This past weekend was full of life, joy, death, and hope.

Saturday started off as any other Saturday with a major event at Springs of Life church. Our women’s divisional luncheon called Legacy of Faith was finally here. The room was abuzz with excitement. The setting was beautifully laced with royal blues and golds. Debbie Burgess, our women’s ministry coordinator spoke to us first, unpacking what a legacy of faith is all about. She asked us a question. She said, “what do you want your legacy to be?” 

Hebrews 11:1 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. (Message)

We were able to honor a woman of legacy named Berdina Grimm. Four generations of women who love God stood on our stage. Her daughter read, with her granddaughter and great granddaughter standing by, a Mothers Day thank you for all that Berdina has and continues to be to their family. Kathy Nagel told us her testimony. Her transformation from being a hate-filled woman to becoming the women of faith we see today. Our special guest, Missy Roberts, told her story of how God brought her through all her life experiences and released her from the anxious core of her soul into peace. If you were to meet Missy, you would certainly sense the peace that she rests in. It radiates from her beautiful spirit.

We often think of legacy as the gifts passed down like Grandma’s tea set, an inheritance of money or some other item given to the next generation. The revelation I gained this weekend, through all the circumstances: Legacy is the gift of knowing where you will end up one day. It is knowing this earth is not our home, that we are heaven bound. It is the gift of faith we pass on to the people around us and the love we etch in the hearts of those we encounter while we walk this side of heavens journey.  – Tweet That!

After the luncheon, I received a phone call that our dear friend and Big Papa, Tim Polk, had passed away. Tim was larger than life. He stood above the fray. He saw the bright side and kept Jesus in clear view. He was a grand encouragement to countless people. He championed the weak and insecure of heart. He always spoke with a gentleness that invaded your heart. He spoke destiny over people and his hugs were infused with the Spirit as if the arms of Abba Father were hugging you. He was loud in praise and never shied away from exclaiming the honor that was due to our King. He loved people with a genuine infectiousness that made you fall in love with Jesus. You knew that Tim walked with God. I will miss him!

Sunday was hard walking into the church and knowing that Tims big voice saying,  “JESUS” would not be heard today. Our special guest, Ken Roberts, always sensitive to what God is doing brought just what we needed to hear. He said, “Jesus was a realist knowing we would walk through times of stress, grief, trial, and trouble. He sent the comforter.” We will walk through times of grieving but a strength of joy is coming. The saints of old didn’t push away death, try to hide from it, or deny it. They embraced it.

3 things to remember when death touches our lives:

1. Brevity & Uncertainty of Life:  Take a deep breath and remember God has always been and always will be. He is in control. Life goes up and life goes down but God is constant.  Psalm 90: 1-2 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Grab hold of reality in such a way that it changes how you live. Our life goes by fast. We don’t know when its over. We don’t know how it will be over. We all know it will be over. Were all going to die one day.  In the west, we think of death as morbid but it’s not. Death is a great motivator to live with intention. Don’t push the fact way. Embrace it. Don’t live a life of regrets. Live with death in mind so that you live your life differently. Live intentionally and fruitfully! Live on purpose! Don’t wait until your deathbed to do something with your life. 
2. The certainty of The Resurrection: If we don’t have a gospel that helps us when we go through tragedy then we don’t have the gospel. Our faith rests upon the cross and the resurrection. We have a hope, a solid foundation. You either know where you are going or you have wishful thinking. If you only believe that gospel for the goodies of the here and now. If you come to church just for the candy of the faith. When trouble comes you walk away from the gospel because you didn’t understand the gospel to begin with or you are not in Christ. Don’t place your hope on cotton candy and wishful thinking. Christ has been raised from the dead. If He was raised, so will we! That’s a foundation. -Ken Roberts –Tweet That! 
3. The Certainty For The Longing of Heaven: We groan when tragedy happens. We groan when life is broken. We groan but there will come a day when we are clothed with a heavenly dwelling. When we will be swallowed up by life. Zoe life – it starts when we receive Christ. Our eternal life begins at that moment and when this body gives out that life goes on to where it has always longed to be. We do not have a false hope.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Thank you, Ken Roberts, for giving us perspective and the gospel!

Thanks for Listening,

Starla