Pretty much each and every morning I come to the table with nothing but a blank page. I sit at my computer and I look at white, empty space. Life is like that on a daily basis. Each day we have the option of filling that page with the most creative, positive thoughts and ideas or we can allow it to be filled with our disappointments and discouragements. We can even hand the “pen” to another and let them write our story. We can allow others to control us. To deride us and to distract us.
I often think of my life and my day as that blank page. Stark white and empty, it can either hold promise or fear. If this is the only page of my life, would my children know that I love them? Would my wife? My friends? Who will read it? Continue reading A Blank Page – Are You The Ready Writer?→
(The recent loss of my home has forced me to look further into legacy and destiny.)
Everyone wants a destiny. Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. It’s hard to have a destiny until you believe you have a legacy. When we see the legacy thinking pattern of the Father, we begin to drill down to release those coming. God wants to participate in your destiny. Destiny apart from legacy is a self-centered, individualized trip. The world’s best businesses are operational with the belief that you “put yourself out of a job.”
It is more than a delegated handoff where you build without investment, just to build. Inheritance fades away as we spend it but a legacy lives on after we die. It perpetuates. Inheritance activity may or may not pay off but legacy activity becomes accomplishment. You have built something into peoples’ lives that is substantial. We are building for a “forever.”
I am passionate about destiny and legacy. I had written destiny and legacy were tied together. Last night a good friend said to me, I did not go far “enough.” He said that integrity is important in the “equation.”. In thinking about it I agree. A parent who makes promises and never keeps them, just to “kick the can down the road,” will lose value and possibly relationship with the child who comes to believe that they cannot keep a promise. “Promise little, deliver plenty” is a business principle that would go a long way in the day to day understanding of legacy.
Integrity-The Important Component
When talking about legacy, your integrity in the following will be important.
Keep promises
Practice what you “preach”
Build with purpose
Development a relationship founded on love
Do not build for what you may derive out of it.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Biblical Destiny Is Communicated To People by God
Biblical destiny is not a person’s good idea
1. Destiny doesn’t originate from within us. It is not generated by our desires or ideas. For example: I thought in When I was ordained things would be a certain way and “counted” on that. At this juncture I would say, that was not my destiny though I was content to do it forever. When Tina and I married I thought we would never leave the town we were married in. Within two years we moved across the state.
2. None of these ideas were wrong in themselves / none of them were bad desires / it’s just not what destiny is all about.
3. Example: Moses had to learn the same thing: Explain / raised in Egypt until 40 / great idea to deliver Israel – Another good idea gone bad!
• Destiny doesn’t originate from within us.
Is. 55:8 “…My ways are far beyond anything you can imagine…” (NLT)
God is the communicator of destiny
We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. Psalm 78:4
Legacy-The Leaving With Another
God has eternity in mind. Everything we do is not for a moment but for eternity. It should be an inter-generational transfer until Jesus come.
We want to build not just an inheritance but a legacy. It is said you can either give your child a fish or you can teach him how to fish. An inheritance is leaving them a fish. A legacy is leaving behind the knowledge of how to fish.
This means we have to put values into their lives, an infrastructure. They can eat up the inheritance but they cannot expend the legacy if we have imparted unto them.
God desires that we leave a legacy and not just an inheritance.
Proverbs 13:22, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children: but the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
Proverbs 20:21, “An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and the pride of sons is their fathers. Proverbs 17:6
1. It’s never too early to start thinking about leaving a legacy. 2. You don’t have to be perfect to leave a legacy of faith. 3. Like most worthwhile endeavors, leaving a legacy is like sowing seeds.
Release
There comes a time to say to a son or a daughter “this is your time.” Your position moves from “parent” to prayerful support. Too often we see talented, anointed people held back so that a parent can continue to receive the limelight. God is jealous for His people. He may decide to remove them. Freedom is a powerful word and concept, but one needs to understand it is the essence of empowerment and change. Too often we love freedom in our own life and deny it on a level with others.
How old do you have to be to build legacy? If you are willing to live in the realm of integrity and willing to pursue the destiny God laid out and recognize the value of the body, you can pretty much start at any age. Who can you mentor? Who can you value? Sowing into another’s destiny accomplishes and often accelerates yours. I am not talking about the “mutual” adoration club, where “you are so good.” “Thanks! So are you!” I am talking about developing a lifestyle of serving with integrity, sowing into an upcoming generation and seeing it as God’s heart.
Examine your priorities. God wants to leave a legacy in your life. He wants to put value in your life. He wants to put something that is forever in your life.
Today is your birthday. Wow! So love you being my daughter!
When my first wife let me know that she was pregnant, I was ecstatic. When she was born I was no less excited. My first child. Simply amazing.
