Funeral - Brenda Sargent Feb 10 - Funeral

We're going to sing some songs of worship and praise that are special to Brenda. She picked these out but we're open with one called. Holy spirit. So I invite you to please stand and join us. If you can and please sing along the words will be on the screen behind us.

nothing worth

You're pretty.

Nothing worth more that will ever come close.

your presence Lord

I tasted and see where my heart becomes.

in your presence

Let us become more aware of your presence. Let us experience the glory of your goodness. Let us speak.

Please be seated.

Well, I want to start by saying good morning. I'm Kelly Mahoney on the pastor of Hope Community Church and I'll be half of rent in Eugene's family. I just want to extend a sincere thank-you for you Gathering here to to come and celebrate with us or our deepest sympathies are with everyone who shared in the Brenda's life. And as a result, we've we've come together. It is true. We come to mourn her loss, but we have come to celebrate her life as well as the impact that she's had on all of us why the services may be a bit different than what you experience. You need to understand that we can all blame Brenda. She's the one that planned this whole thing. I've never had an experience like this. I I don't do a lot of funerals. That's something we like to advertise come to our church people never die.

That's an exaggeration. That's not true. But in so she she picked all the songs. She she picked the worship band The Cochran family band folder. She had pictures inserted into it. And you know, I'll just say she faced going home to be with Jesus with a smile and with a plan in and she loved her church. She loves the song. She loved God's word. She wanted to share these things with the people that she loves that you it's always you sharing this memorial service, you're sharing the what gave Brenda great joy and strong. Hope tangible help. And is she faced the upcoming expected reality that one day she would go home to be with Jesus. I want invite you. She had a sing Holy Spirit. You are welcome here. Let's let's pray in view of that song. More like Brenda. We we invite your presence. We invite your power to be at work in each of our hearts in each of Our Lives Lord. There is healing that needs to happen there. There's hope that is needed for the road ahead. There's their strength that's needed a strength Beyond ourselves that we're all meant to have in our lives you you came you died to make that possible Jesus may that be the reality of all that are gathered here. May your ministering presents and power be upon each of us each of our hearts each of our lives and that we go from here standing taller for the spring in her step in and courage and strength for the journey ahead inspired by you and by your servant Brenda we pray in Jesus name. Amen. You know, this next song Express is Brenda's burial plans, you know, you can sing with joy you can sing with smile. It doesn't matter where your bury me. I'll be home and I'll be free please stand and join us and worship.

in my father's arms, I'll be

replay

I will know where you bury me. I'll be home and I'll be free.

It don't matter.

All my tears be washed away.

when might I

Who will win?

I'll be home and I'll be free.

Oh my God.

I'll be home and I'll be free.

Oh my God.

Is the washed away?

At this time I want invite.

Brock one of the three Great sons to share a little bit of a eulogy.

First I want to say thanks everybody for coming to celebrate mom into pieces before I get started. I hope you saw out there the is little teal ribbon ornaments. that Mom's family and and Mom helped to make as a small remembrance of of how she touched Our Lives encourage you to take one of those out with you when you go He also may have noticed that my dad and my brothers and I are wearing tie-dye today.

For a couple of reasons one because mom loved to tie-dye. She loved adding that color in their wardrobe and it made it made her happy and I think that's why all of us like tie-dye so much so Dad and Cody and Caleb and I decided the other night that we were going to take our ordinary white dress shirts, and we were going to tie them each putting our own distinct print and our own distinct spin on it because Mom knew this was going to be a sad day, but she also wanted it to be a celebration. She wanted to be like a party and so we are wearing our party shirts.

Mom was right those three words haven't always been easy for me to say. Like many others I spent much of my youth resisting and refusing to believe that Mom knew better than I did or that Mom was right. It took me a long time to realize that the reason mom was right so much more often than me was because she saw the world differently than I did back then spoiler alert.

Mom always possessed an uncommon optimism. I don't mean to imply She Was Naive refusing to acknowledge it sometimes difficult reality or that she kept her head in the sand when life resented seemingly impossible challenges. No Mom fully understood as Jesus said in John 16:33 in this world, you will have trouble. But she also understood that those seven words were not nearly as important as the eight words that Jesus said next but take heart I have overcome the world. Tell Mom knew she had a choice. She could focus on the trouble or she could take heart and focus on what was still possible. choosing to see the positive in the potential and I'm sure it wasn't always easy, but I believe that Mom's enduring optimism was a deliberate Choice grounded in her face. A choice she made over and over again to see the best in the things and the people around her.

