Nikki’s Funeral.
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Music/Walkin
Today we gather to honor the life of Renee Nicole Huff. And we honor our Lord Jesus Christ.
Scripture.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Poem-
The Pastor’s Manual Heaven
NO MORE DEATH
No more death; no more sorrow, and no fears;
No valley of the shadow, no more pain!
No weeping, for God dries away the tears,
And dried by him tears never rise again.
No darkened room, no silence, and no cry
Of bitterness as he recalls the breath;
No unfilled blank, no nameless agony;
For he hath said, “There shall be no more death.”
No more death! Then take comfort, ye who weep
Give thanks to God, and raise the bowed head;
They are not lost—’tis “his beloved sheep,”
And he who takes and keeps the holy dead.
Are they not safe with him? And when the veil
Is rent for us, and sight supplanteth faith,
Then, reunited, love shall never fail;
For he hath said, “There shall be no more death.”
—H. Drummond
Obituary- Darren Schmidt.
Prayer- Luke Sills
Slideshow-
Scripture.
1 Thess 4:13-18
13 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. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Amazing grace-
Words from family-
Heaven said..
While trying to write this I was flooded with so many memories of my sister.
Like family holidays when we would put on choreographed plays with our cousins for the adults, or family reunions when we would run off and explore the giant hotel, or the first time we went fishing with our Poppy in Galveston and my brother caught a shoe, or the time I scared her and all her friends at a Halloween party. So many wonderful times we had together that we still talked about a decade later.
She loved to make people happy even if she looked silly while doing it, mostly done by singing and dancing.
So many of her friends have told me that she was their go-to for advice and encouragement. Every day I got to spend with her while working she constantly told me how proud she was of me and what I do.
It doesn't matter if you knew her for a day or for a lifetime, she was sure to have an impact with that big contagious smile of hers and her big heart. She was deeply loved by so many and will forever be missed.
Nikki and Candy from Flordia…
On behalf of my mother, my sons, and myself, we want to send our deepest condolences to the entire family, and to everyone who knew, and loved, Nikki.
When Nikki was born Deanna lived in Oklahoma, so, unfortunately, we didn't get to see each other as much as we'd have liked. Because of that, most of our family's memories of Nikki are of her as a child. It's incredible that, even though we hadn't seen her in so long, she made such an impact on our hearts. She was so happy and full of life, and had a smile that could light up a room! A kind heart, like the one Nikki had, is never forgotten. ❤️ We definitely have regrets about not being closer to her in her adult life, but there are a few things about Nikki that anyone who knew her knows:
1) She had a heart of gold.
2) She loved her family fiercely, and they loved her back.
3) Her son, Connor, was her world!
4) She was a sweet, sensitive, and fragile, soul...taken too soon.
5) She was absolutely beautiful, inside and out.
My father, Nikki's Grandpa Wayne, passed away in 1999. He was a musician, and loved to play his guitar. Nikki was an incredible pianist, and I just know in my heart that the two of them are together right now, making beautiful music! He loved her so much!
My mom, my sons, and I, are so sorry that we are unable to be with the family there today, during this tremendous time of loss, but hope that each of you know you are in our thoughts, and that we love you all dearly.
They say that wherever a beautiful soul has been, there has been a trail of memories, and we will cherish our memories of Nikki forever.
Beth- When I think of my sister, the first thing that comes to mind is music. Some of my earliest memories are of laying on the floor in the den at nanas and listening to Nikki playing the piano.
Awestruck by her ability to read sheet music and translate it through an instrument. A skill that isn't simple by any means. We would try to teach ourselves or copy her when she was done playing, and I'm sure all of the adult were happy when we would get frustrated and give up because it didn't even resemble music anymore. Her taste in music was eclectic to say the least, and it didn't matter if we were listening to Brittany Spears in our bedroom, or oldies in nanas car, or rap with our big sister, she somehow always knew the words to every song we listened to. She always held up her imaginary microphone and sang and danced, especially if someone around her was grumpy, which was usually me.
I'm very thankful to have her so deeply ingrained in such an important aspect of my life, and thankful that I will always hear her in the music.
Grammy said.. I remember always seeing Nikki look at the world with her big beautiful eyes just wondering what was next. And we always had a special thing on Christmas where I would bring her a caramello bar in a stocking and leave in her door. Even if we didn’t get to see each other, we had a special bond.
