Legacy Shoes

" legacy: n. 1. Law. money or other property left to a person by will; bequest. 2. something handed down from an ancestor or predecessor." 

Recent weeks have found my husband and myself reviewing and revising our will. It is a sobering sight to see printed words about one's death and disbursement of personal property. The sight causes a general reflection about life and in particular my own life. Questions arise, most notably: "What kind of legacy do I hope to leave?" This is not about money or property. This is about the "something handed down."

For a follower of Christ, a legacy is so much more than the transfer of stuff. It is the transfer of those things which are of eternal benefit - those that point others to Christ. This spiritual legacy can be found in an assortment of places in your life. As a PW, you often have the privilege of beginning new areas of ministry in the church where you serve. Even if you are unceremoniously swept away from a given church, the legacy of lives touched and ministries begun remains. Such knowledge can serve to encourage you as you deal with any pain from unloving treatment by a church that your husband has faithfully served.

If you are a mother, leaving a legacy may feel even more pressing. The question? What are you doing today that can spiritually impact your children and future generations? Psalm 145:4 offers one suggestion:

"One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts, they will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty..."

Your children need you to tell them about Jesus. They also need you to pray for them...from the time they are in your womb (and even before!) until your dying day. In my personal devotional life I have taken this to heart. When my oldest daughter went into high school, I began a separate prayer journal just for her. The plan was to start one for each of my children when they entered high school and give it to them when they graduated.(They are pictured above.) Plans have changed. I discovered that prayers were still needed as they moved to college and then after college too...who knew? There is now a different plan that goes like this: "Don't stop writing prayers until you are physically incapable or you die."

And so I continue. At least once a month I sit down and write prayers for my children, dated, and in their individual journals. Of course there are daily prayers spoken on their behalf. These are the prayers that my children will never see or hear. The journal prayers will remain, written in my handwriting for my children and their children's children to see. It is a tangible spiritual legacy that is being prepared on their behalf.

What about you? Are you preparing a legacy within your church and home that is honoring to our Lord? Have you taken time to consider what that might be? If you haven't why not take some time this week to prayerfully consider your spiritual legacy. Be intentional. It is of eternal importance.

"We're pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road; And those who've gone before us line the way. Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary; Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace. 

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses; Let us run the race not only for the prize; But as those who've gone before us, Let us leave to those behind us, The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives.

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful; May the fire of our devotion light their way. May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe, And the lives we live inspire them to obey.

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.

 After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone; And our children sift through all we've left behind; May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover, become the light that leads them to the road we each must find."

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful." 

(from Find Us Faithful  by Steve Green) 

 

 

Natural Observation Shoes

"This is what God the Lord says - he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk in it: 'I , the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open the eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.' " (Isaiah 42: 5-7) 

Have you ever taken one of those career/interest tests? I have taken only one that I can remember. It happened when I was in the eighth grade. The various questions on the test were designed to reveal the careers especially suited for me. For some reason I can remember the results quite clearly. First of all, my interest or compatibility for clerical work was .75% . On the other end of the scale, my interest in all things creative/artistic was 98%. The test also revealed a high interest in the outdoors. Suggested career paths included interior designer/ architect or a park ranger.

Although that test was years ago, it still accurately reflects my interests. I actually became an interior designer and still love to be outside. The season or time of year does not matter. To be outside for me is to be closer to the Creator. A love for Creation and its beauty was instilled in me by my dear father. Whenever we went camping my father used share the wonder of the natural world. He taught me how to identify different trees, how to find crayfish, and how to skip a rock. We spent time looking at the big picture of Creation but then also the small picture. A magnifying glass revealed the beauty of the underside of a leaf or wild mushroom. In many ways my father became a child as he enthusiastically shared his love of nature with me. His enthusiasm was contagious.

Today I try to observe the natural world daily. When I walk, I breath deeply of the fresh air. I observe the lacy elegance of a leafless tree against a blue sky in winter while I marvel at the rich green of leaves below a cloudless sky in the summer. A low harvest moon delights the eyes as well as the first fresh greens of spring. Every season has its beauty. Every sight serves to refresh the soul. No matter what time of year, the created world shouts out the truth of a Creator.

Do you need your soul refreshed? Take some time and go for a walk in your Father's creation. His very nature and eternal power are clearly shown if you open your eyes and look. Be encouraged that the God who made all that you see knows you. He knows your name. He knows your heartaches. He is calling you to Himself to be refreshed and renewed. Breath in deeply. The air is good.

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood by what is made, so that men are without excuse." (Romans 1:20)