Boy, do I ever have an assignment for you who are in the mood to take a challenge. I’ve been fixated in my quiet time this morning on Romans 6:6. Here it is in the NIV:
For we know that our old self was crucified with [Christ] so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
Some of us have heard that Scripture hundreds of times. Others may not have known the exact place it resided in the Bible but you are more than familiar with the concept of being buried with Christ through His death on the Cross and being raised in His resurrection to walk in newness of life. Others among us (and I hope there are many) may have no familiarity with the concept at all. Raised in church, I’ve heard it since childhood but I’m not sure I have the strongest grasp of it half a century later. Anyway, one thing we all love about the living words of Scripture is that the Holy Spirit can illuminate a different phrase or word within a verse that captures our attention in an altogether fresh way. That’s what happened to me this morning. I got stuck on the first half:
For we know that our old self was crucified with [Christ]…
What washed over me was how many of us may not know that. Not the kind of authentic knowing that changes the way the soles of our feet slap the pavement. We know it on the sacred page and we know it as a doctrine of our faith, but I’m not sure the knowing in Romans 6:6 has invaded our lymph-nodes and gone viral in our major organs, spreading from the lobes of our brains to the bones of our feet. Take a look at the second half of the verse again and I’ll tell you why I think that.
…so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
Notice the verse doesn’t say we will no longer sin but that we “should no longer be slaves to sin.” Sister, you can forget perfection here on this planet but do not let anything on this earth convince you that you cannot be free from the mastery of sin. Some of us are giving up and giving way again to an area of bondage that has no right whatsoever to take authority over us.
Dissect the verse again. The full victory in the second half of the verse seems dependent on the first half of the verse. See it? The “we know” leads straight to a “so that.”
We know_____________________ so that _________________…
So, it seems to me there could be a bit of a break down in the system when we actually do not know to the marrow of our bones the very principle that ushers in the living reality of our gloriously powerful and victorious “so that.”
SO, here’s what I thought I’d throw out at those of you who are game this fine day for a challenge. I want you to write a paragraph-long obituary announcing the death of your old self. Get creative with it. Think up a name for your old self. You don’t have to necessarily use dates of birth and death but you can. You can do anything you want with it. Get as descriptive as you want or be as general as you like. Too many rules and too much structure could quench your creativity. Just go at it, Sister.
Glance at some obituaries on the Web to stir up the kinds of metaphors you might want to implement into yours. We’re not going to compare entries to one another. We’re not looking to applaud the ones that sound most spiritual. This is not a writing contest. This is an interactive with one primary goal: to get some Biblical “knowing” a little deeper into our belief system where it merges with our everyday walk.
Listen, there shouldn’t be anything morbid about this exercise. That old person of ours was out to kill us. It is murderous. These obituaries should be some of the best pieces of news we’ve ever heard. It is the Gospel springing to life through death.
Let’s allow the comments to this post to be entirely limited to these Romans 6:6 obituaries. No other verbiage. No other explanation. No other conversation. I will be on the edge of my seat waiting to see what spins from your soul to this page. I am anticipating that the comments will be slower than usual in coming because you’ll need time to think. Take all the time you need! If you’re like me, some of you will want to write yours on a Word document then copy and paste it into a comment. Do it however you like.
But do it, if you’re willing. And may it be healing.
I’m crazy about you guys. Thanks for jumping in!
For we know that our old self was crucified with Christ:
What was crucified? What in my life is now dead? All of that “stuff” I keep hidden in a convenient compartment, stored away:– and I take it all out and look at it – And it is ugly. It is shameful. I see the sinner, the hater, the judgmental woman, – the shoplifter, the money stealer, the one who had an abortion – the mother gone bad, the angry one, the mom checking out and not checking back in with her children, the co-dependent, the adult child of an alcoholic, the one with suicidal thoughts, the one with depression, the one lacking trust in God, the one who finds it hard to have intimacy with Christ. The fake. And this, ALL this – the old self – has been given a promise. It has ALL been nailed to the cross. A decisive end to a sin-miserable life –I have been forgiven. And I am thankful to Christ for accepting me even though – for accepting me still!
It is with great joy, I announce the death of old Lynne. Old Lynne was plagued, haunted, possessed by very poor self-worth which she didn’t conscientiously know, but acted out. Old Lynne made very poor choices as a young woman and caused herself a great deal of pain not to mention others. She knew Jesus was her saviour, but was not grounded in His word nor trusted in Him. BUT THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN who loves her. Through some God authored circumstances, she found a wonderful Bible believing church, and grew in her love and knowledge of the Lord. Now New Lynne has peace, joy, trust, blessings and tries everyday to bear fruit in the Kingdom of God and help others find salvation. I have tasted and the Lord is good!!!! Written by New Lynne.
Love this! I could just insert “Kathy”in for “Lynne”. Very well-said!
Praise God for GRACE!
I insert ‘Janie’ for Lynne. Much love to you, my sisters in Christ!
Farewell to the old me. In my early years I tried to please my parents but let them down time and time again. I was a great disappointment to my mother who couldn’t bear to look at her own daughter at times. On occasion both my parents gave me the silent treatment because I disgusted them so much. I supposed that people thought certain things of me but I was just contriving this notions. I wept and told tales of awful things I thought friends where trying to do to me. Why did I dream up such things? I didn’t trust anyone, I didn’t believe they really loved me as much as I loved them. Farewell to the old me, who found love, who died because of love.
