Mourning a Life Well Lived
I’d like to take a moment to tell you about the man who played an instrumental part in me becoming the woman I am today. A well respected man, the epitome of a man after God’s own heart. He didn’t just teach me, rather he showed me what being the ‘head of the home’ looked like. Today, you see the fruit of his labor extending to his grandkids and beyond, to people like me. I imagine thousands of people are mourning a life well lived.
It all began one particular Wednesday night, I walked into Calvary Chapel Wellington, after the advice of a dear friend whom said & I quote “you need Jesus”.
Knowing she was right, I found a church known for teaching sound doctrine. Little did I know that was the beginning of my faith journey as an adult.
I was 7 years into marriage with divorce papers in tow; renting a room from an acquaintance. I was broken and lost.
That night changed the course of my future.
Soon, my husband and I were attending weekly bible study, Sunday service & marriage counseling. Our Pastor led us to Christ & reading God’s Word and he taught us so much pertaining to life & Godliness. And for that, I am eternally grateful.
When I first met him and his family, I envied the love and the light between them. Perhaps envy is the wrong word, I was more inspired than envious. I was truly in awe of what the possibilities held for my own family with Christ at the center. I had never seen a family operate in love the way they did. They taught me so much of how God designed the sanctity of a household and fortunately I’ve been able to take that example & God’s Word into my own home.
He lived God’s calling on his life and God used him to lead me towards mine. He was faithful to feed us the word of God. The marriage counseling we received through his leadership is the same counsel in which I still write about today and encourage others with. He also dedicated my son to the Lord when he was 4 months old.
Here’s the thing, I think his life was cut short, but who am I to question God?
Today he should be preaching at his church, sitting with his wife and enjoying his grandkids, but instead, he rests in the arms of Jesus; and those he left behind are resting in the truth of Jesus.
Pastor Jim, that’s who he is to me. His favorite bible verse was Romans 10:17 which says “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” I find that so fitting of his character.
One of his daughters posted this to Instagram after his passing “To everyone reading this, live your life for Jesus. My dad would be saying the same thing to you. Meet me in Heaven”
Rest in Peace Jim Coy 🕊️ January 22, 2022
What a legacy he left behind.
This morning at church I heard a beautiful song for the first time and I can’t help but wonder if God led them to pick that song for me. Yes, I believe our father in heaven cares about how we feel and works in others through His Spirit to comfort us. You can listen to the song here, it’s called Hymn of Heaven by Phil Wickham
Here’s a portion of the lyrics:
How I long to breathe the air of Heaven
Where pain is gone and mercy fills the streets
To look upon the One who bled to save me
And walk with Him for all eternity
See, our mortal minds truly cannot fathom what’s in store for those who love Him! But I imagine that Pastor Jim is in the presence of our Lord and Savior, the very place he spoke of often; knowing this isn’t our home.
The bible says that we will each give an account to God in our day of judgement. It says that every knee will bow and will confess that Christ is Lord either with joyful faith or resentment and despair.
If you want to give your life to Christ and live in His perfect calling for you, I invite you to ask Jesus into your life today and surrender to Him. Pray a prayer like this. And please reach out to me here so I can guide you on how to fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith.
Bible Verses
We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Matthew 25:23
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4
And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:17
And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8
