Phil 1:3
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
Here, in this letter to the Philippians, Paul was writing from prison. It was around 61AD and Paul had been imprisoned. He is telling the people that he is thankful upon every remembrance of them. Remembrance is what I am going to write about today. I can talk about scripture and explain how Paul wrote this and he wrote that. I could explain how in Phil 1:3 he (Paul) was in prison in Rome and he was writing to the Philippians. I could explain how his memories were of them and how great he thought they were. However, I feel it is better to use today as an example. Memories of my oldest sister is what we have now. June 13th of 2003 she and my granddaughter were hit head on. My granddaughter is still with us today however, my sister went home to be with the Lord. It is her life and death that I am going to share here today.
Paul was thankful for the all that the Philippians had done for him. I am also thankful for all my sister did for me. Marianne was a great woman who had many struggles in her life and struggled even in her death. Paul was thankful upon every remembrance of the Philippians and I am thankful upon every remembrance of Marianne. It was how she lived her life that was a valued lesson for all. Through her life the love of God showed in what she did. Just as we are not perfect neither was she. Marianne was no different, she was not a saint nor was she free from sin. Today you will learn about a great woman who is loved and missed. You will learn of a death that was horrific, yet heroic. You will hear of sacrifice and suffering. You will see God in all His infinate wisdom and love. However, she, as we are, was forgiven. We all have free will and have to suffer the consequences of our choices.
Mariane came to earth in 1959 and lived a pretty normal life. She was a normal woman who did extraordinary things. Some of these things seemed to go unnoticed by many and mostly by her. She would give and give, she would do and do, and she would strive for more each day. Yes, she struggled with life, not being perfect yet she still pushed forward each new day. I am only going to touch on a few points of her life today as I do not want to write a entire book about her. In some ways her life was a true testimony to God and His love.
1 John 4:16
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Love was evident in Marianne because she allowed God to dwell in her. I can remember many times she would take the kids and do things with them. She would run around and pick them up for church on Sundays, she would take them out for dinner or to events. She would take the time out of her busy days to take care of elderly grandparents and was always eager to step up and do what anyone asked of her. She would always put other’s needs in front of her own. Even in her last days she was doing for another. But that is a story in itself.
In June of 2003 my sister, Marianne, went home to be with the Lord. It is the memories of who she is and what she did while here on earth for which I am greatful. The most important memory I have is how she loved. I know I keep saying that but it is important for the message. See the message is not just about memories, it is about what the memories are to those of us left on earth. As I remember my sister I can go to God’s word and find her over and over again. She loved as Christ commanded us to love.
In Matthew 22
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
She loved God first and foremost and then she, through that love, was able to love others as herself. Many times I would say she probably loved others more than herself. She did not have an easy life by any means. She faced many struggles and many defeats here on earth. She, however, used each struggle and each defeat to better her love for God and was able to show that love to others. She would take time out of her day to tend to the needs of others. Many times she would take time from work and go and take Grandpa to the doctor, she would go and pick up nieces, nephews, grandchildren or other kids and spend time with them. She would always find time to show others love even if it meant she had to postpone her own needs and wants. Love shows through serving others unselfishly and Marianne did that every day.
Even in her last hours here she was doing for others. She had left the day before to take her niece back home to Amarillo, Texas. This unselfish trip would be her last. The morning of the accident, they had left a hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico to finish the journey to Amarillo. It was then they were hit head on and the accident claimed my sister’s life here on earth. However, even though this was a sad day for our family, I can share some truly heroic memories. These are not a direct memory as I was not at the scene, but memories that were shared by others at the scene.
The accident was horrific, the car totaled and it would take probably 45 minutes to extricate the two of them from the wreckage. Even at this time Marianne was concerned with the child more than of herself. She lay trapped in the drivers seat of the car so badly injured that she would later lose her fight to stay here. She was trying to reach back to little Destiny in the back seat of the car, trying to see that she was okay and waited to hear that she was. I believe God sent his angels that morning. They tended to the physical and emotional needs. Little things, that most do not even think about, show that God sent His Angels and He was in control. Coincidences maybe, but very unlikely. One of the first two to arrive on scene was a dispatcher for the local 911 center and her passenger. They were on their way from work to go out of town. They could have gone a different route, however, they had been guided to take that route.
Just as they entered the freeway they saw the two cars involved in the accident and instinct took over. They called for help and then they did all they could to assist. They were trying to direct traffic and at the same time tend to the needs of those involved. One was holding little Destiny’s hand and brushing back Marianne’s hair, which may not seem like much. But, to Marianne, the comfort of knowing someone was there, and that they cared, was critical at that moment. The lady could have just waited and not reached out but she reached out instead. If you knew my sister you would be able to truly understand the significance of someone brushing back her hair with their hand. You would understand the significance of them saying to her that Destiny was okay and they would stay with her.
God knew what was happening. He knew what would be the outcome. He placed the people where He did and made sure that the plan was followed. He comforted a dying child of His, while at the same time protected a child not ready to come back home yet. There is no guess work with God. He knows all before we do. He knew we would suffer pain and loss, but He also knew that Marianne was ready to reap her rewards. She fought the good fight and was ready to receive her crown of righteousness.
2 Tim 4
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
See she had fought a good fight, both in life and in death. As she lay in a hospital bed being kept alive by machines she struggled. She fought and held on. God, again, gave her the time to do what needed to be done. Her family was not there, we were in Arizona and Texas. She had to wait for us to get there to say good-bye, and God allowed that to happen. He allowed us all to arrive and to be by her side. She fought to stay here, she was torn I know. She wanted to be with the Lord but knew it was better for us to have her here. God tried to prepare us for the final moments. He gave us time to gather and gave us time to prepare.
Phil 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
It was her time to come home. After the family all arrived, and she knew Destiny was going to be okay, then she was able to let go, she was able to be at peace. Fortunately, Marianne did not die, she moved onto a better place. This was the second death, not the first. She had already allowed the old self to die and she was reborn of the spirit, thus she did not suffer. Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
And since it was her time to go to the Father, she went to take her place upon in the throne with Jesus.
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
It came to pass that she would have to leave the body and to take her place in the throne. Yes, we wanted her to stay, yes, we did not want to have to see her depart from us. However, the time had come and she would depart from us. We have memories that can never be taken from us, we will have her always with us. She has not gone far, she is barely out of site. She remains alive in our hearts and minds always and forever. She will not come back to us but we will go to her someday.
II Samuel 12:23
But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
Pastor David Azbell
12/12/04
