BEAUTIFUL MEMORIAL

Emma-Grace's headstone was delivered today.  I am so glad it is finally at the graveyard.  I think it turned out beautifully.  Thanks to Greene's Memorial in Forest City for a great job.  Thanks to Jan Crow, one of my best friends, who was my moral support today as they placed the stone.  I know Emma-Grace is smiling in Heaven.  It think the headstone matches her personality perfectly. 

Today as I reflected on what a blessing Emma-Grace was and how much God has blessed our family through adoption I wanted to share something special.  Our Pastor Rich Hamrick officiated.at Emma's memorial service.  I think he did a wonderful job honoring our precious little girl.  He also talked about adoption and how if we are Christians, God has adopted us into His family.  I won't share the whole service but, I hope he does not mind if I share some thoughts He shared that day.  

PASTOR RICK HAMRICK:

....."The Bible says that those who are in Christ are co-heirs with Christ as sons and daughters of God.  In other words, we who believe in Jesus Christ have been adopted by God.  

 Let me read some verses from Galatians 4.  "When the time had fully come, God sent His son, born of a woman, born under law to redeem those under law that we might receive the full rights of Sons.  Because you are sons, God sent the spirit of His son into our hearts.  The spirit who calls out , " Abba Father".  So, you are no longer a slave, but a son and since you are a son, God has also made you an heir.  Now we didn't deserve this from God and we brought nothing with us and we were also a big risk for God.  Would we love God in return?  Would we rebel against god?  God knew the answeres to this question and He adopted us anyway.  

In his book, The Great House of God, Max Lucado puts it this way.  "Knowing full well the trouble you would be and the price He would pay, He signed His name next to yours and changed your name to His and took you home.  Your Abba adopted you and became your father.  And to that I would add, His blood runs through your veins.  Well, you may say you are not really blood related.  Oh, but yes.  You are.  That is the blood of Jesus Christ that was spilled that you may have this gift of God, that you can claim the bloodline of Jesus.  One of the most beautiful examples of God's love for us.  Without our deserving it, He said, "Would you be my child?  Would you come and live with me?  Can I be your Dad?"

" WHEN LOVE TAKES YOU IN " :  SONG BY STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN
SANG BY ABBY HAMRICK AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE

When love takes you in, everything changes.  And, you know, God does that for us.  He takes us in.  He gives us a home.  He gives us a family, a place to belong.  He say, " This is yours."  He call us to live life and live it to the full.  

I just want to say a few words to the family.  You did everything conceivable.  You efforts were heroic.  I can't tell you how many people marveled at the display of love that you have shown that little girl.  And some may think, "Well she wasn't really theirs", Oh yes.  Oh yes. She was theirs.  She had their love, You did everything that anybody could figure to do and you worked at it.  You were determined.  You prayed.  You spent time with God like maybe you haven't spent time with Him before and you drew close to God......

I have heard people ask, "why didn't the miracle happen?"  Folks, God adopted Emma-Grace as well.  This is a miracle.  God loved her and cared for her that much.  That is a miracle.  Emma-Grace is living with her Savior and that is a miracle.  And she is running around and doing cartwheels and twisting all around in circles all around Jesus, I know right now.  Somebody said she is in the lap of Jesus.  I said, "I don't know if Emma-Grace is in His lap.  I think she is running around."  That is a miracle.  Oh, there have been all kinds of miracles.  Miracle after miracle.  Now we don't have Emma-Grace with us.  That is the miracle that was so desperately wanted.  But God has worked and He has blessed and He is going to. 

PRAYER:  We don't really know what to say God.  It seems terribly unfair.  We can't even begin to make any sense out of this.  Why?  Oh, but God, when we think about how much you love and care for us, when we think about how great and awesome your plans are.  When we think you are so wise and mighty that we can't even comprehend.  And then, we imagine Emma-Grace there in your presence and the picture starts to take shape.  We start to get a little bit of an understanding.  But, God, you know that there are so many people in this community, in other communities around us, people all over the world asking right now, "Why?"  God I ask that you bless each person right now who asks that question, to begin to show them the way, to begin to bring comfort to their lives.  Would you show your love as only You can.  And, Lord we pray for your mighty arm of comfort to wrap around this family.  It is hard to imagine how they might overcome this, except we know, the know you.  Thank you for being God.  Thank you for your comfort and your peace.  In Jesus name we pray, Amen. "

Thank you Pastor Rick Hamrick for the beautiful memorial service in honor of our precious Emma-Grace.  Again we thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers, hospital visits, gifts of food, gifts of money, and so many other things that were done on behalf of our precious Emma-Grace and our family during this long difficult road.  We feel so blessed to have such caring, wonderful friends and family. We can't thank you all enough.