Memorial Service for Louise King Baldwin Day

No, the main well good morning to you. Thank you for being here come together to celebrate the life of stay and your here. I know because you knew her personally. She was dear to you or you know someone that she was dear to her. Your church member so thank you for being here. The Bible encourages us to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who we start with those who sorrow and so there is a measure of sorrow because we been separated from a loved one. Yet we sorrow the Bible says not as those who have no hope like to read the words of a hymn that has ministered to me it's a contemporary him written by Keith Gedeon people to work with him and it's entitled Christ our whole life and death, and asks questions and then makes statements of affirmation that we as believers can rejoice in what is our whole in life and death Christ along Christ alone. What is our only confidence that our souls belong to him who holds our days within his hand.

What comes apart from his command, and what will keep us to the end, the love of Christ in which we stand. What truth can call the troubled soul is a good question.

Hymn says God is good God is good. Where is his grace and goodness no and are great Redeemer's blood who holds our faith when fears arise who stands above the stormy trial who sends the waves that bring us, and I unto the shore.

The rock of Christ. Third stanza unto the grave.

What shall we say Christ.

He laughs Christ he lives and what reward will heaven bring ever lasting life. There we will rise to meet the Lord then sin and death will be destroyed and we will feast in endless joy when Christ is ours forever.

And then there is the stanza owes saying hallelujah our hope springs eternal old saying hallelujah now I never, we confess Christ our hope in life and death by with me as we asked the Lord to minister to us during these moments, our father and our God. How glad we are that we can come to you through this merits of your dear son, the Lord Jesus Christ and we confess as believers. Christ, our hope in life and death. Lord, thank you for taking this dear precious one unto yourself. Thank you that we have the consolation that she's free from every human hindrance and frailty that she is basking in the presence of the Savior she longed to see why she was on this earth, we confess that we feel acutely. This earthly separation. She is missed because she was loved God by the ministry of your spirit, would you come to us today. Bind up our wounds minister to our sorrowing hearts fill our hearts with gospel hope. Thank you Lord that you have made provision for your children not only in this life, but in the life to come lead and direct and guide have your will and way in this memorial service for Luis King Baldwin day whom we love and how we long to be where she is and if we are resting in the Savior. One day we will indeed be where she is. We pray in Jesus name, amen. I'm first on behalf of my family. I want to say thank you for being here with us today. We appreciate the care and I love sent our family, especially to my mom. We see your deeds until your prayers.

Thank you. I'll be reading tributes on behalf of my uncle Rick Crystal and myself. My uncle Rick is a question I got Molly's time here. My aunt now live in Oregon and cannot be here with us today to celebrate, but they are certainly with us here in. These first words African for many, this is something I found hit him. If Rez is going heaven, Lord, pick up lunch for me, place them in my mother's arms and tell her Anthony tell her I love her and miss her when she turned to smile. Place a kiss on her cheek and told her for a while because remembering her is easy. I do every day. There is an ache in my heart that will never go away. Love you my Mimi is from Crystal, it's hard to put into words and accurately express feelings and memories of someone. It was such a huge part in influencer in my life the way I do semi things is because of her and how she get them applying makeup swallowing pills with yogurt washing grapes. The list could go on and on criminal he was an encourager in my life.

She was quick to help in any way she could and it was only in the lives of your family. She actively seek out ways to help and encourage anyone that needed it seems the hands and feet of Jesus and many people's lives. Your painting and how she's there you're walking on the side of the Red Sea picked you up homeless and hungry. She take you to get a meal struggling financially sheets the peace and cash need to close. She buys some mentioned that you've been looking for something and all of a sudden you may have multiple of that item. To she didn't talk about it or make a big show that she just did it. She worked hard and she loved us big as hard as it lies to watch Alzheimer's take pieces of her forever eight years.

It was also beautiful to see her continued commitment, contentment and joy. It didn't take her humor or her ability to give me that is knowing looks at us.

God's grace evident in her life. I will feel the loss of her with us the rest of my life. I'm confident she heard well done my good and faithful servant and I will see her again. First Timothy 66 but godliness with contentment is great gain is for me. Her grandchildren in her eyes, Leo and Molly and her great grand is naming. Although Alzheimer's ticker memory. It can never take away her, genuinely kind and loving spirit throughout her life. She remained as sweet as ever. She is quick to give the complement and gentle bless you bless you to all. She came in contact with. She adored her family.

