"Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!" Psalms 47:1 I once read a story about a family who had very little. The mother was busy making a meal out of the only food they had, potatoes. As she was peeling the potatoes to put in the pot, she heard the laughter of her children outside on the neighboring playground begging her to come and play. She knew at that moment she had a choice....a choice to dwell in her sorrows or a choice to go out and play with her children. She made a choice.....she choose joy. She choose to not dwell on the negatives in her life and instead focus on what was good. "Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties. "~Helen Keller Years later her ... read more
A Legacy of Love and a Link Up
Twenty years ago today, my husband and I said, "I do", in front of family and friends. Wow! We were so young 22 and 23, we had the world ahead of us and thought we could accomplish anything that the world threw at us. You know what? We did. Was it perfect? Absolutely not. However....by the grace of God we made it.We have gone through more than we could have ever dreamed. The birth of two precious children, the death of family members and a diagnosis that shattered our world......stage IV breast cancer.Throughout these twenty years of ups and downs we have always had two choices. We could both have turned and run when things got difficulty or messy.....or we could choose God's way. God's way has always been the path we have both chosen. Our desire as husband and wife has been to show our ... read more
A Legacy of Respect and a Link Up
My parents September 26th, 1992. God has been speaking to my heart lately about the word respect. The dictionary states that the definition of the word respect is: "an act of giving particular attention, high or special regard, the quality or state of being esteemed." I often wonder what has happened to respect in our society. So many elderly or underprivileged are being tossed aside as if they and their lives didn't matter. It's time for we as Christians to take a stand and make a difference. We need to make sure that we are leaving a legacy of respect for our children. Our children will learn more by what we do than what we actually say. What are we showing them? Are we giving of our time and selves to those older than us, such as our parents and grandparents? Or are we pushing ... read more
Stop Running {a Giveaway and a Link Up}
Leaving A Legacy is hosting a giveaway for a gift certificate to Vision Forum. Vision Forum is a wonderful Christian company that sells books, homeschool materials, dvd's and more. Please take a moment to stop by the Growing Home and enter the Vision Forum $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway. How many times do you find yourself running away from a situation that you don't like, or that is uncomfortable for you? I myself do this very often. Once the pressure starts to weigh me down, I try to get out of the situation as fast as possible. Have you stopped to think that in doing this you may be missing out?Just like a rose bush remains beautiful and gets the chance to grow properly, through times of pruning, we also need the same type of circumstances in our life. If the rose bush was left ... read more
Standing on Holy Ground and a Link Up
Over this past month we have been talking about the importance of leaving a legacy of service to our children. Today we have the privilege of reading the testimony of Kristin from Ponderings. In today's post she will be sharing her story of working with the homeless, and what a difference serving others in Jesus name really means. "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." Fredrick Buchner I would have never thought it four years ago. . .before the birth of the Blanket Ministry. But now I look out over the bridge, especially underneath the bridge, where dirty mattresses lay, crushed cans, cigarette butts laying on the four foot slab of concrete, the only place to sit and lay. . .the graffiti on the walls, ... read more
Time With Jesus and a Link Up
Friends, my original post was going to be about teaching our children the importance of service, but I'm going to change paths, and instead talking about the importance of spending time with Jesus. Today at the doctor's office I received news that my cancer had returned to four spots on the bones. Three on my sternum and one on the upper part of my spine. Through all of this I still proclaim His goodness and glory. I know that He is in charge and He is Lord of all. It's times like these, the hard, gritty, in your face, wish you could turn around and run times, where true lessons are learned. Through all of this I want my children to see my walk with God grow closer than ever. I want them to know in their hearts that the most important way they can spend their time is with God. The ... read more
A Prayer and a Link Up
As we continue to focus on leaving a legacy of service for our children, we need to keep in mind that we also need to teach them that their actions can have a ripple effect that will last for generations. Even though they may not see the immediate results of their work, they need to know that what their doing makes a difference and that in the future their work will take root and blossom and mature. We as parents also need to keep this in mind as we train our children in the ways of the Lord. The following poem, describes this perfectly. Oscar Romero Prayer It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view. The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s ... read more
A Legacy of Service – Part 2 and a Link Up
Please take a moment to click HERE to enter our "For Instructions in Righteousness Giveaway". It's a wonderful book that is a MUST HAVE for all parents. Last week we discussed a legacy of service inside the home. This week we will discuss a legacy of service within the community. One of the most important legacies I want my children to inherit from me is a legacy of service to others. Many years ago, God gave me a heart to help the poor and underprivileged. I spent 11 years of my life working as a social worker to help the homeless community. These individuals could easily be you or me, depending upon a change of circumstances within our lives.As I looked for a picture to go along with this post, I found the one above. My spirit breaks for people in this situation. The caption below this ... read more
A Legacy of Service and a Link Up
One of the most valuable characteristics we can pass down to our children is a legacy of service. The way children are going to learn how to serve is by the example that we set for them. Having our hearts right with the Lord and following the instructions in God's word is the best place to start."If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests ... read more
Unknown Legacies in Hidden Treasures and a Link Up
This is one of my favorite pictures. The man to the far left was my Daddy. This was taken with his fellow soldiers, while they were in Germany after World War II. I love looking at the details in black and white pictures. It's as if you can look into their eyes and travel back in time to where they were, and know their every thought, and feel their joys and hardships. I wish I would have taken more time to ask my Dad about this picture when he was still alive. I would have liked to known the full story behind it. When I was spending time at my Mom's this week, I found more hidden treasures from days gone by. My Dad's dog tags, as well as a pocket watch.To me, these items are more than just things. There is a story behind them. I would have liked to known who held that watch in his hands. ... read more