Graveside for Ivy Lopez

Genesis 3:19 ESV

By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 ESV

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Today, we have sent the morning saying so long to somone we loved dearly.

But as we stand by this grave this afternoon I would like for us to reflect on the promise that we have.

The hope that we have.

the bible teaches us that our body is simply a vessel.

And though today we lay ivy to rest.

I want to remind you that there is a marvelous hope in Jesus..

That while her body may lay here.

Here spirit is alive and well.

Jesus

many times we forget that christs body was laid to rest..

It was buried when he died for three days.

but we know his spirit was workign.

was a live and well.

and after three days he rose again.

And because he did.

we have a hope and a promise that there will soon be a day that comes..

when he comes and collects his church..

and the bible says that our earthly vessel..

which is laid to rest in the ground.

will once again rise to meet him in the air..

and we who are alive and well will see each other again in heaven.

Hope.

this is a difficult day.

but there is hope.

hope for the future

hope for tomorrow.

that is is no goodbye..

its just a season of waiting until we are reunited by our lord and savior jesus christ..

Encourage you.

I want to encourage you today.

to let ivys legacy of love live on through you..

love poeple..

love jesus..

treat people with respect and honor as they deserve..

feed them food and the word of god.

and honor her life in that way..

Pray

Father in heaven. You see us in this moment. Minister to us. Give us the peace that surpasses all understanding. Its you who blessed us with ivy for the time she was here. and today we comite her body to the earth and give her back to you. We trust you with her and all who have gone before us. And we put our hope in you alone that we will soon be reunighted again. Be with us father as we leave this place and embark on this new journey of our life. Give us grave and mercy. We love you and honor you today. In Christ name we pray. Amen.