Millry, AL – But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you my faith by my works. – NLT James 2:18
Karlys lived a long, lost life. Nearly 40 years of searching for love, acceptance, and fulfillment were ended with an invitation to join the Kingdom. She tried almost every black hole, cave and vacuum. Even after 20 years, memories of her return to haunt, to torment and to steal. But The King and HIS Kingdom prevail.
Shelly Elizabeth Griffin, formerly known as ‘Self-hater not a lover,’ or ‘Thank you enemy, I don’t need your help; I’m my own wrecker,’ passed away and entered into a life of freedom from sin. Cause of death is not limited to one factor, for “bless her heart,” she was a hot mess.
Our acknowledgement over the deceased in her life: self-hatred, pride, self-protection at the expense of relationships and not letting others love her, eating disorders, perfectionism, impurity, deceitful behavior, false-humility, trying to be a ‘savior,’ sins of omission and all manner of fears expressed in pride. Did we mention self-absoprtion?
She is survived by the mind of Christ, which replaces the unspeakably crazy ways she used to think, a peace, a life that surrenders control, a genuine love for herself, an ability to eat all the pizza she wants (if she wants it) and not feel guilty, a true belief that she is called to and gifted by the Lord, a heart for others, a desire to let herself be known and to need, and a heart that is zealous for her God, His Word and others to know Him.
In lieu of flowers, please celebrate her life by reading Psalm 104, Psalm 27 and doing a lil’ jig and foot stomping in Jesus’ Name. She is a miracle, so in her holy jealousy for you, let yourself be loved by the One who loved you first, pour unto others from that great well, and take a risk in Jesus’ Name.
Shelly,
I loved this, especially “She is survived by the mind of Christ, which replaces the unspeakably crazy ways she used to think…”
Great obit!
Hugs,
Adrienne
Shelly, this made me want to shout. I love, love, love it!
Amen!
Shelly, I will share this with ladies at church while we are preparing for our Living Proof Simulcast !
God Is Good!
I’m dancing with you Sister! Can’t wait to give you a hug in heaven!
Residents of Meadowlane in rural Jacksonville, MO, were shocked to learn of the demise of one of its few inhabitants, Gayla Dwellindoubt Overeater. Miss O. has been widely recognized for her pseudo-happy external demeanor, as well as her “not too secret” cavorting with the midnight Oreo. She has recently retired from teaching and lived with her doubts and fears about her future. Apparently, Miss O. will be trusting her savior for joy, sustenance, and spiritual requirements provided by his word.
Miss O. will not be missed because her obsession with food has misled countless friends and family members. Additionally her “not so hidden” doubts will accompany her in death as she leaves behind some fairly confused offspring, due to mixed signals of Christian joy mixed with doubters panic —– their entire life.
Burial will be Saturday in the family perpetual overcare cemetery, where her remains will be smothered in excuses and rationazations provided by generations of her own family.
Members of Miss O’s community and friends may offer condolences by sending joy, support, and less sugary concoctions to her survivors. It is noted that many of her friends and family are not mourning her demise because they do not believe she is actually dead. News of her passing has previously surfaced from time to time through the years, but she usually shows back up.
Oh, my word. This is powerful, humble and wonderful. You have encouraged me and held up a mirror to me as well.
unforgiving self Christy passed away in the arms of her Father in Heaven. She was a very forgiving person to others but to herself she just couldnt let go, so down on her knees she leaves behind the things that have haunted her from her past and rises with the forgivness that she could only get from God.in lieu of flowers please send prayers.
We are a little late in announcing the death of the little girl no one wanted. She was not grieved by her family, but she died because of them. She died at nine years old. It was quite a miracle actually. She died but a new birth took place. The little girl who Jesus wanted, who the Father loved. RIP, little girl.
Wonderful. You are loved!!
This is to announce the demise of Heather Marsten (1952-2002) During those years the old Heather lived, she suffered abuse, rejected God, turned to the occult, tried to commit suicide, lived a wild and crazy lifestyle. She held on to the belief that God was responsible for all her hurt and pain. She swore to live a life that was anything but God. Her choice led her to spend forty years wandering in the wilderness, from the age of 8 to 48. Her life was one of emptiness and seeking, never to be filled. Fortunately God pursued her and kept showing her His love until one day she was able to realize that something needed to change. On January 19, 2002 she died to her old self and emerged from baptism as a new creation in Christ, the old passed away and behold, all became new.
Sometime in the early Spring of 2002, Little Miss Know it All just broke. It wasn’t that she couldn’t be put back together again, she didn’t want to anymore. She was tired. Tired of having to be right, of pursuing perfection, of manipulating people and circumstances to get what she wanted and where she wanted, of running in circles. Nobody really noticed at first. After awhile people began to talk and take notice. By that time, Little Miss Know It All was far enough down the narrow road that she couldn’t hear what they were saying, nor did she care. Some say she went a little crazy. Others thought that her death was something she welcomed. Either way, those closest to her knew she found her promised land and everyone knows that no on in their right mind ever returns from their promised land.
Never has there been more joy in relating news that a 5-year old girl was was put to death by her Maker on Christmas Day in the year 1992. Rightfully sentenced to death by reason of her own depravity, her parents celebrated this little girl’s passing with unspeakable joy and thankful tears while welcoming the fresh, new and abundant life her Maker now enables her to live. Praise be to God, the Giver of all good gifts!
I was born first a people pleasing young thing that grew into a people pleasing older thing. Jesus came and said he was pleased. And the shame of not pleasing people well enough or down right failing them has found a way to lessen its grip on my life in the times I would find a way to hold to Jesus and believe that he is pleased. I live in a world of people but have a mini world of those not of this world who call me a friend (and they refresh my soul!)
