Family Memorial Funeral Services, Inc.

01/31/2026

Hear Me As I Pray...

Dear God,

I come to You now, feeling fragile and overwhelmed by the weight of this loss. The heartache is deep and difficult to express, and I find myself in need of Your presence more than ever.

Please hold me close, Lord. When the tears feel relentless and the void seems infinite, be my source of comfort. When memories rush in and take my breath away, grant me your peace. When I feel lost and unsure of how to move forward, carry me through this.

I miss my loved one dearly, and the weight of this grief feels unbearable. Even in this painful confusion, help me remember that You are here, that Your love surrounds me, and that my loved one is safe in Your care.

When I struggle to find the words to pray, let Your Holy Spirit speak for me. When silence fills my heart, hear the unspoken cries within.

Just for today, give me the strength to take a breath, the hope to believe I can make it through this moment, and the reassurance of Your presence to remind me I am not alone.

I place my broken heart in Your hands.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

01/31/2026

UPDATED ANNOUNCEMENTS

Funeral Service Announcements

During this difficult time, please accept our heartfelt condolences on the loss of your loved one. We understand that no words can fully ease the pain you are experiencing, but we hope you find comfort in cherished memories and the support of those around you.

Thank You for Choosing Family Memorial Funeral Services.

We are deeply honored that you have entrusted us with the care of your loved one. It is our privilege to walk alongside you during this journey and to help you create a meaningful tribute that celebrates their unique life, lasting legacy, and the love they shared with you.

01/28/2026

Devotion

Seen by the God Who Sees

Focus Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

There’s something incredible that happens when someone truly sees you. Not just a quick glance or a polite acknowledgment, but when someone looks past your carefully constructed exterior and recognizes the person you really are underneath. In those rare moments, something inside us exhales. We feel known. We feel valued. We feel like we matter.

In our hurried, distracted world, we’ve become experts at surface-level interactions. We nod at the cashier while scrolling through our phones. We exchange pleasantries with coworkers without really listening or even looking up. We wave at neighbors whose names we’ve forgotten. These moments of recognition are polite, even necessary, but they barely scratch the surface of what our souls are longing for. We’re all walking around with stories tucked inside us, hopes we’re afraid to voice, and wounds we’ve learned to hide. And deep down, we’re all wondering the same thing: Does anyone really see me?

The truth revealed throughout Scripture is that God does more than recognize us. He sees us. Completely. Intimately. Lovingly. He is El Roi, the God who sees, and this isn’t just one of His many attributes. It’s central to who He is and how He relates to us.

When the prophet Samuel was searching for Israel’s next king, he stood before Jesse’s sons, impressed by their height, their strength, their commanding presence. Surely one of these impressive men would be God’s chosen one. But God gently corrected Samuel’s vision, reminding him that human beings are drawn to what glitters on the outside while God is captivated by what’s real on the inside. God looks at the heart. He sees past our résumés and our Instagram feeds. He sees past our accomplishments and our failures. He sees the tender places we try to protect and the dreams we’re afraid to speak out loud.

This truth became powerfully real for a woman named Hagar. You might remember her story from Genesis 16. She was a servant, powerless and overlooked, caught in the complicated dynamics of Abraham and Sarah’s household. When circumstances became unbearable, she ran. She found herself alone in the wilderness, pregnant and afraid, with nowhere to go and no one who cared. In that desolate place, when she felt most invisible, most forgotten, most alone, God met her. He spoke to her. He saw her pain and her fear. He knew her story and her name. And Hagar, overwhelmed by this encounter, gave God a name that would echo through the ages: El Roi, the God who sees me.

Hagar wasn’t just noticed in that moment. She was seen. There’s a profound difference. To be noticed is to register on someone’s radar. To be seen is to be understood, valued, and affirmed in your full humanity. Hagar experienced what every human heart craves: the knowledge that we are not invisible, that our pain matters, that our story is known.

