My Shepherd: Freddie Garner Memorial Service
Notes
Transcript
Our service today, the music and the Scriptures were prepared by Freddie 3 years ago. He prepared this service just in case anything might happen during his shoulder surgery. He didn’t do so because he was afraid to die, but rather he prepared out of care and concern for others, for a wife, children, grandchildren. Even to the very last moment, Charles Freddie Garner was prepared to care.
Not surprisingly he chose one of the all time favorite Scriptures that brought him comfort and joy in life, hoping that it would do the same for you today. Freddie chose Psalm 23 for us for today.
Psalm 23 is a great Scripture for today. It is as much Word of God to encourage as it is a witness to us of faith in our Lord.
The LORD, of all creation, the almighty maker of heaven and earth, the ONE who determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name, David declares, The LORD is MY shepherd.
He is the LORD…who created you, Isaiah writes, who commands our hearts, to "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1 (NIV)
On May 27, 1979 Freddie was baptized and confirmed his faith publicly in Christ the good Shepherd. Ever since that day, Charles Freddie Garner has been a part of Christ’s flock, confessing along with David, The Lord is my shepherd.
Now the rest of the Psalm speaks of the watchfulness, provision, and the abundant care, which the Good Shepherd provides to His flock to every lamb who puts their trust in His promises and lives in obedience to the good shepherd, Jesus Christ.
These who believe, They shall not want. For when the Triune God is their shepherd, Paul declares, they do not “…put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV)
Philippians 4:19 (NIV) 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
He is the good shepherd, who knows His sheep. He knows their every need. He knows their weaknesses and fears. His sheep, Christ the Shepherd announces,
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no-one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no-one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
He's the good shepherd. He cares for the sheep.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
Sunday after Sunday, Freddie, and Sue, embraced the Shepherds invitation, to
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
“Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
Each week he found strength, faith, and hope, knowing that this good shepherd is God, exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
earth."
he restores my soul.
When the stills storms came on the horizon, THIS shepherd calms His flock and restores their souls.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
He offers true restoration from sin, that is an answer to the prayers of His sheep.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Guiding and leading His flock by His Word
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.
His Word’s of promise bring life to the darkest moments of our lives…
Psalm 23:4-6 (NIV) 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
We trust the words of Christ, our good shepherd, who week after week, speaks to our hearts His blessed assurance of forgiveness at His table
"This is my body… this is my blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.
That same Lord Jesus Christ, promised Freddie, all who came and come in faith to His table with believing hearts, that…
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:54 (NIV)
We trust in Christ’s promises because everything He told His disciples came true…
"We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise." Mark 10:33-34 (NIV)
We trust Jesus, the Son of Man, because He offered Himself for us and demonstrated not only His love for us, but that He keeps His word and promises. On Easter morning the Son rose from the dead, just as He promised, and how He everyone who believes…
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. John 11:25-26 (NIV)
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. John 11:25-26 (NIV)
And for us today, this Shepherd promised, in Revelation 21 to…
“…wipe every tear from their eyes…no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:1-4 (NIV)
WE can trust this Good Shepherd, this Son of God, who said…
In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. John 14:2 (NIV)
That’s why through the tears we can rejoice with one another for Freddie, dad, grandpa, and why we don’t have to worry about eternity for ourselves, but rather we can look forward to the Father's house with has many rooms promised and prepared by the Good Shepherd Jesus, I have a place prepared for you, and one day we, who trust the Son, will join with, Freddie, dad, grandpa, and all the faithful in Christ, in everlasting life in Jesus’ name.
Remember that God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:18 NIV
And the One who came to save the world promised:
Matthew 28:20 “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
"They shall never perish..."
That's why today is a day of tear-filled joy and hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 (NIV) 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
That is the faith and hope in which Freddie was baptized and lived and we rejoice in the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord, our Shepherd.