She had a contagious laugh and generous spirit in the heart that lean towards others.

Never in a hurry never too busy to spend time with us whether that was playing cards, handing our clothes are making us and after snack the memories from our childhood are. So find because she was such an integral part of our upbringing. When I find memories is sitting with her in church which always felt like such a treat her trying to quietly unwrap the men and place it in my hand and me resting my head on her shoulders and sometimes taking a short nap.

Molly was our safe place and she loved us all so well. Life will not be the same without her here telling us how sweet, smart and pretty. We are but we all take comfort in knowing that she is perfect. Her mind stayed on him and I'm confident we will see her again morning. I'm learning torque clearly warms the poem about record jerk it out toward Michael first met Louise about 40 years ago when I first she was going to know. Learn to like her an awful lot over the years. Although we do not have family relations or anything like that but Linda asked me if I would move ahead of myself upload music for homes around old folks homes. They enjoy the music and really seems to bring back some memories to and always will start off with all music goes back to the 60s and then break them to hang on gender and speak a message from the word of God, and they always appreciate all of this is interesting to note that a lot of people can't remember the Romans and a lot of them have digressed to where they don't know their own family. But if you play a song that they know in their youth, they'll sing every word.

It's amazing and I'm unemployed and I'm watching them in their mouth is seen the worst of the songs and the for that reason, Linda has picked a couple out that she will do the one is a Christian song when one is not the first one you are my sunshine.

One is children Saul so to speak, to restart groups, but it took. It goes with you when you into older years.

So although it's a children's song that still belongs to you folks better. Louise's interest in the load that when we would come into play. Louise would pinch my wife on the cheek got approved for to put in. She looked at me and said that's what I got. I don't know.

She didn't like me or what. Anyway what many pretty pretty pretty good.

I will say no part of this son of a single, but some of your most sunshine fuel sing-along.

Feel free you all must show my only son, John, you have when skies are gray you know the monsoon John lay the other nine as I lay sleeping around will do this day so my muscle, my son John P when skies are gray you know the day by John.

I have Sherry's remarks memories that some folks as well sent to the church and send the family I hesitated to share this one that is personal, I'm going to go ahead Candace wonderful job sharing family reflect collections.

I visited Louise once or twice a week and she was at the cottage and comment was made that she had a sense of humor I would've known that necessarily interacting with the church and all you I usually torque back to be with the teens when I was here we would exchange pleasantries. I always admired her, highly ever, but when I visit her at the cottage one time there was this lady sitting next to her and I walked in to talk with Louise and the lady just took the liberty to insert comments whenever she wanted to forward, and I try to be polite and Louise certainly was polite. We finished the conversation I prayed.

I left the next week I came back and as I walked in the this same lady was by the way, so I don't what to expect.

Will she bellows out will lose there's my man will folks you had to see Louise's face. I got all over her and I I always will remember that just it here. That lady said that it set me back and look over. Louise is going to know making a face this book a thousand words. I could read all of Proverbs 31 and it would be applicable for Louise, but I have selected just a few verses that stand out to me because of what I saw and I think it was alluded to in the comments made by some family members that is Louise digressed and she did. She grew older, she was still her self. You could look at the veneer past Bonaire of her growing older and Louise was there kind and Larry, no offense, but I did get a pretty pretty pretty one time. I think she had her glasses off. Let me read some verses from Proverbs 31 that I think especially pertaining to her who can find a virtuous wife, and that means a wife of valor in the sense of all forms of excellence who can find an excellent wife. Her worth is far above rubies first warning she extends her hand to the poor as she reaches out her hands to the needy. That was commented first 26 on her tongue is the law of kind.

Her tongue was guided by kindness. Verse 28 her children and I would say grandchildren rise up and call her blessed scissor husband also, and he praises her letter. Nan's charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she should be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates and I think one of the works of praises always in the gates is wrong.

Family Mary Shaw knew Louise from interacting with Rick Bacon and I want to simply read what Mary has to say. I have about 45 that will read Mary Shaw to somewhere back in 1982 my family and I came to beacon Baptist Church. One of the first folks I met was Linda and Alanis and her sweet mother Lou.

Soon after, lose husband Hassell also became good friends with our family and the Lord eventually led Hassell to point Bacon. They were so good to provide for me over the years in small and also very significant ways. One Wednesday night after contribution and been made by Lou to help with a specific need. I wrote a long prayer of thanks and send Lou this is a small portion of that letter as I was talking with the Lord's was written back in 1991 she writes well Lord, the special prayer meeting is going to have to come to a close. Maybe I should call now. I don't think words can express how either of us feels tonight.

