Judy Wilson Funeral
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsNotes
Transcript
I’d like to welcome you to the First Baptist Church of Gray and to the memorial service for Ms. Judy Wilson.
Bubba told me this day was 52 years in the making.
I didn’t question the number, I assumed that’s how long he knew Judy.
I know they were married for 50 years.
They took their vows seriously and I’d say they did a good job.
But Judy was born with a heart condition.
She wasn’t supposed to live past the age of 12.
The doctor’s obviously didn’t understand Jesus.
So let’s start there - Judy loved Jesus.
As I pondered what might have been going through Judy’s mind when she realized she wasn’t going to bounce back this time.
This scripture came to me:
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
Judy was not afraid.
She knew who her rock was
Who her salvation was
Who was her fortress.
Judy went home with all of the grace and dignity we would expect from someone who knew who she believed
And knew he would keep her safe until the day He took her home.
Judy was a bona fide Southern Christian Lady.
She might have been slight in stature, but Judy knew how to sport a hat and high heels.
Some women can’t pull of looking good in red - but Judy.
My favorite hat was the red one - with red lipstick.
I’m wearing the most red tie I could today that would match this suit in her honor.
One Sunday morning Judy came into Sunday school sporting a hat with - well, Byron Farmer - God rest his soul
Thought it looked like grass.
So he leaned up over Judy’s shoulder and said, “It looks like we’re going to do a little bird huntin’ today.”
I can see Judy laugh - can’t you?
Southern women know their style and they wear it well.
Judy was smooth as velvet and fire-y as a ghost pepper.
She could soothe you with kind words and a genteel manner.
I also understand she could torch you if the occasion called for it.
Southern women know how to bless your heart in all the meanings that phrase can carry.
And Judy was tough as a coal truck.
There is a saying that goes, “The biggest myth about Southern women is that we are frail types - fainting on our sofas.
Nobody where I grew up ever acted like that.
We were about as fragile as coal trucks.”
That’s Judy.
Shame should run deep here.
On Sunday’s when there was rain and the crowd was slim - Judy was here.
Mostly always hurting - 3 out of every 4 of her days were wracked with pain - yet Judy came to the Lord’s house.
When most of us would be glad for the excuse to roll over in bed, Judy made herself roll over and get out of bed.
I’ve seen Judy come to our Wednesday night fellowship meal looking like death - pale as a ghost
Looking so tired.
But Judy came.
And she worshipped and let her Lord know He was number 1 with her.
Judy was a Christian Southern lady and she was as tough as a coal-truck.
I can’t think of Judy without smiling.
I bet you can’t either.
Judy kindled a fire in every one of our hearts that won’t be put out.
But now - let’s dive in to the deep end of the pool.
It’s a question we all have asked - and might still be asking.
Why?
Judy loved the Lord.
Why did He cause her to live the life she did? Why didn’t he heal her?
You know I can’t know for sure - but I have a clue.
Last Sunday after the service, Randy Smith came up to me and said, “That’s Judy’s story.”
So let’s look at it right quick.
A portion of our text was John 9:1-3
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.
And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
If you listen to the charlatans on television, they’d hint that Judy didn’t have enough faith.
Or maybe her mom and dad didn’t have enough faith - but somebody - one of them was the weakest link.
People have spouted that drivel since the beginning of time.
“What did they do wrong that made them like this?”
You do realize that question is there to get God off the hook, right?
I mean, if Judy didn’t do anything to cause her suffering - some sin or something - then if God is sovereign
And He is
He made her that way - or at least allowed her to be that way.
And I believe He did
And I believe He did because of the same reason the man was born blind.
I believe Judy suffered so that the works of God might be displayed in her.
I have no clue - none of us do - of what Judy would have been like if she had been born with a strong heart.
What would she have done?
Where would she have gone?
Would she even have met Bubba?
Would they have married?
A healthy Judy might have taken a completely different course in life.
But our Judy.
Galatians 5:22-23 tell us what the fruits of the Holy Spirit are when someone trusts Jesus.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Which one of those did Judy not live every day?
Judy not only picked up stray dogs, she picked up stray people.
You couldn’t be lonely or alone if Judy was around.
She had a way - didn’t she?
Sisters of different mothers? Didn’t some of you feel that with Judy?
If your heart had a big break, Judy would mend it with a flower.
If you need a word of encouragement - and maybe nobody in the world knew it but you.
Wasn’t it funny how a card would come in the mail
From Judy - with just the right words.
For me, Sunday afternoons are awful.
They are awful for almost ever pastor.
Why did I say that that way?
Why didn’t I say?
How could I forget their aunt died?
I’ve quit more Sunday afternoons and Monday mornings than you can count.
And then my phone buzzes.
It’s a text.
“Exceptional service. I loved your message for Christmas and what a Special day to be baptized.
“God is good and we are so grateful to be at First Baptist where Jesus is always taught.
“Lord willing, see you [next] Sunday.”
Another text.
