U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Friendship Baptist Church
Anniston Alabama
29 September 2006
Funeral Services for Lynnette Ashley Grant
BIG IDEA: BECAUSE LIFE IS SHORT, WE NEED TO NUMBER OUR DAYS BY TAKING OUR FAITH SERIOUS.
REFERENCES: Ec.1:4 (One generation goes its way, the next one arrives, but nothing changes - it’s business as usual for old planet earth – MSG); Psalm 90:12-17; Psalm 90:12 (So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. );Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 (Everything has its time: To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven; A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted); Job 14:1 (Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble); Job 2:9 (Mrs. Job’s dealing with the loss of 7 boys and 3 girls; and what looked like the imminent death HER HUSBAND – JOB); Psalm 90:10 (The length of our days is seventy years-- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away);
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: PSALM 90:12
II. READ THE PERICOPE: PSALM 90:12
III. READ THE TEXT: PSALM 90:12 ( So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. – KJV)
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the grieving parents and family to affirm to others that LIFE IS SHORT, AND WE NEED TO NUMBER OUR DAYS BY TAKING OUR FAITH SERIOUS.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS”
INTRODUCTION:
I have said it in private, … and now … I’ll say it publicly … Deacon Roy and Minister Bert Grant … I can’t possibly imagine how your hearts must feel … AT SUCH A TIME AS THIS … ! But, if it’s any consolation, … please know … you’ve done well.
God is pleased with the young lady that Lynette Ashley Grant became.
The fearless take charge leader with the forever present smile. The basketball player - with the non-stop energy that seemily ALWAYS rose for the competitive occasions as she proudly wore number 23 .
**********TAKE 5 BEATS***************
MOVE 1: Whether it was basketball or volleyball; Lynnette could always be found putting her best foot forward.
a. And her best foot forward was usually ENOUGH to win!
b. For you see there is no limit to what our children can accomplish, when they know that their parents are always pulling for them.
c. Lynnette knew that her two greatest fans were within her reach. She knew her dad and mom were either present or on their way to her game.
d. And believe it or not;
e. even though she would be obviously following her coaches game plan – ironically, whenever Roy hollered-out instructions for her (from the fan bleachers);
f. she always responded accordingly. Deacon Roy … God Bless you! You’re the MVP Coach!
***********TAKE 5 BEATS**********
MOVE 2: Bert, my images of you and Lynnette finds Lynnette sitting between your legs, as you guys watched the boys or girls junior varsity play basketball.
a. Or perhaps, it was seeing Lynnette, hugging on you after church.
b. Everyone knew that you guys were buds!
c. The loving friendship NETTI openly displayed towards you (and you towards her) was one of a kind!
d. The letter that you and Roy received on last evening (at the WAKE) for the first time from one of NETTI’s professors is just another example of how unique your relationship with one another were.
e. My wife, Dedra, an educator by trade … says it best when she said (and I quote): “It’s not normal for a teenage girl to have such an awesome relationship with her mother; because usually that’s where the friction lies.
f. God bless you, Minister Grant, NETTI loved her MVP Mom!
***********TAKE 5 BEATS***********
MOVE 3: My brothers and sisters …Life is precious; Life is sweet; Life is Short;
a. It has been said that the phrase “life span” refers to a period or length of time … in which … an individual lived.
b. According to the “United States Decennial Life Table” … the average “Life Span” for males in the State of Alabama is 69.59 years of age; while the average “Life Span” for a female in the State of Alabama is 77.61 years of age.
c. The Bible says, … in Psalm 90:10, … The length of our days is seventy years … -- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
d. NETTI, as her mother affectionately called her was 18 years of age.
***********TAKE 5 BEATS************
MOVE 4: Recently, the Grants shared with me something profound. This profound information was shared with them by one of Lynnete’s friends - Vick.
a. He said, and I quote in part, “ As human beings, we have an invisible clock on our foreheads” … ticking our time away.
b. And If we knew our final hour, upon this earth, many of us would make some immediate
changes; while others …
c. … – who knew they had more time - would wait a while before making those changes.
d. What a profound statement, which says in essence “our time on this earth is fixed”.
*********TAKE 5 BEATS *************
MOVE 5: When we look around, in here, today we see hundreds of people (in this beautiful sanctuary) of all ages which have collectively come together for this homegoing.
a. But, ironically no one comes to funerals because of DEATH.
b. People that have gathered in this fashion, gather because of the LIFE LYNNETTE LIVED and the people she touched in her lifetime - both directly and indirectly!
c. In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3 and verses one through 2; we find the following words:
d. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
**********TAKE 5 BEAT*********
MOVE 6: Now, my brothers and my sisters, those who number their days understand what is truly important in life and what is merely trivial.
a. They have their priorities in order. They take their FAITH SERIOUS!!!
b. There is an ancient story about three demons who were arguing over the best way to destroy the Christian Church. The first demon said, “Lets tell all the Christians thee is no heaven. Take away the reward and the church will collapse.
c. The Second Demon said, Lets tell all the Christians there is no hell. Take away the fear of punishment and the church will collapse.
d. The Third Demon said, “There is one better way. Lets tell all the Christians that there is no hurry” and all three immediately said …
e. “That’s it! All we have to do is tell them there’s no hurry and the whole Christian Church will collapse.”