Love provided this gift and love will in turn provide just the right acknowledgment. Thank you Lord for the gift of love. I know you let us to beacon. I know you led me to Linda which ultimately enables our families to become friends. Your word says that your friend who sticks closer than a brother. So you know how important friendships are. Thank you for godly friendships. Thank you for Lou. So on this one soon. I Lord I thank you for meeting my spiritual, physical and emotional needs and my salvation. You are my strength. Your my sufficiency, so why should we worry and doubt your word. We have no reason to fear.

You said your arm is not to shorten our year to have you here. Help us to take our cares to you in the attitude of love, knowing every good and perfect gift comes out from the father about.

Thank you Lord for every good and perfect gift you bestowed on me.

Thank you Lord for the and Francis Easley another ditto use of a feather flock together.

She says sweetest Linda and family, I just learned of the passing of dear ways, I'm so very sorry. She was one of the sweetest people I've ever known. Everybody loved her one of those rare beautiful people, sweet and kind and loved by everybody. She will be missed. We can best honor her by trying to follow her example towards others.

She was one of those rare people who had a gift for making others feel welcomed. We were all made better for having known her. She call me sweet Francis and I will miss her till the day that will be together again.

She was the sweet praying for you and your loved ones. Francis Easley and then this last week Dolly Benish and I were talking in the office about this service coming up and down.

They volunteer the following memory that she has of the ways when they were in a Meals on Wheels together in this is typical of the ways Dolly said they delivered meals to an elderly gentleman who lived alone had serious health issue because of these health issues.

He was unable to keep his house in good care. Things were in complete disarray and needed some serious attention. Louise sprang into action. Despite her servants heart. She went back to the house without fanfare and cleaned it entirely for the gentleman these last two are from Marty pastor there in Maine. This Macbeth they would be here the first from Marty. She says I first met the ways when she began attending my Sunday school class so long ago were meeting on the pastor study one. It was a small room off the main hallway.

I believe it was before chair is born. So around 1977 she became so much more to me than just another member of the class.

She was a dear friend before very long, and I remember her bringing Linda and her brand-new baby crystals to growl and show them off. I understood that pride for my children were still baby. What a delight that was, and how dear that Linda and her family became special friends as well. Louise also became one of those women on my counter to give me strength as I taught each week. I always look from acquire and on the congregation to pick out Louise and Francis Easley both easily recognizable by their beautiful silver hair.

These older women were 100% supportive of me for many years I felt their support. As I taught and missed it when they were not there. I've missed the lease keenly in the years and she was able to set a regular spot in the front row. The class I look forward to our reunion.

Someday Linda, your mother was an exceptional woman from pastor Bartman Lord directed Louise data beacon in the very early years, and she quickly became a cherished member of our congregation. She was one of those wonderful people were nothing but a delight to their pastors in a cherished joy to the entire church. Louise was remarkable for sweet spirit, compassionate heart and practical expressions of love Louise was in encourager in her absence is greatly missed by God multiply her impact to the lives of the many who were touched by her Christian fellowship will will you him Louise liked was woman, but soon precious Lord know some of you older people, so you might remember that this is one Elvis Presley had on his religious album, but the really beautiful song, precious Lord is all take my oh we will list all the leave me alone. My British is when all this drove the day is all the whole my my British will leave me alone. Thankful for the family for planning this memorial service. The celebration of life Louise day open it easy to upset you know what we've had to face the emotional trauma of this initially at the graveside service.

Let's just not do anything more that that didn't seem right.

Did it. This is seems so appropriate in the things that have been set up and so encouraging and reflection of a life worth celebrating. As I think of Luis I just like to take of the letters of her name and just trying attach a word or phrase to it and this is what I've done. This is just before bring a message but as I think of Luis.

She's a lover. She loves the Lord. She loved her church.

She loved her family.

She was a lover. I think of the oh I think of Luis as an outgoing, she was outgoing in her personality the you unselfish just an unselfish person and that's not natural to us naturally were selfish.

It was one of the fruits of God's work in her life that she was such an unselfish person. The ice to me speaks of Luis as a person of initiative she'd see a visitor church you take initiative make a beeline to them. Maybe sit beside them just to make them feel welcome. We've heard testimony of that in many ways, she took initiative.

