00:00:00.000 - 00:00:25.000

[ Music ] >> He fleeth also as a shadow that continueth not. [ Music ] We brought nothing into this world.

00:00:25.000 - 00:01:03.240

And certainly we can take nothing out. [ Music ] Job wrote, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away." Blessed be the name of the Lord.

00:01:03.240 - 00:01:23.900

[MUSIC] The Lord is my strength and my life. [MUSIC] Of whom shall I be afraid?

00:01:23.900 - 00:02:01.960

[MUSIC] The Lord is the light and he's my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Lord, thou has been our dwelling place.

00:02:01.960 - 00:02:18.800

in all generations before the mountains were brought forth or ever thou has formed the earth and

00:02:18.800 - 00:02:34.040

the world even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God Amen.

00:02:34.040 - 00:02:53.760

You may be seated. Today is May 1, 2004. We are here today to celebrate the homegoing of Miss Willie Mae Smith.

00:02:53.760 - 00:03:15.120

This blessed occasion takes place here at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. The pastor is the Reverend Dr. Marvin C. Griffin. The program will, for the most part, go as printed

00:03:15.120 - 00:03:31.600

and as necessary, according to the desires of the family. We will make whatever adjustments that need to be made. At this time, please receive selection

00:03:31.600 - 00:03:58.080

by Ivory Jackson, "Amazing Grace." (gentle music) ♪ Amazing ♪ ♪ And grace ♪

00:03:58.080 - 00:04:22.680

♪ How, how sweet ♪ ♪ The sound ♪ ♪ That saved ♪ ♪ For a wretch like me ♪

00:04:22.680 - 00:05:01.800

♪ I once was lost ♪ ♪ But now I'm found ♪ ♪ How I found ♪ ♪ Was blind ♪

00:05:01.800 - 00:05:43.360

♪ But now ♪ ♪ I ♪ Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like ♪ Down that street of rich like me ♪

00:05:43.360 - 00:06:26.600

♪ I once was a poor soul ♪ ♪ Once was lost ♪ ♪ But now I'm found ♪ ♪ Was blind but now I see ♪

00:06:26.600 - 00:07:13.860

♪ But now I see ♪ But now I see. Old Testament. Verse 139, and it says, "Oh Lord, you have searched me

00:07:13.860 - 00:07:31.480

"and known me. "You know my sitting down and my rising up. "You understand my thoughts are far off. "You comprehend my path and my lying down

00:07:31.480 - 00:07:48.860

"and are acquainted with all my ways. "For there is not a word on my tongue, "but behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. "You have hedged me behind and before

00:07:48.860 - 00:08:01.220

"and laid your hands upon me." May the Lord have a blessing of his reading of his words, Psalms one through five. (clears throat)

00:08:01.220 - 00:08:23.520

Our New Testament reading, coming from 2 Corinthians, chapter five, six through eight.

00:08:25.120 - 00:08:40.440

Therefore, we are always confident knowing that which we were at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight.

00:08:40.440 - 00:08:54.960

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Let us stand for prayer.

00:08:54.960 - 00:09:15.320

(soft piano music) Dear most gracious heavenly father, we thank you for the purpose in which we're gathered here on today.

00:09:15.320 - 00:09:30.320

Father, we celebrate the homecoming of Sister Willie Lee Smith. We thank you for this soldier, this soldier in the army of the Lord.

00:09:30.320 - 00:09:48.320

Oh, Father, that you are blessed to live a wonderful life. Father, we celebrate her homecoming. We thank you for the legacy that she's left behind. We thank you for the children and grandchildren

00:09:48.320 - 00:09:59.500

that you've blessed her to be offspring of, Father. Oh dear God, we thank you so much. We thank you, oh God,

00:09:59.500 - 00:10:13.580

that now she has found a better place to be with you. Oh Father, we thank you for her reward. We thank you for the life that she has led. We thank you for the faith that she's had,

00:10:13.580 - 00:10:26.720

that she has become an inspiration for us. Oh dear God, we thank you. Oh Father, we celebrate on this morning for this is your homecoming.

00:10:26.720 - 00:10:45.440

Thank you, Father, for this promotion, oh God. Oh, and the joy to be absent from this body, this flesh made, oh God, with hands, oh God. But oh Father, now, oh God, as she's graduated,

00:10:45.440 - 00:10:57.920

Oh, to have a body that's incorruptible, that will never know sickness again, that will never know hunger or sorrow. Father, we thank you, Lord.

00:10:57.920 - 00:11:08.640

We thank you for the purpose on today. Thank you for our dear sister. Oh, and that her life is in your hands. Thank you, Lord.

00:11:08.640 - 00:11:33.880

Thank you, Lord. Oh, we celebrate this homecoming. in Jesus name. Thank you Lord. Amen and amen. Hallelujah. And at this time may we give you into the hands for another selection by Sister Ivory.