Her mom said…
My first thought when I imagine Nik is her big, beautiful smile and infectious laugh! She smiled with her entire face! As a baby her eyes were always wide with curiosity, and aww. She was my little Nikki, my sweet baby girl. My heart will always be missing one piece.
Ron-Nikkis Dad.
Eulogy
Eulogy
I think many of us in situations such as we find ourselves today ask the question. What would have happened if I was just there. Or what if I said something different the last time I seen here. Or I wish I would have been able to tell her how much I loved her or how much I cared.
And in the Gospel of John a situation like this comes up. Where two sisters Martha and Mary are just distraught over their brother Lazarus. In John chapter 11. We see a man named Lazarus die. And as they find out it does not look good for him they go and call for him. Saying that he is ill. And Jesus does not come right away. In fact he says in verse 4. John 11:4
John 11:4 (ESV)
4 “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
The bible states how much he loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus, but he did not come immediately. In fact he stayed in his location for 2 days longer. So he could do something truly incredible. And the disciples were not ready to go with Jesus because they were afraid if they went their they would be stoned. And though they were distracted by the danger the Lord was going to do something to show them how incredible the son of God Jesus is.
In verse 13-15 we see this picture.
13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
Let me read to you some more verses.
17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
Jesus came not when Lazarus was just ill, but after he was dead. Not just recently dead either, but 4 days Lazarus was laying in that tomb, long enough to be no mistaken that he was dead. and because of their close proximity to Jerusalem many were weeping and mourning with Mary and Martha, and when Martha heard Jesus was there she left her house to seek Jesus and we see what she said to Jesus if you had been here he would not have died, but even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.
I love the testimony of faith here. Because she knew that Jesus could have healed her brother, knew he could have made him well, she believed in Jesus so much so that she had enormous amount of faith in him, she knew that Jesus loved her, but that did not mean he was going to do what she wanted. yet she still believed that whatever Jesus asked the Father will be given to the son Jesus. And with that FAITH SHE HAS Jesus is going to say to her one of the most powerful statements in all of scripture.
Listen to what she says. John 11:23-24
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
She has the faith to know her brother will rise again, I hope you all as well have the faith Martha has the Nikki because she believed in Christ by faith she will also rise again.
But keep listening to what it says.
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
He says I am the resurrection and the life.
He makes two claims here. One that he is the resurrection, and two that he is the life. Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Friends you need to know there is neither resurrection nor eternal life outside of Jesus.
This point cannot be emphasized enough. There is no resurrection or life outside of Christ. Jesus represents two things perfectly, the resurrection and the life because of who he is, and what he has done and will do. In him is the hope and power of the resurrection, and that hope and power lie in him and him alone, and there is a promise to those who believe in him, and this promise is though you may die, you shall live. It says everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.
There is a promise that comes from believing in the one who is the resurrection and the life, and that is you will be resurrection and live through him. One of my favorite authors and pastors who is with the Lord now R.C. Sproul said this, “Once a person believes in Christ, the life of Christ is poured into the soul of that person, and that life is eternal. Everyone who is in Christ has already begun to experience eternal life. We’re never going to die. We may go through the transition of physical death, but that death cannot destroy the life that Christ has given to us.”
Now we can’t forget despite the amazing statement, what Martha was asked by Jesus at the end of verse 26. Do you believe this? Despite all that has just taken place with Martha, Jesus gives her a chance to respond by faith?
Jesus often comes to us in the darkest of times and says do you believe in me, and knowing who he is, helps us in the worst and best of moments.
There will be times in your life of great sorrow like what you all have been going through right now, where you know Jesus loves you, but things are not going according to your plan, take heart and know that because he has granted you this wonderful faith, that you can trust in the resurrection and the life with your life, knowing that circumstances may not be ideal, may not be as you planed or how any of us would have planned but you have the perfect savior who will resurrect you and give you life if you know him. Be like Martha who in verse 27 says.
27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
You might say that sound’s good and all, but does God not care about those who have died those who are hurting, of course he does.
Let me read you more of this story.
28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”
Martha goes and gets her sister, saying the teacher is calling for you, and Mary goes and meets Jesus, and others follow thinking they are about go weep and console her at the tomb, but when Mary sees Jesus she goes to him and says if you would have been here, my brother he would have not died. And your heart breaks here, Because if you know the power of God know what he can do, you ask God why were not just there in that moment when all this happened. God is you were there Nikki would here.
