Carol Houser Funeral

Welcome & Statement of Purpose

On behalf of the family, I would like to welcome you all here today, and to express their deep sense of appreciation for your presence. We are here today to reflect upon the life of Carol, but also to seek God’s comfort for our souls and also His glory.

Ecclesiastes 3:1–13 ESV

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.

Prayer

Old Testament Readings

Psalm 138:3–8 ESV

On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Psalm 121 ESV

A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

Psalm 40 ESV

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me! Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, Aha!” But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!” As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!

Psalm 23 KJV 1900

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

New Testament Readings

John 3:16–18 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 11:25–26 ESV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Romans 8:26–39 ESV

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 1:3–14 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Matthew 5:3–11 ESV

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

This is the Word of God. May it continue to provide it God’s comfort and nourish our souls.

Eulogy

Carol Ann Houser was born over 74 years ago in Bethlehem, PA. This, of course was just after World War 2, and life in Bethlehem, in many ways, at that time was centered on Bethlehem Steel. The company was the number 2 producer of steel in the country and had been a major supplier of steel for both world wars. Bethlehem was a working man’s town, and Carol would come to reflect this work ethic in her own life. Carol’s children, Allen, Tracey and Terrianne can attest to the fact that while their mom’s life included a significant amount of adversity, the adversity itself would not come to be the dominant descriptor of their life as a family. You see, Carol was a determined and hard-working mother. Truth be told, Carol and her kids did not have and abundance of wealth. But they got by day-to-day because Carol worked hard. She worked 3 jobs at times to provide for her kids. And though she did not have an abundance of wealth, she was known to be a very generous woman. Always willing to give what she could to those who were in need. As she was described to me, she has such a big heart and was always willing to help anyone in need if she was able.

And Carol’s generosity was felt perhaps among no one more strongly that her family. Carol loved her family. Of course she loves her children and her step-children Melissa and Matthew. And as much as her own children, she regarded her in-law children as her own. She enthusiastically welcomed her children’s spouses into the family, and had a gift of making them feel at home. And as I am sure it will not surprise anyone to hear, Carol loved being a grandmom. 12 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, grandmom loved you all very much. Grndmom attended the baseball games and foot ball games and the other events in which her grandchildren were participating. If she could, she would be there. As I listened to Carol’s daughters share their thoughts about her, what stood out to me how family-centered she was. When it came to family gatherings, she wanted the whole family to be there. If someone in the family couldn’t be there, she noticed. This was particularly evident after her son Troy passed away. Carol was not unacquainted with loss. In addition to the loss of her son, she also experienced the loss of her grandson, Kyle. But in addition to her children and grandchildren, she had the loving support of her husband Jeffrey. Carol and Jeffrey were married for over 23 years. I’m told after Kyle’s passing, Carol and Jeffrey would go together to what became known as Kyle’s Corner. They would spend time cleaning up and making it look nice. They were partners and lived their lives together.

As I mentioned, Carol worked hard. She was an office manager for auto dealerships, but more recently she was a bus aide for Bethlehem Area School District. This particular role fits right in with who she was. Someone who worked hard, was family oriented and generous. She was known among those with whom she worked as a loving and caring woman. She had a big heart, she loved people and the people who knew her loved her.

Carol spent the last week of her life in the hospital in the company of some of her family. She was troubled. Her daughter tells me that Carol was saying, I just keep praying”. And what she was praying is that she would live. She had too much to do, and she wanted to be there for her family, particularly for her grandkids. Terrianne lovingly and wisely responded to her mom that it’s not always God’s will to get better here, but if we put our trust in Jesus you will be made new. Now before I share what happened next, I want us to hear what God’s word says about what Terrianne was conveying to her mom.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (ESV)

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

I want us to note a few things here:

It is right for us to grieve the loss of loved ones. There is no doubt that when you and I loose someone in this life, it is difficult, and we should not pretend otherwise. Death is difficult.

There is a difference between gospel grieving and worldly grieving, and the difference centers on hope. Again, Paul says, about those who are asleep.... we do not grieve as others do who have no hope. Why would the idea of hope come up in response to the death of a loved one. Where do we find hope in our grief that comes from loss. It’s not a feeling. It’s not primarily an emotion. It is a belief. It is a conviction. It is faith in the truth, the gospel which proclaims that

Jesus died and

Jesus rose again

Why did Jesus die? Because God is completely holy and cannot be in the presence of sin. And an honest look at ourselves and everyone around us leads us to conclude that we are not perfect. We are not holy as God is holy. We are, in other words, sinners. And our sin prevents us from having peace with God. And the only way for our sin to be dealt with was through sacrifice. Blood needed to be shed in order for us to be forgiven. And it is in the fact that Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for the forgiveness of His people’s sin that we see the dawn of hope. This hope is real. This hope is certain because Jesus died and His death accomplished its purpose. The appeasement of the wrath of God and the forgiveness of His people’s sins. And how do we know that His death accomplished all of this? Jesus, 3 days after dying on the cross, rose from the dead. Jesus is alive everyone! His resurrection displayed that sin is not the victor. Jesus defeated sin, and you know what else Jesus’ resurrection prevailed over? Death.

1 Corinthians 15:55 ESV

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

A rhetorical question. Death has no victory for those who are in Christ. Death’s sting is not felt by those who are now in the presence of the resurrected Christ. We feel the sting of death here. We feel the sting of Carol’s death, but she doesn’t. Being in the presence of the Savior means no more pain. No more tears. No more suffering. This is real certain hope. And when this reality inform our grieving, our grieving becomes gospel grieving. Still painful because loss is painful, but hopeful because Jesus is alive.

c. Jesus is coming back

we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.

Jesus will return, and though we do not known when, His return is certain, and all those who are in Christ, both dead and alive will be goatherd to Him, and there will be a reunion of sorts, and while seeing loved ones again will bring joy, what will be far more joyous is being in the presence of Jesus our Savior, our King, our God.

But now back to what happened following the exchange between Terriane and Carol. In the hospital. Terrianne, like many times before, shared the gospel with Carol that day. The next day, something had changed. Carol went from being anxious and worried to being at peace. No pain meds, no sedation, but at peace. They began to talk about the conversation they had the previous day, and Carol said, Yes, I love Jesus will all my heart.” Certainly there was a mixture of sadness and hope, but now there was peace.

And so where do we find hope today? Where do we find peace in the midst of such a trying life? In Christ. In the gospel. In the fact tht Jesus, died, that Jesus rose and that Jesus is returning one day. This is where we find salvation.

Isaiah 12:2 ESV

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

I urge us all, look to Jesus. It is only in Him that true and lasting hope and peace can be found.

Prayer

We will conclude our time together today at Cedar Hill Memorial Park in Allentown at the interment service.