Morning by Morning, October 1, 2026 — Faith Became Sight: Honoring the Life and Legacy of Our Dear Friend John Bennett
Good morning, Lord Jesus. “Faithful and True.” You always have been; You always will be (Revelation 19:11). …
This morning, I’m thinking of the life and legacy of a dear, dear friend of ours and friend of our community who lost his life last week: John Bennett.
He was faithful and true to You. And always spoke of how You were faithful and true to him. Of all the Scriptures and messages he would often write and send to me and to many, the message of faith was often at the heart. Truly, he was a man of faith and lived out his long life in that legacy of faith he loved to share.
Now his faith has become sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Now he sees You “face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12).
As we went to love and reassure our dear friend and John’s beloved wife Cathy yesterday, she reassured us: “And now, John is safely home in the arms of God.”
Yes, he is. And as Cathy reminded us—through waves of both tears and joy, both grieving his loss with us and, at the same time, celebrating his presence with You—he’s now more full of joy and peace than he’s ever known. He’s living into the fullness of the healing and freedom he often spoke of and prayed for so many to experience. No more sorrow; no more pain. Only peace. Only joy. Only the fullness of all we all long to experience one day. And that day has come for our beloved John.
But every day before his last day was to come on this side of Heaven, John lived his life for You. He and Cathy led our weekly home group, with compassion and love, saturated in experiences of Your Word and Your Spirit. He had handed out tracts of the Gospel, smuggled Bibles into Viet Nam, shared the life and love of Jesus with their neighbors in the inner city of Dallas during his early marriage with Cathy.
And what an expression he was of Your creativity! You gifted John with the hands and heart of a sculptor. His pieces were well known, with one even displayed at The White House, and he was designated the 2010 Texas State Artist for three-dimensional art. And his famous “Main Street Mockingbirds” are strategically placed along our community as part of a children’s book adventure.
But for all the gifts of creativity You’ve given John, his heart was to be as clay in Your Master Potter’s Hands. And truly You created him to be one of Your vessels of honor (2 Timothy 2:21). As humble as a jar of clay, he allowed Your light and Your love to shine through the heart You molded and shaped in him (2 Corinthians 4:7). And we all saw it. We all experienced it. And we will always remember it.
John gave our community an everlasting gift of his beautiful angel sculpture in our local cemetery. She’s overlooking the places of rest of the little ones who passed from this world in the earliest days of their lives. And now, just a few steps away, John will be laid to rest. But only his mortal body. For his spirit and his life and his legacy will live on—here in our hearts and with You forever and ever and ever. Just as You promised us all:
“I AM the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25-26).
Cathy shared with us she was grieving that she didn’t get to say Goodbye. But as she opened her heart to You, as You were gently loving her through her grief, she heard in her heart Your words of hope and faith—not to worry about the Goodbye, but to look forward to the Hello to come.
One day John and Cathy will see one another again, face to face, heart to heart, in Your Presence. So will we all when we’ve opened our hearts to You. And on that glorious day, we will see what John sees now, when faith became sight. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged this day. In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you be comforted in the arms of God, even you live out your life on this side Heaven walking by faith and not by sight, and at the same time, looking forward to the day when your faith will become sight, in Jesus' name. God bless you, my friend! And you have a great day!
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Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
502 North Milam Street
Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
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