A Soldiers Song
For the Funeral of Sis. L. Barrington
By: Dr. Antonio Carlisle
Senior Pastor of the Greater Truevine Missionary Baptist Church in Lake City, FL
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that
love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4: 6-8)
As with any good nation, the security of the nation depends on the training of the
military personnel.
I have found out that these soldiers endure great trails and extreme training in
order to make them a superior fighting machine.
The latest technology is at the disposal of these highly skilled warriors.
They are conditioned to make life-changing decisions in a moments notice.
Special forces are created to handle special situations. In America, the Army
fights on the land, the Air Force wages war in the sky, and the Navy confronts the
enemy on the sea.
Then there is that special branch and military pride. The branch that is said that
all soldiers dream to be apart of, but only a few actually make it. The Few, The
Proud, The Marines. They are trained to wage war in any condition and any
weapon.
Those Marines particularly skilled at their craft go on to become the elite among
the elite. The top dogs in a dog eat dog environment. They are the Green
Barrettes, although they are not Marines (they are in the army) they are the most
feared of all warriors.
In the kingdom of God, I have to discover that God has not left has nation without
the protection of military might. In fact, I have found out that the best-trained
soldiers are in the army of God.
There is an elite sect within this army. They called to wage war where many
soldier dare tread. They are on the frontline in areas where the masses may
have given up hope. They are there battling and warring against what people
may say is hopeless cause. They are conquering, achieving, over-coming, and
pushing back across everything that battles against the righteousness of God.
The Bible talks about this special branch. It says:
10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of
spoil.
12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to
her maidens.
16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a
vineyard.
17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the
needy.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with
scarlet.
22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall
be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
You see these Soldiers battle in the rain. They do not give up in the snow. They
are not worried about the sleet. They are equipped to you down even in the
toughest storms.
The members of the virtuous women’s battalion are specially trained in several
modern weaponries. We all know about that look that they will give in church
when you are not acting right. You know the one, the one that will make you
freeze in your seat and worry for the rest of service whether or not she will
remember the whipping that she just scheduled for you.
Then there is that switch that they so skillfully wield to beat the devil out of you.
They also have the belt, can be implemented if the switch is not available. And
hand when all else fails or if you are in the public.
Even with all this technology, God has given the virtuous women’s battalion a
weapon that if use effectively can defeat any foe. If use effectively, it can bring
down defense. If used effectively, it can reverse the tricks of the enemy.
The virtuous women’s battalion has a weapon that has been around since the
beginning of time and has never been defeated, never rusted, never needed
repair, has never been upgraded. The weapon of choice by any serious soldier.
The virtuous women’s battalion, have PRAYER.
When I look around this sanctuary today, I can tell that we are here this afternoon
to honor a senior member of the virtuous women’s battalion.
King Solomon said these women are a valuable asset. They look for ways to
provide for their families. They look for ways to make everybody feel at home.
The virtuous women’s battalion is concerned what others are doing; they are
concerned about the Master.
In times of Struggle they know how use the weapon. When times get hard, they
know how to use the weapon.
During the World War they knew how to still Away and break the weapon.
During segregation, they knew that we shall overcome because we are using the
weapon.
When we were born, they used the weapon.
When we went to segregated schools, they used the weapon.
When the Ku Klux Klan roamed the streets openly, they used the weapon.
The songwriter said somebody prayed for me. They had ME on their mind. I’m so
glad they prayed for me.
For the virtuous women’s battalion, the war is never over and never is a time of
rest in this side glory.
One has to pray in the morning, one has to pray at noontime, and one even has
to pray when the sun goes down.
I don’t know about you, but I am so glad they somebody prayed for me. When
back over my life and see every thing that I’ve been through. I glad that
somebody prayed.
(Ad-lib).
Baby, we are at war, war on our jobs, war in our schools, war in our homes, even
war in our churches. But there is a group, A group selected by God, a group
dedicated to God, there is who know how to use to weapons of the warfare.
No one said that it would be easy, no one said there would not be some down
days. But
Some glad morning when this life is I’ll fly away. To a home on God’s Celestial
Shore. Oh Glory. Some Glad morning.
To the family: Go ahead and cry, but I have come to tell you that warrior. Select
soldier of the army of God. Capt. L. T. Barrington has just signed her papers
for retirement. She not gone, just retired.
Now let me tell you about benefits:
They tell me the in Heaven; there is more crying
They tell me that in Heaven, there is more pain.
They tell me that in Heaven, there will be no more worrying.
Oh Glory.
They tell me that Heaven; we would have to fight no more.
I am told that even the streets are paved in gold. But we want have about that,
because I am told that we won’t walk down the streets.
You see I am told, that in Heaven, we will all be fitted, with two wings to cover our
face, two wings to cover our feet, and two wings so that we can fly.
Oh Glory, Some glad morning when, when, when this life is over we like Capt.
Barrington, will sign our retirement papers.
Some glad morning when this life is over we like Capt. Barrington will look to our
friends and family and say don’t worry about me, for I am now ready. I’ve through
the trenches, and I’ve been on the battlefield.
I have fought to good fight, and I have finished my course. And just in case you
were wondering, I have kept the faith.
When things were down, I prayed
When things were up, I prayed
When we did not have any money, I prayed
When we went to the hospital, I prayed
When I did not what to do, guess what I prayed.
And now there is laid up for me a crown of righteous.
(Ad-lib)