Amy was my first child. She was born in a tiny country hospital in Townshend Vermont. I will never forget. My wife and I headed to the hospital as the contractions increased. The nurse on duty did her examination, and said “go home.” A quick call by me to her doctor changed things. A few short hours later, she was brought into the world.
Nothing changes your world like a baby does. How can you so quickly fall in love with someone? But I did as I did all the rest of my children. One second I am focused on business and work and overnight I am focused on a little girl.
Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow. James 1:17
Nothing prepares you for the first one(or actually any of them!) and so to suggest “life as usual” would be an untruth.
I watched my daughter go through life and reflect on it this morning. So here are some highlights.
You running around a 5 bedroom apartment dressed like an elf.
Playing with Zephyr, your protector.
Going to Miss Tucci’s and your day care
Taking you and your friends to the Friendly Farm.
Going to St. Michaels
Leaving St. Michaels J
Leaving Brownies after a downpour
Days in the pool at my dads
Baton Twirling and costumes
You and Max running around the house and the fields
Fishing at Silver Lake
Entering high school
Our first real argument! OK-that was not so hot.
Teaching you to drive
High School graduation-
Entering college and dropping the caravan of stuff off with your mom!
Taking you and Tyler camping at Indian Lake. (What? My pager doesn’t work here! No TV?!?!?)
Our drives back and forth to college.
Teaching you to drive and your first car!
The call from the EMT after your accident. L
College graduation!
Our trip to Indiana.
Your first job out of college.
Moving back to Vermont
Interning at Gateway
Moving to Connecticut
Getting your job after all that time temping with a $400 resume and 2 calls
Father – Daughter Motorcycle trips-(Lake George was fun!)
Engaged
Married-how sweet has this all been for you, Manley, everyone!
Is there a chapter we can put here?
In my dad’s back yard.
I am proud of who you have grown up to be.
Love you! Have an awesome day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I awoke at 4AM. I would like to tell you that it was because I am so excited about today. But, the truth is I had a pretty wild dream, at the same time I could hear Jacob talking in his sleep and Tina was pulling on the covers. So 4AM it is.
I have devoted time to prayer, meditation and coffee! I am focused on the goodness of God in my life. I am encouraged in so many areas of my life. There are a few I would like to see God move in, but knowing I cannot do it, He can and I will let Him, takes the pressure off me.
Today, as I have for many a year, I celebrate my birthday. Friends and family will be here. I realize some may think I do it just to do something different, but that is not true. I struggle with relationships. I want them, but often times who I am and how I function make it hard for me. Too often I have let work, business or ministry supersede real relationship in my life. Being a loner was easy. “Hermits are us!” I need my down time, my quiet time and my no time.
Today is the day of the year where I see lots of family. (This year all my kids will be here. That has not happened for a while.) My family is precious to me. I have been on the other side with no family. (As a friend said in conversation yesterday, “foolish drinking and not working are not ingredients for success.” That was me.)
My children mean the world to me. Their children mean as much. A new addition to the family will join us today. Her name is Hannah Lynn.
Today many friends will be there. Some from business, some from years of friendship, some new and a vast majority join us today from our church gathering. I am excited about seeing them.
But I also share a part of my heart with those who cannot be here. My parents went on to be with the Lord many years ago. My birthday memories will always include them. My brother in Maine cannot be here. My sister is out west this summer. Over the years I have had my nieces here.
Many have shared these days with me over time. Some are no longer part of my life. Others have gone home to be with Him. I do not forget them or take lightly the influences they have had in my life and the life of those I influence. I look at pictures and reflect on the good stuff God has done for me. 6 years ago my daughter moved in with us with 3 children. I have seen God do some amazing things. Today is less a celebration about my birthday and more a celebration of “look what the Lord has done!”
Today, as it has in the past will be a day of memory creation. How thankful I am of that.
So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good.
Helen Keller
I have often considered the subject of honor to be important. So many forget that honor is love expressed. To create honor, one must begin in their home and their family. Let me know your thoughts on this. I love here from folks.
Our babysitter, Mrs. H, was very nearsighted and very slow. She was also very excitable. One day I decided to “kill” my brother. We were supposed to be washing dishes. Larry and I came up with this elaborate plan for his “demise.” We took an old knife and broke off the blade. We taped it to his chest and had him lie in front of the cabinets. I poured watered down ketchup on his chest and on the floor. Then I yelled “Stop that or I will kill you!” Mrs. H. yelled to me to be quiet, but I kept screaming and then Larry did his death scream. At that, Mrs. H came in to the kitchen and saw my brother lying in a “puddle of blood.” Continue reading Mrs. H and The “Murder”→
When I was about 8 or 9 years old we were trying to think of what to do, me and my friend Johnny. We were neighbors each summer on the lake. (Schroon Lake) His dad owned a motel and my parents vacationed in a large house on the water that my mom’s family owned. And like any boys that age we just wanted to have fun. Continue reading Man Overboard!→