Making this Choice didn't mean mom always saw the world through rose-colored glasses, even though I'm pretty sure I've seen a picture of her from the 70s wearing actual rose colored glasses.

Speaking of the 70s there was a crystal clear example of mom choosing to focus on the positive and the potential when she met a long-haired bearded hippie who drove a motorcycle and a rusted out of a car with no heat and holes clear through the floorboards.

When the hippie tells the story he says he knew right away that she was the one and she told his best friend the next day. He found the girl he was going to marry.

But this was one of those instances where Mom had to deliberately choose to see the positive in the potential.

So when the hippie asked her to marry him the third time saying finally after this you're going to have to ask me. Mom chose because she saw and you Dean those overwhelmingly positive qualities and his potential a loving and devoted husband carrying and model father. selfless service to others and a lifelong best friend Mama's, right 1986 with three children under six mom and dad moved back to Glenwood and they immediately sought out ways to serve their Community mom became active in the Polk County Literacy project where she taught several adults to read. She volunteered and Cub Scouts and later boy scouts. She and dad later served on the water Emma parade committee for three years bringing some outstanding guests and entertainment into town for a Capstone event. of the town's annual Summer Festival in the late 80s mom recognized an opportunity to strengthen the education system in her community. So she banded together with like-minded individuals and families and took an active and vocal role in rallying support for consolidating three separate school districts into one and building a new high school to serve the area. Yes, a new school would create higher taxes for a while. But she and others saw the potential in an inclusive modern facility that would bring our communities together. Mom was right. The ones that knew school was built what would become of these old school buildings like this one with an empty classrooms silent hallways. Some advocated for demolition to make way for construction in progress. While others felt Nostalgia pulling for preservation of the school that helped shape their childhood. Mom. However did not attend Glenwood High School, but she saw the potential that this old building still held potential for business residence Performing Arts in Fort community. In the hallway right on the other side of that wall, Mom and Dad's accounting practice was one of the first businesses to give this building a second chance. Just outside those doors mom's name is literally etched in stone celebrated alongside others. With whom she worked and fought so hard for this building to achieve its second potential Mama's right?

Mom and dad were often asked as the parents have three sons if they would keep trying for a daughter. Question. I'm familiar with the opposite side as the father of three daughters.

But Mom and Dad said no, they had all they needed already.

Mom had mrs. Cousins second cousins and Friends.

And I don't know if she knew it back then but even with three boys she'd eventually get her fill of hair dying fingernail painting your piercing makeup for theater performances only. And even picky and sometimes controversial fashion choices. When Caleb wanted to put highlights in his hair or get dreadlocks.

When I wanted to bleach my hair blond or Diet Pitch Black. When Cody wanted to dye his hair red yellow blue or green? Mom didn't focus on how others might judge us or judge her parenting and said she chose to see the positive impact it would have on us to know that we had our mother's support in expressing our individuality and our creativity. My mom was right. When I was 15 and almost to the point of getting my first car I decide I want a motorcycle instead. When Caleb came home from college one weekend and spent the entire two days riding my brand new 19 year old brand new motorcycle. Mom could see we were hooked. A week or so later and a thirteen-year-old Cody was writing as well. In the span of a month her little boys had become motorcycle riders. What others might see motorcycles representing Rebellion violence and danger mom chose instead to see Independence Adventure? community in a potential for a new form of family vacation We rode through Michigan's Upper Peninsula out to Sturgis for the annual motorcycle rally and even rode all the way to the Grand Canyon and back. We grew closer as a family riding our individual motorcycles independent, but still together than we ever could sitting next to each other in the van or on an airplane. Mama's, right Mom, sometimes said there were some things we boys just wouldn't understand until we had kids of Our Own. And Mom eventually got those little girls in her family and her first two grandchildren granddaughters were born just a couple weeks apart. Mom would come to have six grandchildren in total. She was so proud of who they are and who they're becoming.

