And I heard a voice from heaven saying “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.!”
At approximately 12:45 pm, Sherri’s mother, my mother-in-law, and our sister in the faith, Betty Landis, died in the Lord and was received to rest in the arms of Jesus until Resurrection Day. Her passing was peaceful. Sherri, who has spent the majority of the past week sitting at Betty’s bedside was there, stroking her hair and assuring her of the promises made to her by her Savior God, promises to forgive and to heal and to save. And now, while our hearts are heavy, they are not empty, for they are filled with the joy of knowing that Betty no longer suffers but, instead, has received her “Yes” to her prayer, “I want to go to heaven.”
For me, I had the great honor of being her pastor. She was certainly my champion and she affirmed me in ministry again and again. She loved hearing God’s Word and receiving His supper. Her connectedness to Jesus led her to love her husband Bill, Sherri and her sister Carrie, our kids and grandkids, and more friends that one could count, with love of Jesus that she had first received from her Savior. Those fruits of faith our family won’t soon forget.
Gracious God, we give You thanks for calling Betty to Your
side. With Easter still so fresh in our lives, we give thanks that Your
sent Your Son into death so that we will never be defeated by death.
Instead, we praise You for the rest You have granted Your servant. Have
mercy upon Sherri and our family and all those who mourn today. Take away
our sorrow and keep us in the peace that comes from knowing that in Christ we
have life – life now and eternal, blessed life in heaven! In Jesus’
name. Amen.