00:11:33.880 - 00:12:19.880

The ivory block. [MUSIC PLAYING] [ Music ] Why should I feel discouraged?

00:12:19.880 - 00:13:00.340

And why should the shadows come? ♪ And why should my heart be lonely ♪ ♪ And long for heaven and home ♪ ♪ When Jesus is my God ♪

00:13:00.340 - 00:13:28.080

♪ This is my portion ♪ ♪ A constant friend is he ♪ ♪ His eye is on the sparrow ♪ ♪ Is on the sparrow ♪

00:13:28.080 - 00:14:01.260

♪ And I know ♪ ♪ He watches ♪ ♪ The Lord, he watches over me ♪ I sing because I'm happy.

00:14:01.260 - 00:14:50.080

And I sing because I'm free. ♪ Oh, his eye is on the sparrow ♪ ♪ And I know he watches ♪ ♪ The light he watches over me ♪

00:14:50.080 - 00:15:11.760

(audience applauding) - The resolution will be done by Cicely Laverne Petty. May I ask that she come? Amen.

00:15:11.760 - 00:15:48.040

Resolution for sister Willie Lee Smith. We graciously honor our the God of all creation. We for his glory Christian fellowship, church family, Austin, Texas, are saddened by the recent passing of our beloved sister, Mrs.

00:15:48.040 - 00:16:13.080

Willie Lee Smith. Where as Sunday, April 25th, Sister Smith passed from this life in sickness at the Bracken Ridge Hospital with loved ones attending her. Mrs. Smith attended our church with evidence of strengthening her relationship and fellowship with God. Sister Smith left behind a loving family

00:16:13.080 - 00:16:34.240

who would cherish her memory, faithful friend who shared happy times, and a group of new family as well as friends who loved her and look forward to her fellowship. Our church transitioned north about the time her health began to fail we thereby submit those she will be missed,

00:16:34.240 - 00:16:48.340

we submit to the all wise providence of the Almighty who saw fit to call her from her labor to reward. And so we say to the family, we weep with you, but not as those who have no hope.

00:16:48.340 - 00:17:06.400

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15, 51 and 52, I behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.

00:17:06.400 - 00:17:14.960

For the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. And so we say to Sister Smith,

00:17:14.960 - 00:17:29.440

good evening, we will see you in the morning. To the family, we commend you to the all-wise and sovereign God, with confidence that he will strengthen you in his grace

00:17:29.440 - 00:17:40.120

and cause you to grow from strength to strength. You have our prayers. Be it resolved that a copy of the resolution is given to the family and that a copy is entered

00:17:40.120 - 00:17:50.960

into our church records. Humbly submitted this day, May 1st, 2004, Pastor A. Liddell Thomas, Jr. For his Glory Christian Fellowship Church.

00:17:50.960 - 00:18:25.920

- Amen. Now we will have special remarks from our sister Sven and our great granddaughter. [ Pause ] >> I'll be reading a poem to my grandmothers from me

00:18:25.920 - 00:18:37.880

and all the other great, great kids. You never said I'm leaving, you never said goodbye, You were gone before I knew it, and only God knows why. A million times I cried.

00:18:37.880 - 00:18:47.780

If love alone could have saved you, you never would have died. In life, I loved you dearly. In death, I love you still. In my heart, you hold a place that no one could ever feel.

00:18:47.780 - 00:18:57.060

It broke my heart to lose you, but you didn't go alone, for all my love went with you the day God took you home. Amen. Amen.

00:18:57.060 - 00:19:07.200

Amen. [APPLAUSE] (audience applauding) - Thank you all for coming.

00:19:07.200 - 00:19:21.540

I just wanted to, I'm Anne, her niece, and just know that each one of us knew that Willie was, she's a very quiet lady, but most of all, and a lady of few words,

00:19:21.540 - 00:19:30.980

but I know she would be excited now to see you here celebrating this special time for her because we know she's going to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

00:19:30.980 - 00:19:42.540

And I know, I wanted the family to know that she loved you so much. Her family was most important to her and her children and her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren.

00:19:42.540 - 00:19:52.880

It really touched her heart so much when she had a chance to share with you. And so I know that she would want me to let you know she was the link that kept us together.

00:19:52.880 - 00:20:09.460

But I know that her love will remind us of her and let us know that she wants us to continue to be the family that she always wanted to have and that we can keep her love alive as a family and grow strong with each other.

00:20:09.460 - 00:20:22.660

And we know that through God, he'll help us keep that connection as a family. I really want to thank our friends for coming out. She had a few, but they were faithful and they were loving,

00:20:22.660 - 00:20:33.340

and they were always there for me. And it means so much to me. And so I just want to let you know that. So again, she would want us to know

00:20:33.340 - 00:20:47.340

that she's with the Lord now, and that the Lord is her shepherd, and he has allowed her to lay in green pastures. And we'll miss her from our presence, but not from our hearts.

