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Saturday 5 April 2003 - "Give God your heart"

(Summary of sermon by Erlo Stegen)

Funeral of Carmen Duvel

Today, 5 April, was the funeral of Carmen Duvel, much loved wife of Karl-heinz and mother of Nicola, Heino, Heidi and Edmund.

It would have been Carmen's 48th birthday today. Various family members paid tribute to Carmen. The service was one of victory for a precious child of God, a dear wife and mother.

The funeral sermon by Rev Erlo Stegen was from Pr 23:26: "My son, give me thy heart; And let thine eyes delight in my ways."(American Standard Version)

1) God's love towards us prompts Him to plead with us in this manner. Our hearts should be a gift to God.

The story is told of a man who sold a mansion, but wanted to withhold two keys, one from the fourth story and another of the attic of the mansion. The new owner answered, "I paid the complete price for this house, and I will either have every key, or none at all."

In the same way God paid the full price for you and me, and He will not be satisfied with anything less than a complete surrender in sincerity.

2) "... let your eyes delight in My ways".

There could be so many questions about God's ways, but may anger and bitterness never arise in our hearts because of His dealings with us. He knows the best what we need. Even though you do not understand His way at present, obey Him nevertheless. Soon you will find that His ways are your delight.

Paul asked God to remove the thorn in his flesh that seemingly hampered him in his work. However, God's response, "My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness ...", completely satisfied Paul, for he gave his heart unreservedly to God.

In another case there was an 82 year old man and a 52 year old lady that were sick, and asked for prayer to be healed. However, when God revealed His will to them and they accepted it, they became a great blessing for all around them. They knew that they would be home soon, for God's Spirit witnessed together with their spirit that they were His children (Rom 8:16).

Let this day of Carmen's death therefore be the day you give your heart completely to God, and delight yourself in His ways.