Memorial Message for Linda Hayter

Whenever you arrive at a church for the first time, you notice things that stand out. You notice architecture. You notice smells. You notice sounds.

For me, I always notice the music. I grew up here at Trinity Church and although Linda and I’s path’s did not cross much, Choir was our connecting point. I sang in the choir at many moments with Linda under Merril Smoak and later I would lead the same choir for a season. We normally would just say our hellos and good byes. And that would be it.

I did not know Linda very well but from what people have shared with me is that Linda, was kind a kind and caring woman. A woman who loved Jesus and a woman who loved to sing, praising God through song.

Today is a difficult day. It’s a day where love and lessons are remembered and a day where loss is realized. Today is a day where we are taught something and it isn’t by an enjoyable teacher. Many of us have fond memories growing up and learning new things whether it be at church or school or home with our parents and siblings. As humans we learn and we grow and the lessons we take with us impact our lives from the crib to the grave. But there is a teacher whose lessons we cannot stand listening to and this teacher is death. Death teaches us something about ourselves, our loved ones, and our God. God’s Word says much about death and loss and today we need the comfort of what the Word of God says.

Death is a reality in this life. It is something that happens and some people are fearful of it while others don’t seem to care much about it and still others refused to even acknowledge it. Many wonder why death is a thing in the first place and the Bible gives us the answer for this question: The reason that death exists is because we have sinned as humans. God promised that if Adam and Eve disobeyed that they would surely die and this is what we see in our world today. God keeps His Word and this might sound like a bad thing - if death is the end of this life and the start of our eternal life and because of our sins we deserve to be separated from God, how can this be good?

A pastor’s least favorite moment in life, is leading a memorial service for someone who did not know Jesus. Of course, we never truly know what goes on in someone’s mind and maybe there was a faith in Jesus towards their last moments but we don’t know and it’s often one of the most saddest moments for us. However, today is not that day. Linda loved Jesus and praise God that even though many of us miss her and we will need time to grieve and morne for her loss, we can take peace, comfort, and joy that she is in a much better place is finally at rest.

Thomas Watson once said that for a Christian, “Death is the funeral of all of our sorrows.” See, if you know Christ as your Lord and Savior, if you have repented of your sins and if Jesus has changed you from the inside out, death is not the enemy. You can be ready for death because death in this life leads you to your creator and sustainer. That might sound too good to be true, but it’s what the Word of God says, then this is good news because Linda Hayter knew Jesus. Linda was a faith filled woman and shared her faith to those around her. She didn’t just know about Jesus, but she loved Him and Jesus had changed her life! Jesus allowed Linda to have grace in the middle of trying and confusing times with her health and with some of the relationships she had with others in her life. Jesus gave Linda peace in spite of negative circumstances that she faced.

You could say that Jesus helped Linda be prepared for this day. Are you prepared for this day? We must think honestly about the reality of death and we must vow to make our time count during this wonderful thing called life - we are not guaranteed tomorrow or the day after. We must make sure that we are living for the things that truly matter and we must use our words carefully with those whom we love. Never go to bed angry at those whom you love dearly. There is no better time for you to prepare yourself for this day than today. Linda knew Jesus and now she gets to worship Jesus face to face. She gets to gather around the throne of the lamb singing songs of praise and she would want you to know that she is not only in a better place, she is in the best place.

Many Christians who get closer to the end of their life, they tell me that at the celebration of life, don’t make it about me, make it about Jesus. From what I know about Linda, she wants you to know about this Jesus.

I want to share with you real quick about who this Jesus is.

1. Jesus is fully God. He is the son of God.

2. Jesus is fully man. He came to this world through Mary, a woman that God chose to bear the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the son of God, but He was also fully man.

3. He lived a perfect life and told those around Him that HE IS GOD. Not a teacher, a person that you should strive to live by, but GOD. Jews would say that He was blasphemous because He claimed such an idea.

