Dearly Beloved: I am Pastor Jessica Linhart. I am currently the Pastor at Hissom Tabernacle. Feel free to reach out to me if you need anything. On the behalf of Billy’s family, we would like to thank you all for your compassion and for being here today. We have gathered here today to praise God, to be a witness of our Christian faith, and to celebrate and honor the life of William Wesley Daniels.
Let’s take comfort from God’s Word today: John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26)
Prayer: Lord today is a tough day for us. Accepting the fact that in the next few minutes we are going to be saying our farewell to Bill is so difficult. But we choose to worship you and celebrate the life of Bill, whom you have called back into your presence. Lord come near today and linger with us. We are so grateful that you have made us all in your own image, giving us gifts and talents with which to serve you. Thank you for Billy’s life, and all the 66 years we shared with him. We lift him to you today, in honor of the good we saw in him and the love we felt from him. Please give us the strength to leave him in your care, in the knowledge of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Song: Amazing Grace My Chains are gone.
Obituary: William Wesley Daniels, 66, of Charleston passed away on Tuesday, August 7, 2023 at home with family by his side. William enjoyed the outdoors, and loved his family and friends, he will be missed by all that knew him. He is preceded in death by his parents; Dennis and Laura Daniels, and brother Damon “Keith” Daniels. He is survived by his sisters; Donna Cogar, Vesta Reid, brothers; David Daniels, Larry Daniels, five grown children, along with his two youngest Jayden, and Sophia, along with several nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be at 1:00pm on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at Hafer Funeral Home with Pastor Jessica Linhart officiating. Burial will follow at Daniels Cemetery in Charleston. Visitation will be from 12:00pm-1:00pm on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at Hafer Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to Hafer Funeral Home to help offset funeral expenses. Online condolences may be sent to http://www.haferfuneralhome.net Arrangements are in the care of Hafer Funeral Home , 50 North Pinch Road, Elkview, WV 25071.
Words from David Daniels:
Song: I’ll fly away
Message: Today, I offer thoughts of comfort to his family and friends. Im afraid I can take nothing from the grief you feel today. I cannot say to you, “everything is all right.” Because right now, it’s not and you know it. You hurt and we know you will hurt for some time. God created us for a relationship and a fellowship with Him and with others. That is why we cannot truly be content and happy without relationships. And when a relationship is broken or lost, it hurts. It feels like a part of you is missing.
So, let me repeat words of comfort from John 14:1-6; Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Because Jesus is, “the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him.
Here we find three comforting thoughts from the Holy Ghost.
FIRST, peace is promised. Notice the words Let not you heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. Yes, I know today is a day of sadness – a day of grief – a day of mourning. Yet, even in the midst of this you can have peace. How? If you have faith. If you believe. Believe that even in the midst of this storm – even in the valley of the shadow of death – there can be a peace that passes all understanding – because God is with us.
These words were spoken by the One Who was facing the most acute trouble, for He was facing rejection, betrayal, false accusations, and the weight of the sin of the world was placed on His shoulders, for the Cross lay before the Lord Jesus. Not only did Jesus instruct them, “do not let your heart be troubled,” but He gave them tools to keep them from worry and fear, and it all comes back to FATIH – TRUST in God the Father and ALSO TRUST in ME. “You believe in God… believe ALSO in ME.”
We may be facing some of the darkest days ahead without Bill, but there will be joy and peace for us as well. We also have that hope that we will make heaven our home. Weather it be by the way of the grave or it will be on that glorious day when Jesus comes in the clouds to take us to be with Himself. It is both peaceful and joyful when one meet’s Jesus.
SECOND, God has prepared a place for us. Do you feel the significance of Jesus going to prepare a place for you. The Bible tells us God created the heavens and the earth in six days, and look how amazing and spectacular that is. But just think, Jesus has been preparing a place for us for over two thousand years. WOW! what a place that must be! And it’s not just any place. There are many mansions. A mansion for each of us, prepared by Jesus Himself. Prepared especially for each of us who believe. This is one of the greatest truths found anywhere in the Bible, and it implies that God dwells somewhere in a permanent place. The word “rooms” is actually translated “mansions” and the Greek says “In the house of the Father of me abodes many there are.” What Jesus is teaching us is that in God’s house, which is heaven, there are many mansions to live in. To me, that gives me great comfort, that I can know for sure that Jesus has already prepared a mansion in heaven for Bill, for you and for me to live.
