Deanna Horvath Funeral Service

14 years ago, I was candidating at the Indian River Baptist Church in Edgewater to become the next pastor, and when I arrived I met this really crazy guy there, and Bro. Dave didn’t make a lot of sense to me until I met this woman named Deanna— a Marine....and from that moment on, it all started making a lot more sense to me!

I’ve been Deanna’s pastor now for 14 years. And I want to go on the record by saying that it is people like Deanna that make the ministry both possible and pleasurable. I remember the day, about a year into our relationship with the Horvaths, that Dave came up to me after church and said, “Sir, you’re good now. She likes you.” And you have to know that that statement came from a heart which had been hurt by others— a heart that was guarded, but also from a heart, which, once opened, would give and give in love and grace.

To say it quite simply, she loved and supported both me and my entire family. And this afternoon, I want to follow the advice laid out in Scripture in I Timothy 5 where Paul notes,

I Timothy 5:1-3: “Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. Honour widows that are widows indeed.”

So, for a few moments, I want to talk about our mother, Deanna, and what made her great, to give her, as Solomon noted,

Proverbs 31:31: “...of the fruit of her hands; And let her own works praise her in the gates.”

started the school

she kept Moriah two days a week, Ms. Hilton kept her the other two days

one of our first years, before tuition money came in, she helped to front the cost of curriculum

Deanna was really honest, so if you didn’t want the truth, please don’t ask her!

she often tell me I didn’t match

Santa Clause

soulwinning

Jeff Gordon

her mother-in-law

on a Saturday— Dave was weed whacking in the ditch

D came out of the house with her Bible in hand

She said, “The Lord had me turn off the race; I’m going to see Mom— because I believe that she’s going to get saved today!”

Mom Horvath was in a hospital bed

Not long after, Ms. D passed back thru the yard with the news— “Your mom just got saved!”

That was a Saturday…she died on Monday

but her truth was also protective- like the time she warned me about a younger women who was not my wife- of whom Deanna had concern because she did not like the way the women looked at me— because that’s what mothers do

What more can we said about her amazing life? Unlike other, I don’t have to try to preach her into Heaven… I don’t have to persuade you of how good a person she was…I don’t have to sugarcoat her character. She was a bold and courageous Christian which had placed her faith in Jesus Christ alone…so what can I say from God’s Word about her?

II Timothy 4:6-8: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

This passage has been called Paul’s hope in death

What was Paul’s hope?

His Deployment- He was ready

offered- a drink offering— poured out

departure- a loosing; releasing from; retirement

Her first hospitalization 2 1/2 years ago, we weren’t sure if she was going to make it, and I remember that Bro. Dave was emotional, but she was having none of it— so, she looked at him from that bed, and said, “David, you need to get over yourself! I’m going Home and you’ll be fine about it!”

These last few weeks have had their joys, too. Two weeks ago, I was at the hospital to see her, and we were talking about church, and she said, “I’m really going to miss church.” And Dave said, “You mean, this Sunday?” And she said, “No, when I get to Heaven.” Now, Dave is incredulous, and he says to her, “Wait, you are going to be with the Lord in Heaven— and you’re saying you are going to miss our church?” She said- yes, I love our church— and, as it should, it reminded her of that endless day when for all of eternity we will praise our wonderful Lord.

Of this passage, FB Meyer noted: “The time had come for him to go on board the good ship which was waiting in the offing to sail at sunset for its port of glory. He was a veteran who had fought valiantly and successfully- keeping the faith as in the old Roman story the heroes kept the bridge. But he was soon to be relieved. The crown at the end of the course was already in sight. He was lonely— only Luke is with me— He needed to be ministered unto— take Mark— but his courage was unabated. Demas might forsake, but Christ failed not.

She was ready!

His Decorum- He was faithful

This whole passage unfolds in light of Paul’s opening charge in this chapter. He is leaving for Heaven and Timothy is staying behind. The rabbi is departing— and the understudy must take over. The general is leaving the battlefield— the soldiers must march on. The mother has left for Glory and her children must take up her cause. So, Paul notes to Timothy—

I have fought a good fight

I have finished my course

I have kept the faith

His Decoration-He was going to be rewarded

the crown of righteousness

what you and I can win for Christ

Crowns in the Bible:

crown of life- James 1:12: “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

crown of glory- I Peter 5:4: “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

crown of righteousness- II Timothy 4:8: “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

incorruptible crown- I Corinthians 9:25: “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”

crown of rejoicing- I Thessalonians 2:18-19: “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?”

ILL. Luke 16:9: “And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.”