***********TAKE 5 BEATS **********
MOVE 7: In our text this afternoon, we find one of the OLDEST PSALMS.
a. According to the inscription, this Psalm was written by Moses. Many theologians believe it was written during Moses wilderness experience with the People of God.
b. Our text is where MOSES begins his prayer to God on behalf of God’s people.
c. As a result, some would view this Psalm … as a Psalm … which is down to earth (or a Psalm of Reality).
d. For don’t you remember … MOSES says to God: “TEACH US (LORD) TO NUMBER OUR DAYS”.
e. In otherwords, Moses petitions God to enable His People to do two things:
f. The First Thing Moses petitioned God for … Is to Enable His People To GET SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR FAITH, AND THE LESSONS THAT ARE TAUGHT BY A SHORT LIFE, BY numbering their days;
g. For instance, each and everyone of us this morning have to examine ourselves and where we stand with God.
f. There comes a time, in life, when we must stop straddling the fence of Faith and give our lives to Jesus Christ. Enough is Enough. Life is Short!
g. At some point in time, we have to realize that our days are numbered; and tomorrow isn’t promised.
h. As one generation passes away; another generation cometh (Ec. 1:4).
i. So, the First thing Moses petitioned God for … WAS TO ENABLE THE PEOPLE OF GOD to get serious about THEIR FAITH AND THE Lessons that are taught by a “SHORT LIFE”.
**********TAKE 5 BEATS *************
MOVE 8: The Second thing Moses petitioned God for … was to Help the People of God to spend their days as they should.
a. For you see, my brothers and sisters … Most young people don’t think of death dying.
b. It doesn’t enter most young people mind that someday they will die.
c. So, God sends Lynnette Ashley into our lives … to remind us all … that LIFE IS BRIEF.
d. Why spend eighteen plus years married to the wrong persons; when you can do it right the first time.
e. Life is too short; time is too limited; we don’t have TIME to waste on someone abusing us; or someone mistreating us.
f. WHAT TIME IS IT?
g. It’s time to live for Jesus.
h. So, the Second thing Moses petitioned God for … was to Help the People of God to spend their days as they should.
*********TAKE 5 BEATS *************
MOVE 9: My brothers and sisters, like Moses, I too realize that we are powerless to do the right thing by ourselves.
a. We need help with what we feel is good and right.
b. We need the HOLY SPIRIT … AND A HEART OF WISDOM.
c. For the HOLY SPIRIT AND A HEART OF WISDOM is the type of help that will INSPIRE YOUTH, TEENS, PARENTS, AND PEOPLE OF ALL AGES;
d. The HOLY SPIRIT AND A HEART OF WISDOM is the type of help that will INSPIRE men and women … everywhere … to live for GOD NOW.
e. For those of us … who number our days … understand what is truly important in life … and what is merely trivial.
f. Those of us … who number our days … know that we have been given our days … as a gift from God …
g. …and God desires, for us all, to use our time well.
h. Those of us who number our days are ensuring our life is right; and our priorities are straight!
**********TAKE 5 BEATS ************
MOVE 10: UNFORTUNATELY … Many in the church – today – aren’t living for Jesus – instead they are living for the weekends.
a. They think .. THEY HAVE TIME ...
b. Many have come, today, out of their love and respect for the life that LYNNETTE ASHELY lived.
c. This is good!!!
d. The problem lie in the fact … that many of those that are here …
e. … think because they’re young and beautiful; SMART AND INTELLIGENT;
f. … OR HANDSOME AND ATHLETIC – they have time.
*********TAKE 5 BEATS *********
MOVE 11: As we look at our lives (and toward this alter today) , we should count each day as a precious gift from God.
a. We should spend each day in the presence of the Lord (in prayer).
b. WE SHOULD USE EACH DAY TO GOD’S GLORY.
c. If we are athletes – TAKE A PAGE OUT OF LYNNETTE’S BOOK OF LIFE …
d. play INSPIRED … PLAY your sport to the Glory of God.
e. My wife and I would often watch NETTI’s basketball games … and she was something to watch …
f. She played every game as if it was her last game. On the court, basketball or volleyball,… NETTI was serious, and she played like it.
e. Likewise, If you’re a student in school or college … take a page out of NETTI’s PLAYBOOK … get serious and work as unto the Lord Himself.
f. My brothers and sisters …We need to do, as ROY AND BERT Grant did WITH ASHLEY; and as ASHLEY did with them… invest our time in one another;
g. Believe it or not, PARENTS, TEENS, AND FOLK OF ALL AGES …
h. TIME … IS ONE OF THE MOST PRECIOUS commodities that we have.
*******TAKE 5 BEATS********
CELEBRATION:
My oldest son … KENNY ( a senior in High School this year) … shared with me …. On last
evening – SATURDAY - an incident … that HE WAS REMINDED OF ON THURSDAY EVENING
… which had occurred in DAEGU… AFTER A FAREWELL DINNER WAS GIVEN TO US BY
OUR MULTICULTURAL GOSPEL SERVICE CHURCH (MCGS) FAMILY …
APPARENTLY, ASHLEY AND KENNY WERE COMMUNICATING ON “MY SPACE.COM” …
(as they often did) … WHEN ASHLEY SAID TO KENNY….”MAN … I’M SURE GLAD … I’M
LEAVING… BEFORE YOU … ARE …
BECAUSE … IF YOU LEFT BEFORE ME … I COULDN’T HANDLE … IT … “ (PAUSE)
KENNY … turned to me last evening, fighting the tears back, and said NONVERBALLY WITH HIS EYES:
“DAD … ASHLEY LEFT BEFORE ME … AND I CAN’T HANDLE IT!!!”
Now … my brothers and sisters … I’m about to take my seat … BUT …
I believe… if God … gave … NETTI …
an opportunity … TO … SAY … 6 … last words … – she … would … say …-
LIFE IS SHORT … NUMBER YOUR DAYS …
