10-25-23 Ms. Tressie Mangum
Notes
Transcript
James 1:12
James 1:12
Welcome:
I would like to thank everyone for your attendance today.
We can see from the number that have been here this morning that Ms. Tressie had an impact on many today.
That testifies to the way that she lived her life.
And she will be missed by many,,, as we continue in the days and weeks ahead.
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Jesus said, I am the resurrection and I am life.
Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I hold the keys of hell and death.
Because I live, you shall live also.
Jesus said in John 10:10 “ I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” and I believe that she lived her life this way,,, as seen through the things that she accomplished during her lifetime,,, along with her extended time spent here with us!
This is our celebration of Helen's life today.
We do not come to mourn.
We come to celebrate a life well lived.
As we begin,,, Let us go the Lord in prayer:
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Prayer:
Heavenly Father,,, thank you for the gift of this earthly life. We thank you for the life of our sister in Christ,,, Tressie Iona Graham Mangum,,, for the years you gave her,,, and the character that you shaped in her. We thank you for her life,,, for every memory of love and joy,,, for every good deed and every sorrow shared with us. We thank you for the rest in Christ she now enjoys. We thank you for giving her to us for a time,,, and we praise you for the glory we shall share together for eternity. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.
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Special Music: Amazing Grace - (3:00)
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Obituary:
Tressie Iona Graham Mangum passed away Saturday, October 21, 2023, in Bay St. Louis, MS. She was born December 2, 1926, Ellisville, MS to Harvey and Dolly Graham. She graduated from Jones County Agricultural High School and completed her RN training at Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Vicksburg, MS. There she met and married her beloved husband, Jim Mangum, in 1948. They resided in Vicksburg for many years, after retirement moved to Seminary, MS. She was a member of Seminary Methodist Church,,, United Daughters of the Confederacy,,, and Colonial Dames XVII Century. She loved to read,,, had a vast knowledge of history,,, and enjoyed researching genealogy. She was a kind and generous lady with a passion for serving the Lord and caring for those in need. Throughout her lifetime she rescued and nursed back to health many dogs and loved them like family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dolly Knight Graham and Harvey Graham; her beloved husband, Jim Mangum; son, Jim Mangum, Jr.; brother, Otis Graham; sisters, Easter Graham Dickens, Edith Graham Slimmer, Virgie Graham Murin; and son-in-law, Randy Blacklidge.
Tressie is survived by her daughter, Shirley Mangum Blacklidge; grandchildren, Christy Blacklidge Chain, Allen Blacklidge, Laura Mangum Moore, Matthew Mangum, Amanda Mangum Esquivel, Deborah Mangum Bannon, and Adriaan Mangum; seventeen great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild. She lived a long and fruitful life as she touched many,,, on her journey,,, passing through this world,,, on her way home!
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Special Music: In The Garden - (3:00)
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Message:
Ms. Tressie,,, was a strong resilient woman.
She wanted things done her way!
And you knew if things weren't going her way!
I was warned when I came here in 2018 as a new pastor,,, we don't sing "Battle Hymn of the Republic",,, because Ms. Tressie said that was the song that the Union soldiers sang,,, and she didn't think that we should sing that in church!
Thankfully I never asked for that song,,, and won't,,, especially now that I understand the implications.
She was strong,,, she knew what she wanted,,, and nothing was going to change that!
But you also knew that she wanted the best for those around her.
She was always seeing things that needed to be done,,, things that someone might need help with and they haven't gotten around to getting whatever was needed,,, completed.
Many times,,, while Jim her husband was living,,, he drove her places when she was going to visit someone that she was helping.
He especially tried to go with her down some of the roads that he wasn't comfortable with her traveling alone,,, and when he was with her,,, as they passed different houses,,, she would point out many things that people needed as they passed.
At times there would be so many that he told her that she was wearing him out,,, giving him too much to do!
The point is,,, that she was always trying to help others,,, and do whatever needed to help them if she could!
As I said earlier,,, she loved dogs,,, always trying to help strays if possible.
She would pick them up,,, take them home and care for them by giving them love,,, and,,, a home.
She worked hard all of her life,,, beginning from the earliest days of her life,,, where,,, even while she was attending school,,, she would come home to work and help out.
Her work ethics followed her throughout her life,,, and give us an example to follow today.
That's why Ms. Shirley told me about this scripture,,, and,,, that’s why it was chosen for today: James 1:12
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James 1:12 (HCSB)
12 A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
In this passage,,, James is continuing his speaking about trials.
In the earlier verses,,, he is giving advise about seeking wisdom during trials,,, and some of the things that will help during those times.
Especially when it comes to truly seeking God's wisdom through love the way that God tries to teach us all throughout the Bible.
