TODAY’S DECLARATION
I declare in Jesus’ name I have an amazing testimony of the Lord’s goodness. I also have a great big legacy because of His redemption. I will finish well and stand for what matters in life–knowing Jesus–until my first breath of heaven’s fresh air.
LIFE IS SHORT. LIVE IT WELL!
I wonder if I could stand at your funeral and declare certain victory for you the way I did for Paula Ledbetter. Could I stand and speak of your unwavering faith, your selfless service or your dedication to the things that really matter?
I truly hope your funeral is not a sad, boring thing where the best I can say for you is that you liked to play golf, were a part of a union at work, or loved your dog or cat.
The truth is, if your life is all about you and how you can advance your own personal agenda, the world will be better off without you. However, if you have a testimony of redemption, faith and selfless service, the world needs you now, just like it needed Paula.
Who was Paula? She was my friend and my secretary. She cleaned the church, answered the phones, cut everyone’s hair for free, organized our big events, structured the deacon ministry, delivered food to folks without transportation, arranged all my evangelical meetings, helped me with my newspaper column, watched my kids, made my coffee and organized OpenDoor’s mission trips.
She was an outstanding wife and mother who selflessly served and was blessed abundantly. She died several years ago, unexpectedly in her sleep, at the age of 37. She is still greatly missed. And though she may have lost a battle, she won the war!
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, – Luke 4:18
The fact of the matter is that Paula’s life didn’t end with her death. She had victory over death and it was won for her on a battlefield 2,000 years ago by a champion named Jesus Christ.
What about you? Do you have victory over death? Have you allowed the blood of that champion to cover your sins? If you have not, call out to Him. Jesus is waiting for you to surrender your life to Him. Time is short. None of us is guaranteed tomorrow.
From my book: Best of the Brewer