And even though none of them lived here in town and couldn't see Mom or Grandma everyday you would know it when they were with her. Grandma just had that ability to give you her whole attention and her whole effort to make you feel so special. Whether it was one-on-one or one on six. The weather she was Grandma for 13 years or 47 or somewhere in between she took the time to get to know all six of her grandchildren. As individuals and she loved every bit of them. So yeah, my brothers and I understand a little more about Mom and how important it is to appreciate. Each one for who they are. Mama's, right

For Mom it was never about the amount of time you had but more about how you spent it. So when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in October 2006, she didn't know how much time she to have. Her doctors initially expected her to have another four or five years time at the most. The mom decided to make the most of her time. She can't she cooked. She crocheted she travelled she set her sights on lifelong dreams and she learned to play the harmonica and the guitar. She drove into the word. She talked with her Savior and she spent time with the people who mattered most to her. She understood that not a single day was guaranteed and that every day was a blessing. She golfed she made wine she drink wine. And she continued to work hard for this community that she loves so much.

She saw each of her three sons married. She welcomed the grand children into this world and in this family. She knew her days were limited in number, but she refused to limit the life that she crammed into those days. Mom was right. I realize all this paints mom is infallible, which she was not. One of my favorite stories of mom and eventually became one of her favorites to took place in the mid-90s and starts with Dad complaining about someone probably a politician. And he concluded his rant by saying that guy reminds me of a certain part of a door and most of us need dad's sense of humor. Well enough to now recognize he was implying a doorknob isn't dumb as a doorknob. But Mom screwed up her face and confusion for several seconds before asking you mean a hinge.

We can bet we never let Mom forget that one and from that point forward anytime one of us acted like a doorknob. We were quick to call each other a hinge instead.

And there's one other thing that Mom got glaringly wrong. And it came during these last few months. His mom knew her Earthly Journey was coming to an end.

You know, it's Pastor Kelly mentioned Mom planned all of this the location the music the day of the week. She was adamant that her service or celebration Whittaker on a Saturday after her obituary had already running the paper. So people could know her service was approaching. even designs that Memorial program

because she knew that we would be lost for a bit without her. And we would need more than a little help to pull this together.

And then all that Mom was right again. But the part she got wrong with all of you.

She told us not to expect a big crowd today because she didn't think more than a handful of people could or would come out to celebrate her life on a cold winter day. I'm sure all of you have your own stories and memories of Mom where you saw her choose to focus on the positive. And on the potential and you saw how Mom was right. can funny this room being so full of love for Mom proves that particular assessment that Mom was wrong.

But all of us here today celebrating mom's life. Please tribute to all the other ways mom was right.

That was so powerful. Thank you. You know, this is just to lead into the song to say she chose the song and she I think what I think about is she knew hard things are coming should look around and see the beautiful things around her and it didn't matter her plan was I'm going to bless the Lord. I'm going to Worship the Lord. I know her things are coming over good things will come to Worship the Lord to invite you to do the same, please join us.

Please stand if you can to join us.

Lester

The sun comes up.

whatever

Let me be singing when the evening.

You're ready.

10000 reason for my heart

Bless the Lord.

10000

Oh my God.

Now I want to invite up Chelsea is going to share a poem and right after Joe Lynn is going to share a second eulogy of sorts.

Good morning. I am Chelsea ornelas. And you Dean is my grandmother's brother. So that's how we are connected and I am so lucky that my parents 36 years ago chose. You didn't Brenda to be my godparents. Are the great choice Mom?

When I had a chance to visit with Brenda in November, she asked me to read this poem and I asked her I said where did you find it? What's the significance and she said cuz I can't remember. I've had it so long and I just kept it tucked in my Bible and so this is directly from her Bible right here and it's called today is the best day of my life.

Today when I awoke I suddenly realize that this is the best day of my life ever. There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today, but I did it because I did I'm going to celebrate. Today, I'm going to celebrate what an unbelievable life. I have had so far the accomplishments the many blessings and yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger. I will go through this day with my head high and a happy heart. I will Marvel at God's seemingly simple gifts the morning do the Sun the clouds the trees the flowers the birds. Today, none of these Miraculous Creations will escape my notice. Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I will make someone smile. I'll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone. I don't even know. Today I will give us and see your compliment to someone who seems down. I'll tell a child how special he is. And I will tell someone I love just how deeply I care for them and how much they mean to me. Today is the day. I quit worrying about what I don't have and I start being grateful for all the wonderful things. God has already given me. I'll remember that to worry. It's just a waste of time because my faith in God and His divine plan and she's everything will be just fine. And tonight before I go to bed, I'll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars in the moon and I will praise God for these magnificent Treasures.

