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Especially For Gabie and Her Girls



This is the sermon Gabie wanted you folks to hear this morning. No more and no less.

I’m sure none of us expected to be here this morning under these sorrowful circumstances. Gabie would have loved to have her husband Jim sitting by her side together with all of her girls and so would the rest of us who attend this church. As you know, Jim was in a terrible motorcycle accident and was rushed to the hospital. The newspaper article cited the State Police who reported that the 43 year old man was not speeding or driving under the influence. Although he was wearing the finest helmet available it cracked in two when his head smashed into a guard rail. The eight day’s that Jim was in the hospital I. C. U. were extremely stressful for Gabie and her girls.

It’s natural for people to not want to die. But this is impossible. Regardless of what we do, our hands are tied, so to speak. Eventually you and I will die and leave this world and enter the next, leaving our grief stricken loved ones behind. And, all because of the evil of all evil’s that happened at the beginning of human history. The following excerpts from the Bible explain. At times I will be going fast forward, and skipping over some verses. As usual, I will be using several translations which will give a clearer understanding of what God is saying.

1 First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don’t see. 2 Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God’s Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss. 3 God spoke: “Light!” And light appeared. 4 God saw that light was good and separated light from dark. 5 God named the light Day, he named the dark Night. It was evening, it was morning— Day One. 6 God spoke: “Sky! In the middle of the waters; separate water from water!” 7 God made sky. He separated the water under sky from the water above sky. And there it was: 8 he named sky the Heavens; It was evening, it was morning— Day Two. 9 God spoke: “Separate! Water-beneath-Heaven, gather into one place; Land, appear!” And there it was. 10 God named the land Earth. He named the pooled water Ocean. God saw that it was good. 11 God spoke: “Earth, green up! Grow all varieties of seed-bearing plants, Every sort of fruit-bearing tree.” And there it was. 12 Earth produced green seed-bearing plants, all varieties, And fruit-bearing trees of all sorts. God saw that it was good. 13 It was evening, it was morning— Day Three. Genesis 1:1-13 (MSG)

26 God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.” 27 God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female. 28 God blessed them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.” Genesis 1:26-28 (MSG)

5 At the time GOD made Earth and Heaven, before any grasses or shrubs had sprouted from the ground—GOD hadn’t yet sent rain on Earth, nor was there anyone around to work the ground 6 (the whole Earth was watered by underground springs)— 7 GOD formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive—a living soul! 8 Then GOD planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He put the Man he had just made in it. 9 GOD made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat. The Tree-of-Life was in the middle of the garden, also the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil. Genesis 2:5-9 (MSG)

15 GOD took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order. 16 GOD commanded the Man, “You can eat from any tree in the garden, 17 except from the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil. Don’t eat from it. The moment you eat from that tree, you’re dead.” 18 GOD said, “It’s not good for the Man to be alone; I’ll make him a helper, a companion.” 19 So GOD formed from the dirt of the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the Man to see what he would name them. Whatever the Man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 The Man named the cattle, named the birds of the air, named the wild animals; but he didn’t find a suitable companion. Genesis 2:15-20 (MSG)

21 GOD put the Man into a deep sleep. As he slept he removed one of his ribs and replaced it with flesh. 22 GOD then used the rib that he had taken from the Man to make Woman and presented her to the Man. Genesis 2:21-22 (MSG)