Jesus is pleased. I am His. I am safe. This hits the pavement as Beth said. Its the failures and the dismissals of my fellows that I must put to death as I walk on. THis is not something that happened but that happens. I get to discover new freedoms…daily.
I could not be more joyful to announce the death of The Old Elles. She was a murderous thief, who sought only self promotion. The Old Elles died through the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which through also The New Elles was born. The New Elles who is no longer a slave to sin.
The Old Elles was hasty to speak, sarcastic, and uncaring as she put others down, while The New Elles strives to be slow to speak with loving words that soothe the souls of the broken. The Old Elles struggled with insecurity and used the opinions of males as her mirror, while The New Elles is secure in Christ and believes she is no less than who her Maker tells her she is. The Old Elles was headed down the wide path, whose pleasure was nothing if not fleeting, and that led only to destruction, while The New Elles is headed down the narrow path, whose struggles are many but worth every tear, toward an eternal life in communion with the One that is the Truth and who is truly good. The Old Elles was unequipped to lead anything resembling a godly life due to her knowledge being placed in only worldy concerns, while The New Elles is now told in 2 Peter 1 that she is fully equipped and granted everything she needs to live a godly life through the KNOWLEDGE of Jesus who has called her by His own glory and goodness. The Old Elles sought the approval of others, while The New Elles seeks only the Lord who tells her she is “set apart and called for a purpose.” The Old Elles was content letting time and the lives of loved ones go by, being complacent and not sharing the knowledge with friends and family that could have meant the difference in heaven or hell for them, while The New Elles takes the world by storm, to the ends of the earth, for the sake of the Gospel. The Old Elles heard, “depart from me, I never knew you.” from Jesus when she died, while The New Elles will one day hear, “well done, my good and faithful servant,” from Jesus when standing at the gates of heaven.
To God be the glory who, through the death of our old selves, comes new life!
The Orphan-Slave is dead!
Her passing was slow, but destined to come. Slowly the years have cut away the nature of her flesh, the bondage and rebellion, the sinful lies, cheating, stealing… All the murderous gossip, the crimes against her fellow man and God. That crazy, half-out-of-her-mind girl took her leave and at first we didn’t notice she had gone. She lived so traumatized by loss and rejection, covered in her own guilt, shame and regret. Yet, over time she has taken the full weight of her choices along with the things she suffered and surrendered them to the only ONE who could take that life of bondage and death and bury it once and for all. Yes, the Old Girl is dead, but there is one who lives… She is survived by me, her truer self. I am the beloved daughter of the Most High God free in the love of Christ to finally LIVE!
Thank you, Michelle, for saying what I needed to read. I pray that I will be able to surrender to the only One who can take MY “life of bondage and death and bury it once and for all” I long to be “free in the love of Christ to FINALLY LIVE!! God bless you. =)
I could only write of my own truth, Gail, praying you walk fully and completely in Christ’s Freedom for you. ((Hug)). M
Tara was born in Kansas but died at the Cleveland Clinic in 2007. At the age of 29 she received a diagnosis of a large tumor; it was in the same location as a tumor that killed her 52 year old grandfather a few years before her birth. Not knowing what to do and having no where to turn, her life ended that day. She didn’t know at the time that the tumor was benign. Maybe that was God’s plan from the beginning…
Sin-duh-rella Depravity disappeared from earth recently when she ran head-on into the Truth. There was nothing left of her for the paramedics to find. She had been sickly for years, as the truth kept causing her to relapse from having a perfectly desperately despicable and wicked heart into repentence and sorrow, from which she often recovered to return to her dear Depravity family. SD finally lost her battle with this cancerous Truth on the day it spread from her mind to her heart and soul. She lost all of her strength to resist the truth, and with three little words, “Thank you, Jesus”, she died. There is no vaccine strong enough to protect Sin-duh-rella from the truth, and it is feared that it will spread to her family and friends and even strangers that she had come into contact with. It is said that one who has caught this Truth can spread it just by speaking it. The entire Depraved family is now in danger of vanishing from earth, too. Services were held at the Baptismal font at the local church. No one grieved over the death of Sin-duh-rella Depravity, except a few of her Depraved cousins. Instead, strangers came in large numbers, some of them with wings! and sang “What a friend we have in Jesus” and danced and had a great celebration feast over her death. The oddest thing about this service is that there was a person there who had an uncanny resemblance to Sin-duh-rella ,but when one spoke with her,one realized that it couldn’t be Sin-duh-rella at all. No one will miss Sin-duh-rella, or grieve for her. She had never done anything that made any difference in anyone’s life. It’s as if she had never existed at all. She is survived by other members of the Depraved family and also her wicked relatives. It has been said that the look-alike who was at the service for Sin-duh-rella, will be praying for the death of all of the Depravity family! At this rate, the world will eventually be void of the Depraved and Wicked families! Imagine a world without any Depravity or Wickedness!!
Sin-Duh-rella…. 🙂 we must have been distant cousins…loved this!!!
Obituary: God is asking me today, “would you finally like to take your position in Christ Jesus and die to self? You keep trying to strive to do better, studying the Bible, praying, yet all the while holding onto those places in your life that would hinder the fullness of the Holy Spirit.” What are those areas Lord? I can hear Him right off the bat whispering, “being my witness.” “You strive to ‘fit in’ not wanting people to think you have totally lost your mind.” He tells me, “if you just surrender this to me I will give you power to me my witness.” I can hear Him telling me through His Word that if I only would surrender all to Him, my comfort, my convenience, my pride and I could go on, that I would be set free from this crazy life I try to live out, from those areas of bondage and free to live a life of freedom and abundance. “Yes, Stephanie, you need to say ‘yes’ to me everyday but I am asking you today, would you give up today your wants and desires and let me live out the beautiful, adventurous and loving life of Jesus Christ in you.” Yes, Lord, I want to follow you today. I am submitting my obituary.