This is how God sees you today. Not as a project to fix or a problem to solve. Not as a collection of mistakes or a list of achievements. He sees your heart. He knows the weight you’ve been carrying that no one else notices. He understands the loneliness that creeps in even when you’re surrounded by people. He sees the parts of yourself you’ve learned to hide because the world told you they weren’t acceptable. And in His seeing, you are loved. You are valued. You are enough.

But here’s where this truth becomes even more beautiful and more challenging. We who have been seen by God are called to see others the same way. In Matthew 22:39, Jesus tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. This kind of love requires more than recognition. It requires the willingness to slow down, to pay attention, to look beyond the surface.

Every person you encounter today is carrying a story. The barista who seems distracted might be grieving a loss. The coworker who snapped at you might be drowning in anxiety. The neighbor who never makes eye contact might be struggling with shame. We live in a world full of people who feel unseen, and we have been given the extraordinary privilege of reflecting God’s heart by truly seeing them.

This doesn’t mean we need to know everyone’s deepest secrets or solve everyone’s problems. Sometimes seeing someone simply means making eye contact and offering a genuine smile. It means asking “How are you?” and actually waiting for the answer. It means noticing when someone seems off and taking a moment to check in. It means listening, really listening, to the stories people tell and the emotions they express. It means recognizing that the person in front of you is not just a means to an end but a beloved child of God, worthy of dignity and attention.

When we choose to see people this way, something shifts. Our interactions move from transactional to transformational. We stop treating people as background characters in our story and start recognizing them as the main characters in their own. We reflect the heart of El Roi, the God who sees, and in doing so, we offer people a glimpse of how deeply they are loved by Him.

Today, you are completely seen by the God who created you. He knows your name, your story, your struggles, and your strengths. He sees the parts of you that you show the world and the parts you keep hidden. And in His perfect seeing, you are fully loved. Let that truth settle into the deepest parts of your soul. You are not invisible. You are not forgotten. You are seen.

And because you are seen, you can see others. You can slow down in a world that rushes past. You can listen in a culture that talks over you and not to you. You can look beyond appearances and status and defenses to recognize the image of God in every person you meet. You can be the answer to someone’s unspoken prayer to be noticed, to matter, to be seen.

Hear Me When I Pray

Dear God,

Thank You for being El Roi, the One who sees me. Thank You for knowing my heart, my story, my pain, and my joy. Thank You for seeing me completely and loving me anyway. Help me to see others the way You see them. Give me eyes that look beyond the surface. Give me a heart that slows down and pays attention. Give me the courage to truly connect with the people You place in my path. Let me be a reflection of Your love, reminding everyone I meet that they are seen, they are known, and they are deeply valued.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today, go forward knowing you are seen. And in that confidence, choose to see others. You have no idea how much it might mean to someone who’s been feeling invisible. You might just be the glimpse of El Roi that changes everything for them.

01/21/2026

Funeral Service Announcements

During this difficult time, please accept our heartfelt condolences on the loss of your loved one. We understand that no words can fully ease the pain you are experiencing, but we hope you find comfort in cherished memories and the support of those around you.

Thank You for Choosing Family Memorial Funeral Services.

We are deeply honored that you have entrusted us with the care of your loved one. It is our privilege to walk alongside you during this journey and to help you create a meaningful tribute that celebrates their unique life, lasting legacy, and the love they shared with you.

01/19/2026

Devotion

The Color-Blind Cross: A Love Without Borders

Focus Verse: “Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.’” Acts 10:34-35 (NIV)

The question before us today, beating like a drum in the soul of our nation, is this: What has happened to that kind of love?

I am talking about the love that sees beyond skin tone and language barriers. The love that marched through Birmingham with children singing freedom songs. The love that looked into the eyes of hatred and did not blink. This is the love Jesus poured out like wine at the Last Supper, saying, “This is my blood, shed for you, and you, and you, and even you.”

