically ... think of the other.
And when most of us think of home ... we forget the troubles that may surround us ... and remember the sounds ... the sights ... and the smells ... of home.
Of screen doors banging ... in the summertime, ... the aroma of cookies or bread just out of the oven, ... or the smell ... of our favorite meal.
Home...... we enjoy ... a sense of acceptance there, of being loved. (Pause)
Few things are more powerful ... than the tears ....and the prayers ... of a mother.
Few things are more tender ...than a mother's hug ...or her compassionate touch.
Jesus encourages those who know who call themselves His followers ... to love one another.
To love on another ... as I have loved you.
And I have found that Christ like love for one another ... in the extended _______ family.
And I was honored ... to have been asked ... to be a part of this day.
To be here with you ... to celebrate a life ... well lived. (Pause)
Now ... Anne's presence in a room ... was always felt.
And I found ... that mom ... I always called Anne mom ... well she was always open and ready for a conversation ... and would openly share ... her life stories ... with others.
And she would strike up a conversation with anyone ... no one remained a stranger for long ... with mom.
And by the end of that conversation ... she almost always found ... that they were related ... or had a person ... or an event ... they held in common.
It was a gift ...a marvelously gift.
Mom ... cared deeply for every member ... of her family.
When she would speak of family ... it was much like opening a treasure chest ... with each of your individual names ... on a beautiful box ... within.
She would open your box ... and speak of wonderful memories ... and of glorious hopes ... for each of you.
She loved ... she loved each of you ... dearly.
She loved you with a deep abiding ... love.
The Scriptures speak of the importance of Love in our lives: Hear God's word... BIBLE "Faith, Hope and Love, ... But the greatest of these ... is Love." END (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Mom did not speak of her faith often, ... but her actions ... spoke volumes.
Both Anne and her husband Al were heavily involved at First Church Congregational ... and deeply moved by their spiritual experience ... with Koinonia.
For those who are not aware ... Koinonia is a group of Christians ... across numerous denominations ...that help others experience the Lordship and Love of Christ ... and to know ... his saving grace.
Shortly after their Koinonia ... they both became part of the Gideons.
You probably have encountered a Gideon Bible at a Hotel or Doctors office.
Yet annually ... the Gideons gave out literally thousands of pocket Bibles ... at the schools, to men and women in the armed service as well as the jails ... in Lake County alone. (Pause)
Beloved.... our life ....and our death .... Will leave an imprint.
An imprint ... on all those .... that we encounter.
On all those ... that God has placed ... in our lives.
Anne's life ....and her death .... Has left an imprint .... on everyone .... who had the honor ... and privilege ... to know her.
(Slow) I will miss her ... dearly. (Pause)
We need ...... to cherish those imprints ... to Cherish those memories.
Those imprints ... those memories ... that she has left on your heart ... and on mine.
Hold on to them ... And let the love that they contain ... move ... through your very being. (Pause)
We will all leave this side of eternity ... and those ... who are in Christ Jesus .... Are promised ... not only salvation ... but the crown of righteousness.
The Apostle Paul ... who wrote most of the letters found in the New Testament ... shared these words .... as he approached .... his coming ... death:
BIBLE "For I am already being poured out ... like a drink offering, ... and the time has come for my departure. ..... I have fought the good fight, .... I have finished the race, .... I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, .... which the Lord, .... the righteous Judge, .... will award to me on that day......and not only to me, .... but also, to all .... who have longed for his appearing." END (2 Timothy 4:6-8)
(Slow) Paul knew that he would soon be put to death for the faith... as he penned the words.........The time has come.... for my.... "departure."
And the time will come ... when ... each of us will be called ... for our departure.
The Greek word ....in this text that is translated "departure" .... was a term .... that was often used by ancient sailors.
It meant ...a time.... for the ... un-moring ...of a ship.
Paul was speaking of a ship .... that was about to depart.
A ship ... that would be unmored from the land ....and would be freed ......to set sail.
In Paul's lifetime .... when a ship would leave the harbor, .... Many would gather at the harbor side .... and they would watch the ship .... until it sailed over the horizon.
Have you ever done that ... stood near the waterfront ... as a ship ... sailed over the horizon?
And as the ship slips over the Horizon.... many on the shore .... would joyfully voice.... there she goes.
There she goes. (Long Pause)
Yet ...somewhere on the other side of the ocean, .... there is ... another harbor.
And as that ship appears .... on their horizon ...... you can hear them say, .... Here she comes...... Her she comes. (Pause)
Much like that ship, .... Anne too .... Has been Unmored from this side of eternity ... and set free.
Set free... from this earthly shore ... Freed to set sail.
And For those who are in Christ Jesus ... It is a glorious harbor.
A glorious harbor ... in the Spiritual realm ... that the Scriptures call heaven ... where we shall see our Lord ... Face to Face.