She was, not passive. Think of the SI's word it comes to my mind is sweet, just a sweet sweet person who didn't like her who didn't love her.

She just is sweet and then the EI think of and encourage just and encourage in every way. So, in the face of death.

Is it appropriate to celebrate the things all seem to go together. Do they.

And yet we can celebrate because death doesn't have the final word is not the end this dear sister is right now in the presence of the Lord, and if that's not worth celebrating. Nothing's worth celebrating.

Psalm 116 in verse 15 says precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 111 am around families that are grieving and their loved one is past II try and have an ear to hear what's being said within the family and try and take a cue from that and I've heard different ones. Use this verse in reference to Louise's home-going precious in the side of the Lord is the death of his saints may make a couple of observations and then make some personal applications observation number one death is to be viewed as precious for the sight of God and no one else. Precious in the side of the Lord is the death of his saints. There's nothing precious about death. For one, who's not a saint of God.

I probably need to say something about what qualifies a person to be a saint whose a saint, somebody who lives a noble life.

Someone who stands above us in their exemplary living. No every person whom God saves is a saint. They belong to him precious in the side of the Lord of the death of his saints.

There ones that God has set his affections on ones that God has redeemed. Once God is made part of his family. So it's only for those who are saints, that we can say is precious because death is an enemy death as a result of sin. The wages of sin is death assaulted Senate that shall die.

It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment.

So if a person is not a sign of God.

They have every reason not to view.

Death is precious. It's anything but precious.

It's up horrible thing to die outside of Christ, but for the sight of God is precious observation number two death is to be viewed as precious from God's vantage point.

Precious in the sight of the Lord because again, our first thought and thinking of death is we don't think it's precious.

But as believers we have the privilege of thinking God's thoughts after him and being instructed by God that if this is how he views death for his saints, then we should view it the way he's feeling.

So we need an eternal perspective, we need a reliable source of information to base our response to death upon because without it were overwhelmed with sorrow and loss but precious. Indeed, in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. So it's a wonderful thing to have the capacity to see what God sees and say amen to what God says so here are some reasons that the death of Luis day should be viewed as precious. Number one Louise's death is precious because the purpose for which Christ died is realized verse Peter chapter 3 in verse 18 says for Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, Christ died in order to reconcile sinners to God and to bring us into the presence of God. And when a believer dies, they are ushered into the presence of the Lord so precious in the death of is the death of God.

Saints is precious because it's the purpose for which Christ died. It's been realized.

Jesus said to his disciples who were full of fear and worry about his departure and he says that where I am, there ye may be also. He was going away, but where I am, you may be also. So it's a wonderful thing to be in the presence of the Lord precious number two because for Luis day faith has given way to cite God granted her faith to trust on the Lord Jesus Christ.

She live by faith, believing the promises of God which is now in a place where faith is not necessary because faith has given way to sight she now sees her Redeemer. She now and that's one of the things we forget we have a Savior who was seated at the right hand of God in heaven, and he is seated there in his glorified you managed Jesus is there, as the God man.

He's God yes because he is enthroned, but he's also a man we need to get her mind around that she is able to see the Lord Jesus Christ.

Faith has given way to cite what prospect there is for all of us precious.

Number three because death for the saints of God puts an end to the sorrow suffering and pain. How kind it was of God to in the midst of the deterioration in her mind to preserve that part of Luis that week resonated with loved and appreciated. You know what all the limitations all the things that hindered her and robbed her of who she was. Toward the end it's it's gone.

She's been delivered from it all earthly sorrow was gone. Suffering is gone. Pain is gone. Limitations of minor gone that's cause for saying precious right precious in the side of the Lord is the death of his saints precious. Number four is the death of the saints in that it gives increased opportunity for faith for the manifestation of faith. You know you really don't know when you believe something until you're up against. Do I really believe what I said I believed about life after death, the hope of the resurrection cc the boats.

I believe that in the hypothetical, but when you're facing death start goal death in the face it tests whether we believe what we say we believe that's why I was going to sound a bit strange to you, probably. But it's why I very much appreciate graveside service because it's there that the reality of death smacks you in the face. There's a casket there's a hole in the ground. This person you love is going in the ground and were faced with what we ever see this person again, is this the and is only a child of God that says in the face of that know this is not the final word is the final word.