00:20:47.340 - 00:20:57.320

So again, thank you so much to our friends and families. My friends have been there, and it means so much. And we just thank you for joining us in our celebration. - Amen.

00:20:57.320 - 00:21:01.480

- Amen. - Amen. - Amen. (audience applauding)

00:21:01.480 - 00:21:11.320

- Amen. - Very good. - We'd like to give an opportunity for some of the family members to give words

00:21:11.320 - 00:21:32.180

or a prayer for two minutes. If you have anything you would like to say. [MUSIC PLAYING] Hello.

00:21:32.180 - 00:21:43.660

Good afternoon, or good morning, shall I say. Anyway, I'm Minister Katie Kimmel, and I would just like to say to Bernetta, she has been very, very faithful in coming to Bible study,

00:21:43.660 - 00:21:53.500

and we've been sharing for a long time. And I'd just like to say to the family, I knew Miss Smith through my brother. But anyway, I didn't realize until much later

00:21:53.500 - 00:22:05.900

that she was Renetta's auntie. But God has a way of putting us together. So I would just like to say to the family that I've had to go down this road twice last year

00:22:05.900 - 00:22:17.340

with my family. So just keep strong and know that God is with you. And just remember that he will never leave us nor forsake us. So thank you.

00:22:17.340 - 00:22:32.020

Thank you. [MUSIC PLAYING] How y'all doing? My name is Easter.

00:22:41.020 - 00:23:00.740

I just want to say that I thank everybody also, but this is a time where I haven't seen none of my family, Dorothy, all my cousins. And I hate that this have to be the time that we come together,

00:23:00.740 - 00:23:12.100

but it's a beginning. And I just want to say to all my family, I don't want to lose touch, because I don't-- To me, I don't have none because I don't know none of them,

00:23:12.100 - 00:23:27.060

really, except for my grandmother. But I just want all of us to take this opportunity to become closer and stronger and not let it be 10 years before I see everybody again, OK?

00:23:27.060 - 00:23:42.960

(audience applauding) (soft music) - Tell me, please tell me. - I can't say it out loud.

00:23:42.960 - 00:23:52.620

- I want you to say it, come on. You don't need to take it out. Just say something. Go.

00:23:52.620 - 00:24:09.320

- I have to go. - Just speak into the mic. - This is Isaiah Turn. I want to say a speech that I made up by myself.

00:24:09.320 - 00:24:29.860

Roses are red, violets are blue. My great-granny is sweet and so are you. - You wanna do it one more time? (audience applauding)

00:24:29.860 - 00:24:49.780

You don't have to sing, you don't have to. You finished, okay. - All right, all right. (audience applauding)

00:24:52.460 - 00:25:16.980

would ask for. Giving praise to God and to the ministers and to my friends, my Christian friends in Christ. I want to say it's good to be here. I love my Amy. I always call him his huff. And when I would say something when I

00:25:16.980 - 00:25:42.860

called him himself, she would laugh and thought that was so funny. But I want say my oldest sister is not able to be here because she's in the hospital herself. And my aunt was one of her favorite people. And I'm asking you all to pray for my sister also. And I'm here representing my whole family that could not be here today because there's

00:25:42.860 - 00:26:10.260

a lot of us in Houston, Texas, and we didn't know any of these children. And I asked God to forgive me because I come to Austin all the time, and when I come to Austin I would be with the other part of the family and I never did get to know you all. And I hope from this day on that we will stay in touch with each other. And always remember this,

00:26:10.260 - 00:26:14.760

I love all of you. - Amen. - Amen. - Amen.

00:26:14.760 - 00:26:32.980

- Amen. - Amen. [MUSIC PLAYING] - I can remember when Mrs. Smith became child church.

00:26:32.980 - 00:26:44.180

She was in my Sunday school class. I was her first teacher. And I didn't know at the time that she had a hearing disability.

00:26:44.180 - 00:26:56.980

But she let me know as soon as she could. And I often would ask her to respond or just talk to me, let me know where you were and how you're receiving everything. And she would just make the statement

00:26:56.980 - 00:27:08.760

that everything is well, it's OK, she understand. But she never would express herself that much. And there were times when we, in the evening, when we took her home from church,

00:27:08.760 - 00:27:20.200

and there was a place that she liked to go to. She liked to stop by Ben's and get a little barbecue sandwich and go on home. And then she would offer us some food also.

00:27:20.200 - 00:27:31.160

She was very kind and very nice. I wanted to say to the family, I didn't know her exceptionally well, but I knew her well enough to know that she was a kind person.

