Funeral for a friend

This weekend Jo and I sadly had to travel down to Purley for the funeral of our friend Kevin. He'd been struggling with depression and had been missing since October. It seems everything had got too much for him...

I first met Kevin in my second year at uni, and he quickly established himself as a loveable, loyal and firey man who put everyone before himself and faithfully pointed people towards the Lord Jesus.

His death has indeed been hard for the so many people whose lives he touched, and he will indeed be greatly missed. But thanks be to God that He chose Kevin before he was born to be part of His people, saved by the blood of Jesus alone, and now Kev is waiting for us all to come home with him.

We sung this song at the funeral, and I think this encapsulates the hope that belivers have in the God who died for them:-

O Lord my God,
When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!