There will be a service on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Sovereign Grace Church at 1220 Wayne Avenue, Indiana, Pa. If you are planning on coming from out of town and need hotel reservations you can call the following hotels:
The Holiday Inn: (866) 270-5110
Hampton Inn: (877) 241-2452
The Comfort Inn: (724) 465-7000
You may have difficulty finding a room in Indiana because it's Homecoming Weekend at IUP. If so, you can try the Comfort Inn in Blairsville (about twenty minutes from the church): (724) 459-7100
If you have further questions, please call Sovereign Grace Church: 724.349.7941
_Ben
89 comments:
Father God, please comfort this precious family and their loved ones in our great loss. Giving You all the glory. Steve is alive with You now Jesus. Kathy J, Arlington, Texas
praying for you guys.
I am so glad that Steve was in love with Jesus Christ and is suffering no more. My husband and I will continue to pray for Mary and the children as they will miss him deeply.
Wendy in Maryland
Your family is in our thoughts and prayers during this time. We mourn with you but also rejoice that he is no longer suffering and better yet, in Heaven. May you feel the presence of the Lord and may He be your strength.
With love,
The Bakers in Lancaster, PA
Praying about your great loss . Oh how sorry I am for the pain in your family, Ben. God bless you all.
Lord Jesus, please be The Companion and source of strength for Ben's family.
Cynthia W
May the Lord cover you with His peace which passes all understandin!
In Christ,
Holly L., VA
Is it possible to weep tears of joy and extreme sorrow at the same time? I am weeping as I type this as I think of the huge loss and ache all of you must be feeling and yet a smile can't help but come as I think of Steve now rejoicing in the presence of his precious Savior . . . forever free from any more pain, suffering and sorrow. Steve was a wonderful gift from God for the time that he was here. I have many fun memories from the few years that I worked with him. I know that he has left a huge impact on many people's lives and will be greatly missed - by no one more than his family. You are all in my constant thoughts and prayers. I really can't imagine how you are able to walk through this and I pray that God is giving you grace and strength that I can't imagine as well.
My family and I have prayed for 3 years for Ian and your family. It is unlikely that we will ever meet this side of heaven, but I wanted you to know in this, my first comment, that I have felt such a burden in the spirit for all of you. While I rejoice at Steve's graduation from this life, my heart simply aches for your loss. We stand on our faith in God's sovereignty and love in these times, and I pray that His loving arms carry and sustain you. Thank you for your willingness to be such a visible reminder to all of us of what a life of faith is all about.
oh how I want to understand the Lord's ways!! As I read about this, I must admit I don't understand. I will however trust that he is doing great things. May you all be comforted knowing that Steve is in his Father's presence, and rejoicing with all the saints that have gone before him. Oh, how I will be praying for all of you.
The Freemans in Lancaster, PA
"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face;
now I know in part,
but then i shall know fully
just as I also
have been fully known."
! Corinthians 13:12
Rejoicing that Steve is face to face with His Savior. Praying for your comfort from the One who knows your name.
We love you and are praying for each one of you. God has been merciful to Steve. We loved him and have great memories of him. We mourn with you on this sad day for us, but glorious day for him.
The Calanos
Praying for you all.
Praying for your family. We are so sorry to hear this. Lord Jesus - I ask You to pour out your grace during this time of loss - we will continue to pray.
Praying for you and your family.
Mourning, rejoicing and praying for you.
Lord, I pray you would surround the Murphy family with the peace that surpasses all understanding right now.
We also are praying for all of you during this time. We pray that you rest in the grace and love of our Sovereign Father. How wonderful to know because of Jesus death on the cross Steve has been welcomed in to heaven by God as his precious son.
For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. -Hebrews 13:14
Praying!!!! May the Lord bring you comfort!!!
Dear God
We pray to you to give this precious family peace and comfort in the knowledge that Steve is with you in the highest heaven. Please God bless the Murphy family and give them all the peace and comfort at this time and all other times. In God’s name we pray.
Azad and Family
Our Lord is Good, Loving, Faithful, Sovereign... We trust in Him! We rejoice at the thought of the joy that Steve is experiencing right now! And we mourn with the family at the same time... You are in my our prayers. Ana and J F.K, Maryland
My deepest condolences to your whole family.
To Steve's family,Please know we share in your sorrow and in the joy of knowing that Steve is with Christ.Working with Steve these past Three years have been the best years for us.Steve inspired,encouraged,and cared for me and Jerelene in ways that most people will never know. We love him and miss him, God bless you for sharing him with us.
