On 16 november 2009, my dear wife and the loving mother of my son's, has gone to that place where peace, joy harmony and God himself resides. Miriam accomplished in her 49 years, all that the Lord had to do for her. And her memory will be a pleasure for many. (Just read her book here and you will understand) She was promoted to a higher calling: That of worshipper to the lord at a face to face worship service. Miriam had writen her own funeral speech you can find that on this page. God bless you all!!

Kees Lugtenaar

Miriam's funeral speech

.

John.11: 25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

Dear friends and family,

At a funeral, it is normal that someone will give a wonderful speech about the deceased. Personally, I'd rather not look down from heaven and hear anything nice about myself. Firstly, I am not such a wonderful person, no better than anyone else here. Secondly, as for the good things that could be said about me, who I am is simply God in me and I cannot take any credit for any of that. Without the Lord I am absolutely nothing and actually that applies to each one of you too. Without the Lord, we are all nothing and deserving of nothing. Because of that I decided to write my own funeral speech which is not so much about myself as it is about God who is Lord of my life. May He be glorified!

It may sound strange but God has prepared me and raised me up for this very time to glorify His precious name at the end of my short life. I believe that this strange and unnatural occurrence (my dying and death) is actually God's doing because He wanted me to show the world that to die in Him is a victory and not the defeat that we tend to think it is. As Paul said:

1Cor.15[54] When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."[55] "O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?" [57] But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I have learnt that it is not our circumstances in life that determine whether or not we are victorious but rather how we walk with God through our trials. Normally when someone is sick we think that that cannot be God's will and if someone gets healed then that is a victorious testimony, and it certainly is. But we have no testimonies of people who haven't been healed and unfortunately, many followers of Christ depart from this earth in a way that does not glorify God. Because of that the average believer sees death as a defeat and not the victory that it should be. I believe that God chose to raise me up to be a living testimony while I am dying to challenge you and to put the record straight. I want to tell you that by abiding in God, death is a great triumph. I believe that it has been God's will for you all to watch me as my body decays and have me prove to you just how glorious it is for a follower of Christ to die in Christ. If we are abiding in our Lord then our Spirit will shine all the brighter as our body slowly disintegrates. Just as Paul looked forward to departing from this troubled world, so do I and I can echo Paul's words:

2Cor.5[6] So we are always of good courage; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, [7] for we walk by faith, not by sight. [8] We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. [9] So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

Phil.1: 23My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

A year or two before I was diagnosed with cancer, I received two different words from the Lord. The first one was from Revelations 3: 7--13 but in respect of my illness and passing, specifically verse 10:

Rev.3: 10Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth.

I have understood from this verse, as well as from dreams that the Lord has given me that He wants to take me home to Himself and I consider that a great honour! He has taken me through trials and raised me up to be victorious and I know that there is a glorious party waiting for me.

The second verse that I received was this:

John.11: 4But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means of it."

This may sound like it is not God's will that I die but the Lord has given me a different understanding. In Luke 14: 26, Jesus tells us to hate our parents. Of course, Jesus didn't literally mean that because he tells us to love even our enemies. He meant only that our love for him must so greatly surpass that of our family that it should be as if we hate our fathers and mothers. In the same way, in respect to this above verse that I received,

"This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means of it."

,

I have understood that God means that the focus of my sickness is not death but rather life and that God will use me to glorify Him by the life of Christ in me, in what may be considered a dark hour in life. This verse can also be interpreted by another verse:

John.11: 25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

I thank God for this glorious honour of calling me to glorify His precious name through my dying and my death!

Ps.116: 15Precious in the sight of the Lord

is the death of his saints.

Isa.57[1] The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart;

devout men are taken away,

while no one understands.

For the righteous man is taken away from calamity,

[2] he enters into peace;

they rest in their beds

who walk in their uprightness.

God began to prepare me for this long before I knew that I would get sick by giving me dreams. The dreams were always the same theme, only different scenery with every dream but the message was always the same. He was telling me to prepare for my future. I only knew of one way to get prepared and that was to learn to minister to Him and worship Him, morning and evening. He wanted me to learn to spend time communing with Him, to give Him my burdens and to intercede for others and in so doing He would fill me to overflowing with His Holy Spirit. Over the years, He taught me to lay down my life and submit my will to His. Because of this I can now echo the words of Jesus:

John.12: 27And what shall I say? `Father, save me from this hour'? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour. [28] Father, glorify thy name."

