The Life and Legacy of Sister Marcia Dowe
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I grew up in a home in which sports was very important. My father and uncle both played college football, my mother is a college basketball referee. A couple of weeks before the Lord called Sister Dowe home we sat in her hospital room and we talked about the NBA playoffs. It was always a pleasure to talk with her considering her affinity for competitive sports. As I walked in the hospital room the TV was on and we discussed my frustrations with the Dallas Mavericks as she talked about what she liked about Luka Doncic. The beauty of sports is that people from multiple backgrounds come together for a common goal. The goal is to win, and to win as much as possible in hopes to win a championship. Teams that usually win not only have talent and great coaching but they also have the ability to put egos aside for the benefit of the team. Truth be told these similar concepts are what makes families strong, and what makes churches strong. Even in the hospital I would see Sis. Dowe’s name flash across the screen as she logged in to the virtual classroom on zoom. She would stick around and encourage others and engage in conversation.
In the locker room of life I’m glad to have had a teammate like Sister Dowe. A good teammate doesn’t mind having different gifts, but a good teammate understands the overall goal of the team. As Christians we have to understand our goals.
Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
We all have a goal to make disciples that’s the overall team goal. Regardless of your gift God expects us to spread the gospel accordingly. Tell someone about Jesus, and allow your life to be a message about the Jesus. How you treated people, how you served in your community!
Let’s huddle up this afternoon: Here’s the play Romans 12:6-8 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
Even though our gifts differ, the catalyst is the use them. The text says that the gifts given to us LET US USE THEM!
Understand the capacity in which our gifts are bottled in, they are packaged in His grace. In his grace he has given us gifts! To use our gifts accordingly is an extension of God’s grace. Whatever your gift is, let us be a team player and use it accordingly.
Give gifts generously, lead seriously and show kindness gladly! Our families, our churches should reflect this type of spirit.
When it comes to the celebration of life, let us glean from the example given to us following verse 8, the New Living Translation says “Don’t just pretend to love others. REALLY love them”.
One thing we can learn from the life that people live is how to love on another! The legacy of life is about family, the legacy of life is not just about what you do right now but what you do that influences and encourages generations to come to use their gifts accordingly.
Understand being a part of this Team, the Jesus team requires doctrine and duty. What we believe in determines how we behave. As a team God has directives as it pertains to our relationship with our teammates (the church) our relationship with Him (the coach), our relationship and accountability we have within ourselves.
What this, being a part of this team is transformative, because the spirit of God transforms your life by renewing your mind. It’s going to take some evaluation to be a part of this team, verse 3 of Romans 12, embrace your gift! Don’t belittle the impact that you have on this team! The text says to measure yourselves by the faith God has given us.
Most of all a good team has to be willing to make sacrifices! Sometimes the play you want to run isn’t in the best interest of the team! We need some people that will go out there and set picks in the name of Jesus, we need some people that will play some defense and block some shots of gossip and foolishness in the name of Jesus.
One of the greatest things we can do in our life is live a life that shows that we love Jesus. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for the team, and guess what is so beautiful about team Jesus, there’s room for everyone on team Jesus. Jesus sat with the sinners and the tax collectors, the political dignitaries and the orphans and the widows. Jesus did not meet a stranger! His life nailed to the cross, was a sacrifice that saved mankind until the end of time!
What team will you decide to be on today! The team in which the goal is love, peace, joy and kindness! How can we give our gifts generously remembering that this is how grace spreads, this is how love spreads by being the team player understanding that it’s because of God that we even have the opportunity to share gifts in the first place.
We are thankful for the life of Sis. Dowe, we are thankful for her attitude and the gratitude she showed by serving here at Genessee Avenue. Let us be a light to the lives of those we come in contact with by being team players for Jesus!