We are truly sorry to hear about the loss of your husband, Saraha. In this difficult time, we stand with you in prayer and offer our heartfelt condolences. We are grateful to hear that you had 43 wonderful years together, and we know that Gary will be greatly missed.
Firstly, we want to remind you of the precious promises of God during this time of loss.
In the Book of Psalms, "Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit" 34:18 WEB.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. We know that whoever believes in him, even all who have died will become alive again. We know that this time is painful for you, but please remember not as the word says not to grieve without hope. All who are in Jesus Christ and have died will rise again. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23.
We affirm your request to ask God to help the funeral proceedings go as planned and that all will go well. But we think it is even more important to remember the hope that we have in Jesus Christ, and that Gary has gone to be with the Lord. Jesus said:
I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? John 11:25-26 WEB.
When Jesus returns, he will fulfill his promise for all believers. But it is only the name of Jesus by whom we can come to the Father, including for thanksgiving. God already knows our thanksgiving, and communion with Him is through Jesus. Understand that John 14:5-6 that Jesus said,
"I am the way, and the truth and the life: no man cometh to the Father but by me." Thomas sayeth to him, "Lord we know not where you go, and how we can know the way? Jesus saith to him."
We remember Paul's words from 2 Corinthians 5:8, which saying "We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord." 2 Cor 5:8 WEB. It follows that Gary being a believer is home, with the Lord. We are simply escorting Gary's memory to be with you permanently.
We remember the gifts in which God allowed Gary to touch lives being a good father and husband. With exceeding joy for the eternal life God must have given to Gary and the continuing servant Gary is on the other side of Zion.
We stand with you understanding that the effects of losing a loving tender husband can affect you deeply. Paul rejoiced in presence of God and believed because of the redeeming power in allowing his thorn in the flesh in believers to all be blessed. Galations 4:13-16.
We want to join your family in remembrance and prayer in assistance of the support of family and friends or even church group. As you proceed over the next week, understand that Healin is a grieving process for emotional wounds. Have a memorial service next Friday or Saturday afternoon. Reach out locally to have to have meals provided on dinner time. Thank God in Jesus for just the simple giving of gifts. Perhaps Read Job 42:12 in which God gave Job doubled after-effects because of all the former late friends and families. And the Lords said, they did not speak truth instead showed favor just as in the all entourage including the guests. Even throwing a dinner over the weekend for even religious leaders to return the favors over near friends and guests. But do it quiet and privately. Don't disrepect the face of any man because while we are His servants to all called included the ones bearing the Good News! Turn to Matthew 6:1-18. Our Father will see it but in secret return to you openly, heal, and touch you as you believe including all your needed blessings. Let just your joy flow and simply let everyone asked you about hope in which you bear giving thanks to Gary. Then, through tomorrows renewed mercies which keeps on flowing there will be a witness no one can forsake. Stand comforted in reading Psalm 67:10-12 that overflows in standing in Psalm 91 for protection for you family only.
We lift up our voice to God our Father.
God, we praise you that you are near to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit. We pray for Saraha and her family as they mourn the loss of Gary. We ask that you comfort them, fill them with love and care, the connection of family members and believers including commitments of sustaining provisions. It becomes the bond needed to flow in sharing livelyhood support. Father, it advances your kingdom like a loving Father be refused to we not dismissed. We fix our eyes on his death and resurrection, knowing that because he lives, and that Gary believed now Gary lives also at home with you
We ask specifically that the funeral be well attended and regardless of the circumstances extenuating limits, that the prosperity of the absentee mourners Saraha and her will be blessed with clearly seeing the joy previously in Gary's life. We easily know that Gary waiting in the presence not just of the experiences of the mourner's joy discovered in the family outside of the missing refilled in Jesus.
God, we ask that you help Saraha to continue grieving with hope that Gary is gone to be with you in the presence only of Jesus. We ask that she will remember that Gary is gone temporarily but not forever and that we will be with him again and dwell forever
We pray for the family and that they will have one another there to lean on there in the future. Continued healing and the complete grieving process. Thank you for the promise of eternal life to Gary and all that heard the message of 'John 14:1-6' with having opportunity to accept Jesus as their personal LORD and Savior. Our Father, in Jesus' name.