Heritage – anything
transmitted from the past or handed down by tradition, something inherited at
birth, such as personal characteristics, status, and possessions. (World
English Dictionary)
So much has happened since my
last posting. I will attempt in our ’we
love pastors blog’ to update you on our personal journey as well as our
ministry journey. The two are pretty
well inseparable at this point in our lives as you will find out the older you
get. I believe the Lord desires I share
with you a personal experience we had this weekend. We know a precious family who began a family
tradition of honoring their children when they reach their 16th
birthday. So far they have done this for 9 of their children. They have 12 so only 3 more to go but we have
had the privilege to be a part of several of these ‘coming of age’ birthday
parties. Each one has been unique and
special as each child is also very special, gifted and anointed by the Lord for
His purposes. We are asked to pray and
ask the Lord what to share with each child.
The most recent son brought forth the message of Heritage. This young man has a Godly heritage but that
is not always the case. I want to share
part of what we wrote and read over the young man being honored.
Every person in the world has a
heritage that comes from their family and they must choose whether to continue
this heritage or change it. Because we
know this family, we know that they have chosen a Godly heritage based on
Father’s Holy Word not only for the mom and dad but for them to pass on this
Godly heritage to their children. This
son is at a place in his life where he must choose for himself. His mom and dad
have chosen that ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord ‘(Joshua 24:15). We asked him ‘What are you
going to do with your freedom of choice?’ Are you going to choose to continue
the heritage from God and your family that has been placed before you or are
you going to change? We, Charley and I, made a decision on this day to continue
to pray for this young man that he will seek the Lord with all his heart, lean
not on his own understanding, in all his ways acknowledge Him that He shall
direct his paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). As he follows this direction, he will
continue the heritage that has been set before him. He will hear God’s voice and God’s blessings
will overtake him (Deuteronomy 28:1-2).
Take a moment for yourself to
read these scriptures and reflect on the heritage you have enjoyed through your
life and choose you this day who you will serve. This opportunity to share this with this
young man who has turned 16 gave us a moment to reaffirm our own commitment to
provide and pass on a Godly Heritage to our own children and grandchildren. That has been our joy through many years but
today, June 9, 2014 we choose to continue that lifestyle of telling not only
our family about Jesus but others about His amazing love for them.
