What Will My Legacy Be?

As I shared here, there's a lot of junk in my past that I'm not proud of.

But when I walk in the grace of God's forgiveness

I'm free to dream about wonderful things:

like the fact that I will be a Grandma for the first time

around Mother's Day next year.

And I've begun to wonder

what kind of legacy will I leave for my children?

And now, my grandbaby?

The Holy Spirit reminds me that He is still at work in me,

that I am His beloved work-in-progress.

And He gives me this word of encouragement:

"Remember the faith of Timothy's mother and grandmother.

You, Karen, have that faith in Me.

Fan it to flame by spending time with Me."

I'm weak Lord!

He continues patiently,

"I did not give you a spirit of timidity, 

but a spirit of power,

of love

and of self-discipline."

[2 Timothy 1:5-7]

I want to be that kind of woman!

I want it to be said of me,

"She had faith in the Lord no matter what." 

Nichole Nordeman's lyrics brought these thoughts to mind today:

I wanna leave a legacy.

How will they remember me?

Did I choose to love? 

Did I point to You

enough to make a mark on things? 

Wanna leave an offering.

Child of mercy and grace 

who blessed Your name unapologetically

  and leave that kind of legacy.

Just wanna hear, "Good and faithful servant!"

[the video is at the end of the post]

Thank You, Jesus, that You continue to draw me to Yourself.

Give me grace to grow in my faith today.

Grace and peace to you, friends!

Love, Karen

Linking up with Iris & friends @ Thankful Thursday.

Sunday Song: What If I Stumble? What If I Fall?

My second and third kidlums turned me on to this song about 15 years ago.  Although I liked the music, lyrics, and singers' voices right away, it was "alternative" Christian music. 

I thought, "That's not a hymn.  We'd never sing that in church."

But, you know what?  I've learned a thing or three about the difference between religious traditions and my faith relationship with Jesus since then. 

Can I get a Hallelujah? 

I got nothin' against traditional hymns like the one I posted for Song Sunday a while back.  Love 'em, in fact. 

But I've clung to the hope spoken of in this song many times since my introduction to it.

Here's why:

I was knit together by God in my mother's womb, 

but I had, from conception, a sinful human nature.

Hence, it's not a matter of IF I stumble and fall in my faith walk with Jesus.

It's a matter of when.

The lyrics pose 4 fearful questions:
What if I stumble?  What if I fall?
What if I lose my step and I make fools of us all?
Will the Love [of God] continue
when the walk becomes a crawl?

Then the singer hears from the heart of God:
I hear You whisper my name.
You say,
"My love for you will never change!"


The Good News
is that the Spirit of God continually draws me back to Himself.
He desires restoration and reconciliation
with me
and between me and others.
His loving mercy and kindness
never changes.

I remember my affliction and my wondering, the bitterness and the gall. 
I remember them and my soul is downcast within me. 
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for His compassions never fail. 
They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:19-23

Blessings to you all, friends!
Love, Karen

Drop by Natasha over at
http://www.5minutesjustforme.blogspot.com/
and check out the other Song Sunday participants.

You were worth it!

This morning I read about the Pioneer Woman crying her eyes out as she contemplated her son's 8th birthday.   When Daddy and I looked at the pictures of his 8 years, we got choked up thinking of the 3 of you as children.  

Maybe you're thinking,  

Why?  Those years are long gone.

You're right.  And they were years full of hard work,
sleepless nights,
and tremendous responsibility.
Day in and day out, we poured our lives out for you,
sacrificed whatever was necessary,
gave you our all. 

AND YOU WERE WORTH IT!

We, the 2 human beings who...

 excitedly anticipated each of your births,

fed you whenever you were hungry,

diapered you with caring hands every time you needed it,

bathed your little bodies every day,

clothed you,

sang to you,

laughed with you,

read to you,
tucked you in at night,

faced the world each day to protect and support you,

prayed with and for you and your future spouses,
taught you to swing, ride a bike, love kittens, and throw a ball,

took you to your activities,

arranged birthday parties and family events,

witnessed your graduations from high school and college,
watched as you married wonderful, God-fearing spouses and
set out to find God's path for your lives...

we want you to know that remembering those days with you will
always
give us the biggest thrill we could ever hope for
this side of heaven. 

The funny thing is,
when we "decided" to have a family,
we were naive about what, exactly, we would face as parents.
And we certainly had no clue how God planned to bless us
forever
by giving us the 3 of you.

We didn't "plan" each of you,
but God did.

Oh, the loving grace of God!

May God bless and keep you forever in His everlasting arms.
Love, Mom and Dad
aka, B&K4ever