As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow. I will thank the almighty for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child excited with expectation because I know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life ever.

And now we welcome up Joellen to share a second eulogy of sorts.

You just hurt. Can you hear me?

Hi as you just heard, my name is Jo Ellen. Today I get to talk about my life and time with my Aunt Brenda.

When I was asked if I wanted to say something today, I was thankful. I've had all these thoughts bouncing around in my head and wanted to share them with someone. Brenda was a dear friend. But most of all we were family. Eating is my uncle because you needed my uncle and Brenda married to Dean she became an aunt to many already grown adult. Adult and was loved by them all. My mom and you denied brother and sister and there is 20 years between their birthdays you need was more like a cousin and an uncle and Brenda was more like a cousin then or not. For years and probably forever you doing you Dean has been known to all of us as Uncle Denny.

I was there the first night when you did met Brenda. He introduced me to her. And I never really knew why cuz we were in a bar and we were dancing and having fun. And now I know he already knew she was going to be in our lives forever.

And then they became a couple and then she moved away to start her career. And then she moved back and it was a wedding. They settled into their first home in Glenwood and started their family. But before they started that family I moved North to live in this area as well. after all

after all I had family here so it felt safe to move here and so began or even closer friendship.

And then they moved away again, but they came back again. And since I still live not so far from here, I was happy to have that we were closed again. In the early years, we enjoyed things like going to visit my grandparents together and the card playing that accompany those visit. Later on day long road trips to bridal showers and baby showers. Four family members me being the cousin and Brenda being the aunt. Brenda was there when my daughter was baptized because I chose Brenda and you Dean as godparents to Chelsea. If the need arose I was in trusting them with one of my most loved in my heart. I was giving Brenda a daughter a goddaughter.

I was there on her first camping experience and I was there when they took their first camper out to a campground. They got a nice spot up on a hill behind the resort store. And we got the Lakeside. It rained and you Dean or the breakfast that Brenda had prepared. When I first heard the news the cancer news.

I had a wish and that wish was for a cure or maybe a mistake by the doctor. And it wasn't really terminal. A part of me expected that to happen, but it did not and would not and I was sad. because of the life expectancy that came with the diagnosis thoughts of the Future made me sad sad for the things Brenda would miss out on Over the years as couples my husband and I enjoyed multiple camping trips and much time with Eugene and Brenda. I told you about the burnt breakfast and that is where the feathers came in. I'm not sure if it was that first outing or later one, but we laughed and laughed about awarding feathers to our husbands based on things. I had done or said. We had even more good laughs over the taking away of those feathers. My point in sharing this is to say this. I think you Dean has earned a mountain of feathers these last few months and years.

I am amazed by the care and overwhelming support by this community for my family. I know about the winemaking group. I know about the camping Friends. I know about the cutting group. And I know there were many others helping and caring for my aunt and uncle in so many other ways these past months. A multiple visits eyewitness meals being brought in and I know that happened more times than anyone can count. The ribbon tree in their front yard so much love. For my aunt and I know Brenda felt that love and support. So thank you all for caring for my family. Back to my wish though and what made me the saddest when the word cancer first became a part of our world in the early days of Brenda the diagnosis what really made me sad and what I thought about most when I let myself go there.

Was how Brenda would not see her boys finding Mary the loves of their life and she would never hear the little voice call her grandma and then crawl on her lap to share a book. The Cure I wished for did not show up in time, but my Aunt Brenda was blessed with three lovely daughters in law Whom she loved dearly and many little kids who called her grandma. I remember seeing I saw somewhere and Brenda's house at one time it said. There's a special place in heaven for the mom of three boys. We will miss Brenda immensely. There is no doubt about that and just to make sure you got that special thing. Once again, there is a special place in heaven for the mom of three boys. Today, I'm sure Brenda is enjoying her reward.

I just want to say that as the challenges came her way Brenda recognized The Battle Belongs to the Lord. We who remain that there's challenges that we face in in the loss in the morning. And so make this your song Battle Belongs to the Lord, please stand and join us and worship.

When all I see is the bad.

And all I see is the mount.

as I walk through the shadow of Your Love

There's nothing to fear.

the battle beaver

the battle belong to

if you love me. Ask me again.

for Jesus.

Where's my hands?

Nothing nothing.

