Yesterday, a dear friend departed us, a woman of greatness, graciousness and goodness. Our lives have been impacted in very positive and special ways because of here existence. What we have witnessed was a sign of what God is calling all of us to become. She was real! Our friend was a good woman who had the capacity for being affectionate towards her friends. This morning we give thanks as we pray and believe that she has found rest with God forever.   

When I woke up this morning, a very special person was on my mind, Evelyn Shaw. This lady has been special in so many ways to all of us who knew her. This message will not do her justice, but it will shed some light on the type of life God allowed her to live, and wants us to live. I would venture to say that if you knew her, you too would say that she was very special (phenomenal) in so many ways. To say that she was a very patient, kind and loving person would not do her justice. She was indeed set apart for God’s special purposes in this life, and we hardly noticed because of her quiet and innocent demeanor. There are people God place in our presence who demonstrates what godliness is, and should look like. In my opinion, if you want to know what a Christian woman should look like or act like, then you could say that Evelyn was just that example. Her demeanor was such that you couldn’t help but draw near to her and love her, for there was nothing pretentious about her.

I have met many good people in my life, but the life of Evelyn surpasses that of most women. One of the greatest stories I believe a pastor can share is a conversion or transformation story. There are people in our presence and congregations who have been in churches all their lives, but have not changed to become the Christlike person that God wants them to become. We spend most of our lives just going to church, and miss out on the opportunity of taking on the character of God. To observe a person like Evelyn, develop a thirst and hunger for God’s word, and live it out has been very special and rewarding. This was one of the pinnacles of ministry for me as a pastor.      

This is a good time to ask the question, “If I died today, what would people say about me? Did I live a life that was pleasing to God?” Those questions are of utmost importance because the reality of it all is simply that nothing else really matters. This lady had grown spiritually to the point that she simply wanted to live out the will of God to the fullest. She was truly genuine and transparent in all that she did.

There are some people that we meet on this journey who we can’t help but love and respect because of the way they love us. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). This scripture is just a sketch of who she really was.                  

May we this morning remember that God will never abandon us during our time of grief. There is always love and hope in our God. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4   

Ecclesiastes 7:2 tells us that “death is the destiny of everyone, the living should take this to heart.” Even with that being said, it remains difficult to accept the death of a love one.

Evelyn enjoyed an intimate relationship with God during her latter days for sure. We, believers, must remember that death is the beginning of a new eternal phase of life. The Bible tells us that, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

I know we are all trying to wrap our heads around this and understand it, but I leave these words with us all, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3: 5-6     

In closing, she was special and will never be forgotten. May we like Evelyn be special to others, but most of all special to God. 

Not a sermon, just my thoughts!

Robert Earl Slade, Pastor