00:27:31.160 - 00:27:42.120

I remember there was a birthday party. I believe it was her birthday party they gave in her honor. And she invited us to come, but we weren't able to get there. On the Sunday morning when we picked her up

00:27:42.120 - 00:27:53.280

to take her to the church, she said, there's plenty of food. When we get home from church, come on in and get some food. And so she was just that kind of person. I just wanted the family to be encouraged

00:27:53.280 - 00:27:58.500

and to know that God loves you and that God will take you through. [MUSIC PLAYING] All right.

00:27:58.500 - 00:28:07.960

[MUSIC PLAYING] Give an honor to America's great church. To our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is a great day.

00:28:07.960 - 00:28:15.960

Oh yeah. Well my auntie has said that I read the deal back there my wife have

00:28:15.960 - 00:28:23.960

of the grandkids that my auntie have. I didn't know what I mean. You know I come down here I see my auntie

00:28:23.960 - 00:28:37.420

and bring my mother that's the one who's sick that my auntie just got me talking to talking about and I just want to say it's good to see you. I don't know what

00:28:37.420 - 00:28:59.420

you're gonna call me but my name is Perry Mackey and I'm your, I'm not good at how I thought I'd go back but we will get together and we're gonna, I'm gonna know all y'all before I leave here but I want to let you know that this is a great day and we'll leave is home now. For we all know one day we're gonna have to pass this way.

00:28:59.420 - 00:29:24.660

So hold your heads up, keep the faith, and we'll be where she is and we'll see her again. And that's to the family and to those who could not make it from Houston. I bring y'all greeting from Greater Macedonia who is my pastor Avi Alpha Jr. and I'm just happy to be here. I'm just happy to be here because one day we all will pass this way.

00:29:24.660 - 00:29:40.460

At this moment, we're gonna ask for sister Janine Shanklin to come and speak.

00:29:40.460 - 00:30:07.100

[MUSIC PLAYING] Good afternoon. Miss Smith, I used to pick her up for church when we had church over here on the east side.

00:30:07.100 - 00:30:17.780

When I first started picking her up, she didn't say a lot. She would just call on the phone, and she would just tell me, I need a ride. And I would say, OK.

00:30:17.780 - 00:30:30.180

And I would pick her up every day, every Sunday. And some Sundays, she wouldn't call. And I would call her back that week, and she would tell me, well, I babysat all week,

00:30:30.180 - 00:30:38.860

and I was tired. I had the kids or something. And she was a very nice lady. she would, sometimes she would just call

00:30:38.860 - 00:30:48.620

and she wouldn't say much at all. She never really, she would just get in the car and I would take her to church and then she would, I would try and talk to her

00:30:48.620 - 00:30:58.100

and sometimes she would say something and then by me just being who I am, I would every now and then make her laugh and whenever she would laugh, she would just,

00:30:58.100 - 00:31:08.320

you know, she was like, oh, okay, okay. And so I really enjoyed the time that I did spend with her, picking her up and everything. And as Sister Petty said, before every Sunday,

00:31:08.320 - 00:31:21.660

I would ask her, do you need to stop any place before I take you home? And she would always say, well, can you just stop me by Sam's and buy me $2 worth of sausage, $3 worth of ribs,

00:31:21.660 - 00:31:33.340

and a soda water, and get you whatever you want. So we really enjoyed our time with her. And I will miss Miss Smith. And I just want you all to just be encouraged in the Lord.

00:31:33.340 - 00:31:59.540

Amen. Amen. [MUSIC PLAYING] Good morning or good evening, whichever.

00:31:59.540 - 00:32:09.640

This is Louise McNair, and I'm a dear friend of Willie's. We worked together for 17 years, and I enjoyed every moment of Willie. Willie was a beautiful lady.

00:32:09.640 - 00:32:16.460

She was kind of slow, like I said. She didn't talk much, but she was sweet. We had a lot of laughs that I would draw. We just had a lot of fun.

00:32:16.460 - 00:32:23.820

Like somebody spoke before, says, when Willie's ready to go, she wants to go by and get us some sausage or something. But we would all go to Luby's.

00:32:23.820 - 00:32:32.260

She would have to go to Luby's. And she would talk so much about Ann. I didn't know Ann until I met her one day. I was taking Willie home from the store

00:32:32.260 - 00:32:39.820

and Ann happened to be there and she came out and I met Ann, beautiful lady. And I tell you, Willie was just a joy. She was beautiful.

00:32:39.820 - 00:32:47.100

Like I said, she was kind of slow, but talking, she wouldn't talk much. She would call me up on the phone. I would take her to cash a check on her,

00:32:47.100 - 00:32:55.060

a third on her, you know, so she would call me, "Louise." And she'd just hold the phone. I said, "Willie, you still there?" And you know, she said, "Yeah."

00:32:55.060 - 00:33:02.140

I said, "Well, I know what you want." So she'd tell me we'd go get ready and go to the store. And before we leave there, we'd go eat. She loved to eat.

00:33:02.140 - 00:33:09.220

We had a lot of fun with Willie. Willie was just a beautiful lady. I love Willie. I couldn't say nothing bad about it.

