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Sarah's Legacy

Dear Prayer Partners,


We greatly appreciate your willingness to seek God’s face in a special way each Wednesday for our prodigals and for revival.


Many of you may know or have heard about the passing of Sarah Lynne Rodgers (wife to Ross, and daughter of Paul and Joanne Markle) on May 17, 2019. Both Ross and Sarah are close friends with Rachel and me, and her death literally rocked our world.


Sarah was a part of a movement of God. It was a movement of revival. It was a personal work that God was doing in her, which affected the lives of hundreds. From our perspective, the Lord took her far too soon, but as we continue to work through our sorrow, we see a legacy of the transforming power of God at work in her.


Ross asked me to speak about this a little at the funeral on Friday past, and I want to share a few of those thoughts today.  Sarah was open about the fact that for many years, although she had trusted Christ as her Savior and was busy with good works, she did not experience intimacy with God. Here are Sarah’s words from her personal testimony shared with the Living Loved group:


Several trials in my life caused me to think that God really did not care about me. How could He let certain things happen to me and claim to care? My heart became cold and I was hard to live with. Then one day God introduced me to a group of ladies that lived out their faith. They introduced me to Beth Moore, and her Bible study, Believing God made me realize that I had to know why I believed what I believed and that God had planted every stone in my path to get my attention. It changed my life and my heart.

This change was witnessed in a number of ways. First, it was a transformation from the inside out. This was not an immediate one-time event, but a process of growth. Sarah became less occupied about what others thought and more concerned about pleasing her Lord. Because of this, she sought to live transparently. Whether it was in person or on social media, Sarah impacted other sisters by sharing her struggles and how God was helping her through them.


Secondly, it was a transformation that pursued a closer walk with Jesus. One such testimonial from a fellow sister goes like this,


As long I have known Sarah my impression of her was that she was a very capable doer, a very busy woman who accomplished a lot and was actively involved in many acts of loving service for others...a happily serving,  “Martha.” The last few months, through reading posts on Living Loved, I have seen the "Mary" side of Sarah Lynne. Her obvious love for her Saviour was truly evident. It seemed she had a real desire to know Him more. What an inspiring woman!

Thirdly, it was a transformation that put great emphasis on loving others, rather than on procedure and protocols. This is what the Bible calls, “Loving Like Jesus.” The truth I have been enjoying lately are the words of Jesus, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:34-35). 


Loving like Jesus was Sarah’s priority. A short while ago, Sarah wrote this:


My devotion for today was focused on this verse in Joel, "The Lord said: 'It isn’t too late. You can still return to me with all your heart’" (Joel 2:12). I could not help but be reminded of the verse in Matthew that corresponds with it. "Jesus answered him, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’" (Matthew 22:37). That little phrase "all your heart" really packs a punch. To love with all our hearts means to give it everything we have and hold nothing back. Nothing!!! I speak to my own soul when I say that to love Him with everything I have is my most important life goal.

What a wonderful legacy!!


May we all be more like her!


Love in Christ,


Bryan and Rachel






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