1 The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal GOD had made. He spoke to the Woman: “Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?” 2 The Woman said to the serpent, “Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. 3 It’s only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘Don’t eat from it; don’t even touch it or you’ll die.’ ” 4 The serpent told the Woman, “You won’t die. 5 God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.” 6 When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she’d know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. 7 Immediately the two of them did “see what’s really going on”—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves. 8 When they heard the sound of GOD strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from GOD. 9 GOD called to the Man: “Where are you?” 10 He said, “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid.” 11 GOD said, “Who told you you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?” 12 The Man said, “The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it.” 13 GOD said to the Woman, “What is this that you’ve done?” “The serpent seduced me,” she said, “and I ate.” 14 GOD told the serpent: “Because you’ve done this, you’re cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals, Cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. 15 I’m declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He’ll wound your head, you’ll wound his heel.” 16 He told the Woman: “I’ll multiply your pains in childbirth; you’ll give birth to your babies in pain. You’ll want to please your husband, but he’ll lord it over you.” 17 He told the Man: “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree That I commanded you not to eat from, ‘Don’t eat from this tree,’ The very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground Will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you’ll be working in pain all your life long. 18 The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you’ll get your food the hard way, Planting and tilling and harvesting, 19 sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, Until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you’ll end up dirt.” Genesis 3:1-19 (MSG)

From the moment Adam fell into sin he no longer reflected the image of his Creator. Instead he reflected the image of the devil and so do each of his descendents including you and me. This is why all human beings are messed up people, obviously, some are more so than others, but we are all are deserving of suffering eternal death for our sins. The Devil murdered the entire human race! Think about that! What he didn’t know is that God had other plans. Before speaking the world into existence, God, who is a Spirit, at a certain point in human history, was going to put on flesh and live amongst His creatures in the person of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus was born on what we call Christmas Day, and, at about age 33, allowed Himself to suffer and die an agonizing death on an old rugged cross on what is known as Good Friday. But, then Jesus came back to life again on what we refer to as Easter morning just as He had promised His disciples. The Gospel of John tells us that before His crucifixion Jesus went all over the place looking for hurting people. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and the ability to speak and hear to deaf mutes. Jesus straightened out the crippled and befriended hookers. He rescued a woman who was about to be stoned to death because she had been caught in the act of committing adultery. Word got out. He was famous and the Jewish religious leaders felt threatened.

1 There was a man of the Pharisee sect, Nicodemus, a prominent leader among the Jews. 2 Late one night he visited Jesus and said, “Rabbi, we all know you’re a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren’t in on it.” 3 Jesus said, “You’re absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it’s not possible to see what I’m pointing to—to God’s kingdom.” 4 “How can anyone,” said Nicodemus, “be born who has already been born and grown up? You can’t re-enter your mother’s womb and be born again. What are you saying with this ‘born-from-above’ talk?” 5 Jesus said, “You’re not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the ‘wind hovering over the water’ creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom. 6 When you look at a baby, it’s just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can’t see and touch—the Spirit—and becomes a living spirit. 7 “So don’t be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be ‘born from above’—out of this world, so to speak. 8 You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’ by the wind of God, the Spirit of God.” John 3:1-8 (MSG)

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” John 3:16-21 (ESV)

Fast forward now to the time when Jesus comforted a grieving woman named Martha whose brother Lazarus had died three days previously and was lying in a tomb. Ponder these verses because this promise applies to every other human being as well.

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 (ESV)

Although God was speaking to the ancient Israelites who had been scattered all over the Middle East, the following explains what happens to those who have been reborn in Christ.

24 ” ‘For here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to take you out of these countries, gather you from all over, and bring you back to your own land. 25 I’ll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. 26 I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. 27 I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. 28 You’ll once again live in the land I gave your ancestors. You’ll be my people! I’ll be your God! Ezekiel 36:24-28 (MSG)

Gabie wanted to share how this particular promise is working out in her life. Please listen carefully while I read her email which she wants me to put in my web page guest book after you folks have heard it. “Hello Pastor Mike. I was just going to write an entry in the guest book. I am not sure where I wrote down the link to get on it though cuz I have only written in it once. Could you please send me your web address again so I can begin going on there more often?

I think things are beginning to settle down again and I am able to utilize your site more often for strength and courage. Your last sermon as you know was right on for me. After church I was in a rush to get back by Jim. The closer I got to the hospital the more I thought I should go to the hospital chapel to pray for forgiveness. I did and I really believe that sermon was meant for me to hear.

