Funeral for Josie March
Prayer:
Today we’re here to formally say good-by to Josie MARCH, not good-by forever, we will see her again, but it may be a long time before we join her in Glory. But we’re also here to honor Josie, and to show our respects, but we can also be here to celebration Josie’s Home Coming. Josie is in a far better place, free from all sickness and pain. She is now walking on streets of glory with the Lord Jesus Christ, full of joy.
With those thoughts in mind, I would like to read to you 3 portions of scripture.
PSALMS 23. "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
And from (John 11:25-26) Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
And again in (John 14:1-6) Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: 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. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
SONG:
OBITUARY:
Born: Aug. 26, 1938
Died: July 28, 2000
Josie was happily married to husband Ray for 34 years who passed away just about 2 ½ months ago. Josie is survived by her 3 children, MARIAN, Michelle, & ELAINE.
Her 3 sisters Eloise, Margie, and Ruth & 2 brothers Pete & Jess.
5 Grandchildren: Rosealinda, Robert, Daniel, Amber, & Taylor.
3 great-grandchildren: Anthony, Nichols, & JOHNATHAN.
Song:
EULOGY:
Josie was born in SOMIS, CA. Moved to the Valley in 1965 & she was wed to her late husband Ray on 2/5/66.
Josie was primarily a housewife & mother. Some like to phrase it as a domestic executive. And it is a full-time job, taking care the household and raising her children, in which she did an excellent job.
Josie was a loving wife, mother, Sister, grandmother, Great-grandmother, and friend.
She loved her family very very much.
Josie was a very giving person; as her daughter Michelle put it, she was very generous.
She was very kind and had a big heart. She loved everybody with an unconditional love, and she always thought the best of others.
She had so many friends. She was very loyal. And she had a good sense of humor.
She was a great mother, grandmother, sister, and friend.
Josie live a godly life and this is something that we should all strive for.
Josie and her late husband Ray we're very much in love and now they're reunited together again in heaven.
Both Ray and Josie accepted Jesus Christ into their heart. They made Jesus Christ their personal Lord and savior and because of that we know that they are in heaven together.
You can probably picture of both of them together in each other's arms.
Josie would not want any of us to be sad because she is happy, dancing before the Lord and dancing with Ray.
LETTER:
SONG:
POEM:
MESSAGE: It's hard to say goodbye to someone that we love. We feel such a sense of loss. But we will see her again. Sometimes we feel a sense of guilt. We think, "If we could only have done more for them."
But we should not feel any sorrow for them or any guilt because they’re in a far better place.
A. Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
1. Paul says in these Vs that we do not have to have sorrow.
a. Why does he say that?
b. 1st of all because they are with the Lord forever.
i. We don’t need to feel sorrow for any one that has died knowing the Lord. They are with the Lord now and forever.
2. The 2nd reason why we should feel no sorrow is that we will be with them again.
a. Paul said in this same V together we will be with the Lord.
b. For all those that know the Lord will be reunited.
B. Not everyone will go to heaven.
1. Paul said in Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith (through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
a. And in Romans 10:9-10 Paul said, “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.”
i. Salvation only comes by accepting Jesus into your heart, and making Him your personal Lord and Saviour.
ii. This is something that JOSIE did.
b. Revelation 14:13 “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”
i. Those that have died in the Lord are blessed. They rest from all the trials and tribulation that we have on earth and they enter into the joy of the Lord.
2. In 2 Corinthians 5:8 Paul said. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
a. For the Christian when the spirit leaves the body, they are present with the Lord.
b. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
3. Paul said something about death, which is very comforting.
a. Paul said in Philippians 1 (V 21) “to die is gain.” And in (V 23) he said, “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:”
b. Paul says that heaven is FAR better.
4. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 says, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. 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.”
a. In (Revelation 14:13) it says that those that have died in the Lord are blessed.
In conclusion, I want to read to you a few different passages of scripture.
In (Matthew 25:14-23) Jesus tells the story of the servants and talents. When the master returned and found the servants doing what he had for them to do, he said to them, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I'll make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of the Lord."
The Lord has already said this to JOSIE.
Jude 24-25 “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”
Prayer: