Dee Harris Funeral

Prayer

Obit

Song

Here to remember Dee

Good memories of her

memories gift from God

Number of people gathered as testimony

2 things that I would like to talk to you about tonight

My wish or intention for this evening as I speak to you

to help you find peace in the middle of this time of grief and pain

To share with you one of Dee’s regular prayers and greatest wishes in her last year or so of her life

I was her pastor

she gave her life to Jesus during a womens ministry meeting after watching a film called the passion of the Christ

wouldn’t go home without making right with God

Prayed with her and talked to her during some difficult times in life

her most regular and urgent request was for her family

family is more than blood

that’s why your here

most of you are family

blood related

church family

friends who have become family

Her prayer for her family was that they would be saved

So the only way that I know to honor Dee tonight is to help you - her family- to understand what she meant and then I’ll talk about the peace that I would like to share with you

To be saved

we must understand these things and live as if we believe these things

Know that every one of us are sinners both by nature and by choice

Romans 3:23 NLT

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Romas 3:23

tells us that the payment for our sin is eternal death

this is not what happened to Dee

this is a eternal seperation from God

Dee just has a temporary seperation from us but she will be with Jesus for forever

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9–10 NLT

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

Romans 10:13 ESV

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

This is a promise from God

this is why we can begin to have some peace about Dee’s passing

we know that she is now in a better place

no pain

sorrow

The only way to be saved is through and by Jesus Christ...

Dee’s desire was that if YOU do not now Him in that way that you would come to Salvation

begin a relationship with Jesus and His people

spend time with Him

join a church

read bible

pray

hang out with other Christians

My hope for you is that you would experience something that I preached on last Sunday

Philippians 4:6–7 NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I want you to experience the peace that doesn’t make since right now...

there are a few crucial points to making this happen

1st- this is why dee wanted you to be saved

you can’t experience this peace without Jesus in your life

Trust me:

I tried pleasures that this life has to offer

something or someone to make me feel good… to no end

there is not a drink that’ll give you this kind of peace

not a pill

or any high

Some may think that I am judging you right now but it’s quite the opposite...

I’ve tried a lot of things to get the peace taht only God can give

they all fell short in the end

empty promises

That’s why dee wants you to know Jesus because she wants you to have life here with peace

we can also have that peace because of the promise that we will like Dee have the opportunity to be in heaven for eternity

ONLY IF WE HAVE PUT OUR LIVES INTO JESUS!

1st we need Jesus to find peace

it’s not found in anger, or vengence

we do not overcome evil with evil but overcome evil by doing good

loving one another

think about it for a minute

DEE forgave you for something?

opened her life up to you in an act of forgiveness

DEE gave you something because you were in need

hug

meal

drive

when we learn to love God and love people we will find peace

3. we need one another

God created us to have community

be here for one another

find the right people who will build you up and allow them to pour themselves into you as you do into them

Love Jesus

Love People

Find uplifting community