00:33:09.220 - 00:33:14.780

She was all sweet. And Ann, thank you. Thank you. Thank you all.

00:33:24.460 - 00:33:39.780

I just wanted to say a few words here. I did not know the young person there, but I felt all of your anguish and your joy, too. I did ask Sister Smith whether or not

00:33:39.780 - 00:33:55.880

she wanted this recorded, and she said no. But I did take the occasion to record it anyway. And I want you to know that so many precious things were said so that perhaps some of you might want copies of this

00:33:55.880 - 00:34:07.700

through the church. Copies can be made, they would be $5 a piece. So if you do want them, it is being recorded anyway. Thank you.

00:34:07.700 - 00:34:51.800

♪ What a friend we have been ♪ ♪ Our friend we have in Jesus ♪ ♪ All our sins and griefs to bear ♪ ♪ For what a privilege to carry ♪

00:34:51.800 - 00:35:30.700

♪ Oh, everything to God in prayer ♪ ♪ Everything to God in prayer ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ What peace we often forfeit ♪

00:35:37.380 - 00:36:03.280

♪ Oh, oh ♪ ♪ What needless, needless pain we bear ♪ ♪ Oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, because we, we do not, we do not, do not carry ♪

00:36:05.820 - 00:36:32.880

♪ Mary ♪ ♪ Everything to God in prayer ♪ ♪ Oh, can we find a friend so fair ♪ ♪ When we find a friend so faithful ♪

00:36:32.880 - 00:37:09.900

♪ Oh, who will all our sorrows share ♪ ♪ Oh, Lord, share all our sorrows ♪ ♪ Oh, but Jesus, Jesus knows ♪ ♪ I have every weakness, weakness ♪

00:37:09.900 - 00:37:30.900

♪ All you have to do is just take ♪ ♪ Take it to the Lord, take it to the Lord ♪ ♪ Just take, take it to the Lord ♪ ♪ To the Lord ♪

00:37:30.900 - 00:37:50.360

♪ Just take ♪ ♪ Take it to the Lord ♪ ♪ In prayer ♪ (audience applauding)

00:37:55.600 - 00:38:27.760

we find a friend so faithful, who all of our sorrow will share. Jesus knows all about our troubles. and we can take it to him in prayer.

00:38:27.760 - 00:38:52.720

It's one thing to share with a person who not only knows what to do, but a person who's willing to do it. And it's good to know that God is just one prayer away.

00:38:52.720 - 00:39:26.280

way. And he hears the prayers of those that are his. Much has been said today and rightly so about a woman that has obviously changed or has touched our hearts in some way, form or fashion. It is not always

00:39:26.280 - 00:39:43.000

the multitude of people who fill the pew that tell the real story. You know like I know. It's the life that you live that really counts.

00:39:43.000 - 00:39:58.280

And so now we celebrate the home going of Sister Willie Lee Smith. Much has been said, and perhaps I've heard more about her today than I've ever known in my whole life.

00:39:58.280 - 00:40:20.000

It has been said that she was not a woman of many words, but she didn't have a problem letting you know what she wanted. I was commuting back and forth when she became a member of our ministry and when I got a chance to meet her,

00:40:20.000 - 00:40:39.680

she extended her little warm hand and gave me a quarter of a smile. I received that and being the person that I am, I embraced her and I hugged her.

00:40:40.680 - 00:40:56.440

And the first hug, she just let me get away with that. She didn't know really if she really wanted that hug. She didn't know me. And it's good sometimes to be a little cautious

00:40:56.440 - 00:41:06.260

about who you're hugging. You don't wanna hug an enemy. Pull an enemy too close to you. You gotta know who this person is.

00:41:06.260 - 00:41:21.980

And through the months that she came faithfully, I noticed that when I hugged her, that the shoulder got a little softer. You know how it is when you hug people,

00:41:21.980 - 00:41:30.180

you don't wanna really hug them, you don't know them. That shoulder's a little heavy, you know. You lean the shoulder into their chest and I could feel that shoulder,

00:41:30.180 - 00:41:45.020

but as she got to know me, that shoulder got softer And she wouldn't say much, but she did tell me, you're my preacher. I never heard her call my name,

00:41:45.020 - 00:41:59.260

but she says, that's my preacher. She was perhaps the senior of the ministry, and I wondered, I said, Lord, I've always asked for a matured person to be a part of our ministry,

00:41:59.260 - 00:42:11.140

and here's this quiet person. I don't care how much we preached, we had people around her that were about to jump pews, run down the aisle.

00:42:11.140 - 00:42:24.660

Miss Smith just sit there. She was not gonna let anybody make her break her neck for nothing. She sat there and every now and then,

00:42:24.660 - 00:42:34.460

I said something that she could agree with. And she'd give me just a little rock like this. That's it. That's all folks, just a little rock.

