EDWARDPAZ.COM

View Original

#580 - KYLE AND LOLLY

Edward Paz

This is Kyle and Lolly.

They have graciously and generously hosted my wife and I while attending the Johnson Ferry MOVE Conference here in Marietta, Georgia.

While spending time with them, as well as many other "seasoned" believers in Christ from the church, God has taught me so much. But, before getting into the main lesson I've learned, here are a few astounding stats about their lives.

  1. They've been married for 50+ years.

  2. They've raised and loved their 3 kids for 50 years.

  3. Lolly served in vocational ministry for 20 years.

  4. Kyle has served (and is still serving!) in vocational ministry for 18 years after retiring from working in the corporate world for 35 years! 

  5. They've attended and served at Johnson Ferry for nearly 25 years. 

  6. They've been followers of Jesus for 60+ years!

Faithful to Christ. Faithful to each other. Faithful to their children. Faithful to their jobs. Faithful to their church. Kyle and Lolly are a beautiful portrait of faithfulness. (And they are by no means finished!)

The unfortunate truth about me is that:

  • I have not had enough exposure to faithfulness like this.

  • I have not had enough appreciation for faithfulness like this.

  • I have not had enough humility to learn from faithfulness like this.

Here's my big takeaway that I hope drives, inspires, and encourages me for many years to come:

LONG-TERM FAITHFULNESS IS MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN SHORT-TERM FRUITFULNESS.

For way too long, I've been way too impressed with quick results. For way too long, I've been way too interested in being an "overnight" success. For way too long, I've been way too concerned with the fruit God was producing in my life in the present.

This is short-sighted. This is naive. This is immature.

The measure of my life will not be in how I start, but it will be in how I finish. The legacy of my life will not be in what I do over a period of years, but it will be in what I do over a period of decades. Success for me will not be in launching strong, it will be in landing well.

Thank you Kyle and Lolly for giving me a priceless gift - your example. 

From this day forward Rebekah and I will have a target to aim for - a lifetime of faithfulness.