We have come this morning to remember Mrs. Ruth Bishop. We have many sweet and precious memories to remember her by. Those memories we will never forget, but this afternoon I want to direct your attention toward some things she left behind, that are more powerful and more valuable than any last will and testament. Mrs. Ruth left a legacy of godliness and good Christian living that will never be forgotten.
You’ve heard that actions speak louder than words, well this afternoon we will examine her godly life because that is what will be remembered, and it will have a lasting affect on all of us.
Mrs. Ruth left a spiritual inheritance! It wasn’t written on paper or signed by a lawyer but it was much easier to read. It was her life.
Ruth Bishop left a spiritual inheritance to her church & city.
(2 Cor 3:6 KJV) Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament;
Ruth had this verse highlighted in pink.
Matt 5:13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt has lost it’s saltyness haow shall it be salted again?
An inheritance that says to be faithful to church. Every time the door are open!
The very morning she died she was getting ready for church.
will we read her last will and testament and understand what she left behind?
Will we pick up her joyful service and take up where she left off?
An inheritance that says to care for one another.
Comments to Pam Sweetest Nurse, shot never hurt, Dr. Marks always asked
She always worried about everyone. She really cared enough.
She cared enough to send cards to everyone in church.
Birthdays, hospital stays, sickness,
A few weeks ago in our Sun. evening service, after taking prayer request I noticed that she was writing them all down so I asked her to pray
That prayer list was still in her Bible – never threw away a card , like a visit
Carol Lampard, Ailene Hale, Gary & Dorothy Towns,
Ilene and George Harrison, Geneva Langston, Janet McNair -
Who will pray / care now?
A inheritance that says to minister to the children (in her S.S. class)
She taught the very young children with Mrs Clara
Karen told Pam – She was a guide, example to me.
A inheritance that says to selflessly serve Her Lord.
a. The Saturday before she died she brought food for the men working on the building as she did once or twice a week while we have been working on the building.
All of these make up a inheritance of godliness. A closeness to God that is seen in what she chose to do. We all have the same choices. Will we learn from her life?
Are you prepared? Are you willing to accept what she left for you? Salvation? Service?
In her Bible – actually this page fell out as I was flipping through it. A page with this verse underlined. 1 Peter 4:10 God has given each of you some special abilities: besure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings.
The church does not expect to receive any money from her actual physical will, but her spiritual will has allocated to us a huge sum of value. (Prov 31:10 KJV) Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. Because of Ruth Bishop, College Ave. Baptist Church and Clarksville Texas are much richer for having benefited from her life.
Ruth Bishop left a spiritual inheritance to her family.
Her reputation is something to strive for. You must follow in her footsteps.
Inside the cover of her Bible was written
“Handing down your faith to your children”
1.Teaching the Word of God
2. Pattern
3. Persistence
4. Participation
5. Positive Praise
6. Prayer
To her daughters - A inheritance that says
Stay close to the Lord. I overhead Lori say she just started a Bible study course, “Moma would be so proud of me.”
Stay in church. Both pastors were at the hospital.
Stay in ministry. Serve the Lord. SS, Music, touch others lives.
In her Bible I found this card and I am sure she would want you to remember this.- He Giveth More Grace
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater.
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase
To added affliction he addeth His mercy
To multiplied trials His multiplied peace
His Love has no limit, His grace has no measure;
His power has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
To everyone else in her family – A inheritance that says
Follow my footsteps and they will lead you to God.
As Jesus said “follow me and I will make you fishers of men” another underlined verse.
follow her forgiving spirit
follow her loving heart
follow her faithful service
In her Bible I found “Traits that lead to bitterness”
Anger
Suspicion
Fear
Separation
Plotting
Find your passion for God
Bro. Leslie said “she was so excited to see that new building finished”
She had a passion to see Gods work done - usually first to arrive to S.S.
Willing to serve
Claim ownership, leadership, responsibility
Ruth Bishop left a spiritual inheritance to Leslie.
Ruth left a storehouse of tremendous memories
Prov 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Prov 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Prov 31:12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Prov 31:13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Prov 31:14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
Prov 31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Prov 31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Prov 31:17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Prov 31:18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
Prov 31:19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
Prov 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Prov 31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Prov 31:22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Prov 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Prov 31:24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Prov 31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Prov 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Prov 31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Prov 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Prov 31:29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Prov 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Prov 31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
After a period of time these memories will sweeten everything you do.
These memories will add purpose to your life.
Purpose in your relationship to your grandchildren because you will see Ruth in them
Purpose in your relationship to your daughters, it will become sweeter
Purpose in your relationship with your Lord – she will comfort you through Him.
Ruth left a legacy of family and friends that will be your most valuable positions
Ruth left a promise of a wonderful future here and in heaven
Inheritance of strength – Poem through
Inheritance of a labor of love – church building
(2 Cor 5:1 KJV) For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
(2 Cor 5:2 KJV) For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
(2 Cor 5:3 KJV) If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
(2 Cor 5:4 KJV) For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
(2 Cor 5:5 KJV) Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
(2 Cor 5:6 KJV) Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord
(2 Cor 5:7 KJV) (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
(2 Cor 5:8 KJV) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Cathrine Marshall wrote the famous book and TV series “Christy” was married to an equally prominent pastor . In Catherine Marshall’s classic biography of her husband, she describes how the dark night of grief can be – and how bright the new dawn of faith. During the summer after Dr. Marshall’s death she returned to her cottage at Cape Cod, where everything from the boat in the yard to his old shoes under the bed spoke of him. Seeking the solace of the sea, she headed beachward that first tempestuous, lonely evening. As she gazed across the water, she suddenly remembered the last words she had spoken to him. The scene was etched clearly in her memory. Peter was lying on the strecher just inside the front door, waiting to be put in the ambulance. She leaned over him and whispered reassuringly. “Darling I will see you in the morning.”
Her last line was the best. “And I stood there looking out toward that far horizon, I knew that those words would go singing in my heart, down through all the years …’see you , darling in the morning…’
That is our wonderfully reassuring hope. When two Christians part they never say goodbye for the last time. We will have a glad reunion.
