Funeral Message for Viola Phelps

Just a note - I'm posting this here for two reasons. First so that the family can read what I said that day, and second so I could give an example of what I'd do with a limited amount of time and an incomplete knowledge of the person whose funeral you are asked to participate in. I only knew Viola for a short period of time, so what I shared came from what I gleaned from others and from our one substantive interaction.

Her former pastor had the lead role in this, so my remarks were brief and his were more personal and more targeted to inviting others to accept Christ. My theme was "with". My hope was to weave their understanding of what it meant to be with Viola and what God says about who will be with Him.

With

I’ve really enjoyed meeting all the family this week. Putting faces to the names I’ve heard Evelyn and Viola say has been neat. Watching you all relate when you were together last night - it was clear you were a family. That you were pretty comfortable WITH each other.

You know that’s becoming increasingly difficult to find today. We rush around getting stuff done at such a pace that it is tough for us, unless something like today makes us stop – it’s just tough for us to make time to be WITH each other.

And yet that little word WITH – really matters.

Think about it with me for a moment. We are here today because while Viola was WITH us, she added something very special to our lives. An ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, some to multiply laughter and halve our sorrows. She had a heart to encourage us, and a hope and a faith to share with us.

WITH US

You know that God thinks a lot of that word WITH as well. In Deuteronomy 31:8 and again in Hebrews 13:5 God tells us “The Lord Himself goes before you, He will be WITH YOU, He will not leave you, He will not forsake you.

Several times in Isaiah (41:10; 43:2) God reminds His people, “Do not fear because I am WITH YOU, for I am your God.”

The believer in Jesus Christ is NEVER alone, even on days like today. “For though I may walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for thou art with me…” Psalm 23

One of the things I miss the most now that my kids are grown sounds silly I guess. But I miss reaching down and holding their little hands as they learned to walk. We need that when we are kids. But you know we need that later on too. Someone to be WITH US, and connected closely. The Bible says in Psalm 73 “You hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. NOW LISTEN TO THIS

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart;

He is MINE FOREVER.” Psalm 73:23b - 26

A few months ago Evelyn called me and wanted me to go to the CUU and visit Viola. So I did and found her very alert and wanting to talk. So I stood there for a few minutes and listened to her tell about her love for the people she shared her life with. And then I got to hear about her love for, and life WITH Jesus. It was funny. I walked in expecting to try to lift her spirits and walked out having mine lifted by being WITH her.

Friends, just as Enoch walked with God and was no more, for God took him. Just as David served God’s purpose for His generation and died, Viola lived her life WITH you and WITH Jesus and now, she is WITH HIM.

Do you know Him today? There is no better companion on life’s journey. It’s a hard world we live in. Struggles and trials on every hand. We’re often betrayed by our own tendency to do wrong. Why not meet WITH Jesus today. Tell Him what you’ve done that’s pushed Him away. Ask for His forgiveness. Receive new life in Him.

He said this “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
Viola knew that peace because Jesus was WITH her. And now she is WITH HIM.

Will you be? Do you know Jesus as Savior? Have you surrendered to Him as Lord? Days like today put the brevity of this life into clear focus. Chose to leave today with Christ.

Status

This license plate, because of its low number, cost a wealthy Dubai man the equivalent of 6.75 million dollars. The lower the number, the more expensive the plate because it is believed the owner is of a high "status".





I had the privilege earlier today to participate in a funeral for a dear saint of God Viola Phelps. I'd be stunned if you had ever heard of her. In our celebrity saturated culture she'd be rated a "nobody". But not to Jesus. To Him she was somebody who loved Him. And who He loved.

I was reminded of Billy Graham's quote when asked about whether or not he'd get a front row seat in heaven. The humble man of God replied thoughtfully, "No, I don't expect to. I expect that some widow woman who has been praying on her knees all these years for me and for my ministry. No, I believe she and others like her will receive the honors due them."

Viola Phelps would be one of those Billy was speaking about. I went in one day to see her in the CCU of our local hospital. I figured I'd go in for 5 minutes or so and encourage this elderly woman who must certainly be in dire straights. Sometimes I just go in and pray if they are asleep.

But Viola was very much awake. We talked about her family and how much she loved them and how much she was hoping to get to go home again to be with them. Then we talked about Jesus - how much she loved Him and how much she hoped to be one day going home to Him. I got ready to leave, my 5 minutes having become 35 and before I could pray for her, she prayed for me. She asked God to bless me and my family, to show me His will and give me the courage to do it, to bless our church and its people, and to make our ministry prosper.

I left shaking my head. I was supposed to be encouraging HER. :)

We gathered at the city cemetery today, to pay our last respects. The pastor I was sharing the service with has served this community for almost 50 years. He looked over the fields and said, "I've buried a lot of people out here." We left one more friend there today.

The mortality rate - I just checked - is still 100%. And regardless of your riches, it's still ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Why is it some people feel the need to make sure others know that their lives mean something by displaying their wealth or their position in a way to get people to notice?

It was one of those days as a pastor that clarify why it matters what we do. To keep people attentive to God's offer of salvation. To help them up and point them in the right way - to help them follow Jesus. To encourage and comfort, to instruct and rebuke.

And to help them realize that what matters the most to this world is of absolutely no value in the next. The pastor gets a pass into people's lives just at the times they need someone who knows what really matters is Jesus. It is His love that can meet every need.

It's such a great honor to be a part of God's plan.

Maybe Viola will save a seat up front for Billy. Now that's status.

Shalom,

David