Nothing can stand against the power.

receipt

The image I have on my heart to talk about today is honestly been on my heart for years now, it goes back to an experience in barstons park at the relay of life. We each had a role. I got to pray Brenda got to be the living inspiration standing right there in the park. She didn't have any speaking roles. She was just being Brenda and I just want to say that from that moment Brenda became more of an inspiration to me than these superhero athletes that we look to in our culture. You might be excited about the Super Bowl and then think while when you're watching the Super Bowl, I want you to reflect back on what we talked about today is that inspiration of someone like Brenda better than like marathon runners people. I really can't wait till you can tell by my shape. He definitely does not run marathons. And so I'm going to talk a bit about marathon runners. Waiting at the Brenda's perseverance. I really have had this on my heart and it goes back to distance running came on my radar through my wife one day. She suddenly announced that she's training this couch to a half marathon and she was going to run 13.1 mi in like months from them and I'm like you you got to be kidding, but she was serious whole bunch of her family members were actually running full marathons and I began to learn about this. I witnessed it from a distance, but it really inspired me. It grabbed my attention that in order to succeed in Marathon running you had to push your body Beyond limits more than your body normally couldn't do her and at that time I'm learning about this and I'm interacting with Brenda and it it just stuck with me for years, you know, the biggest part of the battle and it's not your body at your mind because pain will come suffering is going to increase the body is going to say no and in order to run to win or at least a finish the You have to get your mind your heart and your spirit to overcome and say yes. I'm going to continue on now. I mention marathon runners and talking about her life because for years now, we watched Brenda persevere over a long road road filled with physical suffering mental and emotional and spiritual battling that made her legendary in our site. And as I pondered example to Alsace I felt a very strong sense. I knew exactly what I needed to talk about. I needed to talk about Hebrews 12 and you have Brenda's life. Now my mind jump to the middle of the first verse it says and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us when the Bible talks about the race marked for us. We recognize there's so many different people and there's so many different races that we tap a run in the race marked out for Brenda. It was a different race than anyone else in this room and Brenda ran her race with perseverance not only in length. 17 years of battling cancer but also in the quality of her life and the equality for example as she stayed up and and she stayed strong when cancer was trying to bring her down and one key. I'll bring the success was Brenda's team which one you start back in the beginning of the verse. That's really what we're talking about. It says therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses now in context a great cloud of witnesses when you're in chapter 12 is talking about the heroes of the faith that you just the Hall of faith that you just read about in chapter 11. It's old and test Old and New Testament great spiritual grapes, but beyond biblical Christianity, we also have the inspiration of historical Christians who walk by faith in the history from Jesus time and until now But I want to add that great cloud of witnesses is often thought of as like The Spectators in the stands as the current athletes into the arena. These are the fans cheering you on. The one supporting you if you run your race and for Brenda, she had quite a cheering section. She hasn't adoring husband. She had three loving Sons wonderful daughter-in-law that she was blessed to welcome into the family precious grandchildren and just so many other family, but beyond her Earthly, you know physical family. There was the support of our church family her local teammates called a spur on in and you know, what were fighting that the Red Devils this week we can do this, you know, they're Brenda being plugged into a church was a huge part of her encouragement and her inspiration and even do you know, what times she had to tune in online because with her compromised immune system that that live stream became a life went for her. When she couldn't worship publicly along with her physically and Earthly family in our church family. She had a deeper support network than most people. I know just the rich life with like the so many different groups like The Supper Club and the whiners and in the bikers and you know, they're just a whole list of them. Right and so you can serve this great cloud of witnesses we to right now in this room. We need that support. We need it from looking back to the inspiration of history. And also as We Gather tomorrow and bring this loss and celebrate her life, we recognize we need to be cheered on in the race were still running. So from her example, we consider the importance of it's his throwing off everything that that hinders and I think like marathon runners a major hindrance Brenda had to throw off was that physical that emotional weight of dealing with pain dealing with tiredness? Cuz she's going to treatment and she said she continued the race specific to her race was all the special challenges that come with fighting cancer including and you got it. You got to capture this that weight of anticipation. Even if it's not hard now, it's the weight of a patient that that next scan is going to reveal there's more cancer and often there was a yes, there is a reoccurrence of cancer so than the physical pain in the physical tiredness associated with ongoing 130 treatment. She told me 13 chemo sessions through the years and then all of this we witness the amazing perseverance. She displayed in overcoming all those trials that came her way as she continued to enjoy her family. Enjoy her friends. Enjoy her church and enjoy her work. I mean do her her body was fighting a great fight her spirit was overcoming Not only continued into work but doing so with a smile a genuine concern for