Vapor, Fear and Legacy

I just watched a 4 hour funeral (online) of Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty. He was the pastor of the 17,000 member Victory Christian Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He died at 57 years old. What an amazing man!

"You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." James 4:14 Most of those reading this blog have never heard of Pastor Billy Joe...but like our lives...his was a vapor. But, it was a fruitful vapor. He touched millions of lives through his ministry around the world. Most of us will never touch millions...but we all can have a fruitful vapor by...

Facing our fears...the Bible gives us good news in that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Tim. 1:7 All of us are being held back right now by fear...but Jesus has conquered fear and has given us His Spirit which trumps fear. What are you called to do but fear has made your vapor fruitless...today pray and then claim your heritage...the one in 2 Tim. 1:7...the one in which fear is replaced with power, love and a sound mind! And then...

You will be on your way to a fruitful legacy. We all leave a legacy...but not all a fruitful one. We will all leave different legacies...according to our calling by God. Everyone who leaves a fruitful legacy will have faced their fears and stepped out for God. Do so...

Today...take one step over fear...why not right now!

A Good Friend

So many of you have been praying for me since Mom went to be with Jesus almost a month ago. Thanks you so much. Your prayers have comforted me more than I know! And think about this…Mom’s been with Jesus for almost a full month…this has been the best month of her entire existence and every moment is better than the last!!!!

Where do you go when your grieving? Countless folks over the years have turned to the exact place I’ve been camping…in the Psalms! In the Psalms I’ve found a true, good, faithful, compassionate and ever present friend in Jesus. David words pour forth Christ’s Words (see Ps. 22 for an amazing example) and bring such comfort to my scattered and wondering soul. This morning before church I received such joy as I meditate on the fact that my Shepherd RESTORES MY SOUL (see Ps. 23). In the midst of me losing an unbelievable friend in Mom (one I’ve missed talking to more than you can imagine) I’ve found a deeper friendship with Jesus—through the Psalms.

I wonder if this is not the plan…bringing great loss in order to bring greater depth of healing and love through our trusted and faithful Friend—Jesus. Some months ago while preaching God gave me this inspiring understand from Job 1…here we learn from this suffering dad at the loss of all his children when he says… “God gives and God takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!” (see Job 1:21). Do you see it? God gives first and then He takes away…He never takes away from us without first giving to us! Like a wise parent who distracts a child who is playing with a dangerous object by giving a safe toy before “taking away” the dangerous one. God is so wise…He gives and then takes away. He gave me the Psalms and then He took away my Mom. He has given me so much more than I ever knew prior to the real loss of Mom.

A good friend is difficult to find…a friend who will never forsake you is found only in One. What’s He doing now to bring you into a deeper friendship? Where are you going to pursue it? Come join me and my Friend in the Psalms!