Alice Miller

1 Corinthians 15:42-57 (New Living Translation)
42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.
45 The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.”[a] But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. 46 What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. 47 Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. 48 Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. 49 Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like[b] the heavenly man.
50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die,[c] this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 14:1-6 (King James Version)
John 14
1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2In 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.
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Phil 1:21 – “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

When I read this verse I can’t help but think of Alice.
We are here not to mourn the loss of a loved one but to rejoice that she has run her race .. and her reward awaits her in the resurrection of the dead.
Let us gain comfort from the blessed truth that to the Christian, death can be a precious thing.
Psa 116:15 "Precious in the sight of the Lord,
Is the death of His godly ones"
For the Christian it is different. – “To die is gain”


Have you ever felt like your life was perfect one moment and then all of sudden everything changed. You thought your existence couldn't get any better and suddenly something terrible happened.
Running to the doctor, Alice worse fear was revealed, MS had cast a web over her life.
She was living a good life with a great job. She had a family and she even went to church. Why did she have MS? She never harmed or took advantage of anyone! Why was she being punished? Why was God doing this to her? She was a good person!
Let us take comfort in the scriptures.
Romans 8: 28-30, "We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose. Those whom God had already chosen he also set apart to become like his Son, so that the Son would be the first among many brothers. And so those whom God set apart, he called; and those he called, he put right with himself, and he shared his glory with them."
Those with faith, question God's purpose for making her endure this disease.
Sometimes it is God's choice for us to be healed and sometimes it is His will for us to die for Him. All things work together for good when God is in control.
But when we believe only in this corrupt world then we only have doctors to pull us through our illnesses.
Having God gives us strength and perseverance, while following the world leads us down paths of blame and hate.
Think about the life of Jesus. He did nothing but good for people. He healed the sick and cast out demon spirits who tormented the thoughts of people. Yet no matter how much good He did in His life He was still crucified.
In order to become like Jesus we must understand that suffering is a part of this world.
Satan wanted to destroy Alice and to get her to let go of her faith in God. God wanted her to surrender her life to Him and trust that no matter what happens He would always be there for her.
God takes what Satan did to Alice and shouts to the world that she did nothing wrong. She did not sin and she was not guilty! He took the evil of MS and made her an example to others of what you can do when you have faith in God.
Romans 8: 34-39, "Who, then, will condemn them? Not Christ Jesus, who died, or rather, who was raised to life and is at the right side of God, pleading with him for us! Who, then, can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death? As the scripture says, 'For your sake we are in danger of death at all times; we are treated like sheep that are going to be slaughtered.'

No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below-there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord."
Read obit: Alice (Shattuck) Miller
Alice Miller (nee Shattuck) was born July 9, 1947 and went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on May 20, 2011 after bravely fighting a long illness for over 20 years.

She was born to the late Rex and Eleanor Shattuck and lived the majority of her years in Warren and Grayling, Michigan, spending her latter years in life living with her daughter and grandchildren in Ohio.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law Melissa (nee Miller) and Danny L. Parsons Jr. of Lorain, Ohio; her son and daughter-in-law Kevin and Tammie Miller of Grand Rapids, Michigan; six precious grandchildren and one great grandchild; a sister and brother-in-law Susanne and Jon Mueller of Grayling, Michigan; a sister Kay Rau of Marine City, Michigan; a brother and sister-in-law Roger and Debbie Shattuck of Marine City, Michigan; and countless nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Alice was preceded in death by her brother Rick Shattuck.

Alice received her master's degree in education from the University of Michigan and was a school teacher for over 20 years, teaching preschool, elementary and special education.
She faithfully served and volunteered in the Crawford Ausable School District in Grayling, Michigan for countless years and touched many hearts and lives, leaving behind many friends there.

She was a member of St. Francis Episcopal Church, Grayling, Michigan, and was a founding member of Church of the New Harvest, Elyria, Ohio having faithfully served in both.
Alice also served as the director of AGLOW Women's Ministries for many years in northern Michigan.
Alice loved to read, write, teach and take care of others. The only thing Alice loved more than her family was her God whom she faithfully loved and served her entire life with all her heart and soul and strength.


