Cora Fay Wood's Funeral sermon (Dr. Rev. E. Wayne Hanks, Pastor)
Anecdotes of Sister Wood's life. Notation that since he joined the family @ 19, Pastor accounts gets to be the 22nd funeral his family has held.
"A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.
And the day you die is better than the day you are born. Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.
After all, everyone dies—
so the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter,
for sadness has a refining influence on us. A wise person thinks a lot about death,
while a fool thinks only about having a good time." (Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 NLT)
Our society is party-centric, but the only thing of which we are assured is death.
"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you. If you make the LORD your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. The LORD says, 'I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation. ' ” (Psalm 91:1-7, 9-12, 14-16 NLT)
4 Questions of Life raised in this passage, to which Cora Fay had found the answers.
1) Where will you dwell (Psalm 99:1)? She dwelt In the Presence of God, the secret place - a place of service, a place of comfort.
2) What will you say (vs 2)? "God is my refuge." From the abundance if the heart the mouth speaks. Her speech was seasoned with grace. Psalm 107, Let the redeemed ofvthe Lord say so. Isa 43:1.
3) Whom will you love (vs 14)? Psalm 1:3 "His delight is in the Law of the Lord."
4) On whom will you call, when you need help (vs 15)? Our souls cry out by nature, "Help me!" In times of great conflict or tragedy, we reach for something. She reached for the nail-scarred hand, and you can, too. Our steps are ordered of the Lord. "Misfortune us outside the realm of possibility for the believer," as our lives are in His hands. "Whoever calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved."
Solomon says, "So the living should take this to heart."
Created 9 months ago
