I pray my children, grandchildren, family, and staff remember me as one who "lived what he preached." I want to live as Jesus would have me live and be the best I can be in Him. I know I make mistakes and don't hit the mark of living up to all I can be in Jesus, but I am trusting God to help me finish the race and keep the faith to the end. I am aware of the little eyes that are watching me live out my faith and life before them. I live with the knowledge that my team watch to see how I react in times of stress, disappointment, and pain. Above all, the most important thing is my relationship with Jesus.

 

The goal is not good works, but simple faith in Him alone for salvation and for grace. I believe in the forgiveness and grace of God. I believe that in Him I live, and move, and have my being. I live in the grace of His forgiveness and do not live in condemnation of my past sins. This is the freedom we have in Christ, His suffering & resurrection from the dead. We live and walk by faith in the assurance of a soon coming king.

 

But, as we walk out our faith we know that there are those who are under our authority, who look to us as the standard and, rest assured, they are watching. I must confess at times that I want to resign and be free of anyone's expectations. I feel a sense of responsibility and at times feel insecure about my abilities to meet those expectations. But, I get up every day, go to work, and press through those emotions to continue in the battle.

 

In my life I have set certain disciplines that have made such a difference in leaving a legacy. Let me explain.

Years ago when my oldest daughter was a year away from going to university, I felt the Lord speak to me to write notes to her specifically along the sides of the pages of my Bible. It was a Bible that I had preached out of and I had made lots of notes along the way in that Bible, but now I was to make notes to my daughter. I wrote things like "Hey Denee', I'm praying for you today." I might say, "Denee', I'm in Prague today; I want you to know that I prayed for you." I did this as I traveled across America and around the world. I also pointed out things in the Bible and would ask Denee' to take a look at what Jesus or one of the apostles was saying. In addition, I prayed for her future husband and kids long before she met him or had children of her own.

 

It took a year and then I gave it to her as she was leaving for college. It meant a lot to her and it also meant a lot to me to have the opportunity to express my love and prayers for her. As my second daughter was leaving the next year, I took another one of my favorite Bibles and began to write in it for Kristi. I gave it to her as she left for college. Then I did one for my son Dustin, but it was a Dake's Study Bible, King James version, that my son is not that crazy about. He got it anyway.

 

When my middle daughter Kristi and her husband had our first grandchild, Aniston, I went on to read a Bible and make notes for her when she was just a little baby. As I was finishing the Bible for Aniston, other grandchildren were coming along and over the next 9+ years I read and made notes in a Bible for my other seven grandchildren. I did one for Avery, Ayden, Abigail, Asher, Adelaide, Ellie, and Aubrey. I have carried pink, purple, and blue Bibles around for years while I was preaching out of them and writing notes to my grandkids. "I love you", "Paw Paw is praying for you", "I'm proud of you", "God has a plan for your life", "Live for Jesus, He is the way, the truth and the life". These are the kinds of things our kids and grandkids need to hear us say.

 

I also have taken advantage of each of the large blank spaces throughout the pages of the Bible to write special notes. I use that space to challenge my children and grandchildren to live for Jesus, and to challenge them in their destiny. God gives me special words that I believe the Holy Spirit directs as I write. I speak words of grace, love, and support over them. I challenge them to step up into God's perfect will for their lives and to live for Jesus no matter the world's pressure to conform.

I happen to believe that we as parents and grandparents own the responsibility to set the example of prayer and Bible reading. My children and grandchildren have grown up seeing me in prayer and reading my Bible early in the mornings. My grandkids are now old enough to ask to see their Bibles that are all lined up, side by side in the library of my study. I will give them their Bible when they are old enough to read and take care of them.

 

I have practiced this discipline for years now and continue to do so. I am currently reading a Bible my mother gave me the year before she passed away. I am going to give this one to Dustin, since he was not crazy about the first one I gave him. This one is a NIV Study Bible that I really like. My mother was a prayer warrior and a mighty woman of God, and her handwriting is in the front of it, which makes it even more special. Dustin should appreciate this one.

 

During the coming holiday season can I challenge you who read this to think of how you might leave a legacy? Will you prayerfully consider how you might express your love for your kids, family and team?

 

May God bless you and your family, and may He enable you to be all you can be in Him.