Rise Up and Love

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 things that really matter?  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 upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;– Luke 4:18

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.

What will your legacy say about your life? What is your testimony? The Lord is rooting for you to finish well. Take a stand for what matters in life. The Lord is always with you!