To know, that when I die, I’m going to my Father’s house where he gives me a mansion, and I pray this truth gives you great comfort in these times.
My Father’s house is where I’m always accepted and loved.
My Father’s house is where I am not a guest, but where I’m a resident.
That’s home.
Take these words with you today: (From an Elvis Presley song) In my Father’s house are many mansions, If it were not true, He would have told me so. He has gone away to live in that bright city, He’s preparing me a mansion that I know. Do not shun the Savior’s love from up in glory, Or you won’t be there to tell the gospel story. In my Father’s house are many mansions, If you’re true then to this land you’ll surely go.
THIRD, God has prepared a way for us to get there. Everyone wants to go to heaven, some just don’t know the way. But Jesus tells us in John 14 that, He is the way, the truth, the life; no one comes to the Father, but by Him. We are all travelers on a road called “life”. There are many side streets, curves, mountains, and even detours. Sometimes there are obstacles in our way. Floods come and block the way. We do not need to be confused – we need not fear – we need not be lost. All we need to do is follow Jesus. He will show us the way – in fact He is the way. Knowing He will lead us and guide us is comforting. This gives us great comfort today! He’s going to come back and take us by the hand and personally lead us to our Father’s house. Another great truth from this passage in John chapter 14 is that we will be with the Lord Jesus Christ forever. To me, that must be what makes heaven so wonderful. When our lives are focused upon Christ, we walk in glory with Him forever. Jesus takes care of your past. He helps you with your present. And He has already prepared for you the future. There is a mansion prepared for each of us. The lights are on, the door is open, and the meal is prepared. There are friends and there is comfort. Do not have a troubled heart and do not be afraid. God is merciful. God is love. God is full of compassion. He sees your tears. He cares. As much as I know Billy, you, his family and friends, know him better. But God, who looks on the heart, knows him best. And as much as we at Hissom Tabernacle and Hissom Mission love Billy, you, his family and friends, love him more. But the God who gave His only begotten Son to die for our sins, loves Billy most. If we have committed or will commit our hearts and lives to Jesus Christ, we do not have to say “goodbye” to Bill, we can say, “See you later.” So, for now, we commit the spirit of William Wesley Daniels into God’s hands, and isn’t that the best place to leave him? Let us pray.
Grave Side Service: As sad as it is to lose a dear loved one, God’s amazing promises give us comfort and hope. Some of this hope is found in Psalm 23.
Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, [1] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
You see, the Lord is our Shepherd in life and in death. There is no part of life and no part of death that you have to be alone, because the good Shepherd will be with you! God is a good shepherd who keeps his flock safe even when they must travel through the “valley of the shadow of death.”
God is also the one who gives us unending love, comfort, joy, protection, hope, strength, assurance, and peace. For example, the rod conveys the concept of authority, power, discipline and defense of the sheep. The staff represents all that is long suffering and kind.
Therefore, in the next few days to come grow closer to God. Seek God. Read your Bible more, listen to Christian songs, and do attend Church. God did not make His people loaners he created us to be in fellowship with one another.
COMMITTAL PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day! We thank you for Your precious, eternal, and unchanging Word. We thank You that You are, to us, the Rock of Ages and the great I AM.
In the midst of our natural sorrow, we thank You for Your supernatural comfort and grace. In the face of death, we thank You for Your gift of eternal life. In the face of separation, we thank You for the eternal reunion we so eagerly anticipate.
We thank You for Bill’s life here on this earth, and we recognize that the body that lies before us is not Bill which he lived.
We acknowledge that Bill is in Your very presence. Father, we commit his body to the earth, from which our bodies were originally created, and we rejoice in the fact that his spirit is even now with You, the Father of spirits.
We find great comfort in knowing that we shall forever be together with the Lord. We thank You Father, that in the days, weeks, and months to come, these realities and the abiding presence of Your Spirit will especially strengthen, sustain, and comfort Bill’s friends and family. IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN.
Amazing Grace: (Song Lyrics)
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now I am found
Was blind, but now I see
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed Through many dangers, toils and snares
We have already come
‘Twas grace has brought us safe thus far
And grace will lead us home
When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright, shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’ve first begun
