Celebration of Life - Elder Barbara Monroe

Blessings Dear Friends,When you first open your eyes in the morning, do you stop for just a brief moment to say thank you to God?  After all, it is in HIm that we live, move and have our being (Acts 17:28).

I encourage you, tomorrow morning when you awake to take just a moment to listen to yourself breathe.  Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.  It happens automatically, doesn't it?  Just as God designed it to.  That’s a blessing. With so much going on in the world today to distract and overwhelm us, some of us would literally forget to breathe.

Thank God that He truly is “the air we breathe,” for if He would take away just that one element from our mortal lives, we would cease to exist. What a blessing to be among the land of the living. Aren't you thankful for another opportunity to let your light shine and bring glory to our Father in heaven?

That is what my dear friend did for all the years that I've known her. On last Saturday, I gave the eulogy at my friend's home-going service.

There a many blessings I could begin to name this Thanksgiving Day, But I am most THANKFUL for having experienced two decades of my life knowing my dear friend Elder Barbara Monroe. I will truly miss her friendship and presence in my life.

If you knew Barbara, you knew she LOVED the LORD! She was always a willing worker in ministry and a kind and generous person. Most importantly, she was a child of God. It is during these times, (when a loved one passes away), that we can truly be thankful to God for His gift of Salvation.

Barbara's life was ministry. In a world with so many people looking for a way out of the trials they are facing, Elder Barbara was a light in darkness. Sharing the love of God was like breathing to her. She encounter people from all walks of life. No one remained a stranger after 5 minutes with Barbara. She had three things for everyone she met: 

   1. A warm SMILE
   2. A big HUG, and 
   3. A word of ENCOURAGEMENT.

Praying for and encouraging strangers came natural to Elder Barbara. She reached countless lives on behalf of the Kingdom. This world is vast with many in need. You can't help everyone, but you can help someone. You may not be able to change the WORLD, but you can change SOMEBODY'S world!

Elder Barbara Jean Monroe was a "World Changer". You can be one too, and I promise you, the lives you touched for Christ will be eternally THANKFUL!

Elder Marcus had the pleasure of ordaining Elder Monroe into the Ministry of the Gospel. We . dedicate this poem to the memory of our dear friend and co-laborer.


The Spirit of Thanksgiving
by Gene Griffin

May we always focus on the good 
And count our blessings as we should.
May all our complaints depart
And thank God with a grateful heart.

Our troubles may be the same, 
But we can still praise His good name!
Our load may be hard to bear,
But thank God, the Loadbearer is there.

We will forget to complain
And not mention life’s pain, 
If our days are filled with praise, 
And we thank God in all our ways.

Don’t think that things are so bad,
And don’t live with a heart so sad.
Countless blessings are ours each day.
Let us thank God when we kneel and pray.