Doyle’s Funeral Message

Doyle Shockley

We gather here today to celebrate the life and grieve together over the death of our loved one Doyle Shockley      

It is important on days like these to be reminded of the comfort that God provides to all.

Doyles Favorite Verse

18 “Do not call to mind the former things,

Or ponder things of the past.

19 “Behold, I will do something new,

Now it will spring forth;

Will you not be aware of it?

I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,

Rivers in the desert.[1]

Intro to the Message ==

At times like these, we are comforted by the memories of the one we loved.

It has been an honor to hear all the great stories and memories shared about Doyle, from the wonderful relationship he had with her family and friends.. Doyle loved his family. This love is not a love that is driven by obligation but of genuine authenticity. Doyle’s authentic love was seen…

(Share Personal knowing Doyle)

Doyle was truly loving. The great news for us today is that Doyle just recently made a personal decision to love God above all.  That humility, love, and kindness came from God. He gives it to all of us and what we do with it truly is a choice and Denny made that choice to shower you with love and also choose to love God.

These are the memories that I encourage you to hold onto. One of Dennys favorite verses was from John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.[2]

Today as we can know Doyle did trust and believe in Christ and has come to the father. We are able to grieve with hope

For the rest of us, Jesus gives us hope on days like these.

John 16:33

“in Me, you will have Peace” – Peace we all desire peace, even in times of dearth and loss we are reaching for some time of hope yet where is the source of our peace is the question we must all ask ourselves. Denny found her hope in Jesus and through that faith God blessed her with amazing friends and family that are here today. You see Jesus makes a promise that will last all of eternity that if we desire peace it cannot come from any worldly possession or achievement it comes from putting our faith and hope in Jesus Christ just as Denny did, Denny’s peace was not sent in all the great things she had  done and didn’t do but in her relationship with Jesus.

“You will have tribulation” – This is another promise Jesus Gives that we will face hard, difficult times where we feel there is no hope.

You see peace in Christ does not mean this life will be perfect we will face trials we will be tested, today is one of those days right now you are in a trial mourning the loss of your loved one. Denny faced tough days, just as we all do yet her life is a testimony that She chose to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior. That is what we must all do today cling to Christ.  Jesus is the only one whom we can lean on because he has overcome death for not only our sake but also for Doyle. Doyle on His mind as He died upon the cross.

“But be of Good Cheer, I have overcome the World”

What will our days be like in the future; I know that in times of death, it can be hard to think about anything but today; yet God’s word gives us hope for tomorrow. You see this passage was given to the disciples before Jesus was about to hang on the cross and die, and they would scatter and mourn Jesus’ death. But God knew that their mourning would turn to cheer because they would soon see Jesus raised from the dead!

We should mourn we should grieve, we should hurt, yet our weeping and mourning will turn to rejoicing because we know that Jesus’ death means John has everlasting life. He is with Jesus. God loves you and will use today and future moments as you think of Doyle to remind you of his great love for him and that Doyle is with him forever and therefore our mourning will turn to rejoice by the great work of God.

Jesus defeated death through his resurrection.

John 3:16

I am confident that Doyle would want everyone to know today that God loves them and God sent his son Jesus to die for us all; so that we would have everlasting life; if we would acknowledge Jesus as lord and repent from our Sins and live our lives for God and no longer live for ourselves. As Doyle did.

Today you can receive Jesus; right where you are if you will simply admit that you need him to forgive you from your sins and be the Lord of your life.

I want to encourage you all with one more thing; Though we are sad, and we are grieving, today we do not grieve as those who have no hope.

We know that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Some of us have shared through these passing years a wonderful companionship and fellowship with our faithful friend. We cherish the many blessed and hallowed memories that come to us in these moments. His faithfulness, friendship, and consecrated life will continue their radiance and testimony in our lives.

In the name of Jesus Christ whom Doyle loved we commit his body to rest, knowing that his spirit is with the Lord in His heavenly house. In so doing, we rest our hearts in fresh confidence upon the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to life through Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:21 Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

John 16:33 Prayer