Today, we recognize a love that is “color-blind” yet sees every color. It is a love that hung on a cross between two thieves and still had room for the entire human race. Dr. King once said, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” But before Dr. King proclaimed his dream, Jesus lived it. He did not ask for our credentials or scrutinize our family trees before extending His grace. He loved unreservedly. As Romans 5:8 reminds us, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

As we look at our world today, we see deep fissures—divides based on race, status, and belief. These walls often overshadow our shared humanity. We must ask ourselves: Have we allowed the unconditional love of Calvary to slip from our collective memory? Have we strayed so far from the Gospel that we no longer recognize our neighbor?

Peter had to learn this lesson the hard way. On a rooftop in Joppa, God showed him a vision of all kinds of people and told him, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean” (Acts 10:15). When Peter finally entered the home of Cornelius, a Roman centurion, the light came on. He realized that God is “no respecter of persons.”

Jesus had been teaching this all along. He broke social taboos at the well with the Samaritan woman. He marveled at the faith of a Roman soldier. He made a “despised” Samaritan the hero of His most humane parable. Jesus saw what we often fail to see: the image of God in every face. He didn’t see black, white, brown, or yellow; He saw “The Most Beloved of all Creation.” He saw souls worth dying for.

At the foot of the cross, there are no VIP sections. There is no front row for the wealthy and no special entrance for the powerful. The shadow of the cross falls equally on us all. When the nails pierced His hands, they pierced the sin of racism. When the spear pierced His side, the water and blood that flowed out baptized every tribe, tongue, and nation. As Paul wrote to the Galatians: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

Jesus started a song of reconciliation at Calvary. It is a song of “justice rolling down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream” (Amos 5:24). But, church, the song is not finished. We are the choir now.

Every time you choose love over hate, you add a note. Every time you reach across a dividing line, you add harmony. We cannot praise Him with our lips while our hearts are full of division. The love of Jesus is not a museum piece to be admired; it is a movement to be joined. It is a march that continues from Jerusalem to Jackson, from Calvary to Chicago, and into every street where injustice still cries out, from Minnesota to Greenland, let justice reign.

So, what has happened to that kind of love? Nothing. It is still here. It is still pouring down like manna for starving souls. The question is: What has happened to us? Have we become too comfortable in our silos?

The same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to you today. It is the power to see every person as a neighbor. It is the fire of Pentecost, where every nation hears the Gospel. It is the fire of Calvary, where love had the final word.

Let that fire burn away your prejudice. Let it burn away your fear. Jesus lived for all, died for all, and rose for all. He lives in you so that you might love all. The love lives on. Now, go live it out loud for the world to see.

Hear Me As I Pray...

Dear God,

We come before You today with humbled hearts, acknowledging that You are the Creator of all humanity. We thank You for the beauty of every language, the richness of every culture, and the intentionality behind every skin tone You have crafted. Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have allowed the world’s divisions to take root in our hearts. Forgive us for the walls we have built that Your Son already tore down at Calvary.

Lord Jesus, we thank You for the “Color-Blind Cross.” Thank You that Your arms were stretched wide enough to embrace the whole world. We ask that you renew our vision today. Give us eyes like Yours. Eyes that see past the surface and into the soul. Help us to see you, Your divine image, in every neighbor, every stranger, and even those we consider enemies.

Holy Spirit, break our hearts for what breaks Yours, where there is prejudice, plant seeds of understanding. Where there is systemic injustice, grant us the courage to be instruments of Your peace. Do not let us be content with a love that stays only within the church walls; push us out into the streets to be the harmony in a world of discord.

We pray that Your Church would be a living testimony of Galatians 3:28, that we would truly be one in Christ Jesus. Let Your love be the fire that burns away our fear and the bridge that connects our communities.

May we leave this moment not just as hearers of Your Word, but as doers. Let us carry the light of Your unconditional love into every dark corner of our world until justice rolls down like waters and Your glory fills the earth.

In the mighty and matchless name of Jesus, we pray.

Amen.

01/11/2026

Hear Me As I Pray...