4. He proved it through miracles and healings.

5. He would then die a brutal death on the cross, bearing your sin and wrong doings and dying with that. Because you see, these wrong doings, as I mentioned earlier, guarantee separation from God. A place called hell. So Jesus would take the punishment and die for our sins.

6. He would then resurrect three days later, conquering death and sin and proving to us one last time that He is God.

7. In order to be saved from these wrong doings, this sin, you must not only believe that these things happened but believe that He is Lord. In other words, you must follow Jesus. You must love Him. Those that love Jesus and believe He is their Lord, will be saved from this hell and have eternal life with Him, now and in heaven.

Romans 10:9 (ESV)

9if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

This is good news my friends, and this is the good news that Linda would want you to hear. Linda doesn’t now just get to experience this good news because she’s passed and gone to heaven. Linda has already been experiencing this good news because the Lord was her shepherd while she lived on this earth.

Psalm 23 ESV

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

The reason that Linda is rejoicing in heaven today and why she was the woman she was on this earth, is because the Lord was her shepherd and she was a part of His flock of sheep! Today is a hard day as we grieve and go through the loss of a family member, friend, and church member. But today is also a day where we reflect back on the love and lessons along the way. We are able to rejoice because even in the valley of the shadow of death, God promises to walk with us. He hasn’t abandoned us. He hasn’t suddenly become unfaithful. No, He is leading us and sustaining us and He will continue to do so in the days to come.

How can we know that? A pastor was driving with his daughter to a funeral one day and they were stopped next to a semi-truck at a stop light. The nice warm sun was suddenly blocked by this truck’s shadow… the dad was trying to explain Psalm 23 to his daughter and it finally hit him. He asked his daughter, “Would you rather get hit by that semi-truck, or by its shadow?” The daughter, without hesitation, said, “It’s shadow!”

Friends and family, Jesus Christ was hit by the semi-truck of sin and death so that you and I would only be impacted by its shadow. We suffer and we grieve in this life, especially with the loss of Linda, but we don’t grieve like those who have no hope! We have eternal hope because of what Jesus has already done on the cross.

This is a tough day because we look around at the situation and there are questions and concerns and genuine confusion… but what cannot be confusing is where Linda is today. Today and in the days to come, I believe that Linda would want us to do 2 things:

Remember all the good that God has done

Remember all the good that God promises to do in the days to come

Whenever we remember Linda in the days to come, remember all that God has done in our lives and in her life. Remember the good! Remember the hope that we have in Jesus because of God’s infinitely wise plan of salvation and redemption. Remember our hope. But also look forward to God’s promise of making all things new. Remember that sin and death are temporary powers that have an expiration date. Remember that if you’re in Christ, there is no condemnation… only celebration!

Turn your eyes to Jesus and his peace and hope and promises will carry us through in the days to come. Today, we celebrate a life well lived. A life of a person whose eyes were fixed on Jesus. One who I believe was told weeks ago well done, my good and faithful servant! May we all run the race before us with our eyes fixed on that price like Linda did.

1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Notes

When was

What was Linda like?

Everybody’s opinion was that she was a faith filled women who lived her faith and shared her faith. Church was important to her. Love to sing and was always in choir and loved to praise God through song. Never married or had children but her nieces and nephews loved her and she was the rock of the Hayter family. Always sent out cards for valentines, birthdays, etc.

She was a cookie and cake woman and had 25 cooking sheets. She would have been a wonderful mom but was a great sister, friend, and aunt. Even though she wasn’t a biological mom, she was a mom to those around her.

Qualities that stand out about her?

She loved to serve and to give gifts. Whether it would be knitting a blanket or baking.

She read her bible, they were worn and marked and she studied the word of God. Her faith pulled you in, whether Christian or not.

She taught in the children ministries.

A story or two of when you think of her?

There was a time when Becki didn’t have money, her kids were going to start a group for school and she went to the store and bought the uniforms.

During her last moments, she would still serve and think of others.