Okay, where is thy victory over death, where is thy sting know there's hope in Jesus victory over the grave, so gives increased opportunity for faith and I think we feel our faith being stretched and tested at this time. For those who perhaps would be here in don't have the faith that others have. It is, it's a starkly reminder that you're not seeing things away. Other people are seeing things to be blind the spiritual realities and to see other people having faith in something you don't have faith in it it it can, it can cause a person to become cynical or can cause a person to be humbled, and say you know I want what those people have. I want to believe like they believe. I trust like they are trusting in us. Would God used in my life to bring me initially to faith in Jesus Christ was invited to a Bible study sitting in her home with party was there were six or eight other people there and in the course that evening as they carried on by the study and prayed. I left that house that night and I said with these people. They have something that I don't have.

I want now it's time I didn't know what was going on in my life. But what was going on was that the spirit of God was making Jesus irresistible to me.

I wanted what they had. Perhaps that might be true of some here today you seen and watched his family up close or maybe from a distance and said you know I'm envious. I admire that my heart is full of fear about death.

I'm getting older him to die someday. I and they have such a piece.

If such a calm, they have their celebrating today. May God use that to grant to you faith that you might believe and view death the way God views it is precious and then finally precious in the side of the Lord is the death of his saints, because Luis day is finally know where she lived before she was moved to Blakely Paul and I disassociated that even though long after she sold the house and wasn't there anymore. I drive by there and say it's worth, Luis.

She's finally home. She's home through what many dangers oils ensnared us. We have already come to his grace that leads us safely home.

She's with the Lord and were rejoicing and that today is it. It's right it's right for us to have this memorial service and celebrate her life because his were celebrating her life were celebrating a God who is kind and gracious to sinners who save sinners and is with them. All their days on the earth and then calls him away in she's with the Lord will be with the Lord forever and ever and ever. So thank you for being here today nobody's here by accident. God has moved in Providence. Everyone's here that God wanted to be here and there are some who are not physically here who are participating via live stream so I don't want you to think of yourself being out of the realm of things that have been said God has directed you to gather around computer screen and hear these things.

May God use it in all of our lives to minister to our needs and our needs are very dark day summer still hurting. I is I was thinking about this service. I thought you know maybe this will be easier than it typically is because usually a service like this is conducted a few days after the person has died, and our emotions are raw and our hearts are full of sorrow or feeling very acutely that separation.

It really makes it hard initially so I thought well maybe in the passing of time.

The emotions of healed a bit but as I talked to some family members. He said no it's not like that at all this like being brought up face to face with it again and but God is faithful God's grace is sufficient for all of our needs so I commit you to the Lord and is good to be able to talk about mother, grandmother, a church member or friend in the way we been up to talk about her today. Nobody said they're going you talk about somebody I don't know with all vendor services in person appears talking about this person. We know who they really were and we hear these things being said we going to wait a minute you put your your your your talent slice here we we really, you're not being honest. What you heard today is true. This is who she is. This is who God made here. This is that's why were feeling her loss so acutely, so let's pray and ask the Lord to be with us and to help us as we bring this service to a conclusion father how we thank you that you are indeed a very present help in time of trouble and death is an enemy is not the believer's friend to celebrate with but it's the believers enemy to triumph over in Jesus Christ and we say oh death where is your victory over death, where is your staying the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Father, thank you for Luis day. Thank you that right now she is enjoying you in a way that she only could hope and anticipate when she was on this earth. Thank you that she's free of every human hindrance and frailty. Thank you that she is not conscious of time. Thank you that she's rejoicing in the glories of heaven. Thank you that you made provision not just for her, but for everyone who trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ and has believing faith in him. So Lord, would you comfort our hearts fill our hearts with peace and consolation. Help us to fasten our hope on the resurrection.

When we speak of hope we do not speak of hope in the way the world speaks of whole that. Oh, I hope it doesn't rain today or tomorrow and we really have no certainty at all that it will will or will not, but to have a biblical hope is to have a certain absolutely certain confidence in a certain future reality.

So our hope is fixed on you. Our hope is fixed on the resurrection of the dead that day in which you will come in power and great glory.

And you overnight. Every saint of yours their spirit in your body again with a glorified body all father eye has not seen and ear is not heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man the things that you have prepared for those that love you. Thank you father for this morning and this time together where we have tried to view death through the lens of Scripture. I would tried to view death as precious as you see it dismiss us with your great benediction of blessing that maketh rich and out of no sorrow. We pray in Jesus name, 0000000