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James says,,, that the one who asks for wisdom must be steadfast and infused with love.
God blesses someone who perseveres under trial.
James urged his readers to look at trial from God’s attitude.
The trial itself is not a reason for joy,,, but it can promote joy by becoming a means of producing stamina in the life of a committed believer.
In trial,,, the believer must ask for an understanding of the purpose behind God's permission of the difficulty.
My Study Bible says,,, an incentive to do this,,, is that God will give generously to those who ask,,, and,,, He will not humiliate them for asking.
Those who face trial with perseverance receive a crown of life from God as a reward for their stamina.
In this verse,,, James returned to the theme with which he opened this passage in verses 2–3,,, at the beginning of this chapter,,,; both refer to “trials,” “testing,” and “perseverance.”
The Christian who steadfastly endures trials and has stood the test… will receive the crown of life.
Some say,,, “The life which is promised is probably life here and now,,, life in its fullness,,, life in its completeness”,,, and they use James 1:4 as an example.
God promises life to those,,, who love Him.
Love for God enables believers who undergo trials to rest confidently in Him.
Their steadfastness reveals their love.
Then,,, some,,, however,,, say the crown refers not to full life now,,, but to eternal life,,, for all true believers do in fact love God; 1 John 4:8.)
Asking for wisdom with faith (James 1:6–8), hope (vv. 9–11), and love (v. 12) brings not only the blessing of wisdom but also the blessing of winning.
To have the right attitude in trials, one must see the advantage of trials, but if it is difficult to see the advantages, one can ask for aid and, if one asks correctly, God will give him the right attitude in trials.
He can rejoice in trials (v. 2) and be blessed (v. 12) by enduring them.
My Tony Evans Study Bible says,,, Everyone is looking for a blessing.
Unfortunately,,, what they often mean by blessing is a car,,, a house,,, a mate,,, a job,,, or a raise.
A true blessing,,, however,,, is a God-given capacity to experience,,, enjoy,,, and extend his goodness in life.
Regardless of whether God’s blessings include worldly things,,, they are intended to bring about internal change so that our lives display His kingdom relationship and rule.
No matter what meaning we think about when it comes to the results or benefits of our trials,,, we can see that they are beneficial to us as Christians!
And we know that Tressie has passed this test in her lifetime,,, and we can let her attitude towards helping others,,, even as she faced her own trials,,, to guide us in our own life.
Because we know that she endured a lot,,, but we understand,,, that she gained a whole lot more,,, and she would want the same for you.
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If you are here today and you don't know the love of God the way that Tressie did,,, I urge you to read the Bible,,, seek God's word,,, ask questions,,, truly seeking an answer,,, and I assure you that God will answer you!
Seek the advise of another Christian,,, ask me,,, anyone will help you,,, just be sure that you don't put off finding the answer,,, because she would tell you that this is too important to wait,,, it must be done today!
I'm sure that she is seeing things that we can't even imagine,,, and she would love for us all to be there as well.
She left us a fine example to follow,,, lets be sure that we use that to our advantage!
I also want to add that we,,, as Christians know that this is not the end!
Tressie has made her choices,,, now it's up to us to make those same choices!
Choices that decide whether it will be heaven or hell,,, eternal consequences that must be made today!
And the right choice can only be accomplished,,, by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior!
John 3:16 says: “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”
He loves you that much,,, but it’s a choice that you will have to make,,, no-one can do it for you!
So make sure that you make the right choice today!
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For the family,,, for her daughter Shirley,,, the grandchildren,,, the great grandchildren,,, all of you,,, the family and friends that are here,,, the days ahead will not be easy.
But you know that Tressie would want you to remember the good times,,, and forget the bad,,, because that's the way that she was.
We've seen that from the very beginning,,, the way that she has helped so many over the years,,, so she has left us an example to copy,,, so that we can live a life dedicated to helping others,,, so that we can obtain our own "crown of life".
The days ahead won't be easy,,, and they will take time,,, but eventually the good memories will keep coming to mind,,, and they will crowd out the bad,,, and then,,, once again,,, she will bring smiles to your faces,,, when you remember the good times that you had,,, and God will help you along the way,,, just trust Him,,, and follow His guidance through the journey that's ahead for each of you.
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Let us pray:
“Eternal God,,, we praise you for the great company of all those who have finished their course in faith and now rest from their labor. We praise you for those dear to us whom we name in our hearts before you. Especially we praise you today for Ms. Tressie,,, whom you have graciously received into your presence. To all of these,,, grant your peace. Let perpetual light shine upon them; and help us to believe where we have not seen,,, that your presence may lead us through our years,,, and bring us at last with them into the joy of your home,,, not made with hands,,, eternal in the heavens; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
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Special Music: How Great Thou Art - (3:00)
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