The Lord's Prayer

Funeral for Caroline Schmidt

Wendell Wilma Diane Family and friends, May the Peace that passes all understanding be with you today.

Last Friday when I met with you to talk about this service, I asked if there was any special verses or favorite passages that Caroline had and you said “Just the Lord’s Prayer, it meant so much to her.” 

As I thought more and more about this message I became convinced that Her favorite passage would most accurately reflect her life and bring comfort to those who knew her.

Our Father who art in heaven.

What does this mean? With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.

·        Caroline became a child of God on May 24, 1908 when the water and word were brought together in holy Baptism.  An event that she lived every day of here life as evidenced by the baptismal certificate that hung on her wall.

·        She has now joined her heavenly Father with him as it say in Job “I will see him face to face in my flesh I will see him.”

·        For all who are baptized we to have the right and privilege to call upon Our Father. Although He is in heaven, that does not mean we are all alone on earth, he sends his Spirit to comfort and guide us and remind us of his Great love in Jesus

Hallowed be Thy name.

What does this mean? God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also. God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes the name of God among us. Protect us from this, heavenly Father!

·        While Caroline desired to keep God’s name holy and keep all his commands, she also knew that she was a sinner and deserving only of his wrath and punishment.  That is why she was so grateful and thankful for Jesus and his forgiveness won on the cross.

·        No matter how hard we try to always be good and hallow the name of God, we too fall short of the glory of the Lord and are need of the forgiveness that Christ won by his death and resurrection.

Thy kingdom come.

How does God’s kingdom come? God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.

·        God’s perfect kingdom has now come for Caroline and she is at rest from all here labors.  She now sits at the heavenly banquet eating those best of meats an finest of aged wines, enjoying the meals she couldn’t in her last days here on earth.

·        God’s kingdom comes for you and I wherever two or three are gathered in his name.  It comes when we comfort one another with the hope we have in God’s reunion for believers.  It comes when we read the Bible and take communion.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

How is God’s will done? God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will.

·        God’s will was done when Christ defeated Satan and gave that victory to our dear sister.  His will was done when Caroline trusted in God and found assurance in his word. God’s will was done not in her death, but in her eternal life

·        We have assurance that God will do his will for all who believe when we read 1 Corinthians, Death where is your Victory?  Death where is your Sting…Thanks be to God that he gives us victory through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Give us this day our daily bread.

What is meant by daily bread? Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

·        Throughout her life God provided for her physical needs especially during the depression when things were hard, he even helped her find the proper wedding dress and shoes.

·        More importantly God gave her the heavenly food that never perishes or spoils His body and blood in Holy Communion.  Caroline always wanted her pastors to bring communion, a meal that forgives, strengthens and assures her of God’s enduring love.

·        God will provide our physical needs in this life, and he also gives us a better meal to sustain us until we will eat and drink anew with him in heaven.

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

What does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them. We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.

·        The forgiveness of Sins was what Caroline longed for throughout her life, while she knew God’s love, she could never hear enough how he had forgiven her by his life, death and resurrection.

·        She wanted to share this with her family in the last weeks as would say to all who would listen, “take care of each other, forgive each other and love each other.  I will love you forever and ever and ever.”

·        God has forgiven us and we have redemption in His Son.

And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil

What does this mean? God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.

·        Caroline is free from all temptation and has been delivered from evil. She live and the lord where there is no more pain or suffering, no more tears or death.  She is safely home.

·        We have that same promise of protection and deliverance when we receive the forgiveness and life that is offered to us in Christ Jesus

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

What does this mean? This means that I should be certain that these petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven, and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us. Amen, amen, which means “yes, yes, it shall be so.”

·        Caroline has the kingdom that was prepared for her when Jesus said “I go to prepare a place you that you be where I am.”  She has been reunited with Janola and Bill and all the saints in heaven.

·        We look forward to the reward that God has in store for us and being joined together with our loved ones who are now in the arms of our beloved savior. 

AMEN.

Yes, yes let it be so!!!