Tuesday, September 29, 2020
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A Memorial Word for Larie Gortaire
Romans 8:18 (NKJV) - 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
There is a short four-part adage that sums up life:
o Life is a vapor – James 4:14
o Death is sure – Hebrews 9:27
o Sins the curse (the cause of death) – Romans 3:23; 6:23a
o Christ is the cure – Romans 6:23b
I share this because of the nature of Larie Gortaire’s passing. She was a strong woman in so many ways; spiritually strong, mentally strong, and she was a physically strong woman. That makes the rapidity with which she passed from this life to the next all the more shocking for us. It is evidence that life indeed is “a vapor.” Life is fragile, delicate, brittle.
Larie (and we) have experienced the fragile nature of life. Larie (and we) have seen that “death is sure.” Larie (and many of us) know that the curse of sin is the cause of death. And Larie (and many of us) have come to know that “Christ is the cure” for this human dilemma. Larie is experiencing the fruits of her salvation right now. Many of us are grieving now because we miss her, but we don’t grieve as those who have no hope, we grieve hoping in Jesus that we will see her again one day (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
Larie Gortaire was a big loving part of our family here at Calvary Chapel of Hope. She was a tremendous asset. She was brilliant and creative. She had a heart for ministry. She loved to be involved and to serve. She was greatly used by the Lord to bless others. To name few of the things she was involved with, she was:
• Involved in the worship ministry of the church
• She taught in our Sunday School
• She helped plan women’s ministry events.
• She helped plan and do Vacation Bible School ministry
o She created curriculum and planned VBSs.
o She participated in our VBSs: She was Linear Larie – 2017, Likely Larie – 2018, and Dr. Lucifera – 2019.
• She helped with our Kids Club community outreach
• She was a big part of our Christmas Ornament Party
• She was the “go to person” for any kind of resource.
When I say she was “involved” with these ministries, I don’t mean she was just there. Larie was a servant and she was so very talented in so many ways. Her participation was always a substantial, noticeable and valuable part of whatever she was involved in. She will be greatly missed.
Larie was fun. The kids she worked with loved her. She enjoyed working with children. She had a real heart for them and that was clearly seen in all that she did with them.
In 2006, Larie and Tina Breitfeller were able to go on a trip to Israel with the church. That was one of the best trips to Israel I ever led. And Larie was a big part of that. It was around that time that Larie started attending Calvary Chapel of Hope regularly.
And Larie came to love her church and the people in it. She loved her church up to the very end. There’s a reason she asked for donations to be made to her church in lieu of flowers. She loved her church and we loved her.
Larie was just a good person to have around. She was a part of what made our church what it was and is. It’s not going to be the same without her. There will be a missing seat, an empty space, a part of our heart that will be missing, until we meet again. . ..
The time between Larie’s going into the hospital and passing was so short. It was shockingly short. I did have an opportunity to spend time with her. We were able to talk and pray. At one point I asked her if she would like for me to read scripture to her. She said she would. I asked her if she had any particular scripture in mind for me to read. She said, “You choose.” So, the Lord led me to read from Romans 8. This is what I read with her:
Romans 8:18–39 (NKJV)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. . .. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, . . ..
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . . .
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What do we make of these inspired holy words? What do they tell us about Larie? I suggest the following:
1. The suffering she endured in this life does not compare to the glory she is experiencing right now (v. 18). For the Christian, to be absent from the body is to be present with the LORD (2 Cor. 5:8).
2. Being a Christian doesn’t mean you won’t experience difficulty, hard times, pain and suffering (v. 19 and 22). Christians groan under the weight of this world at times.
3. But because the Christian has the Holy Spirit within them, we look forward to death and departing this life so that we can experience further the adoption into God’s family and the redemption of our body. This is our glorious hope (v. 23-25).
4. If we sometimes don’t know how to pray, or if we feel we are too weak to carry on, we have the Holy Spirit to help us carry on (v. 26-27).
5. Larie knew, and we can know, that no matter what happens in life, God is able. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (v. 26).
6. Larie knew, and we can know, that in a relationship with Jesus, we are secure. Who God justifies through faith in Jesus, He will one day glorify (v. 29-30).
