Mother Alston Eulogy

To the family, fellow church members, and friends of Gloria Dean Alston.Thi . . . I have some comments, an encouragement, and a n important notice

Comments

It was never said, but I think it was understood that for my wife and I who both sets of our parents have already gone to be with the Lord, the Alstons were considered our 2nd parents.

And throw in the fact, that she was officially the Church Mother of World Missionary Baptist Church, I considered that Gloria Dean Alston was my not only my cousin but my Mother Cousin. And she often called me her Pastor cousin.

Just like it is mentioned in the obituary, my first impression of meeting my cousin over 20 years ago when I was Deacon Caver was “wow, she has a sharp tongue and an amazingly quick wit.”

As time passed and I got to know her better, I learned that behind that quick wit was a person serious about growing in Christian character . . . .Her transparency was refreshing

she would often apologize if that quick wit went too far. She would say, “Pastor cousin, the Lord chastised me for what I said the other day to so and so, would you pray for me that I can control this tongue of mine”

or she would share with me about an interaction she had with someone and say, “Pastor cousin, I Know I have come a long way, for the Lord shut my mouth and did now allow me to say what I was thinking, cause what I was thinking was real ugly”

Mother cousin would even admit wrong motives, “Pastor Cousin when I did such and such because it was the right thing to do, but my heart wasn’t right, I had to ask the Lord to forgive me” . . .

As time passed and I got to know her better, I learned that behind the quick wit was a talented comedian with a heart of gold. I could count on her to make me laugh and I could count on her to be a blessing.

If she could help an individual member of the church she would

she fully supported the ministries, programs, and projects of the church

even while in the hospital, she gave me some money to give to the youth

she was a person who listened to the voice of the Lord

over 20/25 years ago, my wife and I had moved into a new house, and the financial people miscalculated the property taxes, so our actual mortgage payment was about $500 more than expected . . . at the same time my wife was laid off her job . . . and we fell behind on our payments

They didn’t know anything about our troubles but the she and her husband showed up at our door with $1000, just in time. They said the Lord told them we needed it.

When I became the pastor about 10 years ago, She would encourage me

Pastor cousin I love you

Pastor cousin you are doing a marvellous job

Pastor cousin, keep on serving the Lord

Every hospital visit, right before leaving I would take her hand and pray for her and say amen . . . but before I could let go of her hand, she would grab my hand tighter and pray for me

After her very last sermon, a young lady accepted christ based on what Mother Alston said that morning

that’s just a small percentage of what my mother cousin Gloria Dean Alston means to me, and I thank God for putting us into each other’s lives.

The Encouragement

God inspired King David to write:

Psalm 34:1 NASB95

1 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

this was one of her favorite scriptures; she exemplified this verse

She brought her own fire to church

she was one of those members who came to church excited about God and excited about being among God’s people

the praise team did not have to sing her favorite song in order for her to bless the Lord

the preacher did not have to preach like Paul, in order for her to praise God

She came through the door with a praise on her lips

whether she walked in or came in a wheel chair

she was going to bless the Lord at all times

Mother cousin didn’t mind calling me in the wee hours of the morning to discuss some of the problems in her life

she would be in tears a she told me a problem but follow it with “but God is so good”

she would be hurt about an particular issue, but follow that with “but I know the Lord loves me and He will see my through”

she would share something that was weighing her down, but finish with, “but I know I just have to trust in the Lord”

and then we would pray together and by the end of the call she would be filled with joy, and she would thank me for making her feel better, but in reality she had preached herself happy, in reality she had encouraged HERSELF in the Lord . . .

All I was saying was: you’re right . . . God is good . . . .yes, he will see you through . . . we can trust him . . . . amen Mother!

Even when she was going through the storms of life, she would bless the Lord at all times!

but what about us?

We are in a time

the Bible says there’s a time and season for everything

and today we are in a time of mourning, we are missing our loved one: the wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, Aunt, Church Mother . . . missing my mother cousin

In THIS time, in a time like this . . . How can we bless the Lord at all times? When I am hurting, how can praise continually be in my mouth?