Today I am announcing the death of a dream from a little girl named April. April dreamed to always have a mommy that would love and accept her for the person who God made her to be. When she was not accepted, she turned to food and acted out in many other ways to quiet the pain in her rejected heart. Today, August 29th at 12:14pm April wants to embrace the new dream her Abba daddy has for her. Today April is accepted and belongs to her daddy’s family. She no longer needs to turn to the things of this world to find comfort because her loving daddy is right by her side, holding her hand every step of the way and saying, my precious daughter, I do love you and will never reject or abandon you.
Anonymous was born a foreigner & lived a life of lying rejection. Although, she desired to do what was right in the eyes of God (because God had blessed her to be raised in His love & under His Word), while in the midst of trials & tribulations, she allowed the enemy a foothold. Falling short, she turned to her own way. She followed after the ways of a defeated life, entered more lies of deceitful darkness, & returned to her own vomit. In the waywardness of her stiff neck, Almighty God shone down mercy; HE left the whole world for her. In the midst of her crisis, she admitted she had heard God’s voice calling out her name, and recalled what He had said. “You are all like sheep that have gone astray; you turn each other to his own way; but I, The LORD has laid on him the iniquity of all.” Isa. 53:6 Post her encounter with The Immortal God, she was accused of a dreadful mortal disease & diagnostically labeled, medicated, & ruled unfit to be able. Again, Almighty God left the whole world to come to this one. Many witnesses were present & heard Him speak to her. “Woman,” He said, “you’ve been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. You were dead in your sins & I, God, made you alive in Christ. I forgave you of all your sins, & canceled the charge of any legal indebtedness, which stood against you & condemned you; I took it all away & nailed it to the cross. What in tarnation are you doing back in those grave clothes?” Anonymous looked down at her filthy, bloodied rags and at once, began tearing them from her broken & bruised limbs. Some bystanders quoted that a man by the Name of Jesus was there. Said HE slipped a white robe on her back, and then put a ring on her finger. Witnessed by numerous others, Anonymous was buried with Him by baptism into death, and just as Christ, has been raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, and now walks in newness of life. Romans 6:4 At once, Anonymous rose up and took her mat. “I know that my old self was crucified with [Christ]……so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that I should no longer be a slave to sin.” Romans 6:6
Some have sighted her in Frisco, Houston, & in parts of Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers please send all prayers and donations to all the lost and abused children of the world c/o Abba Father.
“Heal me O’ Lord, & I am healed, save me and I am saved, for You are the One I praise.” Jeremiah 17:14
After a long and drawn-out and quite dramatic illness, I am pleased to announce the death of 14-year-old Corley. She suffered a prolonged sickness stemming from pride masquerading as low-self esteem, self-doubt, and co-dependency. This illness ate at her insides like a cancer. Friends and family would point it out occasionally but Corley, content to put a band-aid of human encouragement on top of the gaping wound, moved from person to person asking for more bandages to keep the bleeding at bay and cover the seriousness of the disease.
Until, with a ridiculous amount of tenderness, the skilled Surgeon and Healer explained that her illness was terminal and that the band-aids were not working. Corley had suspected this; the band-aids sometimes got her through the day but deep down, she knew healing would have to come from some other place. So she went under the knife. And while Jesus Christ himself performed surgery, the insecure teenager flat-lined on the table. The former, happy only when buffeted by the praises of others and yet still never completely satisfied, passed away.
Sometimes the ghost of 14-year-old Corley rises up to disturb the new creation, but her appearances are growing fewer and farther between. The surgery was successful, and where once the cancer of self-loathing and insecurity grew, now blooms love overflowing and fragrant as Corley continues to embrace the full extent of her healing.
After a long fight with self-exaltation and struggle against surrender, Kate finally put to death her pride, by crucifying it with the Lord Jesus Christ and nailing it to His cross. She continues to crucify it daily, in fact, to remind herself she is dead to sin and pride and alive in the Lord Jesus Christ. She is finally free to do the work God wants her to do because she finally crucified her pride that was getting in the way for so many years. She found that in dying to herself, she is finally fully alive with the Spirit of the Risen Christ living in her. After crucifying her pride, she found out that all the words that came from the mouth of her pride were LIES and that TRUTH could finally reign in her body after the death of her pride. Her pride was preceded in death by her sense of self-worth, which was resurrected at the crucifixion of her pride, to God be the glory!
The Old Sandy passed away not so suddenly……oh wait, she’s not totally gone…..as much as she wants to be. She was born August 29, 1958 (Happy Birthday to me!) and has been trying her hardest to say good-bye to her old life for the past, oh say about 35 years. Some seasons she is sure the old Sandy is dead and buried….and other seasons, the old Sandy comes back as predictably as the greening of the Spring grass. She attended churches most of her 55 years, sometimes out of obligation, and in more recent years, out of joy and celebration. However, the last several months have seen a resurgence of the old Sandy trying to convince the new Sandy that the old life was better. We are thankful that the old Sandy has not been too successful. Please stay tuned for further updates as we are hoping to be able to print a revised and final obituary for the old Sandy as soon as a time of death is declared.
Love this although it hits a little close to home! Let’s keep fighting to be the first to die, and then stay dead!
Oh Sandy- me too!!!!
Thank you Sandy for your post! It made me feel better since so much of my flesh remains somewhat uncrucified.