I am so grateful to you and the Christians in our church who have been praying for our family. It amazes me as I look back and see how the Lord carried me and the girls through those 8 days in the hospital. For the first time in my life I was able to let go and let God. Knowing in my heart that He is in control, no matter how hard our trials may be; His perfect will is being done and when I look back and I think to myself… that’s why this happened and that’s why that was… I’m sure you know what I mean.

Without Faith I’m not sure how one can make it or how I even did all these years up until just a short while ago. This experience no matter how tough it was everyone kept saying you are handling this so well and how they admired the girls and I how we were such advocates for Jim. I know that wasn’t me, I know that was of God, and the tremendous support of a faithful servant as you our Pastor and our church and others praying for us. I keep thinking of the Foot Prints poem when I look back.

I feel so blessed and I have so many praises as I have shared with you this past week. His Grace is amazing! To save a wretch like me! My attitude is changing and I am beginning to feel free and look at things differently. God Bless Dawn, Pastor. I don’t know what I would do without such a loyal friend as she has been. As well as, I went to your church 2 times and you helped me get through so much in those days and what you had to have gone through to make that trip up to the hospital. I am grateful forever! I am so fortunate to have met Dawn at Good News Garage and that she brought me to your church and people!

AND I must not forget Guys sermon and his travels from Rutland and back on Sundays. How humble he was to share in his sermon with us his experiences about his son. SAME exact experience as I am going through with Krystal! I am so grateful for so much. My heart swells with joy when I think often of these moments and look back and see that God is in control and His Will is PERFECT!

I felt so ashamed, hopeless and lost before I came to your church. That’s what I meant when I said I am free, free of darkness, even though it still comes up and is right around the corner, I think differently and react differently. Monday night after the Sunday Jim passed and I went home and I suddenly became so consumed with fear and anxiety that I bought a bottle of whisky and got drunk. The next morning I bought two more but dumped both of them out. I thought, why not get up and out of the house and volunteer again until I finish my business plan? The next morning on Wednesday when I met with Stephen I felt really compelled to get to Good News Garage to volunteer. It was so hot outside and I didn’t want to walk so I asked him for a ride and he gave me one. I didn’t realize it was a hearse until we got in and he said I hope you don’t mind riding in my hearse. (God provided Gabie a special kind of stretch limo to take her to the Good News Garage). I said no I am not afraid of death:) I just had to get there though when normally I would use such a trial as a reason to shut down and stay in my house and be consumed with that same fear and anxiety I felt on Tuesday. Well I am happy to say I haven’t felt that way since Tuesday and I have been volunteering every day since! Praise God!!! God bless you. Gabie.”

When I visited Jim in the I. C. U, I placed my hand on his forehead and told him I believed he could hear me. I admitted I was a messed up sinner just as he is. However, it wasn’t too late for him to ask God to forgive him for all of the sins he committed throughout his life. All he had to do was ask and accept Jesus pinch hitting for him on His cross. At that moment, Jim’s right arm and hand twitched which is not uncommon for someone in his condition. However, when I took my hand off of his forehead; Jim’s whole chest rose up which, to the best of Gabie’s knowledge, had never happened before. Next I prayed that God bestow a wonderful blessing upon Gabie during this agonizing ordeal and to provide her with everything she needs to endure it in a manner which is pleasing to Him. Then Jim’s right arm and hand instantly started to twitch again.

None of us know when we will die and leave this world and enter into the next any more that Jim did. It could be in a split second before we leave this church. Let’s bow our heads and think about this message. If you haven’t already done so, I plead with you to tell God you are sorry for having sinned against Him and ask Him to forgive you. And He will! You will now be one day closer to being reunited with your Christian loved ones than you previously were.

I hope this sermon has been a blessing for each of you folks and Especially For Gabie and Her Girls.

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June 24, 2012 Posted by Categories: Uncategorized 6 comments

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