Joyce Marie Gillihan

May 24, 2022

Text Pro.31:10-31

Proverbs 31:10–31 NKJV

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants. She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet. She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: “Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.

Today we celebrate Joyce’s home-going to glory. I want to thank her family for the priviledge to officiate her memorial. Welcome to all of you that are here to celebrate her life. I got acquainted with Joyce at our church’s Saturday Night Singings’ held each month until covid hit. She and Ed were faithful to attend and enjoy the meal and fellowship together.

Joyce was a born-again believer in our Lord Jesus Christ and when she passed away a few days ago she entered into rest.

As we look at the Bible text today that is describing a virtuous woman which literally means “good” Solomon would probably know about women, afterall, he had over 700 wives and concubines.

I want to share some of Joyce’s secrets about her life today. It will help us to see how much she loved people and how much she cared for her family.

Joyce was a hard worker, picking pecans (Terry) is not an easy task. Joyce was a provider, she was a loving wife to Ed. Keith told me she enjoyed going to garage and rumage sales. He said she would give him all kinds of clothes to wear.

The virtuous woman liked to sew, crochet, knit, and make quilts for her family. Those are great gifts because a lotta love went into making them.

Joyce loved to cook especially on holidays. Her granddaughters told me that she made sausage cake that was delicious. Joyce held her family together by preparing meals for them. On One particular Christmas holiday, she did not cook, pulled up in the drive but did not get out of the car, and then drove to the casino!

She was young at heart. Joyce was a Card Shark. She loved playing card games and having fun spending time with her family. Folks, do things together with you’re family, because time is short and the memories last for a lifetime.

Joyce enjoyed gardening and like to fish for crappie. Ladies, Men love women who like to fish and especially if they clean em and cook em.

Gospel Presentation

I mentioned earlier that Joyce was a Christian and that she love others, she loved the church, she loved Gospel music. She did not hear very well when preachers preached, but she loved the music because it would be loud enough for her to hear it.

The most important decision Joyce ever made in her life was trusting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Let me share a couple of scriptures with you today that will help us with our grief.

When a christian dies physically, they’re souls enter into the presence of God. Apostle Paul wrote: to be absent in the body is to be in the presence of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:1–17 NKJV

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.