Here is the memorial service that we have planned for this Sunday in Huntsville. I would ask you to pray for me as I preach twice in the morning at Southwood Presbyterian Church, from 1 Thessalonians 5:18 on giving thanks in all circumstances, and then do my mom’s funeral service at 2 p.m. using Hebrews 12:28-29 as my text. Amazingly, the preaching was planned several weeks ago. God’s timing was perfect and my prayer is that many will see and hear the love of Christ powerfully displayed. Your intercession would be a means of grace to me personally.

A Service of Christian Worship and Remembrance of Marie Freeman Armstrong

November 21, 1915 €“— November 19, 2007

Sunday, November 25, 2007 @ Southwood Presbyterian Church, Huntsville, Alabama

Prelude

Invocation                                                   Dr. Michael Honeycutt

Hymn                                €œ"It Is Well with My Soul"€

When peace like a river attendeth my […]

I wrote an obituary for my mother to run in the Friday newspaper in Huntsville, Alabama. Here is the simple story of her long life. At $1.00 per word you have to be brief, unless you are wealthy and vain, so this is the best I could do in a short few sentences totals less than 300 words.

Vera Marie Freeman Armstrong
November 21, 1915—November 19, 2007

After a long, fulfilling and healthy life Vera Marie Freeman Armstrong, 91, of Huntsville, went to be with her beloved Lord on Monday, November 19. She was born in Stuttgart, Arkansas, on November 21, 1915, the youngest of seven children.

Marie was an incredibly social person with an amazing passion for life and the gospel of Jesus Christ. She loved good meal times with friends, reading Christian literature, studying the Holy Scriptures intensely and earnest praying. She was a widely respected Bible teacher for well over 60 years and took great joy in intercessory prayer for the hundreds of friends she taught, as well as for all of her family members. She was […]

I will try to write a longer reflection tomorrow when I am back in Chicago but I wanted friends to know that my dear mother passed into the presence of her Lord this day at 12:05 p.m. I was there, saw her take her last breath, and rejoiced in her seeing the King of Glory. She took two deep breaths, moved her eyes slightly, and was gone, in an instant really. It was one of the most profound experiences I have ever had. I had been praying over her the hour before she died and thus was praying prayers of preparation for body and soul as she embarked upon her final journey. I believe she was ready in every possible way to go. I am at peace, rejoice in God’s grace, thank so many of you for praying and look forward to preaching the gospel at her funeral this weekend.

God willing I will preach from 1 Thessalonians 5:18 on Sunday morning in two services at Southwood Presbyterian Church in […]

Nothing, and I mean nothing, will focus your mind and heart on the life to come quite like sitting for hours with your loved one as they are slowly departing this life and entering the next. This is where I’ve been the past two days as you know. I have formed several thoughts this evening that might serve as encouragement to readers. These are simple reflections on my last two days.

1. "People are destined to die once and after that to face the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). There are no exceptions, period. Because of sin we all die. We all seem so unwilling to face this one settled reality until we are forced to deal with it. I do not think we should live humorless, morbid lives, but rather lives of joy and appreciation of the creation. But we should always live in the face of death, a truly healthy way to live to the fullest. Indeed it is the only truly honest and human way to live.

2. Losing a loved one who knows Christ is difficult for sure but when […]