Funeral of Shelia Morris

Sheila Morris

You know, we always think we have more time, and with Sheila’s passing I am reminded the Lord has our days numbered.

The Lord knows our beginning and our ending, those dates are fixed already in His perfect will and knowledge. And while we trust the Lord, we honestly confess we don’t understand. His ways are not our ways.

This is the second time these family members have gathered for the passing of someone close to them. Death isn’t our friend.

These days are difficult, they are sad and honestly, we don’t like them.

But there is hope, Jesus is our hope!

And Jesus was Sheila’s hope! Without a doubt we know she believed and had trusted Jesus as her Savior. we saw it in her faith, we saw it in her praise and in her devotion to Him.

For some time, Sheila hasn’t been able to attend church and she confessed that she missed her church family. She missed getting to see everyone, she missed getting to sing and praise the Lord with her church family and she missed being able to teach Sunday school.

But for a minute, I want to tell you about three observations about her life.

But for a minute, I want to tell you about three observations about her life.

The first was her praise....

I always remember Sheila singing “Come now is the time to worship....”

, verse 50 says

2 Samuel 22:50 ESV

50 “For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to your name.

and then in

Psalm 30:4 ESV

4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.

She loved to sing, she loved to praise the One who is worthy to be praised. And I remind you of this that even in days like this we can praise the Lord.

Why? Because He has saved us, redeemed us from our sin and given unto us eternal life. All those who call upon the name of the Lord are saved, and Sheila was saved.

There is no doubt about that… and her love for Jesus was seen in the fact that she praised His name.

The Second is Her love for Children...

When we came here, she was teaching the 4-5 years olds in Sunday school. And she did that for many, many years.

Honestly that is not an easy age, because they have the attention span of a gnat.. they are all over the place at times, but Sheila was so patient with them, loved on those kids and even as they grew up and she wasn’t teaching, she always asked about about this child or that one that she had in class.

I am reminded of the words of

Matthew 19:14 ESV

14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Children are the most precious gift to us, outside of our salvation, we are to be thankful for children, and Shelia at one point or another had so many pass through her class room,and I call tell you, she loved everyone of them.

The third observation I can make is Her love for her family....

Shelia always talked about her family, she loved them and while there are many of you hear today I am going to just mention two of you. The first is Teresa, I know she loved you and talked about you every time I saw her. I know she loved Frankie, and they are already united together. But she loved you, bragged on you and cared for you deeply.

The second is Charlie, all she needed was her Char to make her days better. She was always bragging on Him, how good he took care of her, made sure she always had her meds, always making sure she had something to eat, just His presence with her.

She loved you Charlie. That was evident my friends...

Why was Shelia this type of person… well the answer is simple, its Jesus..

1 John 3:11 ESV

11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

Jesus taught us to love, and what a blessing it is.

You see the hope and the blessing of Shelia’s life was Jesus.

Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except by me.... Jn 14-16

John 14:1–6 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:1-6

Jesus is Hope

Just as you have believed in God, and just as you know me, keep on trusting me.

I have prepared a place for you… That where I am, you will be as well.

I am the way…

Shelia trusted him and followed, and now she is at home, at rest and in the presence of Jesus.