Many of you in the room may have been saying if I would have been there she would still be there. Thats a heavy burden.
You may have been saying God if you would have been there everything would be so different, for Mary her brother would have been alive, for us we say Gos if you would have been there Nikki would have been alive. A child would still here, or a family member, or friend, or a job, or a relationship, the list really goes on and on…
sometimes God doesn’t do what we want, and we must remember back in verse 4 things happened so God may glorified, but even though things do not often go according to plan, doesn’t mean Jesus does not care about you.
We see Jesus has this real emotion in the text to what has happened to Lazarus, and his family. But its not the same kind of emotion. that they have, and in verse 33 you see that Jesus is moved in his spirit and greatly troubled, but how was he moved, now the greek seems to indicate that this troubled is more like angry.
Why would he be angry over death? Well because death is the greatest enemy we have. No one can outrun death, death is a result of sin. And we according to the word all sin.
One pastor said this referring verse 33, I think that which caused the anger of the Son of God to boil up and overflow in His spirit was that He was in the presence of the ravaging destruction of the greatest enemy of mankind, death. This was His enemy. This was the foe that, in only a few days, He was going to confront head on in the throes of the agony He would experience on the cross, dying to conquer death. Sometimes when I go to a hospital and I see people suffering with cancer, I walk out and I say, “I hate cancer!” The affliction is so great and the pain is so enormous. I think this is the kind of visceral reaction Jesus had when He encountered the sorrow that death had provoked. Jesus entered into the affliction of His people so deeply that He was moved within Himself at the travesty of death.
and he acted upon, by saying where have you laid him? and they said come and see. Follow us Jesus and we will show you where he is…
So Jesus wept at this moment. Jesus shows us a real emotion here, and they took note of it, see how he loved him. Tears and weeping are often signs that we have been so moved by something, and Jesus was moved by all that had happened, and what is about to take place is truly incredible. even though there were some who wanted to see something from Jesus, as he just healed the man from blindness, they said couldn’t he have keep this man from dying. they were really was like them saying ok, we know Jesus did this but couldn’t he have done this as well?
Fitting for all that has been going on, many people still did not believe that JESUS WAS THE CHRIST. The sin of unbelief was still keeping them from believing, they needed that resurrection power for themselves.
Friends as much as we want to have the power over life and death. Only God holds that power.
Jesus has power over life and death.
38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”
He is commanding this stone to be removed, and taken away, and Martha who just professed that Jesus is the Christ is like there is going to be an odor when you open this up he has been dead four days, its not going to smell good, and Jesus tells her this…
40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”
remember Jesus said to her your brother will rise again, and then he taught her about how he is the resurrection and the life, a thought never crossed there minds that he meant right now for Lazarus. In this life, goes to show you not only does God do the miraculous in the life to come, but also in this life.
41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”
Again we see this powerful connection between the Father and the Son, this unified bond that they have had for all of eternity, that upset the jews. And Jesus comes to the father thanking him for all he has heard, and that he always listens, and he says to the father what is about to happen is going to cause many to believe in that fact you sent me, the very mission of the FATHER and the SON.
43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
Jesus has the power over life and death.. and this man being resurrected from the dead is a reminder of what Jesus does for us when he calls us from out of the grave. See the Scriptures testify to the fact that we are dead in our sin, and when Jesus calls us by name like he calls his sheep by name we run out of the grave.
The greatest way you can honor the life of Nikki is by placing your faith in Christ today if you havent. Jesus himself we read later on the scriptures would die this horrific death on a cross though he never sinned like you and I. He took the punishment for sin so that that his children all who repent and believe can have life in him. What is repentance… Its admitting you are a sinner, being broken over that sin, and turning away from that sin and turning towards Christ believing only he can save.
See Jesus had to die, because our sin, and he and he alone can atone for that sin. Everyone has sinned against God, but anyone who believes in the Son of God, can be forgiven by God through the work of the Son of God, and because of who the Son of God is the resurrection and the life if you believe in him today you can be resurrected to?
Bryce is going to come up here and pray if you want to give your life to Jesus come talk with me or bryce or someone you know who knows the Lord.
Closing Prayer