AuburnChick's Adventures

Yesterday at church, my pastor preached a dynamic sermon.

The topic was legacy.

He is currently preaching his way through some of the more famous stories in the Bible and explaining the very adult themes of each of these seemingly “kiddie” stories.

Yesterday’s story was the Tower of Babel, and how people were forced to spread out around the world to spread God’s message.

This, my friends, needs to be every Christian’s legacy…sharing God’s Word.

I loved when my pastor said that we need to be purposeful about the legacy we create.  If we’re not purposeful, our legacy will, more than likely, be a negative one.

Isn’t it true that to truly lead a life for God, we must be purposeful in the decisions we make every day?

I think about my recent post about the language I use.  I must, at times, choose my words carefully, especially when I’m angry.

Tom, my pastor, spoke about how we are to share the story of our legacy, and how it came to be, with others.

For instance, think of the stories that have been handed down from one generation to another.  You probably have favorite family stories…and some not-so-favorite.

Christians have their own legacies.  Some involve people who were amazing servants for God…who loved Him passionately and passed that love and devotion to their children.

Others are first-generation Christians.  Their legacy is different and not any less valuable.

I thought about my own legacy.

I grew up in a broken home, and religion, until I moved to Alabama when I was nine years old, was fairly nonexistent.

When I moved to Alabama, I started attending a small Baptist church, where everyone gets religion fast!

😀

I remember reading my Bible in my room late at night, and I accepted Christ a long time before I told anyone.

One night, my mom came into my room and found me reading my Bible.  She made fun of me and questioned why I was reading it.

I didn’t say anything, but I put my Bible away and didn’t pull it out much for a while after that.

She later got saved, but our relationship was so broken (still is), that we really never talked much or meaningfully about our faith.

I publicly accepted the Lord the day after my high school prom and was baptized shortly afterward.

I’ve been serving God ever since…sometimes closely and sometimes more remotely, as people are prone to do.  My love for Him has never waned.

I raised my children with before-school devotions and prayer, along with church activities and whatnot.

I’ve not been a perfect mother, that I know, but I hope that my love for God ultimately shows through in the end.

I’m trying to apply this love for the Lord to my students…how I care for them…without preaching to them.

I hope that my love for God can be felt by my friends, whom I love dearly and would do nearly anything for.

I am soooooo not perfect.  This was made abundantly clear to me, once again, last week.

Daily, I look into the mirror and am unhappy with what I see.  I know my heart well and the areas that need much work.

This is the legacy I’m cultivating, warts and all, and I hope that when all is said and done, I will hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

In the end, though, it’s about the Lord and bringing others to a saving knowledge of Him.

If I play one small role in the amazing journey another person has toward finding Him, I will consider my life as being worthwhile.

I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
And you could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all the who's who's and so-and-so
That used to be the best at such and such
It wouldn't matter much

I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta Boy' or 'Atta Girl'
In the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world

I want to leave a legacy, how will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to you enough
To make a mark on things? I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who blessed your name
Unapologetically and leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthly list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy

I want to leave a legacy, how will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to you enough
To make a mark on things? I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who blessed your name
Unapologetically and leave that kind of legacy

Not well traveled, not well read
Not well-to-do or well bred
I just want to hear instead
"Well done good and faithful one"
Yeah, yeah

I want to leave a legacy, how will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to you enough
To make a mark on things? I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who blessed your name
Unapologetically and leave that kind of legacy

I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me

Filed under: Christian | Tagged: Christianity, God, legacy | 1 Comment »