Amy Fleming Celebration of Life

Meditation:

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Obituary Reading

Amy Marie Fleming of Osage, IA went to be with the Lord on April 20th, 2017 at 11:07 P.M. Amy was born May 23rd, 1969 in Poplar Bluff Missouri, to Arthur Byers and Ida Byers. Amy was a dedicated wife, and mother, not only to her children but to all the kids that ran through her home. Amy enjoyed gatherings with her family and friends, worship with her family in Christ, social media games, and being ornery to those she loved.

Amy is survived by her husband Chris Fleming, sons Matt and Jeff True, sisters, Laura L Fritzee and Suzee Meusel, brothers Randy Knight and Justin Byers and many grandchildren, nephews and nieces.

Amy was preceded in death by her father Arthur Byers.

Let us pray

Eternal Father, we offer thanks for your word which is a light in our hour of darkness. May we hear its truth and may it bring us light and hope now and in the time to come.

(Now in celebration of Amy we are going to take a few minutes and enjoy Amy’s favorite part of service, worship. If you can please stand and celebrate the Victory of Jesus as Amy is celebrating with us in the presence of the Lord.)

Worship- Justin

Scripture Reading

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NLT

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.

Romans 8:28–39 NLT

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Time for Sharing

Justin’s Special

Sermon -

1 Corinthians 13:1–7 NLT

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

As I read these verses I am reminded of Amy.

Amy was not a loud Christian, during worship she was not the type to raise her hands, shout, or even sing very loud.

Amy expressed her faith in a different way. She expressed her faith through love.

I watched Amy interact with her children and Chris.

I saw patience when Jeff or Matt would make foolish childhood mistakes.

I saw her kindness when she would take children in that were not hers and treat them like they were. Sean C. Kyle W. Even the night she passed she was watching a couple little children.

Amy expressed kindness to everyone, she never judge them by their outward appearance. She just accepted you in and loved you.

Amy was one of the most humble people I have ever met. When she did boast it was about her sons, grandchildren, and Chris the love of her life.

I witnessed how Amy would love her children when others gave up on them. She never gave up on Jeff or Matt. No matter how many mistakes they may have made she never gave up.

And it was that love of hers that empowered her boys to overcome, to press forward.

Amy was so full of the love of God. Her worship may not have been loud but her life was full of worship. Amy lived the great commandment.

To love God with all she was and to love her neighbor, children, husband, family, church, strangers, and yes even enemies.

Today I want to give you all a little comfort. I want you to understand what Amy knew deeply in her heart.

Paul tells us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

Today Amy is with the Lord Jesus.

But that is not the end of Amy’s story.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NLT

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.

A day is coming when Jesus will return.

Heaven and Earth will collide and become one.

And on that day Amy will rise. Physical Resurrection.

We mourn today but we like Amy have this promise.

All those in Christ will rise in a physical form to rule and play on a recreated earth.

No more pain, no more diabetes, no more digestive problems, no heart issues. Full of health and vigor. You think she was ornery now, you just wait.

Revelation 21:1–4 NLT

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Chris, Matt, Jeff, I will not lie to you. You will not just get over this. And time does not heal all wounds.

Over time you will learn to get on with your lives, but there will be times when your heart will mourn for your wife and your mom.

But have heart and have faith.

For a day is coming when God will wipe the tears from your eyes.

Death will be no more, no more sorrow or pain.

Your wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend is resting with the Lord but that is not the end of her story.

She will rise and you will be reunited.

I know Amy desires to see you all again. I also know that she desires for you all to find the hope, love and acceptance that she found in Jesus.

If Amy could say one thing to us today it would be this.

Jesus loves you and so do I.

Hymn- Cindy Sutake

Benediction

We believe there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus: and we know that in everything God works for good those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. We are sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen

Dismiss - Family first