00:42:34.460 - 00:42:46.420

She wasn't gonna break up too much. She could identify, but she was a reserved person. And I could appreciate her for that because we teach in our ministry, be who you are.

00:42:46.420 - 00:42:59.080

And you'll never have to remember who you were. Tell somebody that's a good word. If you be who you are, you'll never have to remember who you were.

00:42:59.080 - 00:43:08.620

There was so many people that change every day. You don't know who they are. Today they are, and tomorrow they will be. (audience laughing)

00:43:08.620 - 00:43:16.020

Mm-hmm, you know folk like that, don't you? Look at the person next to you, and say, "Don't you look at me night and day. "Don't you look at me night and day."

00:43:16.020 - 00:43:30.940

There are some people who are just hard to be around. I would rather be around a cautious, quiet person than to be around a noisy, messy person. Excuse me, maybe I'm in the wrong house.

00:43:30.940 - 00:43:43.600

(audience laughing) Miss Smith was not a messy person. And when church was over, she did not allow what we were doing

00:43:43.600 - 00:43:56.500

to interfere with her peace. She was a peaceful woman. And there were times if we took too long, you know, some of us who work real hard in the church,

00:43:56.500 - 00:44:09.160

we have to make sure the lights are off. We have to make sure that we're the last one to leave. Anybody in here like, no raise your hand, it's all right. Some folk just have to be last.

00:44:09.160 - 00:44:16.360

I have to talk to some wives. They got some husbands. They just cannot leave on time. Gotta find something to do.

00:44:16.360 - 00:44:30.000

Well, Miss Smith rode to church with those kind of people. And they always had something to do. And there would be time that she would just go to the car and just sit.

00:44:30.000 - 00:44:45.740

But we all loved her, and we all appreciated her for who she was. And we wanna thank this family, because through Miss Smith, we've come to know you.

00:44:45.740 - 00:44:56.420

Maybe this is our first time. And I've heard several members of the family say, I didn't know you. But God works in mysterious ways, doesn't he?

00:44:57.760 - 00:45:08.220

Now whereas this may be the first time, guess what? Ask me what? I'm glad you asked. It doesn't have to be the last.

00:45:08.220 - 00:45:23.300

We can take this moment and cherish this moment and go from here and say, you know what? We went to what we call a home going celebration, but I got to meet a cousin that I've never known.

00:45:23.300 - 00:45:35.940

And then I've got to know somebody that I've always seen never got close to. Some kind of way, love brings us together, even for times like this.

00:45:35.940 - 00:45:49.700

And it's a good time to have somebody to love. And it's a good time to know that you are loved, isn't it? Tell the person next to you, I love you. I really do.

00:45:49.700 - 00:45:55.660

I'm in church. I really do love you. Even if I never told you before. If I never told you before this morning,

00:45:55.660 - 00:46:11.740

I want to tell you right now, I really do love you. Well, the thing about loving people is that if it is a true love, love is something that you can actually feel.

00:46:11.740 - 00:46:23.320

It's not like lust. Lust, you know, and love are first cousins. Yeah, they are. Yeah, they are.

00:46:23.320 - 00:46:32.400

They're first cousins. They're first cousins. But it's something about love that takes you through the storms of life.

00:46:32.400 - 00:46:45.040

Love will get you through the wrinkles of life. Love will take you through the misunderstandings of life. Love will give you enough-- now, don't y'all rock now, because y'all rock too much.

00:46:45.040 - 00:46:54.720

I'm going to feel a little preachy up in here. No, no, don't rock too much on me. I'm going to be nice. But love, love, love is like that.

00:46:54.720 - 00:47:06.720

It is so unique until even if you're heavy, if you're heavy and going through a whole bunch, if you can get in the midst of a person who loves you, something about love, being in the atmosphere of love,

00:47:06.720 - 00:47:19.000

it kind of lifts the burden. Doesn't it? Doesn't it kind of lift the burden? In the book of 1 Samuel, I found a love story.

00:47:21.120 - 00:47:36.600

I wanna share this love story with you just a moment here, and perhaps we can go another place. The book of Samuel talks about a love story, and the characters of this love story

00:47:36.600 - 00:47:46.840

happened to be David and Jonathan. >> All right, all right, we're going. >> Has anybody ever heard about David and Jonathan? >> Yeah.

00:47:46.840 - 00:48:04.960

>> These men loved each other. And they were not, they did not have an irrational love. You see, society have us so messed up sometimes until men are really afraid to love each other.

