Graveside Funeral for Charles Franks 1/10/21

Graveside Funeral for Charles Franks

Jesus said, I am the resurrection and I am life.

Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I hold the keys of hell and death.

Because I live, you shall live also.

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We have gathered here today in God's presence as family and friends,,, to praise God and to witness to our faith,,, as we celebrate the life of Charles Franks, Sr., 74, of McLaurin, MS.

He died Thursday, January 7, 2021.

Mr. Franks was Manager of South MS Public Water Authority and former owner of Magnolia Glass Company.

He was a member of the Baptist faith.

He is survived by his wife, Sue Franks of McLaurin, MS; one son, Charles Franks, Jr. of McLaurin, MS; one daughter, Vicky Franks and her husband Charles Rodgers of McLaurin, MS; one sister, Barbara Smith of Gautier, MS; one brother, Ernest Franks of Gautier, MS; one grandchild and two great-grandchildren.

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We also come together in grief this afternoon,,, acknowledging our human loss.

May God grant us grace,,, that in pain we may find comfort,,, in sorrow,,, we find hope,,, and in death,,, we have the promise of resurrection.

Prayer - Let us pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,,, As we come before you this afternoon,,, we thank you for our many blessings. At the same time,,, we ask for comfort for all of us,,, the family and friends gathered here today. Help us through this service this afternoon Lord as only You can,,, in Jesus' precious name we pray,,, Amen

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Charles,,, as I said earlier,,, was 74 years old,,, when he passed from this life,,, to life eternal.

He was my brother-in-law,,, but for those of you that knew him,,, you know that he was much more than that to me,,, and he was much more than just,,, "any one thing",,, to so many of you as well!

He was always ready to help others and he did the best that he could to accomplish that.

If he could come back here today,,, he would still try to do the best for you that he could do.

Just as he has done in the past.

That's why we wanted to read this Psalm for you today.

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Psalm 4 (KJV 1900) —

1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. 3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: The LORD will hear when I call unto him. 4 Stand in awe, and sin not: Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD. 6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, Lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, More than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: For thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this afternoon.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord,,, as we begin this afternoon,,, with all that are here today,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen.

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This psalm begins with a plea to God,,, to hear his prayer,,, since He has given him relief in the past.

What a blessing it is,,, to be able to go to God in prayer knowing that He has answered us in the past.

That give us the confidence that we need to be able to get through anything that we are going through today because of our faith from previous answered prayers.

In this psalm he is being persecuted unjustly and wants to know how long they will continue,,, but then he tells them that with God on his side,,, they will not prevail in their efforts.

It's the same for us today,,, whatever we are going through,,, if we have God as our Lord and Savior,,, nothing can prevail against us without God allowing it.

Which means that not every prayer that we ask for will be answered in the way that we want,,, but we do have the assurance that it will be in our best interest.

And we see that as this prayer ends,,, that he can lie down and sleep in peace,,, knowing that God will keep him safe!

So,,, for those of you that are Christians,,, days like today aren't the end.

They really should be a day of celebration,,, since their troubles on earth are over.

But I know from experience that we don't really want our loved ones to leave us so I know there is always sadness associated with death.

But it's a sadness that can be overtaken by the knowledge that our loved ones are at peace with Jesus now even though we miss them terribly.

That's why a lot of times so much emphasis is put on the ones that are in attendance.

And I'm sure that if he could get word back to us today,,, he would want us to be sure that we have made our commitment to Jesus Christ.

We as Christians know that there is only one way to heaven and Jesus gives us the road map where He says that “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Again,,, if you don't know Jesus,,, this may be hard to understand,,, but like Thomas,,, telling Jesus that he didn't understand the way that Jesus was talking about,,, you just have to ask,,, and really be sincere,,, and you will receive an answer through the Holy Spirit that you can understand.

The Spirit will keep nudging you and guiding you into a right relationship with God that will give you the peace of God that will help you to get through any problem that this world throws at you!

That's one of the most wonderful things about our Savior,,, is the fact that He is always trying to get our attention and make us realize that we need Him to fully have peace in this world today.

God wants all to live in eternity in heaven with Him,,, but it's up to us to decide,,, no-one can make that decision for you.

That's why that I know he would tell us today,,, to be sure that we are making the right choices.

Choices that will change our life forever!

Choices that usually we don't think about,,, but the loss of a loved one can make us realize that our time on earth is short.

A choice that decides whether your eternity is spent in heaven or hell.

He would tell you your choice should be,,, to put your trust in Jesus,,, confess your sins and ask for forgiveness,,, ask Him to come into your heart and live for Him,,, because it's only through Jesus that we will ever see heaven.

Because Jesus said that: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

And that's all the directions,,, we should ever need!

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Let's bow our heads in our closing prayer,,, and as I end the first part of the prayer,,, please join me as we end with the Lord's prayer together.

Almighty God, as you once called our brother Charles Franks, Sr. into this life,,, so now you have called him into life everlasting.

We therefore commit him to the elements. In the hope of resurrection unto eternal life, through the promise of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we faithfully and victoriously give him over to your blessed care. You have shared with us the life of Charles - Before he was ours,,, he is yours. For all that Charles has given us to make us what we are,,, for that of him which lives and grows in each of us,,, and for his life that in your love will never end,,, we give you thanks. As now we offer Charles back into your arms,,, comfort us in our loneliness,,, strengthen us in our weakness,,, and give us courage to face the future unafraid. Draw those of us who remain in this life closer to one another,,, make us faithful to serve one another,,, and give us to know that peace and joy,,, which is eternal life,,, We ask these things in Jesus's name,,, who taught us to pray, by saying together:

Our Father, which art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever.

Amen.

Prayer of dismissal:

Now to the One who is able to keep you from falling,,, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of God's glory with rejoicing,,, to the only God our Savior,,, through Jesus Christ our Lord,,, be glory,,, majesty,,, power,,, and authority,,, before all time and now and forever. Amen