Her fleshly body kept slipping away .... until the time Came ... for this earthly life.... to give way .... for one .... on the other side of eternity.
For one ... in a new harbor.
The death of a loved one ... seems to bring to forefront ... the reality ... of our own mortality.
The truth is ... there is a glorious spiritual realm that surrounds us.
It incorporates and is more powerful then this 3-dimensional world ... that we live in.
The Kingdom of God is at hand ... it is right here in our midst ... and it is powerful.
And we were created ... to walk in both realms ... the 3-demensional ... as well as the spiritual.
We have a loving God ... who has not hidden the way to eternal life.
Jesus took on the sins of the world... on that cross on Calvary.
His flesh died ... he was laid in a tomb ... but on the third day ... that tomb was empty.
And He was raised from the dead.
The fact that Christ is risen ... may seem confusing to some ... and unbelievable ... to others.
It seems unbelievable ... yet the historical records tell us ... that over 500 men and women encountered ... the risen Lord.
Normally the truth can be found with the testimony of 2 or 3 witnesses.
In this case we have over 500 and it would take over 128 straight hours ... a little over 5 full days to just to hear a 15-minute testimony from those that witnessed the risen Lord.
The Lord is risen indeed ... Alleluia.
Beloved .... For a Christian, .... For those who know Jesus as Savior and Lord ... Leaving this side of eternity ... is entry.... into ... a new ... and glorious harbor.
Each of us....... (Point to Chest) ... live in these fleshly....... these earthly bodies.... That in time.... will wear out.
The time will come .... for this earthly life ......to give way.... for one .... on the other side of eternity.
Beloved ... we live in a broken world ... yet those who are in Christ ... are citizens ... not of this world ... but of a heavenly kingdom.
Our citizenship ... Our true home ... our eternal home... is in the spiritual realm ... in heaven.
The Scriptures are clear ... "We (The followers of Christ) are in the world ... but not of it" (John 17:16)
In this present body .... This fleshly body ... we are subject .... to all the sorrows ... and all the tears .... that life .... will ... throw our way.
Age, .... disappointments, ...... and infirmities ....... Will attack us.
(Point to Chest) ... And in time, ... this flesh .... this house of clay... will .... pass away.
Jesus shared this glorious Truth: BIBLE "I am the resurrection and the life. .... Those who believe in me, .... even though they die, .... will live, 26 ...... and everyone who lives and believes in me .... (Slow) will ... never die." END (John 11:25-26),
Christians .... do not die.
This flesh may die ... this flesh may turn to dust ....... but Jesus shares ... a glorious promise.
The Scriptures are clear...... crystal clear "Those who believe in me ...... (Slow) will never die." John 11:26,
Christians ....... followers of the Christ ....... do not die .... they simply change .... their residence.
They simply enter .... a new harbor... they set sail for ...home. (Pause)
After mom went to rehab, ... I would visit her, ... usually with Lee and the three of us would share communion together.
Then about two weeks before ... before passing, ... she recommitted her life to Jesus ... as many Christians do. If they have time.
Many of the family ... and friends of the family ...visited mom during Anne final weeks.
Yet be assured ... whenever you last saw or spoke to Mom ... it was the right time.
Her love for you was not contingent upon how often you visited or how often you called.
Her love for you was an abiding love an unending love which covered time and space.
Though it was difficult to see mom slipping away ... there was a peace in her last moments, .... and the presence of the Holy Spirit was among us ... as songs ... and prayers ... filled the room.
The room was filled with the peace that passes understanding ... which the scriptures share is available to all Christians.
The spiritual realm ... is filled ... with the peace and glory of God.
When the end seemed near ... and while everyone was praying ... I anointed mom with oil ... and sealed her as Christs own.
Then she took one more breath ... and entered the other side ... of eternity.
I thank my Lord ... for allowing Anne to be a part of my life.
Her life ... has left a mark of love on my heart ... that I will always Cherish.
The last movie that Lee and I took mom to see ...was the film ... I can only imagine.
The film is based on a song ... with the same title ...and speaks of when a Christian crosses over to the other side ... and first sees our Lord.
Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You Jesus
Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence
Or to my knees, will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
Mom needs to imagine know more ... for she has seen her Lord ... Face to face.
One day .... we will all unmoor or lines .... from this earthy harbor.
One day .... we will all finish this race .... called life. (Pause)
The best things we can do ... for ourselves, ... for our children .... our grandchildren .... our friends .... is for each of us .... to be personally right .... with God.
To walk in the way .... of the Lord.
To know him .... not only as Savior.... but as Lord... Lord of every aspect .... of your life.
Mom .......... you have left an imprint of love... on each of our hearts.
You have finished the race ... you have been unmoored from this side of eternity.
You have been set free ... to sail ... to sail ... home.
Amen & Amen!
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