00:48:04.960 - 00:48:17.480

>> Right. >> We live in such a dangerous and unfortunate society until if a man says I love you to another man, it's almost as if he is going to be pronounced

00:48:17.480 - 00:48:33.600

as being a homosexual or having a gender problem. When I was growing up, they told me, boys, don't cry. Oh, what a mistake. We were taught to hide our emotions and hide our feelings,

00:48:33.600 - 00:48:45.200

and so we grew up tough, didn't wanna let nobody know where we were, and those of us who grew that way, if we don't work on it,

00:48:45.200 - 00:49:00.360

we make pretty hard husbands to live with. Uh oh. Because we learn how to hide our emotions. But I've learned in my time that strong men cry.

00:49:00.360 - 00:49:20.760

And strong men know how to share their emotions. And strong men can tell another man, I love you, did not feel like he's lost anything. That's the kind of love that Jonathan and David had.

00:49:20.760 - 00:49:31.540

They had a love for one another. In this 20th chapter of 1 Samuel, I don't know how many of you have your Bibles. If you have your Bibles, you can follow me.

00:49:31.540 - 00:49:46.920

If you don't, you just have to take what I say. But in this book of 1 Samuel, chapter number 20, This is a love story of this man, David and Jonathan. You know, they had a relationship,

00:49:46.920 - 00:50:07.320

they had a bond between them that was just so phenomenal. I mean, these guys had a bond that I would love to cherish with anybody. You know, it feels different to have somebody to know

00:50:07.320 - 00:50:21.000

that you can trust them even if things get hot. If things get thin, you know they're gonna be around with you until the end. David and Jonathan had such a relationship

00:50:21.000 - 00:50:37.640

until when the evil spirit came upon Saul. Saul, you know, Saul, he needed help but he didn't know how to receive help. And when David helped him, he allowed the people

00:50:37.640 - 00:50:46.640

to get him to thinking funny about the person that had meant so much to him. >> That's right. >> You know anybody like that?

00:50:46.640 - 00:50:58.780

Don't point. Here is, David says to Saul, David says to Jonathan, Jonathan, I'm in trouble. And I don't know why I'm in trouble.

00:50:58.780 - 00:51:15.220

Jonathan says to David, what's the problem? He says, "I'm grieved in my spirit "because there's something between your father and I "that I really just don't understand."

00:51:15.220 - 00:51:26.300

Let me just pick it up and read it for you. In the second chapter, he says, and he said unto him, the second verse of chapter number 20, 1 Samuel,

00:51:26.300 - 00:51:41.040

"God forbid thou shall not die. "Behold, my Father will do nothing, "either great or small, but he will show me." What Jonathan here shows is if you have

00:51:41.040 - 00:51:56.560

a close enough relationship with the Father, the Father does nothing without really showing you. Oh, I'm learning to believe that that's the real truth, because death slips upon people

00:51:56.560 - 00:52:11.400

who don't have a right relationship with God. But those who have a right relationship with God, death is not a terror. In fact, death cannot take them out.

00:52:11.400 - 00:52:27.960

They must submit to death. And when they submit to death, some kind of way they know that they're going to die. And they will start giving little signs,

00:52:27.960 - 00:52:40.480

start putting things in place, looking for insurance papers and looking for the wheel and calling in the lost grandsons and the lost they start calling me baby mama daddy's getting ready to go

00:52:40.480 - 00:52:57.160

and often when they start telling us about those signs about death we get so nervous mama don't talk like that daddy don't talk like that but some kinda way they know that time is winding up

00:52:57.160 - 00:53:17.040

And we don't like to talk about death because death is something that we really don't understand. Most of us in here today might say that yes I am a Christian and when I die I want to go to heaven but if there was a chariot outside of that door, say ring, ring, ring, so who is it?

00:53:17.040 - 00:53:30.360

Oh I'm the chariot on my way to heaven. Anybody ready? I don't know how many of us would run out and say me next. We all want to go to heaven, but dying is the way we go.

00:53:30.360 - 00:53:48.160

How do you know that, Pastor Thomas? I'm glad you asked. The Bible says, "Flesh and blood shall not enter therein." So we have to die so that we can be changed from mortal into immortality.

00:53:48.160 - 00:53:52.840

And that's the joy of it. Don't you do like that, girl. You're going to make me hoop now. Don't do that.

00:53:52.840 - 00:54:15.360

nice if you be nice and so that's the way things are you know we we want to go to be with God but what does it cost what does it cost you don't know about love listen to what David says David says in verse number three and David swear moreover and said thou father certainly know that I have found grace

00:54:15.360 - 00:54:50.160

in your eyes Jonathan and he has said don't let Jonathan know this least he be grave. But truly, watch this, as the Lord liveth and as my soul liveth, there is but one step between me and death. I want to talk for the next few moments about the importance of the next step. Say that with me, the importance of the next step. So many people, so many

00:54:50.160 - 00:55:12.880

Many people live in life as if there is no tomorrow. Often people will say, "You know, you gotta die someday." I had a very dear friend that was a chain smoker. And she just smoked all the time.