Dear God,

We come before You with gentle hearts, holding in our prayers the families we serve who are navigating the difficult journey of grief and loss. We ask that You draw near to them during this profound time. Your promise in Scripture reassures us: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). May they feel the warmth of Your presence in the quiet moments when the heaviness of sorrow feels overwhelming and when the days seem so unfamiliar.

Father, You see every tear that falls and understand the depths of each ache. As Your Word reminds us, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle” (Psalm 56:8). We ask You to receive their tears as prayers, especially when words fail them. Please wrap them in the comfort that only You can provide, for You are “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4).

Lord Jesus, our gentle Shepherd, we pray that You carry those who feel too weary to take another step. In moments when grief seems shrouded in darkness, be their guiding light. When their hearts feel restless, please speak Your peace into their lives. You promised, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). May that comfort come through the loving presence of friends, timely acts of support, cherished memories, and quiet moments when Your Spirit strengthens them.

We ask You to hold their loved ones in Your eternal care. We trust in Your goodness, even in the midst of uncertainty, and we entrust to You what we cannot control. Anchor these families in the hope of Your promises: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more” (Revelation 21:4). Let that hope be a gentle thread that sustains them through their hardest hours.

Grant them courage for the days ahead, strength for the practical decisions they face, patience as they navigate their grief, and grace for one another as each heart mourns in its own unique way. Help them to lean on You moment by moment, remembering Your words: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

When the waves of sorrow rise unexpectedly, remind them of Your steadfast promise: “Do not fear, for I am with you. I will strengthen you and help you” (Isaiah 41:10). May they find comfort in knowing they are not alone, neither in their grief nor in the love they hold.

Holy Spirit, Comforter, we ask that You breathe peace into their weary souls. Grant them restful nights, steady footing during the day, and gentle reminders that love endures – love remembered, love shared, and love held forever within You. As Your Word assures us, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you” (John 14:27). May that peace guard their hearts and minds.

We place these families in Your compassionate hands. Surround them with mercy, support, and the strength to carry on until joy can return, transformed but real.

In the name of Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25). Amen.

01/08/2026

DEVOTION

YOU ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN ORDINARY

Focus Scripture: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9, NKJV)

Beloved, hear the word of God speaking over your life today: You are so much more than ordinary. The enemy whispers lies of insignificance, trying to convince you that your life is small, your influence limited, and your purpose unclear. But God declares something entirely different over you. You are chosen. You are set apart. You are called with a divine assignment that only you can fulfill.

The world measures value by position, possessions, and popularity, but Heaven measures value by purpose. You are not an accident or an afterthought. Before the foundation of the world, God saw you, knew you, and ordained specific works for you to accomplish. Your life is not meant to blend into the background. You carry the DNA of the Divine three, and there is a royal priesthood flowing through your spiritual veins.

1. You Are Chosen for Divine Purpose

God does not make mistakes, and He certainly did not make one when He created you. You are handpicked by the King of Kings for such a time as this. Your gifts, talents, experiences, and even your struggles are all part of the divine tapestry God is weaving through your life. You are not waiting for your purpose to find you; your purpose is already embedded within you, waiting for you to step into it with boldness and faith.

The calling on your life is not dependent on your perfection but on His power working through your willingness. Every conversation you have, every act of kindness you extend, every prayer you whisper is ministry. You are a living epistle, read by all who encounter you. God is using your ordinary moments to create extraordinary impact in the lives of those around you.

2. You Are Equipped with Heavenly Resources

God never calls you to something without equipping you for it. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you. You have access to divine wisdom, supernatural strength, and heavenly strategies. The resources of Heaven are at your disposal, not because of who you are in yourself, but because of whose you are.

Stop looking at what you lack and start recognizing what you carry. You have the mind of Christ. You have authority in His name. You have the power to speak life, to break chains, and to shift atmospheres. The anointing on your life is not for your comfort alone; it is for the deliverance and encouragement of others. God has placed specific people in your path who need what He has deposited in you. Your obedience to use what you have been given unlocks breakthrough for someone else.