I hate to say I’m glad to see your comments to my obituary….however, I always feel like I am so alone in this. Thanks for sharing, ladies.
Anonymous was born a foreigner & lived a life of lying rejection. Although, she desired to do what was right in the eyes of God (because God had blessed her to be raised in His love & under His Word), while in the midst of trials & tribulations, she allowed the enemy a foothold. Falling short, she turned to her own way. She followed after the ways of a defeated life, entered more lies of deceitful darkness, & returned to her own vomit. In the waywardness of her stiff neck, Almighty God shone down mercy; HE left the whole world for her. In the midst of her crisis, she admitted she had heard God’s voice calling out her name, and recalled what He had said. “You are all like sheep that have gone astray; you turn each other to his own way; but I, The LORD has laid on him the iniquity of all.” Isa. 53:6 Post her encounter with The Immortal God, she was accused of a dreadful mortal disease & diagnostically labeled, medicated, & ruled unfit to be able. Again, Almighty God left the whole world to come to this one. Many witnesses were present & heard Him speak to her. “Woman,” He said, “you’ve been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. You were dead in your sins & I, God, made you alive in Christ. I forgave you of all your sins, & canceled the charge of any legal indebtedness, which stood against you & condemned you; I took it all away & nailed it to the cross. What in tarnation are you doing back in those grave clothes?” Anonymous looked down at her filthy, bloodied rags and at once, began tearing them from her broken & bruised limbs. Some bystanders quoted that a man by the Name of Jesus was there. Said HE slipped a white robe on her back, and then put a ring on her finger. Witnessed by numerous others, Anonymous was buried with Him by baptism into death, and just as Christ, has been raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, and now walks in newness of life. Romans 6:4 At once, Anonymous rose up and took her mat. “I know that my old self was crucified with [Christ]……so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that I should no longer be a slave to sin.” Romans 6:6
Some have sighted her in Frisco, Houston, & in parts of Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers please send all prayers and donations to all the lost and abused children of the world c/o Abba Father.
“Heal me O’ Lord, & I will be healed, save me and I will be saved, for You are the One tha I praise.” Jeremiah 17:14
(Lindsee, I apologize, I quoted my Jeremiah scripture wrong.)
I am pleased to announce the death of Terry. As an 8-year old child who loved to read, Terry unwittingly found a stash of her neighbor’s pornographic magazines. What began as innocent curiosity grew over the years to become sexual addiction. Death was slow but sure, and over time, the effects of pornography destroyed Terry’s innocence, self-esteem, self-worth and in many ways, her sanity. She lived much of her life in a fantasy world. She looked for love in all the wrong places, mistakenly equating sex with love.
After years of countless sexual encounters including one-night stands, food and shopping addictions, and finally divorce, Terry succumbed to death in her early 30’s.
Before death, Terry thought no one could love her for who she really was, especially if they knew everything about her. But it was in dying that Terry finally found Life, finally found the One Who truly loves her and knows every little thing about her. Crucified in Christ, Terry no longer lives; but Jesus Christ now lives in her!
Sorry, that last sentence should read “Crucified WITH Christ…” 🙂
You are a beautiful child of God. Don’t believe the whispering lies of the enemy. Your Savior LOVES you! YOU!
Oh, Sisters, the hair is standing straight up on my arms and I am not kidding. These are so powerful! Keep them coming! Let’s serve some death notices to the old us that would have destroyed us if not for Jesus. I don’t know about you but sometimes I need reminding what is alive and what is DEAD. These are fabulous obituaries, you guys. Can’t wait to see the rest!
Beth, Thank for this challenging heart prompt. It sealed some things for me that needed to be sealed and left where they belong. I don’t want to walk around in my grave clothes any longer! Love you, Siesta Momma.
The community of Empty Heart is mourning the loss of one of its most loyal supporters, Punky Leonard Tolson who died at the age of 38.
Throughout her brief self-lifetime, Punky struggled with a constant critical spirit within her, a nagging comparison of herself to others, and a deadly addiction to human love. A veteran people-pleaser she was often the life of the party and was most known for masquerading her obsessive hunger for love and acceptance with sarcastic humor.
Punky was most known for her dramatic attempts to be what everyone else expected her to be which naturally led her to a career in film, TV and theater where she earned critical acclaim in such roles as Needy, Desperate, Adulterer, Liar, and her award-winning performance as Insecure in the Broadway musical, “Who Am I Anyway?” Through her battle with comparison and a self-critical spirit she nearly completely wished away the life she was supposed to live.
Finally, in 1996, Punky succumbed to a dramatic fall into a slimy pit of despair where muck and mire pulled her under.
Punky is survived by the blood of Jesus, the grace and mercy of God, the kindness of her Savior, the power of Christ, a true identity in Him, and a ministry made out of her many messes.
In lieu of flowers, investments of your life can be made to “Making Disciples of Jesus Christ.”
To be glad, the old Denise is dead! No more need for secret hiding places. All the old things have been burned long ago, but the mind was surely the last to go. All the things that have been played on the reel have looped around countless times, but the reel was finally broken. Gone are the sinful ways, the sinful thoughts that kept her bound in chains of affliction. What woke up in her when she released those old ways was a sense of purpose and determination unlike she had ever experienced before. A peace fell upon her and brought great joy to her heart. No more living in secret, but rejoicing in a changed life. The old was buried and the new rose to new heights. Through Jesus, she is now living abundantly for His glory. Death is no longer feared because it has no hold on Denise. She is free to live as she was truly meant to live. In grace and mercy. In the fellowship of a risen Lord. In a Savior that would not leave her alone in her mess, but delivered her from her old pit of destruction! Praise God for she lives with Jesus! He is her resting place.
