Dr. J.T. Lyons

Dr. J.T. Lyons  – PFAFFTOWN, NC

Dr. Julius Theophilus "J.T." Lyons passed away at his home on Tuesday, February 14, 2012. He was born in Kershaw, SC to the late Marry Idell Morris Lyons and William Edward Lyons. He was the youngest of twelve children; four daughters and eight sons. At the age of two, his parents moved to Bennettsville, SC and later moved to Cheraw, SC where he was raised. At the age of eighteen, Mr. Lyons was drafted into the Armed Forces of our country and he served faithfully for four years in the United States Navy during WWII and was discharged in January 1946. In 1947, he married Iva Janet Driggers of Wallace, SC.

They made their home in Charlotte, NC and were saved by the grace of God on December 4, 1955. God called Dr. Lyons to preach when He saved him. In 1956, he enrolled in Tennessee Temple University to further his education that would help him in his preaching. In 1959 during a Missions Conference at Highland Park Baptist Church, Dr. and Mrs. Lyons surrendered their lives to go to Liberia, West Africa as Missionaries serving with Baptist Mid- Missions. In Liberia, Dr. Lyons served as a Bush Pilot, mechanic, builder, and most of all, a preacher of the gospel.

After 18 years in Liberia, God moved them to the country of Spain where they pioneered the work there for Baptist Mid-Missions. They labored in Spain for 17 years and continued winning souls. Because of health problems they had to return to the States, but Dr. Lyons continued his ministry in Missions until his Heavenly Father called him to his new home.

Dr. Lyons is survived by his devoted wife, Iva Janet Lyons; four sons, Steven Randolph, Sanford Leroy, Michael Dean and Jonathan David Lyons; ten grand-children; and two great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be conducted 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 21 at Woodland Baptist Church with the Rev. Tim Gammons and the Rev. Jonathan David Lyons officiating. Burial will follow at Crestview Memorial Park with Military Honors provided by the VFW Memorial Honor Guard. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, February 20 at Woodland Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Woodland Baptist Church Building Fund, 1175 Bethania-Rural Hall Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27105.

Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.

One thing can be said of Brother Lyons, he was a faithful servant and he fought a goodfight and finished his course, he kept the faith.

            CHURCH

Woodland Baptist Church

P. O. Box 673

Winston-Salem, NC 27045 (336) 969-2088 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (336) 969-2088      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

            FUNERAL HOME

Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home, Inc

1175 Bethania Rural Hall Road 

Rural Hall, NC 27045

Phone 336-969-5593 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            336-969-5593      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax 336-969-6953

My Perfect Valentine

My Perfect Valentine:
                He loves me; He shows me every single day, whether it be in a big way, or a simple gesture to show He cares and that I am on His mind.  He knows exactly what I need and when I need it.  He rejoices with me, He cries with me, He encourages me, He keeps me going.  He never lets me down; He is always faithful, even when I forget Him sometimes.  He completes me.

You know those candy hearts with the little messages?  Some say “HUG ME” or “MISS YOU”.  Well I found the perfect candy heart from God today!

Isaiah 43:1- But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

At the end of the verse it says “THOU ART MINE”.  I am God’s!  He says not to be afraid, He has called me by my name…I AM HIS!!!  He loves me and he cares for me.  He gives me everything I need.  He protects me, provides every single need, gives me his presence and shows me even in the simplest way that He loves me.  I am Jesus’ Valentine!

Chocolate is a big deal on Valentine’s Day.  It just is.  There are big heart chocolate boxes, medium heart chocolate boxes and small heart chocolate boxes.  Imagine opening one up and seeing all the variety of chocolates.  Your eyes excitingly scan all the different kinds of chocolate.  The sweet aroma of the thick sweetness tickles your nose.  You reach into the box, pick one up and delicately put it in your mouth anticipating the taste.  Suddenly, you realize that is a nasty excuse for a chocolate.  But now, you cannot spit it back out, that would be gross; you cannot make a terrible face because that would be rude.  Smiling, you simply chew as best as you can and swallow hoping the taste leaves your mouth soon.