3. You Are Called to Make a Tangible Difference

Your life is ministry. This is not reserved for those with titles or platforms; this is the truth for every believer. Ministry happens in the marketplace, in your home, in the classroom, and in the community. Wherever you are, there is an opportunity to represent the Kingdom and demonstrate the love of Jesus.

God is calling you to rise above mediocrity and embrace the excellence of your calling. He is inviting you to see beyond the natural and perceive the spiritual significance of your daily life. The smile you give, the encouragement you offer, the integrity you display, and the faith you demonstrate are all powerful testimonies that point others to Jesus. You are a light in the darkness, and the world desperately needs the illumination you carry.

You are so much more than ordinary because you serve an extraordinary God. He has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, not so you can hide that light, but so you can let it shine brilliantly before others. Embrace your identity as chosen, equipped, and called. Walk in the confidence that your life matters, your voice matters, and your obedience matters. The Kingdom of God is advancing through you, and Heaven is cheering you on. Step into the fullness of who God has created you to be and watch Him do immeasurably more than you could ask or imagine.

Hear Me As I Pray...

Dear God,

I thank You for the one reading these words right now. I declare that they are awakening to the truth of their identity in You. Remove every lie of insignificance and replace it with the revelation of their divine calling. Open their eyes to see the ministry opportunities that surround them daily. Fill them with boldness to step into their purpose without fear or hesitation. Equip them with everything they need to fulfill the assignment You have placed on their life. Let them feel Your pleasure as they walk in obedience. Remind them that they are chosen, loved, and empowered to make a difference.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

01/01/2026

12/30/2025

A Year-End Reflection

As this year draws to a close, our thoughts naturally return to the families we have had the honor of serving and particularly to yours.

We want to express our sincerest gratitude for the trust you placed in us during this difficult time for your family. It has been a profound privilege to walk beside you through your loss. We have been deeply moved by the strength, compassion, and dignity you have shown while navigating your grief; your resilience is a true inspiration to our entire staff.

We were genuinely touched by the love that surrounds your family. Being allowed to play even a small part in celebrating a life so dearly cherished was a humbling experience for us. The moments we shared with your family will remain in our hearts long after the season changes.

Our commitment to you extends far beyond the days of the service. As the holidays pass and the new year begins, we hope you find solace in the warmth of your memories and the support of those close to you. Grief follows its own timeline, and we want to remind you that Family Memorial Funeral Services remains here for you, not only in times of immediate need, but also through the quieter, more difficult moments that follow your loss.

Thank you for granting us the privilege of honoring your loved one with the respect and care they deserved.

With heartfelt sympathy and our warmest wishes for peace and strength in the coming year.

The Management and Staff
Family Memorial Funeral Services

12/24/2025

A Christmas Message of Comfort

My Beloved Child,

I see you in this season of lights and joy, and I know your heart carries a weight that others may not see. The absence you feel is real, and your grief honors the love you shared. I want you to know that I am here, in the quiet moments and the unexpected tears.

Christmas can feel especially lonely when there is an empty chair at your table, a voice you long to hear, or a hand you wish to hold is absent. But I ask you to listen closely: your loved one has not left you—they have only stepped beyond the veil that separates earth from eternity. The bond you forged in love transcends death itself. Love, true love, is eternal because it reflects my own heart.

I have not abandoned you in your sorrow. I collect every tear you shed, and I hold your grief with infinite tenderness. When you cannot pray, I pray for you. When you cannot hope, I hope for you. When you cannot feel my presence, I am closest of all.

This Christmas, I offer you this sacred promise: one day, you will be reunited with those you love. This is not a distant dream but the foundation of my Kingdom. Until that glorious day, I will walk with you through each season, each holiday, and each difficult moment. Your loved one rests in my peace and is never truly far from your heart.

Let yourself grieve. Let yourself remember the precious time you shared. And in the depth of your pain, allow yourself to feel the love that still surrounds you, for love never dies. Love is forever.

Remember, you are never alone.

With infinite love and compassion,

God