I believe that even though we could continue on being useful to God, there comes a time when He wants to reward us and I believe that this is so in my case. Leaving this earth is not so tragic that we ought to hang on to it. On the contrary, if we leave this earth as overcomers then we have something glorious waiting for us and it is not a morbid occurrence. Although parting from loved ones is sad, we can trust our Father to take good care of them and use it for good in their lives. I have worked through the sadness of parting from my loved ones and now I look forward to what lies ahead. As long as I am alive I will do what I can to live my life to the fullest but I will not cleave to my life as though letting go is a tragedy. Dying is being reborn into another Kingdom and though birth is physically painful, it is spiritually glorious. I have another life to lead in another Kingdom and I am quite sure that when I arrive God will have work and a purpose for me there. Heaven is not a place where we will sit around doing nothing. As Kees says, I am being promoted. Part of the problem is that people struggle to see that earth is not our home. They see our lives on earth as a main meal and heaven our reward, the icing on the cake. Yes, heaven is our reward but it is far more than that. Earth with our purpose and usefulness is the hors d'�uvre, and heaven is the main meal with dessert. That is where our gifts and purposes will be put to greater use. This why I appreciate Kees's thoughts: Death in the Lord is a promotion and promotion is usually associated with work responsibilites! The following verses speak not only of reward but of promotion:

Matt.24[44] Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect. [45] "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? [46] Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. [47] Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

Matt.25[20] And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' [21] His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' [22] And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, `Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' [23] His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'

Luke.19[16] The first came before him, saying, `Lord, your pound has made ten pounds more.' [17] And he said to him, `Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.' [18] And the second came, saying, `Lord, your pound has made five pounds.' [19] And he said to him, `And you are to be over five cities.'

Nowadays there is too much fixation on life and none on death. People are too attached to their world here on planet earth and do not have their eyes focused on the Kingdom of Heaven. They are bound to their work, their homes, their dreams, their loved ones, their purpose in life and whatever they have invested in. But our real home is not here and we ought not be attached to our earthly lives! God gave us life to perfect us through trials and that is more important to Him than fulfilling our dreams here. If we have walked according to God's will and have lived our lives to the fullest then death is our reward and our promotion and there is every reason to look forward to it. Paul also thought of death as something to look forward to, far more so than living our lives here.

2Cor.5

[6] So we are always of good courage; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, [7] for we walk by faith, not by sight. [8] We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. [9] So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

Phil.1: 23My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

Every now and then I come across fantastic testimonies of people whom God has miraculously healed and I believe them and thank God for His wonderful miracles but I am disappointed that I have never come across a testimony from someone who is dying--someone giving glory to God in the midst of a health trial whom He has chosen not to heal, someone enthusiastically looking forward to what lies ahead. Instead we hear about people, even believers, suffering as they end their lives, without a word of praise for God. At least that is my experience. We generally hear nothing of people joyfully giving glory to God's name when they are dying and this imbalance helps to paint a picture of sickness and death as a defeat, rather than the glorious triumph which we are privileged to look forward to. Perhaps I am the first to give such a testimony, I don't know, but my sick and dying body will not shut me up and pain wiil not stop me from proclaiming His greatness and goodness. He is Almighty God and I am thankful that He is my God! May His great name be praised, blessed and glorified throughout all of the earth!

Ps.30

[11] Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing;

thou hast loosed my sackcloth

and girded me with gladness,

[12] that my soul may praise thee and not be silent.

O LORD my God, I will give thanks to thee for ever.

Ps.146: 2

I will praise the LORD as long as I live;

I will sing praises to my God while I have being.

Ps.145

[1] I will extol thee, my God and King,

and bless thy name for ever and ever.

[2] Every day I will bless thee,

and praise thy name for ever and ever.

[3] Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,

and his greatness is unsearchable.