00:55:12.880 - 00:55:24.400

And I didn't approach her from any religious perspective. If you smoke, you're gonna die, you're gonna go to hell. I know some people believe that, but that's not my approach.

00:55:24.400 - 00:55:34.120

I approached her, I said, "Listen, baby, "if you keep smoking like that, "you're gonna mess up your lungs. "And if you mess up your lungs,

00:55:34.120 - 00:55:48.320

"you won't be here for me to love you." And she said, "Oh, Dale, gotta die with something." Not knowing that while she was saying that her lungs were already filled.

00:55:48.320 - 00:56:04.400

Four months later, in the middle of that she called me, she says, "Dale, the doctor says my lungs are filled." She says, "I know that according to them, "I don't have lung."

00:56:04.400 - 00:56:21.740

She says, "But I'm not so concerned about dying "as much as I am concerned about how I die." She said, "When I die, I wanna make sure "that my life is in Christ

00:56:21.740 - 00:56:36.920

"and that I can go and be with the saints." >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So we helped her to understand the plan of salvation and what God had made for her and how things were in place.

00:56:36.920 - 00:56:59.800

And to the best of my knowledge, she accepted Jesus Christ. She said, "Because I believe that's the only way that we're going to get in. It's not just being a good person. You've got to accept Jesus Christ. If the Bible is right, he says, "There is no other name under heaven by which

00:56:59.800 - 00:57:32.280

man shall be saved except the name of Jesus Christ." Now brothers and sisters, often we don't think about death until we come to funerals, but if the Bible is correct, it is appointed unto man once to die and after death is the judgment. I can't speak to Mother Smith anymore. She's gone. But what I can do is speak to those of you that are here. What about your

00:57:32.280 - 00:57:52.000

next step? This is an unavoidable appointment. I used to say just to behold His face, His I used to say just to behold His face. Y'all ever heard that? Just to behold His face.

00:57:52.000 - 00:58:12.560

All I want up in heaven is just to behold His face. I used to sing that and get happy. but I found out that everybody is going to behold his face

00:58:12.560 - 00:58:28.720

and so it's not beholding his face that's really the problem the problem is how will you behold him as Lord and Savior or as an angry judge how will you meet him

00:58:28.720 - 00:58:44.080

what about the next step have you made provisions for that next step are you ready to leave a legacy behind you. It's so often I go to funerals,

00:58:44.080 - 00:58:53.480

I don't like funerals because I think that saints ought to have celebrations. When you go to funerals, sometimes folk talk so much about people

00:58:53.480 - 00:59:01.920

and you'd be wondering who in the world are they talking about? Who are they talking about? Who are they talking about?

00:59:01.920 - 00:59:28.900

I'm reminded, I heard Joel, Joel in Houston, You know Joel that pastors on Osteen's almost teen Joel always starts off with something funny He was saying that there was a person that had a special relationship with God And Joel said that person with that special relationship with God had had a covenant with God and God told that person

00:59:28.900 - 00:59:51.860

Listen because I have found favor in you you're gonna live a long time how many of you would like to live a long time I found favor with you and Joel said that person got so happy about living a long time until they wanted to do something to themselves they wanted to build themselves up so they went and

00:59:51.860 - 01:00:06.780

got a new hairdo and went bought some new clothes with you know got the investment squared away got all fixed up got the nose fixed and got it I mean you and it was just a complete redo. That's what Joel said.

01:00:06.780 - 01:00:15.020

Joel said this person was riding down the highway and had an unfortunate accident. Pow! And the next thing they know,

01:00:15.020 - 01:00:24.600

they found themselves in heaven. And when the person got to heaven, Joel said, they said, "God, I thought you said "I'm gonna live a long time."

01:00:24.600 - 01:00:31.300

And the Lord says, "Oh, I'm sorry. "I didn't recognize you." (audience laughing) And he didn't recognize them

01:00:31.300 - 01:00:42.340

because they'd gotten a facelift. Everything had changed about them because they were ready to live some more on this earth. Well, I don't want God to forget who I am,

01:00:42.340 - 01:00:56.660

but I do want him to know that there is something that we need to get prepared to see God when we leave. Jonathan and David had such a relationship and he said to him,

01:00:56.660 - 01:01:23.080

"There is one step between me and death." and death. One step. Somebody say one step. I don't believe God is on his way back because when God descends it will only be one step. He doesn't have to take his time about coming. He just hasn't decided to come because when he comes it will be one step. And then said

01:01:24.680 - 01:01:43.480

17:40 "And said Jonathan unto David, 'Whatsoever your soul 17:44 desireth, I will do it for you." 17:47 And I like what David says in verse number 5. 17:50 "And David said unto Jonathan, 'Behold, tomorrow is a new moon. ' " 17:54 And he says, "And I should not fail

01:01:43.480 - 01:02:00.080

to sit with the king at meat." 17:59 When I lead this world I don't want to be hesitant about whether or not... "