others and with compassion for others way back when I first met Brenda, she mentioned how the doctor originally told her that with ovarian cancer. She actually had about a 20% chance to make it five years and she said the highest number she ever heard from the doctor is maybe eight years. I tell you that is a weighty sentence to have hanging over you I can imagine just how much louder you would hear that the click of the top the click of the tick of the clock. Sorry how much louder that would seem how much faster it would seem to go when you've heard those words to Claire you have cancer and silver Brenda to run a race. So well in the person here so long she had to throw off everything that hinders in the sin that so easily entangles as it says in Hebrews particular situation. I think how tempting it would have been to get caught up in envying others. Who don't share those same trials or lashing out towards others out of pain or tiredness or weakness? I mean who would judge her for that? And yes, I think about how often we see it lived out in real life. We tend to see that hurting people hurt people. But in spite of Brenda's pain tiredness and weakness, she kept working. She kept smiling she continue caring for others and for their needs and this lie just where I started it says and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us Brenda had different race to run and she never got the sense that she was tripped up by seeing others who seem to be given an easier race truly her example to us was running her race with perseverance and no doubt. Her body was saying no and yet her mind her heart her soul there saying yes, I can and together we can. And like all the runners. I know some of the key elements that spreader on to overcome was having a great team to support her. I mean being at those marathons it will move you if you were towards the last leg of the journey hearing people that they don't even know the other person there but they're like you can do it and they spur them on and I think also of the great choice most Runners love to run have a music plan is they go a day they keep their heart keeps their head in it and you catch a glimpse of Brenda's playlist by the choices she made for today and I think about facing those ongoing Temptations and trials of cancer singing Holy Spirit. You are welcome here come flood this place and fill this atmosphere. She didn't want to face this alone. And she knew she didn't have to you consider the roller coaster Ops and the Downs of each blessing and each challenge coming your way and I can imagine her singing the sun comes up and a new day is Dawning. It's time to sing your song. Song again, whatever may pass and whatever lies before me. Let me be singing when the evening comes and when the fight is on and treatments are being attempted and if you find her running with perseverance to the tune, so when I fight I fight on my knees with my hands lifted high. Oh God The Battle Belongs to You and every fear I lay at your feet. I'll sing through the night. Oh God The Battle Belongs to You But even with the team and music to carry you along they say that long distance Runners off and they're going to hit the wall. They say it's you know, if they've trained it's between male teen in my 2021. There's this triple whammy of exhaustion dehydration and hypoglycemia, and that's when that one thought and and you're going to give up one surrender away from quitting and in those intense moments God put signposts along the road that carried her through and it might be simply a verse there's multiple multiples out on the board in her own handwriting. I'm going to grab one. She said make sure and talk about Isaiah 41:10 while I'm reading it. I pulled it on my screen in her writing don't be afraid for I am with you don't be discouraged for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my Victorious right hand. And I think about the little Glimpse. God gave her very good friend Mary Johnson. She had a vivid dream in the middle of the night where she saw Jesus reaching down to Brenda extending his hand and how Brenda took Jesus's hand and Mary is a close friend thought that must be the moment. Maybe God bless me and showed me that she went home to be with him today. When she found out that Brenda was still alive. It seemed like a very powerful confirmation doll that Brenda was Secure arm-in-arm with Jesus in the last leg of the race. And as powerful as that encouragement was we recognize that all along the race set before her Jesus in her was the secret sauce for her success because Jesus was giving the energy for her perseverance verse to says fixing our eyes on Jesus the Pioneer and Perfecter of Faith. Now Sarge teasingly said to me that Jesus was her boyfriend, and I think I've heard that more than once. You know, I love that and he didn't seem too jealous. You know, there's one boyfriend there was acceptable as him so it's not just by his example, but by what he had done to rescue her from person. She knew the rest of the verse that says for the joy set before him. He endured the cross scorning a shame and sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God. We don't get to sit down till the work is done. You don't just sit in their place of authority and power until you've learned that place and Brenda's Faith was founded on that finished work of Jesus on the cross where his perfect life had been laid down for her and for you and for me until by faith. His perfect life was applied to Brenda's so that she knew her since recovered. She knew that her shame was gone and it happened the very moment. She put her trust in him. Brenda was not trying to be good enough to get to heaven. She wasn't trying to earn God's love or win his favor. She wasn't hoping for the best in the day that she died. She was living her life giving thanks for the free gift of eternal life. She had already received the gift of God's presence in her that qualified her to be on Jesus's team. She's simply sought to live her life and powered by his presence and inspired by his example as it says in verse 3 consider him who endured such opposition from Sinners so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. No, here's the reality. We we all have a race marked out for us to run and honestly, none of us is Mint run this race alone.