Randy and Jerelene
I am so very sorry and will be praying for all of you just like I've been since I discovered your blog a year ago. May you know God's incredible peace and comfort.
Mary, so many people felt like Steve was their best friend because he touched so many lives.
He was only able to do this because of all you did to serve and support him in everything the Lord called him to do. As Randy said, thank you for sharing Steve with us.
Thank you for your example of trusting God no matter what. I long for the Lord more because of your example. I want to know more and more of Him because of you.
I am so deeply sad for all of us but I also celebrate Steve's homecoming. I am praying for grace to surround and carry you through this difficult time.
I love you.
Vicki
praying
So happy for Steve that he is with Jesus! My prayers are with the family during this time.
I am so thankful that God allowed so many of us to know Steve and to grow as a result of his life on this Earth. Although I am so, so sad for all of you, I am excited for Steve!
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Loving you all and praying for you all more than you know.
~Maelys
God blessed us with the gift of Steve's life in our midst.
He was and is a friend of God!
Lord thank you for allowing us to see you more clearly in Steve's life and in his precioux fsmily. We will continue to love and pray for them!
We are praying for peace, comfort and supernatural strength for your family and church.
the Tuminos in Akron
Praying for you all!
Hungry to eat His Word,
'Guerite ~ BoldLion
My heart goes out to all of you.
Dear God how much I wish I could understand your ways...praying and believing that you will care for this family . We believe that the end of a lifetime is not the end of a relationship.
~M
We'll continue to pray for you all. With love,
The Donovans from MD
We are praying for you all and rejoice that Steve is in the Presence of the Lord. What a wonderful example of Christian living Steve was - What a witness to the love of the Lord Jesus!
Jean R.
Praying for you all...
Love,
The Drago Family in Reading
I am so very sorry for your loss. I know that our Savior will give your family every comfort and hope knowing that Steve is now in the arms of Jesus, forever rejoicing at the throne!
I will continue to pray for your family.
I am praying for all of you to continue to heal...
Praying.
Please know that although my words may be few...my prayers are for the Lord to give you peace...and I am so thankful for Steve's homecoming with the Lord. I pray you will all be comforted in the days ahead.
With love and prayers.
~ Sincere Sympathy to your family~
I am so sorry for your great loss. Even though I never met him personally, I was greatly encouraged by Steve's faith that has been shared over this blog. What a man of God! I know he will be greatly missed. I pray for God's comfort for you in the midst of your heartache.
As I cry tears of joy for Steve, I ask God for showers of strength, love, and comfort for Mary, Larissa, and the family. What an incredible Christian family we have come to know through such struggles. What an honor to be able to share in their life as they showed us the true meaning of What Would Jesus Do. Father, as you walk with them now, please hold them closer to you and let them feel your comfort and compassion. I praise you and thank you for Steve and the entire Murphy family. Sandi, Derry
Oh, my heart breaks but rejoices. Steve has a new body and is dancing with his Savior Jesus. May God be with this family.
Dear Murphy Family,
Rejoicing with Steve as he is now dancing with the Savior he loved. Praying that the Lord will give comfort to all of you in your grief and sorrow.
Tim & Cindy Campbell in Philadelphia, PA
I am so sorry for your loss...but rejoicing that Steve is now with Jesus. Praying for the Lord to comfort you and give you His perfect peace.
Lynn in St. Louis
I've been following this blog for awhile now praying for Ian...I am praying for Steve's family right now. I am so very sorry for y'alls loss, may the Lord draw you closer to Him through this time. Praise God that Steve was a believer and is now in the presence of Jesus!
Mary Austin, Colorado
the kimmels are deeply grieved, and at a complete loss for words. thank you Jesus, that you are the Word, the only Name that need be spoken.
Sharing your sorrow and lifting you up in prayer.
You are in my prayers...
We will continue to pray for your family. May you find great comfort knowing that Steve is safe in the Lord's arms tonight.
Ken and Marge Snedden
Emmie in Central Texas is praying for you and yours. To have such precious GOOD memories of your father! May God be your comfort.
You are in our prayers and on our hearts.
May Christ be near...may He strengthen and comfort you in every way.
Praying for you,
Jonathan & Susanne H.
Through this time of mourning, I pray that the Lord Jesus gives each of you immense strength and peace.
I am sure the Lord Jesus would tell Steve, 'Welcome my good and faithful servant'.
Praying for each of you.