7. Larie knew, and we can know, that no matter what happens in this life, no matter who opposes us, “God is for us” (v. 31). We know that because, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (v. 32-34)
8. Why did God do that, why did He deliver Jesus to the cross and death? He did that because the wage or debt or penalty of sin is death. That a debt no one can pay off, except for perfectly sinless Jesus (Romans 6:23). Jesus died for you, and me; He died for Larie. He died to pay our death penalty for sin. And because of that, when we turn from our sins and put our faith in Jesus trusting Him as our Savior, God forgives our sins and gives us spiritual life (a second birth – a spiritual birth – eternal life). That’s what Larie had. That’s what made her who she was. Knowing Jesus in this way made Larie who she was.
9. Yes, therefore, the greatest truth, the most comforting and assuring truth we see in this passage of scripture is, “37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (v. 37-39).
No matter what we encounter in this life, even death and its aftermath, knowing Jesus and His love, will get us through.
We enjoyed that portion of scripture.
We talked some more.
John, Larie loved you so much. I could see that when you came up in conversation. She cared for you. She was concerned for you. She loved you John. She loved you very much.
I remember talking to her about her children Sarah and Peter and her grandchildren Christian and Aurelia. I remember tears coming to her eyes at that point. She loved you all so much.
You know, a mother’s love is an incredible thing. A mother’s love is a great love. But as great as a mother’s love is, it is no match for the love of God. God loves you. God loves me. God loves Larie. How much does God love us? In Jesus’ final days, the night before He went to the cross, He prayed:
John 17:23 (NKJV) . . . that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
How much does God love us? Jesus tells us with the phrase that God has “loved them as you have loved Me.” Think about that. “As You have loved Me.” God loves us, like He loved His only Son Jesus. That’s incredible. God loved us enough to send His only Son Jesus to die for us. Jesus loved us enough to go to the cross for us. And the Holy Spirit puts such love in the heart of the one who surrenders in faith to Him. I don’t know if anyone will ever fully comprehend such love, even if they have an eternity to think about it. But that’s how much God loves you. That’s how much He loves me. That’s how much He loves Larie. God loves us.
God was faithful to Larie. The one prayer request I knew she had was that she didn’t want to be alone when the time came for her to pass from this life to the next. That was a prayer God answered wonderfully. Her mother, sisters and brother were at her bedside as were her children and best friend Tina, and of course her loving husband John. My wife Dee and I were also blessed to attend this precious time of departure with Larie and her family. We will forever be thankful to have shared in that holy moment.
I want to close with some words of encouragement to John and the family and friends. John, you’re going to miss Larie; this wonderful woman of God who was your wife. She will be missed as your wife. And I don’t know if something like this is every fully gotten over. You will just learn to live with the loss.
Larie will be missed as a wife, a mother, grandmother, daughter, and sister. She will be missed as a sister in Christ to her church. She will be missed by friends and everyone who knew her. She will be missed period. Not having Larie around will be hard to adjust to. That’s simply the truth. But there is a greater truth, a salve, a comfort, a Helper Who will be there to help us through the grieving process.
The solution to our grief and emptiness can be found in this great chapter of scripture, Romans 8. I encourage you to look into this chapter. I encourage you to consider Jesus. Larie did, she accepted Jesus as her Savior and her LORD and He brought her through as “more than a conqueror.” Jesus brought her through victoriously. Larie who God justified, “He also glorified.” And He can and will do the same for you.
Remember the phrase of Romans 8:39 that says, “nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” You see, that is the key. Larie knew how much the Father, how much Jesus and the Holy Spirit loves her. Even though death came upon her suddenly, shockingly, she was steady and secure in the loving arms of her Savior Jesus. She was not shaken. She was sound in Him. In love God embraced and held Larie as she passed from this life to the next. He’s holding her now. He will hold you too, through this time of loss.
All of this is offered to us by His grace. Grace is God’s Resources at Christ’s Expense or God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense. Just turn to Jesus in faith. Receive what He has offered to you freely as a gift of His grace. Seek Him. Trust in Him. Receive and know His love. God bless you and comfort you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
In His service, by His grace, for His glory,
Pastor Claude Stauffer
Calvary Chapel of Hope