The key words are at . . all . . . times . .

these three words say more about God than they say about King David’s determination to praise him

these three words reveal more about God than they say about Mother Alston’s dedication to worshipping him

for it was God’s consistency that allowed King David to be consistent in blessing him

for it was God’s faithfulness that allowed Mother Alston to faithfully praise him

for the times may change, the seasons may change, but God remains the same . . . HE is the one who is, who was, and is to come

Those early morning phone calls from Gloria Dean Alston have already given us the answer:

She would say God is good all the time

just because I am hurting doesn’t mean that God is not good

just because I am in trouble doesn’t mean that God is not good

just because it’s raining, does not mean that the sun is not shining behind the clouds

I can bless God at all times because he is good all the time

She also said, I know he loves me . . . she understood that God loves with an everlasting love . . . that means that God loves us all the time . . . that means that God loves us continually

and I can bless God at all times because he loves me at all times . . . he loves me through the good and the bad . . . ups and the downs

She also said, I just have to trust Him . . . she understood that she could trust him . . . all the time

she understood that he is an all wise God . . . all the time

she understood that he knows what he is doing . . . all the time

she understood that though his ways are not our ways, that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life . . . all the time

and since she could trust him at all times, she could bless him at all times

Family be encouraged, WMBC be encouraged, you are hurting, grieving, and mourning . . .

but even in this time God is good

even in this time God loves you

even in this time God can be trusted . . .

so do like Glorida Dean and praise Him

do like Mother Cousin and bless him

and say, I will bless the LOrd at all times, he praise shall continually be in my mouth

and lastly

an important notice

I love Coke-Cola, and they used to have a slogan, “Coke, the real thing” . . .and it was the real thing

a few years back they came out with Coke Zero

original formula but no sugar, and no calories

so it was not coke, it was a substitute

I could tell the difference because I drank the real coke for a long time, but it was the closest thing I had found

so I began to drink Coke Zero and mix it with real coke (50/50) . . . I made my own mix . . . so I was not drinking the real thing, but it tasted like it

and as I got use to the taste, I began to drink just the coke zero

funny thing is that a little while ago, I got a real coke, the real thing, and didn’t like the taste . . . .I have been drinking the false stuff for so long, that I don’t want the real thing anymore

and my important notice is this: a lot of people have done the gospel, the good news of Christ the same way, substituted gospel zero for the real thing

or some people have been putting falsehoods together with the real gospel message . . . they’ve made their own mix . . . but that mix is not the real thing

For example: There is life beyond the grave - true . . . . but to say that you can choose whatever path is comfortable for you - false, that’s your own mix

The Bible says that there is only one name under heaven wherby we must be saved . . .JEsus the Christ

God loves everyone -true (real gospel, real thing). . . so everyone goes to heaven - false (50/50), that’s a mix

The Bible says whosever CALLS on the name of the Lord shall be saved, you have to call on him to be your Lord and savior

Just come to God as you are - true, come to God in whatever state youare . . . but to stay as you are with no intention of trying to live holy, that’s false, that’s a mix,

Romans 12:2 KJV 1900

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

and then some have stopped mixing the false with the true, and just go with full false, full gospel zero

when I die, I will just become one with the universe, or just come back as someone else

The bible says, it is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgment

IF you want to see Gloria Dean Alston again don’t be deceived by false doctrines and narratives:

it doesn’t matter that you are used to the flavor and feel of gospel zero . . . it’s not the real thing

it doesn’t matter that a lot of the world likes gospel zero: the only way that eternal judgment will turn out in your favor

is believing that God loved you so much that he sent his son Jesus Christ for you . . . believing that he lived and then suffered, bled, and died on the cross for you sins, and rose on the third day . . . .repenting of those sins, and accepting that same Jesus as Savior and Lord of your life

if you have gospel zero, then this IS your final goodbye

but if If you have the real gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ, then this is not a final goodbye, but a temporary separation:

This is, I’ll see you later . . . . . till we meet again