Lainey Henson Service
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Handout
Life Celebration Service
Of
Lainey Jane Henson
Order of Service
Song #1
Welcome & Obituary
Lainey Jane Henson, went home to be her Lord this past Tuesday. He was the daughter of Crockett Dale and Christen Renee Henson. She is survived by her sister Savannah, Her maternal grandparents Bobbie Jernigan (Ripley) and Thomas Tucker (Dyersburg), her paternal grandparents Donnie and Betty Henson (Ripley). She will continue to live through the memories of her maternal great-grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Carl Tucker and paternal great-grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Huey, and paternal great, great-grandmother Joyce Henson (Ripley), along with her aunts and uncles.
Prayer
Song #2
Message
In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, the apostle Paul, who suffered much in his life, wrote these words:
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Crockett and Christen, we gather today to comfort you and to comfort one another by together dwelling on the God of all comfort and the truths of His words.
First of all, let us be comforted that Lainey is in the hands of our loving and merciful God. Our Lord Jesus, who suffered for us on the sins of the world, cried aloud while dying upon the cross, ...Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost (Luke 23:46 KJV). In the ancient world, the pagan peoples surrounded who surrounded Israel offered child sacrifices to their gods. Their gods were made of stone in the shapes of people. Upon an idol’s stony cold hands, they would place a child for sacrifice. Such a wicked practice! The God to whose hands our Lord Jesus committed his spirit was no cold lifeless god, but the living and loving God of the universe. Crockett and Christen, you have placed Lainey into the hands of our gracious and good God, a God who loves that little girl more than you ever could. So be comforted this day that the God who weeps over sin and death—as Jesus did when he came to Lazarus’ tomb—is the same God who comforts us with the fact that his hands are better hands in which to place the body and soul of your dear child.
While we know that suffering is a result of this fallen world, we also know that suffering is for our good. It is through the fiery afflictions and trials of life that our faith grows in the Lord. As Peter wrote:
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Later Peter writes:
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
Suffering—whether in the form of persecution or loss—is to be expected. It is to be expected because such suffering is for our good. Suffering wakes us up to reality. Suffering helps us long for eternal life and final justice. As we face sufferings in life, we have to make a decision in how we will respond.
The loss of a child is very difficult. It is hard to understand, the figures do not add up, the puzzle pieces do not fit. In matters like this, there are several ways you can respond—curse, question, or worship God.
As Job’s wife in the Bible suggested, you can curse God. You can spew out words of judgement against God. You can judge him as unjust, unfair, uncaring, and unwise. None of those words fit.
Another options is that you can question God. Certainly questioning God is better than cursing God. That may be where some of you are. William Cowper wrote:
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
Question if you must; just do not rely on human wisdom to supply the answers.
In the Bible, David faced a similar situation for different reasons. His infant son was sick. He fasted and prayed for his son, just like people have fasted and prayed for Lainey. His son died. Scripture says:
20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
Later when asked how this could be, that he would fast and pray while his son was ill, but after he dies, that he would get dressed. His reply should bring us comfort today:
2 Samuel 12:22–23 (KJV)
22 ...While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 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.
Similarly Job, when stripped of children and possessions, worshiped God:
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
The best thing for us to do in seasons of loss such as we find ourselves in is apply the “yes, no, maybe so” saying. Let us say yes to worship, no to cursing, and maybe to the questions as long as they are honest inquiries. Worship God as God all-wise. Worship God as the God of comfort.
Lainey entered into this life with an imperfect heart physically. That condition demanded repair. The doctors worked hard to fix her condition as best they could.
All come into this world with damaged hearts, not physically but spiritually. Our hearts are sinful, and they need work of the divine cardiologist. He gives new hearts at the time of new birth. If you have never accepted this new birth in Christ, I would encourage you to do so. As Jesus stated, “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). God has chosen to redeem Lainey and accepted her into His kingdom through His grace. As David stated of his son, he cannot come back to me, but I can go to him. It is only through a new birth in Christ that we can go to where Lainey is, in the very presence of God in Heaven.
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Closing Prayer
Song #3