Friends of Russell Rice

Our family is so overwhelmed by the outpouring of love that we really don’t know how to thank you. The cards, flowers, plants, food, blog comments, phone calls, visits…I could go on and on….it has all been so incredible! There was such a great turnout for the visitation and the funeral! And many, many people have graciously apologized for not being able to come…isn’t it amazing how many people can be impacted by just one person’s life?!!

Mingled among all those expressions of love were the testimonies of how God used my dad to touch lives. I’ve learned so much this past week about my Daddy. We thought we knew him pretty well, but we have learned even more! As people shared their hearts with us this week, many of them relayed detailed descriptions of how Daddy led them to the Lord, or counseled them through a particularly difficult experience, or mentored them spiritually. Those were such sweet stories. I did know that he was always available to people, because he always answered the phone at our house (any hour of the day or night) and often after he hung up, he’d have to go see someone at the hospital, or he and mom would go meet a couple at the church. I’m ashamed to admit that, as a kid, I sometimes resented that. I selfishly wanted him to myself. As I grew up and matured, I began to understand the significance of those interruptions. But this week I have gained an even deeper understanding of their significance. I’ve heard the other side of those stories. I’ve heard from those people who needed him, and I know now how important it was for him to be there for them.  God was using him to rescue lives, marriages, and sometimes ministries. It has broadened my whole perspective and has given me a greater appreciation for my dad’s life and ministry. So I want to thank you all for candidly sharing with us what Dad did for you and what he meant to you. It has enriched our lives more than we can express.

We feel strongly that your prayers have played a huge part in the way God has carried us. You have obediently answered God’s call to lift up our family in prayer, and He has faithfully sustained us in so many little (and big!) ways. We are so grateful. Would you please continue to pray for us? The next few weeks and months are certainly going to be difficult, and we would appreciate your prayers.

I must say that death has a way of deepening one’s appreciation for God’s grace and for the cross of Christ. Our hope of eternity rests on that sacrifice and that demonstration of love and grace! Without it, we have nothing… and with it, we have everything. Because of God’s incredible love, we will see my Dad again. Until then, we have the assurance that he is with the Lord, and we have the responsibility to carry on the work of the kingdom. We’ll leave you with this final thought…it was one of Daddy’s favorite quotes: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Thank you again for your love and prayers,

The Rices

Just got home from the mortuary, and wanted to let you all know the plan. McDougald Funeral Home (in Anderson) is handling everything, and we will be there at the mortuary Thursday evening, Aug. 7, to receive friends from 6 to 8 pm. In case you need to get directions, their address is 2211 North Main St, Anderson. The phone number there is (864) 224-4343. This will be the time to speak to Mom if you’re wanting to do that…because of the nature of the arrangements, there really won’t be a chance to do that at the funeral.

The funeral will be on Friday, Aug. 8 at 2 pm at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Greenville. That address is 3931 White Horse Rd, Greenville. He will lie in state in the sanctuary of Tabernacle on Friday from noon until 2 pm. We’ll have a private family graveside service following the funeral.

Dad really made this decision process easy on us, because he handled much of it ahead of time.  He had clearly communicated alot of his wishes to Mom, so that has made this much easier for all of us. One of his main requests was that it be a time of celebration. He would want it to be upbeat and happy, not sad and depressing. Please come ready to celebrate his wonderful life and ministry, and to praise God with us for the gift that he was to all of us.

We look forward to seeing you,

The Rices

I know you all are anxiously awaiting the news of the arrangements, and hopefully we’ll have it all finalized by this afternoon, and I’ll update you…but in the meantime, I just wanted to testify to you of the incredible grace of God that we’re experiencing! I want God to receive all the glory that He deserves, so I feel like the rocks are going to cry out if I don’t let you all know how GOOD GOD IS!!!!

I have never experienced the grace of God like I have these past few days. Can’t really describe it except to say that we are being “carried”…like that old Footprints poem. We literally feel carried right now. Every single detail of this whole experience has had the fingerprints of God all over it. The timing alone, for so many of the events, has been miraculous. Over and over we keep seeing how perfect God’s timing is. And then there’s that “sufficient grace” that keeps showing up…sometimes unrecognized in the moment, but always there. Always. God is so good. And even in the “valley of the shadow of death” we can fear no evil, because He Is With Us!! This is no cliche’- His Presence is Here!! It’s so real that it’s almost tangible!! I keep thinking of the words of that psalm: a “very present help in trouble” –He is a VERY PRESENT help!!

My new favorite book is my Daddy’s Bible. I always thought my Bible was my favorite book, but if you could read my Daddy’s Bible right now, you’d know what I mean. Every page, literally, is filled with highlights and notes. Some sermon outlines, some personal thoughts, and some prayers written out in his own sweet handwriting…it is incredible. Words from my Heavenly Father and words from my earthly father, all in one book. God is using that book to sustain me right now.

I hope you all can understand why I’m writing this to you…even though I know you came here to get the information about the arrangements, I had to tell you what God’s doing in direct answer to your prayers for our family. Already this morning over 500 of you have checked this blog, so I know my Daddy would want me to use this opportunity to give God the glory.

In His Grip,

Charity, for all the Rices

Daddy went home to be with the Lord about an hour ago. He was completely at peace. We were all surrounding him, praying with him, singing to him, and holding his hands. It was beautiful, actually.

We all have wonderful memories of our last day with him…yesterday there were alot of family members and friends here, and we sang to him all afternoon and evening. We read Scripture passages to him and prayed with him. The nurse who came to check on him said she could see signs that he was aware of what we were doing. She told us that when she walked in the room she could tell that this man was very loved, because the whole room was so full of love.

All through the night and all morning today, we felt that the end was near. That was probably the hardest part of this…knowing that we were saying goodbye, feeling that heaviness, and yet clinging to the hope that he would soon be with the Lord. Thank you for your prayers. We all felt God’s peace and comfort so strongly.

All morning we were listening to a CD by Lance Carpenter, and as Daddy was leaving us, a song was playing….”The Lord giveth and He taketh away. Blessed be the Name of the LORD. I’ve served Him before, and I’ll serve Him today. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.” I keep hearing that song in my mind, and I’m praying that we’ll all be able to keep those words in our hearts throughout the coming days.

Please continue to pray for us. We’ll let you know the arrangements as soon as possible.

Charity

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”  II Tim. 4:6-7

“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven…We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”  II Cor. 5: 1-2, 8

Please continue to pray for Daddy. He is still resting peacefully. And please pray for all of us…we need God’s grace moment by moment now. We are completely relying on His strength, and He is faithfully sustaining us through this. His grace truly is sufficient!

“Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.”  Ps. 63:7

The Rices

Dad’s doctor and nurse came today. They evaluated his situation and gave us their assessment. It’s impossible to precisely predict in these situations, but they feel that death is imminent, possibly within 24-72 hours. Could be longer, but they feel that’s unlikely.

Daddy is pretty much non-responsive. He sleeps constantly, and we can’t get him to react to our voices or even to touch like he did just a couple days ago when we brought him home. It’s been such a rapid decline…but like I said yesterday, we feel that that’s a blessing.  Mom wanted me to thank you for your prayers for his peace and for God’s will to be done. She’s convinced that it’s an answer to prayer that he hasn’t had to suffer for a long time. He’s resting peacefully, he’s not in pain, and he will soon be with the Lord.

Please continue to pray. We’re asking specifically that you would pray that God would allow him to continue to be comfortable and at peace, and that God would continue to give us the grace and strength we need for this journey.

Thank you so much for your love and concern, and especially for your prayers.

Charity