01/09/2020
THE BEST IS YET TO COME
Martha had been a deaconess in her church for years. She was one of the most or one of those cheerful, optimistic., and true happy and good woman, smiling deaconess. Who warmly welcome and great people as they came into the church, she made sure they felt at home! But one day "peltin" hot, sultry summer afternoon. She called pastor Greg, it was really unusual that she would disturb her pastor in the middle of the day, her voice was troubled "pastor" i really need to talk to you ASAP!! can you please come over? pastor Greg did'nt knew quite what was up, for it was strange that she would call at that time of the day. But because it was Martha, he dropped what he was doing, rearranged his schedule priorities and drove to her house. When he got there he knew something was wrong. She was more anxious than he had thought they spend a little time talking about the weather, the church services, her children and grandchildren and pastor Greg family. Then finally Martha said "pastor Greg" this morning i went for my annual check ups. I discovered that i have a malignancy. the malignancy has spread the doctors gave me at most a month to live. So pastor Greg. I wanted to talk to you about my funeral. Pastor , here are the hymns that i would like to be sung : "precious lord, take my hand, lead me on, help me stand, through the storms, through the night, lead me on the light". Pastor Greg, when i die, i do want the precious lord, and pastor i also love the old hymn :"What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief to bear, what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. O pastor , here's my favorite text (1 Thess 4:16-17) pastor Greg read it and preach on it at my funeral. And pastor i want you to come into my bedroom, to my closet, because here's my blue church dress, you know!! pastor, i've worn this dress to church for a number of years now. It wouldn't be church without my blue dress. So pastor, when they put me inside the coffin, i want to be buried in that same dress. And pastor here's my bible, and i want you to put it in my left hand- the hand nearest to my heart. This book has encouraged me through the years. So pastor Greg, when people come by me after the service, i want my coffin open, and i want them to see old Martha lying at rest in the coffin, with a little smile on her face, with her bible in her hand, dress in her blue church dress. OH and pastor,there's one more thing, put a fork in my right hand! MARTHA! i didn't quite get it. Your blue dress, your bible, along with your favorite hymns and text. But why the fork in your hand? what does that fork means? Well you know pastor, Martha replied i'm a deaconess, and i've been serving at fellowship dinners for the last seventy five years, and you know that when we deaconess often say "save your fork". Now pastor, when we say save your fork. That's not for some luke warm, melting vanilla ice cream. That's not for some imitation chocolate pudding from a box. When we say save your fork; that means"the best is yet to come!". That means the home made apple pies are coming, that means the home made oatmeal raisins cookies are coming. SO SAVE YOUR FORK. for the best is yet to come. So pastor Greg, when i die, and they put me in the coffin and then go by looking at that fork, they are going to ask. What does it means? And you're going to say and tell them to also save their fork for Martha believes "THE BEST IS YET TO COME"
