Juanita Willet's Funeral

Welcome/Prayer/Opening Remarks (Randy Stone)

How Great Thou Art (Louise Rhineheart)

Funeral Message (Daryl Grimes)

Opening Remarks

When I think of Sis. Juanita, one word among many comes to mind. That word is GENUINE.

Peter talked about

GENUINE FAITH

Although I could not see Sis. Juanita’s heart, the fruit her life produced spoke of her GENUINE FAITH. Genuine FAITH in the RISEN CHRIST.

1 Peter 1:3 NKJV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

It was because of her GENUINE FAITH in the RESURRECTED Christ she is experiencing a glorious inheritance this morning. Peter calls it

1 Peter 1:4 NKJV

to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

I’m sure, like all of us there were times Sis. Juanita’s faith was tested. But when GENUINE FAITH is tested it SHINES THROUGH like GOLD!

1 Peter 1:6–7 NKJV

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

Today Sis. Juanita no longer needs faith because her faith has been made sight!

1 Peter 1:8–9 NKJV

whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Peter is not the only one to speak of GENUINE FAITH. The Apostle Paul also spoke of it when he talked about Timothy, his mother Eunice, and his grandmother Lois.

2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV

when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

In this passage of Scripture the Apostle Paul was addressing a young preacher by the name of Timothy and discussed Timothy’s “GENUINE FAITH.”

The seeds of Timothy’s GENUINE FAITH were planted were planted by his grandmother...Lois; as well as his mother...Eunice.

But Timothy had a choice, of whether or not their faith would become his...thankfully it did.

When I think about the genuineness of these ladies’ (Lois & Eunice) faith, I think about the GENUINENESS of Juanita’s faith and the genuineness of her LOVE:

Her love for the Lord Jesus came across as GENUINE

Her love for her husband came across as GENUINE

Her love for her children and family came across as GENUINE

Her love for her church and church family came across as GENUINE

This GENUINE LOVE was an outgrowth of her GENUINE faith and trust in Jesus.

Lois and Eunice were not content keeping this GENUINE FAITH to themselves and neither were Pat and Juanita...

They have a desire to pass on their GENUINE FAITH...and I believe they have.

Some of you that are sitting in the room today know Sis. Juanita’s faith was CONTAGIOUS!

You can look at your faith and sincerely say, those seeds of faith were planted in my life by Juanita...maybe a child, maybe a grandchild, maybe a niece or nephew, maybe someone who was a friend of the family, or someone who became a part of her church family.

Even though Juanita didn’t pass down the seeds of her “saving faith” to me she did pass down seeds of faith in other ways:

Faith in God’s grace to get her and Bro. Pat through this difficult time in her life.

Faith in God’s grace to help her meet her marriage vows...in sickness and in health.

Faith in God’s grace to be a godly mom and grandma

Faith in God’s promises of a better day, a healthy body, a place of no more tears.

Faith in the words of Jesus who said:

John 14:1–3 NKJV

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Faith in the promise found in...

Revelation 21:4 NKJV

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Faith in the Good Shepherd:

Psalm 23 NKJV

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

As we close today we can take comfort in knowing that Sis. Juanita not only had genuine faith, but more importantly she had a GENUINE SAVIOR.

You see it wasn’t just about her faith, but it was about WHO she had faith in!

The same Jesus that she met all those years ago, that washed away her sins in His precious blood, is the same GENUINE Savior that can do the same for you.

The same One that went away to prepare a place for HER, is the same One that’s preparing a place for EVERY GENUINE believer here today, and He is ready, willing, and able to begin preparing a place for YOU too if you will turn to Him and trust Him as YOUR Lord and to take YOUR sins away as well.

We can take COMFORT in knowing Sis. Juanita knew this GENUINE Savior and she in Genuinely enjoying eternity right now with Jesus and is now in the great cloud of witnesses cheering us on to the finish line!

Closing Prayer