- Sharun(India)
I am going to miss Steve so much. I have always enjoyed our times together and his heart full of love. I am praying for all of you to find comfort in knowing Steve is in a good place and that his life was full and well-lived. Keep close to Jesus during this time.
Love you. Ellen
"Giver of every breath I breathe
Author of all eternity
Giver of every perfect thing
To You be the glory
....
And I'm alive because I'm alive in You
And it's all beacuse of Jesus I'm alive
It's all because the blood of Jesus Christ
It covers me and raised this dead man's life
It's all because of Jesus I'm alive..."
Steve is more alive now than he has ever been. And it's all because of Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice.
I give thanks to God, Steve, Mary, Ian, Ben, Larissa, and all the Murphy family for your example of Christians who have learned to suffer well. God moves in a mysterious way and it is too complex for my mind to fathom. But your lives show that our God is faithful, good, loving, and sovereign even when we don't understand God's reasons and plan. My prayers are with you all and my heart is heavy yet rejoicing.
Sarah M. Bosse
In this time of pain, I want you all to know that your family is such a blessing to us all. Your faith and perseverance through times of struggle are more than encouraging, and it is easy to see that God is at work with this family. We pray for you that you hold fast through this, as we know you will, and we will be there for you through it all. God Bless the Murphys, for He is an amazing God.
Love you guys. Praying for you in NYC.
Praying. Trusting our Lord to wrap His loving, comforting arms around you.
In love,
Melanie
May the Lord bless and keep you, may His face shine upon you, and be gracious. And give you peace.
Praying for the Murphy family in this time of joy and sorrow.
Praying....and love you guys.
A good friend of Steve and I emailed me expressing his feelings about Steve. I responded to my friend's email. I list below the response that I sent back and will let the words in the email express themselves. I love you Steve. Below is my response.
Steve was a good man indeed and I am sure that God will bless his soul and provide peace and comfort to his family. I am just baffled by the many challenges that his family is going to face in his absence, but I am going to leave this to God. I read once a phrase that resonates in my head every time I try to extend my worries. The phrase said "Do not feel totally, absolutely, and irrevocably responsible for everything in this life, that is my job. Love ... God".
I am going to miss Steve and I am sure you are going to miss him too. I am going to miss his beautiful and smiling face, I am going to miss the numerous jokes and conversations that I had with Steve and I am going to miss a dear, and very dear brother that impacted my life and my family's life profoundly.
Azad
Dear Murphy family:
So very sorry for your loss! May God comfort you at this very difficult time. Though I haven't seen Steve in a very long time, I remember him as a very kind man, with a keen sense of humor, and a smile on his face.
Thanks for your great example of trusting in God. You fought the fight (cancer) with strength, trust and courage. I admire all of you. God Bless.
Steve was such a blessing to so many, including myself when I was sick with cancer, a debt I could never repay him. Our loss is truly heaven's gain. We are grieved at his loss, but in our mind's eyes see Steve receiving his crown for a race well run.
"Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your LORD!"
Praying for you all, asking for God's sweet comfort and peace.
Mary Ann K.
Mary-
I'm so sorry to hear about Steve passing away. Although it's been a long time, I have very good memories of him. I hope that you and your family find comfort and peace during this very difficult time. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers. God bless you all.
David Curry
My family's thoughts, prayers, and hearts are with you and yours.
We've been praying for your family and my son thought this verse described Steve:
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
Praying on...
"The question is not whether we will die, but whether we will die in a way that bears much fruit" - John Piper
Thank you Steve for sharing with us the final weeks and days in your life and educating us on how to approach death by pointing us to the only hope in death - Jesus Christ. He has truly won the victory over the grave!
And in the same breath, Jesus I ask that as you continue to intecede on behalf of the Murphy family and loved ones before the Father, comfort them and protect them in these next days and weeks.
Sara
Lancaster, PA
Heavenly Father, I lift Donna, Mary Claire and their family in prayer. May your love descend upon them at this difficult time.
Lena in Philadelphia
Crying and rejoicing at the same time...the comfort of knowing he is in heaven is, I hope, able to ease the sorrow of losing him here on earth. I don't really know your family that well, but I truly love you all and am praying for His mercies.
Dear Ones ~
May the Lord's Bountiful Mercy descend in torrents around you. May you be overwhelmed with the outworking of His grace in your grieving and in your living. May the Lord shower you with His kindness and evidences of His love. May He comfort you in the deepest recesses of your hearts. May He show Himself protector and provider of all that is needful now and as the days progress.