I have found that our whole life is a huge box of chocolate.  Sometimes we have those days that seem so wonderful, and suddenly, something terrible happens, or something does not go as we want it to.  What do we do?  Well, keep chewing and smiling and make the best of it.  You will not always pick up what you want, but it is what God wants.  So no matter what kind of chocolate we are stuck in right now, be it the sticky caramel, the gooey, messy strawberry or even the nutty one, we know God is in control.  Remember, we are God’s Valentine, He will not do anything to hurt us or give us anything that is bad for us.  He knows exactly what I need and when I need it, even if I do not think it is right.  He knows best.

Today, my chocolate was not the sweetest kind.  Today, my Grandpa, Dr. J.T. Lyons went home to heaven into the loving arms of our Father and Saviour Jesus Christ.  He is rejoicing in his eternal home with his Master whom he served so faithfully.  His death was not unexpected, but I am all the way across on the other side of the country in college.  There is not much I can do.  But I know God is in control.  I know He knows what is best, and I am glad that Grandpa can finally be where he has been longing to be.  His race is finally over!

Grandpa accepted each day as it came and trusted God with it!  So reach into your box of chocolates and accept what God brings today. 

Psalm 34:8- O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Isaiah 30:21
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Many times we want to hear God, but do we listen?  When we hear Him, do we obey?

One thing I have noticed in this verse is the word “behind”.  This indicates that he was already walking when he heard God’s voice.  And that is one of the requirements to hearing God.  If we are not walking in what we KNOW He wants us to do, He will not show us the next step.  WE need to be already walking and on the right path if we want God to further guide us.

Once we are on the right path and following Him, are we prepared to listen?  Do we have a heart that is open to ready to hear what He wants to hear?  Psalm 46:10a says: “Be still, and know that I am God…”  To be still, is to be quiet.  Am I being still and listening for His voice? Am I waiting for His instruction?  He WILL speak to us, He WANTS to speak to us, but He will not force us to listen.  He will speak to us in a still small voice; therefore, we must be attentive and sensitive to His call.

So say you have it down.  You are walking with the Lord, you are doing what He wants, and you hear His voice.  He has given you the next instruction.  Well, are you going to do something about it?  It is possible to listen, but not obey (James 1:22-25).  As a Bible college student, I can prepare, but all the instruction and classes taken does not automatically mean that I will do what God asks of me.  Just being sensitive to the will of God will not do anything if I do not respond.  What good is it to have a challenge, but no change?

Hearing requires a response, but this response all depends on the condition of our hearts.  A cold-hearted Christian is unemotional towards the things of God.  It does not affect them.  The lukewarm Christian is indifferent.  He hears, feels convicted, but there is no change.  Revelation 3:15-16 says: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”  God does not want a half-hearted, lukewarm Christian.  He wants a hot-hearted Christian!  He wants us to be on fire for God, excited, willing and ready to serve.

The hot-hearted Christian reminds me of a teapot.  The water is put into the teapot, but it does not serve its purpose until it is boiling.  When the pot starts to whistle and overflow that is when the water is ready to be used.  We are not ready and do not serve our purpose unless we are whistling with joy and overflowing with God.

I want to be that hot-hearted Christian, but to do that, I must give Him my all.  “All means all, and that’s all all means.”  Andrew Murray said this, “God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.”  But unless we yield to Him, He does not have much to work with.  We can be walking in the right path, listening to His voice, but our response is what will tell us if we REALLY want to know and if we REALLY have a prepared heart.

My desire is to be able to pray this prayer (Betty Scott Stam, China Inland Mission worker):
Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept Thy will for my life. I give myself, my time, my all, utterly to Thee to be Thine forever. Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Use me as Thou wilt, send me where Thou will, work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever.”