08 Apr A Life Lived Well by Kim Ewoldt
Last month, I was blessed to be a part of the Celebration of Life service for Mrs. Jewell Matheny. She and her husband Clarence founded our church and pastored it for ten years before moving back to Africa to be full time missionaries. It was a beautiful service as her children, grandchildren, and pastors from the US and Kenya paid tribute to her. My spirit was stirred as I listened to the powerful testimonies of a life lived well. Two words were a central theme of every testimony shared: obedience and faithfulness.
Clarence died of cerebral malaria shortly after their move to Kenya. Her children assumed she would move back to the states after his death. She decided to pray and ask God for His plan for her future. God spoke to her and she announced to her children she would be going back to Africa to complete the work God had called Clarence to do and to see his vision fulfilled. Her simple obedience and her faith to trust God to complete the work He had begun in them was inspiring.
No mention was made of great talent or ability. No mention was made of ease and comfort. No mention was made of looking for identity, prestige or status. However, with much honor and esteem, many spoke of her sacrifices and selflessness. Her passion to equip pastors and train leaders led to building of The Clarence Matheny Bible School, including the largest Christian library in Africa, two dormitories, a cafeteria, and a chapel.
The most amazing part of her story for me was that she accomplished all of this after she turned 60! Up to the time when Clarence transitioned to Heaven, she was busy being a wife and mom. She did not even have a driver’s license. One word from God was all it took to settle her heart and set her on a path of greater destiny and purpose. In a situation where it would have been easy to get stuck in grief, filled with fear or overwhelmed by all that still needed to be accomplished, she simply surrendered and obeyed.
As I sat there listening to all that was being shared, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper to me, don’t put limits on your life or abilities, I am able to accomplish more than you can ask or imagine. It was a sweet moment of repentance and deeper surrender as I allowed Him to search my heart.
No matter what our days hold we know our loving Father holds our days. Mrs. Jewell’s life was a pure reflection of Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this, He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” I want my life to be the same pure reflection!
Kim