A Legacy

Well, I haven't written for a couple of weeks.  Technical difficulties (my computer), the flu (my husband and I) and lots of company for Christmas (5 boys, 1 fiancee, 2 in-laws, 2 friends) have kept me away.  But what fun we had! (All except for the flu!)  We exchange homemade gifts each year.  This year I was excited to present to the men of the family t-shirts that I had painted with a family crest.  Because "Halydier" is a 4th generation name with my boys, I got to research and design the crest.  It included halberds (mean looking spear like weapons), a cross, an anchor, a Catherine wheel, an apple, an ivy leaf, a cinquefoil (a 5 pointed flower), and a hunting horn.  Each had a significant meaning behind them and each were meant to encourage the next generation to live a life of faith and trust, of joy and hope in Christ Jesus!  They were recieved with enthusiam and I got some great pictures!  (Because I am on a borrowed computer, I can't include it today, but will try to get it on here tomorrow!)

The boys outdid themsleves with woven leather bracelets, leather knife holders, leather cup holders, wood coasters, boxes with pictures and shadow boxes with pictures and sayings, and cool bottles filled with trail mix.  Nana and Pa put together photo books of their lives to help the boys see them as real people not just old folks!  (That was their words!)  We also exchanged Goodwill gifts that have to be bought at a second hand store with the recipient in mind.  My favorite was a giant plastic cholcolate kiss that opened up to songs abut kisses to display a bowl full of our favorite candy. 

Over and over throughout the week, we were reminded that we are passing on a legacy to our boys.  I want that to be a legacy of faith and trust in Jesus, love and laughter with Mom and Dad, and relationships that will last a lifetime into eternity.  We tend to think of legacies as land and money and reputation and possessions.  Paul lists all of his earhtly assets and recommendations but then proclaims that, "...whatever things were gain to me, those things i have counted as loss for the sake of Christ." (Philippians 3:7).  I, too, want to claim and pass on a legacy of truth and joy in Christ rather than earthly possessions. 

Nathan, our second born, made shadow boxes with pictures in them.  In the one to my husband and I he included a picture of the five boys with these words: "To be a Halydier means to hold honesty and integrity in high regard adn to live with passion in pursuit of dreams, inspiring others just as we have been inspired.  thank you for such an incredible legacy."  I think he got it! 

What about you?  what legacy are you passing on?   

Abiding in the Word

“Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ,

does not have God;
the one who abides in the teaching,
he has the Father and the Son.”
2 John 1:9

So we are to abide not only in the Father and in the Son, but also in their teaching, that is the word of God.  When my oldest was 3 years old, I had had a rough morning and had been impatient with him.  He put his little fists on his hips and said, “You haven’t spent time with God this morning!”  And he was right.  That was one of those days where the morning got away from me and I had neglected my time with God and in His word.  Abiding means to stay there.  Are you staying in God’s word, reading it and meditating upon it?  Are you memorizing it and singing it?  Abiding in God the Father ad Jesus the Christ is about relationship, but abiding in the Word leads us to that relationship.  If you abide in God’s word, others will notice!

 

Endure

“Because lawlessness is increased,

most people will grow cold. 
But the one who endures to the end,
he will be saved.”
Matthew 24:12

Sounds a lot like the warnings and promises in Revelation2:7, 11, 17, 26 and 3:5, 11, 12, 21.  We usually think of enduring when we think of hardships.  Jesus is telling us in Matthew that hardships will come.  But we are to endure – to hold on, to keep faithful, to trust Jesus - in the hardships.  You can begin to prepare your heart now to endure in the hard times.  Abide in the word of God, spend time in praise and adoration, develop a relationship with God.  Build a pathway of trusting Jesus and when hard times come, you will know that you can rely upon the Eternal One.  Determine in your heart that you will be faithful until the end. 

 The good news?  You don’t have to do it alone.  God will equip you (Hebrews 13:20-21) and give you grace and joy in the midst.  I read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, and I don’t know that my faith would have held out throughout the tortures.  But they were people just like us, with the same God as us, and God allowed them to go to their deaths with dignity and grace.  And He was waiting for them on the other side, to rejoice with them, and to celebrate their homecoming.  Our hope and trust is what will get us through.  Decide now that no matter what this world will make you endure, that you will endure, and that you will be faithful unto the end.

 

Confidence

“Beloved, it our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God…”

1 John 3:21

 Walk in peace and joy knowing that your heart is right before God.  If people reject you or condemn you, but you know that you have stood with God in the truth of His word, then have confidence and peace.  Often our emotions are based on our circumstances.  Instead they should be rooted in God’s love and acceptance and in our private thought life of joy and praise before our great God!  Sing praise!  Rejoice!  And abide with Jesus this holiday season.

 

Tough Days

“But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness;

my heart shall rejoice in Your  salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.
Psalm 13:5-6

 That “But” is important because just before these verses, David is feeling rejected and forgotten.  He is begging God for deliverance.  But whether or not God delivers him quickly or not, David will praise the Lord.  I have  had a tough couple of days trying to adjust to new medicine that makes me cry and gain weight.  And there is still pain.  But I will also choose to continue to praise God and wait upon Him.  He has dealt bountifully with me and He is sovereign over all.  He is good and I will sing praises to His name. 

I hope that your days are filled with joy and not feelings of doubt or depression, but when those days come, keep clinging to God and His promises.  He will be with you always!  He loves you.  You are His.  This is only light momentary affliction compared to eternity!

 

God's Love for You

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us,

that we would be called children of God;
and such we are.  For this reason the world does not know us,
because it did not know Him.”
1 John 3:1

What great love!  The Maker of the Universe, the God above all, the King of Kings, loves you!  You are His princes and princesses!!!  The love of the Father is boundless.  He loves you because you are His.  You don’t have to earn it.  You don’t have to be ashamed.  You are righteous in His eyes.  Through the blood of Christ, you have done no wrong.  He is forgiving and kind.  His love will overcome this world and everything in it – the evil, the lust of the flesh, the intents of men’s hearts.  Just wait and hope and be faithful.  You Father loves you.

Lying

“I have not written to you because you do not know the truth

but because you do know it,
and because no lie is of the truth.”
1 John 2:21

 Whether the lie is to protect yourself, protect others, to get yourself out of an uncomfortable situation, or to avoid a consequence, lying is always wrong.  God asks us to walk in the light.  That light includes full disclosure of the truth.  It’s hard, but it is right.  Speak truth and your relationships will stay uncomplicated.  Be bold about truth and others will know where you stand.  (Be bold, but not obnoxious!)  Tell the truth in love.  Couch it in prayer.  God will be the Lord of the results and your conscience will be clear.  That is freedom!  And hopefully those around you will show grace and you will return that grace in turn.  But even if grace is not extended to you, your will still experience the freedom and right relationship with God.

 Remember John 8:32, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”  I have experienced this in my own life as I faced the darkness of my past.  Once I was willing to look at it all in the light of the truth, it no longer had any hold over me.  Yes, I had to confess.  Yes, it was humbling.  But so much greater was the freedom of knowing and speaking truth. 

 Lying can become a habit.  If that is something that you deal with, turn it over to the Lord asking the holy Spirit to convict you when you lie.  Then be conscious of your words and determine to speak truth.  When you mess up, repent and try again.  It takes practice to overcome any habit.