“Another WONDERFUL day in GOD’S HOUSE. So many days I don’t feel up to doing much but
“Our GRACIOUS GOD through HIS HOLY SPIRIT gives me the strength.
“I NEVER want to miss ANYTHING HE has to say to me through HIS messenger!
“I’ve NEVER been disappointed. Thank you for ALWAYS teaching us the Bible.
“How blessed we are to have you and Renee as our spiritual leader and friends.”
She could barely move.
Barely get out of bed.
But - let me text the Pastor - He might need a word.
Bill Goodman summed it up - she was always concerned about someone else.
Didn’t Jesus say to be that way?
Didn’t Jesus say, Matthew 23:11 “The greatest among you shall be your servant.”
I’m not sure of the process, but in the Sara B class she would get the class to send someone a card.
And they would.
But then Judy would add hers to it.
When Earl lost Yvonne in April of 2021, she hand wrote cards to Earl.
Words of encouragement, of strength
Kind of like the voice of God saying, just to Earl, Isaiah 30:20-21 “And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”
The Lord used Judy to whisper that message into Earl’s ears.
How many Judy stories are there?
Cathy Smith told me of all of the cards she’s received.
And flowers for her and Jennifer when their hearts were breaking.
And all of this goes way back with Judy.
Hop in the wayback machine to 1997.
Judy owned maybe a late 70’s Oldsmobile Cutlass.
It kind of looked like that to me in the picture I saw.
There was this young 16 year old girl named Denise Monaghan.
She was an unofficial adoptive daughter of Judy’s - just a young lady that Judy fell in love with.
Who didn’t have a car.
So, Judy gave Denise her Oldsmobile.
And there is something so right about a kid getting an old car as their first car.
I did - it’s just classic.
It’s Judy.
Judy literally cooked her way to the hospital.
How many of us have received a friendship cake - you know - those little loaf cakes
Raise your hands - how many have received one of those cakes from Judy?
One day Judy spend the entire day baking those cakes to put in the freezer.
Such a Southern lady thing to do.
You never know when you are going to need one.
But all day on her feet - with her issues.
The cooking marathon caused fractures in her back.
She had to have kyphoplasty.
Because she wanted to make sure she had a gift for us.
Every year the entire Sara B class would receive something from her.
Renee and I would get little bags every now and again.
A little bit of Judy saying I love you.
Keep going - you can do it.
Patsy Scoville called her Sunshine.
Said she was an inspiration.
That, Judy was a role model of how to leave this life with dignity and grace.
She showed us how to face death down - totally unafraid.
Had the Lord created Judy any other way that how she was created.
We would never have seen those things.
But the Lord, in His infinite, unfathomable design created a frail woman named Judy.
And He raised her sinful dead heart to life.
And He spoke His mercy to her
He asked her to follow Him and she said she wasn’t worthy.
To which He replied, your sins are forgiven - come follow me.
And she did.
He filled her heart with the Fruits of the Spirit.
And every day that we saw Judy - we saw Jesus.
John 9:3 “Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
You cannot convince me that I didn’t see the works of God displayed in Judy Wilson.
And if you didn’t see it - you don’t know Jesus.
I believe the Lord gave Judy special grace to die well.
I believe the Lord gave Bubba special grace to love Judy and care for Judy so well.
Our lives are so much better now that the Lord has spoken to us through Judy.
Now, one more thing.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
And you know the way to where I am going.”
As I haven’t let any of you forget, I just got back from Israel.
In the Galilee area there was - still is - a town named Chorazim.
I saw this verse there.
A Father of means would built a large compound.
You would enter through a gate into a large courtyard.
Around the courtyard would be a kitchen area.
And living quarters for the master.
As the master had boy children and they came of age
They would build new living quarters onto the main complex.
Once the job was finished and dad approved, Junior would go get his bride and set up housekeeping in the new room.
If dad had 10 sons, there were 10 new living quarters built onto the main complex.
Everyone had their own living quarters.
But everyone shared the courtyard - and cooking
And not a day went by that they didn’t see each other.
And help each other.
And love each other.
Because they were family.
Judy’s Father in Heaven has a mansion.
A beautiful place with a courtyard and cooking quarters.
And all around it are rooms.
Hundreds upon thousands of rooms.
Jesus comes one at a time to take a part of His bride - the church - back to His Father’s compound.
Jesus took Judy there.
I don’t know who all she’s seen or who all she’s talked to already.
But I know she’s not alone.
I suspect by now someone has come up to her and said.
“Ms. Judy - I’m here because of you.
“I saw how much you suffered
“And I saw how much you loved Jesus and I saw how he kept you fighting.
“And I figured, if Jesus means that much to Judy - if He keeps her going like that
“Then maybe I need Jesus.
“So here I am.”
She’ll hear it over and over and over again.
Because John 9:3 “Jesus answered, “It was not that [Judy] sinned, or her parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in her.”
Revelation 5:13 “And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!””
You have been good to us.
You gave us Judy - and she gave us you.
Let us pray.