Concord,NC- Oct 22, 1975 Mr and Mrs Eury are proud to announce to the entire community, that their Hellen 15 year old daughter, Missy has been laid to rest. She will no longer be beating people up and Bullying all the local school children. You no longer have to worry about your children having lunch money or being ambushed on their way to school. No need to lock up your pets or worry about your property any longer!
Her mother was relieved that finally after all those years that her mean, hateful, unloavable child was gone. The principle and teachers at her school were overjoyed at the news.
Missy ran off one weekend to some kind of camp with some school friends and never returned. Her family says that the person who returned in their daughter’s place had to have been BRAIN-WASHED. It was definitely not their child… so breath easy Concord, the leader of the local “Hell’s Angles”(Couldn’t spell)is gone!
Missy WAS washed…by the blood of Jesus. Rejoicing in your loss!
Missy,
I LOVE YOU SWEET SIESTA!!!
Blessings always, GAGA
It’s been a long goodbye, but at the age of 50 Beth died to her fear of abandonment. In 1981 when her daddy was lowered into his grave, her mother said “men always find a way to leave” and the words fell on her and she’s been carrying them ever since. She began the next 30 years trying to protect herself from abandonment by having lots of acquaintances, but no real friends, and never giving all of her love to her wonderful husband and sons because they MIGHT leave her. When she learned that her daddy had been unfaithful to her mother early in their marriage, her “idea” of him as her hero had to be abandoned too.
She thought she had pushed all this fear down but then she started to wonder if the God who created her for relationship and whom she had walked with for all these years would abandon her too if she didn’t get it right. Maybe HE would decide that although she could have eternal life, he didn’t have any interest in sharing a relationship.
Then two years ago her loving Heavenly Father began to break her in a tender way and started healing her day after day. Now she loves fully, is more vulnerable and transparent, and is a disciple of Jesus Christ who can go and make other disciples of Jesus Christ. She will never be abandoned by her Jesus!
Many gathered today mourn the death of FEAR and SELF-PROTECTIVENESS, Coping, Joylessness, Anxiety and Getting-By most notably. They grew up together, spending holidays, weekends, day-in-and-day-out in each others company. FEAR and SELF-PROTECTIVENESS, those loyal souls, never left others alone. FEAR was an unfailing hostess, always invite her friends in to replay old movies of what had once happened and to spend evenings full of What-If? charades. SELF-PROTECTIVENESS never left her side and enjoyed helping others design their environments to maximize comfort and minimize risk.
FEAR and SELF-PROTECTIVENESS first became ill when the aggressive virus of TRUTH and JOY began to starve their appetites. With weakened immune systems, FEAR and SELF-PROTECTIVENESS could not withstand the onslaught of ACCEPTANCE and LOVE FOR OTHERS that hit in epidemic proportions last year.
Even in their weakened state, FEAR and SELF-PROTECTIVENESS enjoyed walking the worn path outside their home t the one where they spent many hours cultivating their garden of content and bitterness. Recent news reports tell us large cornerstone used for building solid foundations fell on FEAR and SELF-PROTECTIVENESS not long ago . They will not be missed.
Oops! That should be the garden of “discontent and bitterness”…
Here lies Lynda the Unlovable. She felt that way and acted that way for far too long. She always kept people at a distance for fear that they would actually get to know her and then abandon her. She was lonely and afraid. She leaves behind Lynda the Lovely and Lynda the Lively and Lynda the Loyal. These three sisters in Christ have a blast with their friends who truly know them and love them. They offer the same in return. Oh, happy day!
Beth,
I am bored to tears with this summer!! Three weeks straight of 90+ temps have made me irritable, short tempered and what have you!I am soo ready for Fall! I love this challenge although I don’t know if I crucified my old self with my conduct the last few days!
The old Betty passed away May of 2011 after a 13 yr illness which left her in the throes of a deep depression and unrelenting mood swings.
Some of her favorite past times were spent in self pity,sleep, eating, crying and most things of a negative nature. She could be seen often at a mental health clinic but for the likes of the mental health professionals, they did not know what to do with her!! She did not respond to most common forms of treatment such as behavioral therapy, antidepressants, mood stablizers and antianxiety meds.
Those left to mourn her passing are… none!! The mental health professionals are thrilled with her passing as are many of her friends and family.
She leaves behind many books on counseling and mental health, alot of unused meds and several stacks of jounals she kept during those dark hours.
Betty wishes all who wish to contribute to spend much time in the Word of God, much time on thier knees in prayer and be ever vigilant for ways to praise and thank the God who made all things possible through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ who crucified Betty’s flesh to give her new life and a beautiful purpose!!
Loved this Beth! I feel much better!
Sisters, I’m so excited about this activity that I can’t even describe it. My cheeks hurt so much from smiling!!!
The Black Hole District shares with great sorrow the loss of their dear, Someone Else. Unfortunately for Satan, she did manage to live twenty-two years longer than expected. Someone Else has been with BHD the majority of her life. Else graduated Self-Destruction High in 2009. She went on to receive her Bachelor’s degree in lack of trust in 2012 with a minor in depression and received an honorary degree in shutting down a year later. Someone Else will truly be missed for she did exactly what was asked of her by every single person; fearful that doing anything for herself would be unacceptable and result in disappointment.
Someone Else is survived by what seemed to be her boyfriend Jesus for when she was asked on dates she replied that she was dating Him, although they were never seen together. She is also survived by Victori, the new her, who was born January 8th after a baptism. She now enjoys strolling in the park with J.C., talking to everyone and anyone who is willing to listen about Christ while sipping on sweat tea. Thank you Jesus, Some Else is gone!