Echoing the words so fitly spoken:
~♥~
"I am just baffled by the many challenges that his family is going to face in his absence, but I am going to leave this to God." ~ Azad
~♥~
and,
~♥~
"Giver of every breath I breathe
Author of all eternity
Giver of every perfect thing
To You be the glory
And I'm alive because I'm alive in You
And it's all because of Jesus I'm alive
It's all because the blood of Jesus Christ
It covers me and raised this dead man's life
It's all because of Jesus I'm alive..."
Steve is more alive now than he has ever been. And it's all because of Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice.
I give thanks to God, Steve, Mary, Ian, Ben, Larissa, and all the Murphy family for your example of Christians who have learned to suffer well.
God moves in a mysterious way and it is too complex for my mind to fathom. But your lives show that our God is faithful, good, loving, and sovereign even when we don't understand God's reasons and plan.
My prayers are with you all and my heart is heavy yet rejoicing. ~ Sarah M. Bosse
~♥~
in Christian love,
HveHope (Colorado)
Praying for you all. And thankful for the work of the Cross.
Megan - Crossway Church, MA
Oh, praying.
Dear Murphy Family,
We love you and are praying for you. We wish we coud be there tomorrow to mourn Steve with our church family (regrettably, we have plans to be out of town that cannot be changed). In our losses, the Lord has reminded me of this verse: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) We are creatures of sight, but faith holds on to things we cannot see nor comprehend. You are each wonderful and we are praying for your comfort and peace.
Love, the Brodes
Praying.
Murphy Family
Our prayers are with you in this time of great loss. May you find comfort in knowing that Steve's in the loving arms of Jesus. May God be your comfort and strength.
the Scherf's, WV
Our condolences to your family. Thank you for sharing your journey. God's love, grace and faithfulness abounds.
praying...
I have felt far removed from your family and many of the people back in Indiana, since I have been out here in Columbus. Despite that, all of you have had a great impact on me over the past several years as you've met trial after trial with more faith and confidence in Christ than I believe I could ever possess. It was Mr. Murphy's words on a Sunday, nine years ago, that God used to open my eyes to what grace and forgiveness meant. He was used even after that to challenge me with difficult admonishment, when I was too headstrong to listen to anyone else. I'm forever grateful for how God used Mr. Murphy in my life, and I look forward to thanking him in person someday. Myself and many of the people around me, who have never even met someone from your family, are praying for all of you. We grieve, but not as those who have no hope.
I came across this blog a year or so ago from a link from Radical Womanhood.
My heart is in awe over your faithfulness and love for Christ amidst such trial and suffering.
Thank you for staying faithful. Thank you for your example. Thank you for drawing me to worship and love our Father even more. I'm praying.
praying for you all.
steph x
I am praying for your family today, the day of Steve's Memorial service. I know that the Lord will sustain and uphold you as you continue to glorify Him in the midst of this trial. Thank you for your faithful example. We will continue praying for your family in the days ahead.
I am so thankful that because of the hope of Christ your family can be sorrowful, yet always rejoicing!
Lifting you up!!
Kathi Baillie and family (SGC~ NJ)
Praying for Steve and his family. It's been over 30 years since I have seen Steve and Mary but I remember them as wonderful, gracious people. May the Lord bless you and keep you!
This has been one of my 'prayer notes' since early summer,'cut & pasted' from Steve's very words here at this site:
~♥~
Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live. ~ Psalm 63
Lord, help us to believe this.
In times of deepest doubt and sadness
Let us believe that Your steadfast love
is better than life,
Help our lips to praise Your name.
When we are more aware of our suffering than our salvation,
Help us to fix our eyes on calvary .
~ Steve Murphy, Aug 30, 2007, "Your Steadfast Love is Better", 'selected' & 'arranged' from original source:
http://prayforian.blogspot.com/2007/08/because-your-steadfast-love-is-better.html
~♥~
Praying, praying, praying for you today as you attend the service
and as you come home, as you go to sleep and as you wake up tomorrow....
~ HveHope
Praying for your family...
Christina
My prayers for all of you as Steve makes his home in Heaven.
Wendy, NC
Our deepest sympathies; we will continue to lift your family in prayer.
We are praying for you all. May the God of all comfort stay close and bear you up in this sad time.
My heart goes to your family, please accept my sympathy. Your faith and strength our a testimony to God's goodness. Thank-you for taking time to share in the most difficult times of your lives. Last week after praying for you all, and questiong God, he showed me Isaiah 57:1,2 :2 Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. Thank-you all again for sharing your faith.
Vickie in Altoona.
May God give you peace and comfort.
Elaine, Philadelphia, PA
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