Monday morning started off like any normal Monday, but our world was quickly shattered when our family received the news that one of our closest friends Michael Jeffords had unexpectedly gone to be with the Lord early that morning on his way to work. He left behind a beautiful loving wife Sarah Jeffords and 3 amazing children that I adore. I cannot begin to express the pain, sorrow, and heartbreak my husband, children, grandchildren, and church family feel. It is like a nightmare we cannot wake up from.
In the midst of our grief, God has, as always, been good and kind. He has set up situations, provision, and comfort as only a loving Heavenly Father could and would. As Mike Jeffords rejoices in the Lord Face to Face, we pick up the shattered pieces of our hearts, so grateful that we know where he is for all eternity. We will miss him terribly. In fact, we can’t imagine life without him.
I met Mike when he was a young man and full of anger.
He wore his heart on his sleeve.
You never had to ask what Mike was thinking. He would tell you!
After asking a ton of questions over a period of a few months, Michael gave his heart to the Lord. He fell in love with Jesus and became an enthusiastic worshiper. He would jump so high to praise the Lord! I love to see his face shining with joy giving honor to God.
He was always kind, even when others were rude and mean to him.
The Lord began to change him and help him overcome so many insecurities. His anger began to be transformed by the grace of God. I loved watching God change his life.
Mike was very generous, always meeting needs. My favorite was that every birthday he gave the birthday person 2 cards ( funny and serious) and a really nice present.
Mike was an important part of our life from then on. I remember one year he attended a pastor’s conference with Mike and I in Minnesota. Today, those precious few days are a special memory. So many good conversations.
Another time, he joined my husband alone for a conference.
He always made birthdays special. Along with a present, he gave 2 cards – a funny one and a serious one.
At every important event, Mike was there! He clapped for our children as they graduated. He celebrated every birthday, and each year, he attended my annual birthday beach bash. He never missed a Christmas party!
Mike fell in love with a beautiful lady named Sarah who loved Jesus, too. Our whole family was in there wedding! It was so beautiful!
God blesssed them with 3 lively boys on earth and 3 babies already in Heaven.
As a father, Mike was quick to cuddle his children and remind them how much he loved them. He went on long walks with them, coached them in sports, played, roughhoused, taught them about Jesus, and celebrated birthdays with enthusiasm.
Above all, he worked long hours to provide for his family so that Sarah could stay home and be a Mommy. He loved to find out what the kids learned each day. He loved that Sarah homeschooled the boys.
Please keep his precious family (wife Sarah, children, Mom Debbie, Dad Bill, and siblings Ronnie and Lindsey) in your prayers. One thing else: a week or so before he died, he felt an urgency to talk to someone he loved very much about Jesus. Please pray for this precious person’s salvation.
In the meantime, I am so grateful for the 20 years that Mike filled my life with encouragement, laughter, friendship, and kindness. I always felt that Mike was for me, on my team. I still have that friend, he is just in Heaven, just as I told his son yesterday, you still have a Daddy; he is just in Heaven with Jesus.
In times like this, I Corinthians 15 is such a comforting chapter to me. As well as Revelation 22 & 23, John 10, John 11, and Psalm 23. I am soaking the truth in these passages in.
I keep thinking of the song “Goodness of God”: All my life YOU have been faithful. All my life you have been so so good. With every breath that I am able: I will sing of the goodness of God. I love Your voice. You have led me through the fire in darkest night, you are close like no other. I’ve known you as Father, I’ve known you as a friend and I have lived in the goodness of God.
In times like these, we have trouble understanding so we rest in the truth that He is good and He is faithful. Blessed be the Name of the Lord. O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! (I Corinthians 15:55-57)
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” (John 10: 27-30)
Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha *said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are [f]the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.” (John 11: 22-27)
God bless you and keep you!
Love,
Meredith Curtis