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the lost souls of the hopeless in the name of Philippians 4:23.
Love y’all dearly! xx Victori
Dead is, oh..no..wait…yes…Dead..no…yes…wait..yes…DEAD! Dying for two years she gave up quite a fight. Finally her stone heart gave out and crumbled to pieces. In denial for many years of the possibility to be capable of loving others, Joanne gave up a good fight to stay uninvolved and keep her eyes averted to any possible signs of need. Not until she experienced a need herself during a time of grieving did she recognize her stone heart in others. She finally collapsed at the feet of her Saviour because oh yes…she was baptized and born again but living the life of a fraud until she FINALLY! TRULY! died to herself when she reached out to Jesus to take her life once and for all and for real. Now she lives knowing freedom in His loving kindness and in place of stone He has given her gold.
Oh my Goodness Beth, are you in my “rented living room” as a VERY unusual contemplative of sorts, I have been asking God to do this for more years than I can count- I need my divine Lord to be my therapist and healing, if I could have made this happen it would have happened, I’m not sure there is a stone that has not been “unturned” and that may be an understatement-too deep, too generational, too full of some sort of distorted pride- You are the best and I hope I can bless this old self as she is taken and now “off the HOOK” by our Lord, God Bless her, she did the best she could to survive-
My OBIT- “May She Rest in Peace”!!!!
PS- you may not want to include this- but just thought to share because of your wonderful sense of humor even in our darkest hours- my friend last night reminded me of the Chevy Chase National Lampoon movie, Christmas Vacation, when everything went south including the Christmas tree- everyone was ready to “bolt”- Chevy threw himself against the door and basically said “We are staying here until Santa comes down that chimney and we are going to be a HAPPY FAMILY” that is ME to the extreme- I do NOT know when to give up and understand I can’t and I am NOT supposed to be the answer, God is the answer- so again “May She Rest in Peace” God Bless my old self and all of the Siestas old Selves, the pain was too much for us- we did not give up, we just did the best we could at the time, the good news is that we “woke up” thanks to the grace of our Lord and realize as best we can in our humanity, HE is our answer – Resting in Him, Being Quiet to hear Him and Trust –
To whom it may concern: Joy the accuser was killed last weekend. Yes. She was at an event in Shreveport and it is alleged that the Holy Spirit spoke through a powerful speaker and she was struck down. Praise Jesus. Joy the Encourager walked out of the arena in her place. It has also been reported that Joy the accuser has tried to rise from the dead this week. But the real JOY is quoting her power scriptures and will continue to claim victory over the old self. The destructive self. So we know that the old self is dead. Crucified with Christ. So that Joy the Encourager is living today!!
I am ever so happy to announce the death of the old me. The old me was rude, crude and socially unacceptable. She was so embarrassing. You just don’t know. But, you see, when she was very young she was exposed to pornography and several adults who sought to do her harm, though unsuccessfully, at any real deep level. However, an enemy came and told her that her name was “Pervert,” and she didn’t know not to believe him. Therefore, she lived with that name and lived in fear of what it might mean. She lived with accusation and awful mental images that wouldn’t die. In fact, accusation was quite the companion. The old me believed everything was her fault. If her mama sang too loud at church (singing harmony, off key, I might add) she felt it somehow was her fault. If the pastor said something crazy, she felt personal embarrassment. If her husband was irritable, it must have been because she was behind on laundry or the kids were acting up…she should do something about it. She was very angry about these feelings that everything was her fault, because how could it be? Or maybe it really was. Either way, she often lost her temper with her beautiful kids. I’m sad that she did that. She was really stubborn. In fact, the old me was so hard to kill. I mean, really, she had nine lives at least. Like that song, “the cat came back, the very next day, the cat came back, I thought he was a goner…” Except it was not as fun as singing the song.
But I am here to announce her final departure, and with her the old, false name she wore. For God has given me a new name. I am clean and I am His beloved and He longs for me to be with Him where He is. The old me can kiss my grits.
Ms. Fearful Insecurity, 27, was born shortly after December 4th, 1985, the bluntly unwanted child of Rejection and Inadequacy. Her miserable existence was downright contagious and caused trouble for everything she touched. The life she lived in Rachel Rosenthal threatened and even ruined some of Rachel’s most valuable relationships, her career, and even tried to nullify and take down the calling and gifting of God in Rachel’s life. She died by the grace of God on August 28th, 2013. She is survived by Joy, Peace, Love, Victory, and a FLOURISHING life because God doesn’t like to leave things dead when they’d be more serviceable to Him alive. In her memory, Rachel is bound and determined to fix her eyes on Jesus, who is always at work in her life to bless, increase, refine, and heal. Celebration of New Life will be held immediately and there’s no plan for it to ever end.
Death Notice: My old self has died.
My old self was characterized by tormenting fear, seething anger, disobedience to parents, being unthankful, being stingy, humiliating and insulting others, cursing, coveting, lying and believing lies, stealing, vain imaginations, not loving God or serving Him.
I’ve seen my old self poking out of the ground and trying to find a body to live in again.
Asking Jesus tonight to help me rebury these lifeless remains.
I would like to announce the death of the old Heather. It took place in the stairwell of her college dorm room in January 1994. I could see the handwriting on the wall. Her Father had been a part of her broken life all along-but it wasn’t until that very day, that very moment, that her eyes were open. She was devastated by her parents divorce as a young child, she grew up a rebellious and disrespectful teenager full of hurt and anger. She had constantly struggled with her self-esteem and self-worth-always feeling second best to her older(and only) sister. Despite her issues, she was a splendid gymnast and athlete. This is where she felt she could shine. If it hadn’t been for all those years of dedication, I think things couldn’t have been pretty bad for her, who knows where she would’ve been right now, maybe she she would still be alive. Thankfully she isn’t. The new Heather has been born. She is a work in progress, but completely in love with the One who gave her new life! Hallelujah!
