This morning I conducted a memorial service for Mary Carlson, a member of our church who passed away at age 86. Including in-laws, she had 42 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. In her mid-50s she became convicted of sin and cried out to God for mercy. Sometime later the Holy Spirit granted her freedom through clinging to God’s five-fold “I” promise in Isaiah 41:10, so I spoke on that text graveside. At the church, I preached on Isaiah 49:15 where God stresses that His love even supersedes the love of a mother. Please pray for Dick Carlson, as he grapples with being a lonely widower after 57 years of marriage to Mary.