We're all meant for a relationship with God. We're meant for a relationship with his people so that threw that both these relationships we can have a relationship in the world that makes the difference. The Isaiah 41:10 verse that meant so much to Brenda. It gives an understanding of how her ongoing life and her example was made possible by a power not her own it says again, so do not fear for I am with you do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Brenda ran her race with strength not her own and strength that came from God at work in and threw her that same strength as meant to be in every one of us. Jesus promised. He would give his very presence and he would give his power to all who believe on him for forgiveness of their sins in for eternal life. You can trust him today. He offers himself as a gift to be received by faith when he gives you his Spirit you have eternal life cuz his spirit is eternal when he's inside. You were truly never alone for he is always with you. And with this you he offers you his people his team has Church to be your team to support you so that you can run to win. As soon as we reflect on Hebrews 12 was about finding inspiration for our current challenges that we are facing for those of us who remain we are encouraged to consider the heroes of the faith like Brenda. She wasn't perfect. But oh my goodness, we can learn from how she she ran her Race by faith. She persevered in her trials. She had that rise above peace and perspective. She fix your eyes on Jesus and she found strength through his example, but also through his tangible presence and power at work in her and so in America, we often were so enamored with played Superstars, but for me personally, I've often thought of Brenda with a much greater admiration. Then I would have for a marathon runner or a Super Bowl champion. Her inspiration is greater because we've been blessed to watch to cheer on and then be inspired by a true Hometown hero who overcame on the field that matter the most she overcame in the field of faith. I want invite you to worship the guy that she worked up and recognize we we talked about great. Are you Lord? The teams used to be preaching so much longer. So they're like settled in but we invite you to stand and sing. Great. Are you Lord?

you give you my love you bring my

every heart

It's your brother.

You give life you are love. you bring my

Yuri every Hall

Willshire, Ohio

Well, hey the table has been set for a Great Fellowship meal. We invite you to stick around if you can it is lunch time, you know, if you would like to join us you simply go out those doors go around the hallway and you'll end up coming in the double doors on the edge of the gym there and we're going to pray for the meal before you leave. So the first one in line gets to eat first. It's a funeral try not to be too rush rush. It looks wrong, but you can win go for it. But on behalf of the family, I want to thank you sincerely for the ways that you've expressed your love and your support and in so many different ways and especially for joining in this damn celebrating his life. I want to send you out with a blessing chosen by Brenda and and I want to add to it a prayer for my heart. And so this is from numbers. It's out on her board. She wrote it in there. She wants you to leave with a blessing the Lord bless you and keep you the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you and the Lord turn his face toward you. And give you peace pray with me if you want. Oh Lord. Thank you for just the richness of a life well-lived in the celebration. We've had we've invited you to come in and minister to us. I know and I'm confident you have done that. May we take from this place the things that we've heard and the invitation of of your offer of your power and your presents that we might experience you individually to Heart it may we draw near to you in the days and weeks to come thinking often of how good you are The Giver of all good gifts that you gave us a gift of Brenda. She's now with you and we long to join her. And you have made that possible. And so until that time, we recognize that her influence or impact these memories. They have shaped us. We are who we are because of our connection to one another and to her and to you and so continue to use her in our lives or we pray in Jesus name. Amen. And I just want to say we got the tie dyed shirts, but we're going full hippie on this fine the final song I Smile and matching Eugene and Brenda meeting some 48 years ago. I imagine Earth Tone sweaters and and corduroys bell bottoms. And this song Spirit in the Sky slightly modified for final song. So we'll meet you over there for a meal.

Amen, we just picture Brenda dancing and we have to happen with that one. So please yes, if you can stay and join us for dinner with the family and likes Kayla Kelly said just go around the back side there and it's all set up ready to go. See you there.