Reflection: Alice lived the last years of her life a prisoner in a body that was filled with sickness – yet she never complained.
She seemed to show joy and to rejoice in her affliction.
All the people who have ever had the privilege to meet Alice all describe her the same way” she was the strongest woman they have ever met as they all watched her endure things most of us could not, they would also go on to say she was one of the best women they have ever met.
A doctor once made a comment after one of her many life treating surgeries that he knows God has a special place for her.
Alice seemed to amaze everyone she came into contact with including me.
She truly lived one of the Godliest lives I have ever seen.
You see she loved her God not out of her blessings but out of her afflictions.
You might be asking yourself how could Alice life been God perfect plan for her on this earth. Well you see we aren’t put on this earth to please and serve ourselves, we were created to love and worship God.
I never met a person such like Alice, in fact the only person I could possible compare her to is Job. Job didn’t deserve any afflictions that were placed on him, he basically suffered because of the mighty man of God that he was.
Alice did the same. God knew what He was doing when He allowed what Alice went through on this earth.
He knew she would bring honor and Glory to His name. If my life could make a difference in at least one other persons I would consider that a life worth living.
Alice strengthened my faith beyond belief as well as many others.
She taught me what it means to not take the little things for granted.
When I think I have it so bad and life isn’t worth living I will think about Alice and all she endured and it will strengthen me for another day.
Alice bore the cross she did because actually she was the strongest of us all.
When I think of Alice a don’t picture a weak feeble, crippled , handicap woman but a strong, faithful, trustworthy, patient woman of God who overcame life’s challenges with her faith and love for the Lord.
I would be truly honored to be able to make such a difference in someone else’s life like Alice made in mine, her life wasn’t wasted.
Actually I never witness a more fulfilled life in anyone else.
You may have asked yourself how this could be God perfect plan, the plans to prosper and not harm her but to give her a future and hope.
You may not have seen it but I did.
Alice didn’t live a selfish life but she gave her all to serving her Lord and Savior.
Other reflections:


I believe that Alice would say to all of you that she would prefer to be away from her body and at home with her Lord.
It would be extremely selfish today to bring Alice back; even if we could she is where her life of faith has prepared her to be.
I cannot bring her back, but I believe she would want you to know that you too can have the joy that she had. This joy is found in having a person relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jesus said (John 11:25-26), “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live (26) And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die…”
Let us pray.
God of us all, your love never ends. When all else fails, you still are God.
We pray to you for one another in our need, and for all, everywhere, who mourn with us this day.
To those who doubt, give light;
To those who are weak, strength;
To all who have sinned, mercy;
To all who sorrow, your peace.
Keep true in us the love with which we hold one another.
In all our ways we trust you. And to you, with your church on earth and in heaven, we offer honor and glory, now and forever.
Amen.

The Benediction
Now to the one who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, to this God be glory in the Church and in Jesus Christ to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Alice truly left us with a beautiful story of blessing of assurance. Now she will stand forever praising her father all of eternity long.
Psalm 103:8-17 (New Living Translation)

8 The LORD is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.
10 He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
13 The LORD is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust.
15 Our days on earth are like grass;
like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
16 The wind blows, and we are gone—
as though we had never been here.
17 But the love of the LORD remains forever
with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children
I'm Free
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free.
I'm following the path God has laid, you see.
I took His hand when I heard His call.
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I found the peace at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joys.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow.
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much,
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts, and peace to thee.
God wanted me now,
He set me free


Revelation 21:1-7 (New Living Translation)
The New Jerusalem
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.[a] 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
As far as the world goes Alice didn’t have much, no fancy home, no expensive car, even her body was broken and worn down. Not only did she not possess many thinks she didn’t really require much. All she needed and had to get her through this life was her Jesus.
In the morning when she rose, she had Jesus, When she was all alone all she needed was Jesus, And when it came time to die, she had Jesus.