Good bye old self….I don’t need you anymore. You have been awful for me. But, you have certainly made me realize how much I need Christ.
Kathy died today of a cancer known as sin. Some of the early symptoms she showed was pride, selfishness, boasting, lying, and chasing everything in life except God. The cancer was quickly destroying her and everyone around her. She spread this cancer wherever she would go without a second thought of the pain her cancer inflicted on others. She quickly spiraled out of control and got to the point where she couldn’t even pick herself up, she was completely helpless. It was God’s will that she would die, so that this cancer would die. By grace Jesus picked her up and carried her in His arms all the way home to be with him forever. She is no longer living in the slavery this cancer had over her. She is home with Jesus safe and free.
A long life of shame, Shamey Long came to her end after struggling 38 years to stay alive. She would have passed sooner but she was kept alive by “lie support”. As soon as she was taken off “lie support”, she was ushered into eternal peace.
Laurie O, Milton, GA
Today we meet to celebrate the death of Laurie O’Connor’s old self, which was crucified with Christ when she was twelve years old, but unfortunately she didn’t know that until it was slain once and for all when she was 36 years old. Oh, what a day it was, April 4, 1997. In a desperate search to help someone else in bondage and threatening her family, she found her knowing during a freedom appointment with Freedom in Christ ministries. Out of horrific events, Jesus made His way to her heart, and all the rest of her. The knowing that her old self was crucified with Christ swept through her like a sweet rain at the end of a hot summer day that cools the earth and everything is drinking refreshment—the land, the vegetation, the pores of our skin and even somehow our spirits.
Soon after, a good church and a good small group Bible Study, A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place, and her heart found roots in the new knowledge of her knowing and she never looked back. When life is chaos and pressing and stressing, Laurie can be found still okay. She is not perfect, but it’s clear even amidst the blips that the Holy Spirit is the master of her soul. Jesus is her love.
Today is a great day, a day of celebration. Laurie has been struggling lately with the clinging consequences of some of her decisions when her body was still ruled by sin. Those decisions face her daily still. Regret fills her heart over what she did when she didn’t know in her cells until she was 36. Today is a reminder. Today she is reminded that somehow the old self, including the old self that didn’t know, has been crucified. It went somewhere, never to return. She can surge ahead in confidence that what is dead is truly dead. It’s not nipping at her heels and taunting her about the wasted years and the clinging consequences.
Laurie’s old self is dead. Hallelujah!
Maria Fullovsin, 37, passed away on September 22, 1992 at 10:00pm alone in her home. Born in Roseville, Michigan to the late fourth generation family Fullovsin. She graduated from PridefulAllaboutme University when she was 21 years of age and spent the next 16 years wandering helpless looking for her One True King. She started to hang out with Sally Selfish, Sexy Susan and Angry Angie. Which she found out only led to keep her stuck with the passed things she learned at PU which included abuse, doubt, fear and unworthiness. Maria Fullovsin was tired of the continuous slippery slope she was accustomed to. With complete humility and exhaustion Maria Fullovsin could no longer move on and cried out to the One True King which burned and remove all learned material from her mind at PU and friends. The One True King encouraged her and she enrolled in the Crucified and Die program and earned a PHD in Repentance and Humility. Since then Maria Fullovsin no longer lives thanks to the renewed mind of the new Maria Savebygrace. Although Maria Fullovsin tries earnestly at times, to rise again, Maria Savebygrace has not only graduated with a PHD, but now holds the key to authority to trample over the snake of pride, lust, gossip, self doubt, unworthiness, anger, selfishness and all the other friends and acquaintances from PU. A visitation service is held every year in gratitude to the One True King at Maria Savebygrace’s home on September 22.
The old Pharisee Ginger passed away after a long and prolonged battle with following the rules, rejecting the truth and seeking comfort from others, food and basically all the wrong places. Seeking to judge quick and to forgive slow due to guilt and lack of believe. TO fear rather than to trust.
The New Ginger is survived by the her beloved Jesus who gave her a blood transfusion that infused her with the truth of HIS love, and that HE LOVES HER and she can believe it. That He is the comforter that she has so much longed for and that other things are meant for bonus but He is the substance. That she is to fear nothing but to trust in HIM completely. Through HIS blood and His resurrection she gained a life of freedom.
In lieu of flowers, please send prayers and encouragement and know they will be reciprocated.
It comes as a grievous and yet joyous realization that the old Margo is dead, really truly dead. She was proud, and yet insanely sensitive and insecure. She was tempted to think better of herself than others maybe with less education or less of an “open mind.” She justified her moods by saying “it’s just my personality.” She was ultimately a very selfish person. She turned to food for comfort and to numb stress… instead of turning to her God. And then she hated herself when she turned out fat.
Her heavenly Father called her by name and showed her His sovereignty and great power and glory, and she was humbled. He saw how she wanted to be free of herself, and he showed her how Jesus died on the cross to set her free. She still has a hard time believing the old Margo was also nailed to the cross and died, and that she was raised from the dead, born again, set free. Surely that old sinful self is still alive? Why am I still sinning? She sought God with all her heart, and He answered her. “Apart from me, you can do nothing.” Don’t focus on yourself, focus on Me. And that’s when I realized how the old self is put to death.