2024 Jessica Cruz Funeral
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Jessica’s Funeral 2024
Prayer
Psalm 46:1-2 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear…
Psalm 23 -The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul…
Psalm 25 – To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust…
Genesis 3:1-9 – Mankind is in a very situation, living with a pain, and in shame. And in this moment of crisis… they hide from God. And God calls out to them. Do God not know where they are? Yes, God knows where they are. But, His people did not know where they were.
They were hiding from their Creator. They were turning from their God. They were ashamed and in pain and they were trying to take care of it on their own…
And they can’t fix this… They can’t help themselves… They cannot save themselves…
And they are doing the worst thing possible: Turning away and hiding from God.
Where are we today?
Yes, we are at this address. But, where are we? Where are you? What is the condition of your heart and soul today? Where is your mind today? Where are you?
Our answers may be: “I am here, in pain. I am here, alone. I am here, angry. I am here, depressed, isolated, and hopeless. I am here, in shame.”
“I am here, with “what if’s and why’s.” I am here with questions. I am here confused… This is where I am.”
We need to be honest about where we are.
Because until we are honest about where we are, we are not looking for help or salvation. We are not looking forward to solutions.
This is where we are. But where do we want to be in the future? I don’t alway want to be here...
1. I want to be healthy, healed and whole.
2. I want to be with people and in good relationships with people.
3. I don’t want to be angry, depressed, confused and hopeless… in shame.
4. I want to have answers for life and for living.
It begins today, by looking to the Truth… by Turning to God.
1) We must Face the reality of the circumstances of death. We must address the reality of our feelings and emotions about the death of our loved one.
And we can begin to heal.
Honesty is necessary. This is where I am, but this is where I want to be.
God I am looking to You today. I am looking to You for answers. I am looking to You for healing.
2) Today, we understand that our grief is natural, that this pain is natural. We understand that the reason that we are here, grieving, is because we have loved… and it is right to Express our God given emotions.
Let us grieve together. And let us lean into God and one another and heal together.
1. God has created us to live forever with Him. There is this desire to live forever. There is this hope, inside of us, that there is an after life.
God has created us all in His image, to have a relationship with Him forever. Our hearts and souls were made to be satisfied with Him… And our hearts are forever restless until they rest in God.
Mankind will run to everything in this world, chasing a fulfillment… that will never come… until God satisfies their hearts with Himself.
You may be saying today: “Yes, I have tried money, toys, materials, girls and boys… I have tried drugs, and I have tried being a thug… Always in pursuit of this happiness/joy that I know exists… But I just can’t find…
You have been made by God and for God. Only God can satisfy.
Where am I? Who Am I? I am an image bearer of God, created by God and for God. I live before God today.
2. How can I have God? “I am so far away, and I do not know the way…”
You are never too far away! Everyone is separated, but not everyone knows it.
God is nearer to you than you know it… but not everyone knows it...
Sin separates us from God forever. Going your own way, and doing your own thing separates us forever. God is holy, we are not. God is good but we are not.
The bad news is everyone in the world is living there. Everyone without God is in the dark, separated from God… and is living with condemnation.
No one does good perfectly. No one is good perfectly. No one deserves to be with God and to have heaven. Everyone goes their own way to do their own thing…
Until… God speaks to their hearts…
You may be where you are. But there is a God who is calling out and HE will take you to where you and He wants you to be.
You may be hiding, in shame, in guilt and condemnation… You may be here with questions and doubts, fears and concerns…
But when God speaks to your heart: “Where are you?”
There is your invitation to cry out in honesty. There is your moment to open your mouth and confess where you are… So that God will meet you where you to take you to where He is.
The moment you open your mouth and confess where you are and your need for God to help you… to save you… God will bring you to Himself.
“God, I am lost, I am in the dark, I am miserable… I have I am trying to do this life my own way, I have always done my own way, and I have done my own thing… And I am here… I am here to do your way. I need saving. I need a Savior. I need your help. I need your answers.”
“Go I am here… and I am hurting… I am so confused… I need answers… I need help...”
Then God provides for us the Way.
3. Jesus Christ, comes into the world to die for our sins and to bring us to the Father.
Jesus Christ, lived a human life on planet earth. He knows our temptations and struggles. He knows pain. He knows your emotions. He knows grief.
And He is the One who dies for your sins, took your place and your penalty. Three days later, He comes back to life, proving to be everything that He professed to be… and then He ascended into heaven… and it is there that He calls out to His people, prays for His people… and it is there that He waits for you…
John 14 – Do not let your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places… I go to prepare a place for you.
Jesus says, that until we see Him… He will give us the Holy Spirit… and He will help us. Jesus says that He will not leave us as orphans… HE will come back for us, and He will help us everyday… until we see Him face to face.
He is a Savior that will never leave us or forsake us. He will be with us forever.
So we should not fear.
And for those who are here, who live in Christ… Who follow Christ… Who are children of God...
You can walk with Him and talk with Him today. He will teach you His Word, the Bible, and He will answer your questions, and comfort your souls with His presence.
He will fill your lives with Him. He will give you your purpose and meaning for life. And HE will be the Anchor for your souls… when you are crushed and saddened.
Like today...
I have lost family members, and I still grieve to this day. Because they loved me and I have loved them.
None of them were perfect. No one is. But they loved me and I have loved them.
No one is going to be perfect. No one is going to the perfect Christian. No one will grieve perfectly, or have all the perfect answers…
There is only One who is perfect… And HE died and lives for you today.
If you were perfect… Jesus would not have had to come. But He came to die for all of His people… Because all of us need Him...
How can I make it to heaven? By Christ alone.
Where are you? Can we be honest today with ourselves and with God?
I did not have the pleasure to know Jessica… and I cannot preach her into eternity…
But what would she say today?
I believe that she would say… Call out to the Lord before it is too late. Be honest, be humbled, and cry out while you still can.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.
Believe on the Lord Jesus and be made whole.
Turn to Him today, learn from Him, and trust Him...
For friends and family here today: How can we help?
How can I help this family?
Pray. Just be there. Send a card. Make a phone call. Take them a meal. Be ready to listen.
As a pastor, I am here to help you, to listen to you and to counsel you with the Word of God, and to love you for Christ.
May we all turn to Christ today. And may we all experience His healing touch.
Pray.