[21] My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,

and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

I was recently asked if I was not jealous of people whom God has miraculously healed. I can say quite honestly that I am not. In fact, if God were to reveal to me that He wants to heal me tomorrow, I would even feel disappointed because I believe that it is a great honour to glorify God's name by suffering and dying for Him. I am thrilled to be on this unique path that He has chosen for me. I have always wanted to die a glorious death like Stephen, who although feeling pain was far more conscious of the Lord. Perhaps in some way the Lord has fulfilled my desire. I lived my life overcoming severe emotional beatings, and at the end of my life, the beatings of physical pain cannot shut me up. The harder I am struck, the louder will I cry out, "God Almighty, you are my Lord and I praise and bless your Holy Name. Into your hands Lord Jesus, I entrust my spirit." Do you admire me and think how brave and wonderful? Please, do not!! I cannot take any credit for this. If I were not abiding in God then I would be shattered and unable to endure! My strength is purely God's doing and I would not be able to stand this trial if He had not trained me to daily abide in Him and be filled with His Holy Spirit. He only is my strength!! And whatever trials you are going through, He also will enable you to endure with His joy and peace, if you spend time with Him.

No doubt there are those people who will find it strange and think that my dying and death, as well as my attitude towards it, is clearly a waste and anything but a victory. I couldn't disagree more! I see my life, my dying and death as clearly being led by God and a great triumph as He is raising me up to be an overcomer and I am thankful for His wonderful plan and humbly submit myself to Him. God could have prevented any situation leading up to my death, yet He chose not to and instead kept me imprisoned in my circumstances. But I have absolutely no regrets! I rejoice and am thrilled to be going to to my Lord for I know that He has wonderful things in store for me and though it may crush my family, I know that from the devastation He will bring forth abundant new life in them. I look ahead to what cannot be seen with natural eyes, knowing that God has wonderful things in store for us all. How can I not rejoice?! I echo what Jim Elliot wrote, "I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus." If an early death will further the Kingdom of heaven on earth, then it is not a waste but a glorious honour and I am all for it. What many people fail to see is that sickness and death can further the Kingdom of God on earth, often far more so than a miraculous healing and I am honoured that the Lord has chosen me to give up my life for His purposes. He knows what is best! I think of the death of Jesus which initially seemed tragic and inexplicable, a seeming defeat to all, yet later it became clear that his death was a great victory and I think that that paradox is similar for those who are following in his footsteps. What may appear to be a horrible defeat is a glorious triumph and I look forward to my coming promotion.

John.12 : 27

"And what shall I say? `Father, save me from this hour'? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour.

Matt.16: 25

whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

1Cor.15

[54] When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."[55] "O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?" [57] But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Neh.8: 10

do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

It may seem a bit strange to talk about joy at a funeral. But I am not dead and there is every reason to rejoice and the point I want to make is that whatever our trials, we can experience the joy of the Lord if we are abiding in Him.

John.11: 25

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

Let us be like Habakuk who could rejoice in adverse circumstances.

Hab.3

[17] Though the fig tree do not blossom,

nor fruit be on the vines,

the produce of the olive fail

and the fields yield no food,

the flock be cut off from the fold

and there be no herd in the stalls,

[18] yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

I am telling you not only to rejoice today but I want to urge you all to start preparing for the storm that is coming upon this earth. Now is the time to prepare for that and there is only one way to prepare. Worship the Lord. Spend time with Him without looking at the clock so that he will fill you to overflowing with with His Holy Spirit.

Luke.4: 8

And Jesus answered him, "It is written, `You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve."

Josh.22: 5

love the Lord your God, and (to) walk in all his ways, and (to) keep his commandments, and (to) cleave to him, and (to) serve him with all your heart and with all your soul."

Ps.84

[4] Blessed are those who dwell in thy house,

ever singing thy praise! [Selah]

[5] Blessed are the men whose strength is in thee,

in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

[6] As they go through the valley of Baca (valley of weeping)

they make it a place of springs;

Sermon in a Hospital by Ugo Bassi

If you, with impatience, give up your cross,

You will not find it in this world again;

Nor in another, but here and here alone

Is given for you to suffer for God's sake.

In the next world we may more perfectly

love Him and serve Him, praise Him,

Grow nearer and nearer to Him with delight.

But then we will not anymore

Be called to suffer, which is our assignment here.

Can you not suffer then, one hour or two?

If He should call you from your cross today,

Saying, "It is finished--that hard cross of yours

From which you pray for deliverance,"

Do you not think that some emotion of regret

Would overcome you? You would say,

"So soon, let me go back and suffer yet awhile more patiently.

I have not yet praised God."

So whenever it comes, that summons we all look for,

It will seem soon, too soon. Let us take heed in life

that God may now be glorified in us.

Tip: How to replace this spreads