Backids’ Blog

The other day I was talking to my two grown children regarding making decisions in life.   This is something we all need to navigate through regardless our age or life stages.  In the course of our conversation, we felt this obvious absence in our lives. We really missed the wisdom and the knowledge of my late husband.  Even though he is no long present with us in all our “deep” conversations, we have no problem recalling what he had desired for us, and the legacy of faith he has so deeply ingrained in all of our lives.

We don’t want to think about death, but it is imminent, all of us have an expiry date here on earth.  We have only one life to live, and my challenge for myself is how am I living this life.  I value the legacy my late husband left for us, he indeed is a man of faith, throughout all the hardships we had gone through together I never once see him wavered in his faith in God.  He was like a little child and his faith is pure and simple.  Now that he is no longer here with us, the faith he had lived out has become an example for us to follow.  My dear friends, have you ever thought of what you are going to leave behind for your family? I am not talking about money, titles and property but the spiritual values and character which will help your loved ones to sustain the ebb and flow of life. 

I hope this article will help you to start thinking and planning the spiritual inheritance you are going to leave to your children, this article was posted in  “Be encourage Today” By Charlie Bancroft who is a kids worship leader.

Leaving a Legacy
My life is so ironic. I can remember my big prayer over the summer and fall of 2007 was for the Lord to make the second half of my life more significant than the first half. I have been able to accomplish a lot of things in this life. My journey of faith has been an exciting one to say the least! But I still wanted to leave more. I wanted my life to have an eternal impact. I wanted my life to count. I wanted to be known for more than just a good stage performer or children’s worship leader or an effective youth pastor back in the day. I just wanted my life to mean more than that – I wanted to have eternal significance.

Then, ironically, I had a near fatal accident in November of 2007. I have been recovering for 10 months and have been “actively waiting” for my opportunity to get back on the stage and minister the way I feel called to minister. One thing I learned through that was not to define myself as just a minister on stage. God has been able to use me in many other ways since that day, especially in my writings. Interestingly enough, I really feel that the Lord is going to take something that was terrible in nature and turn it around for His glory! Some how, some way, God will use this ugly piece of the puzzle in my life to fit just perfectly in the big picture and help me have more significance. So in a mysterious way, I think God is working on answering that prayer for significance! (We all say that the Lord works in mysterious ways!)

One thing I have come to realize is that it is important to focus our attention on what we leave behind in this life. If God would have taken me in that accident, I hope that there are a few things that people could have taken from my life that would have been a good source of strength and encouragement for them. But now I have an even greater chance to leave behind something with more significance. I desire that so badly. So I began to think the other day about if I had not made it through that accident, what I would have left behind for my two sons, who are now 24 and 26. That caused me to look deeper – “What kind of legacy do I really want to leave them? What qualities in my life do I want them to take and use for theirs? What have they seen in me that inspire them to be more Christ-like? What in my life has motivated them to sell out for Christ?” Have you ever stopped to think about that?

Here is the million dollar question for us all. What values are we leaving behind for our own children to emulate? If God were to take us home tomorrow, what qualities in our lives will make a lasting impression on the family we live with, the people we serve, the people we know, the people we come into contact with? What kind of legacy are we really leaving behind? Do we want to be known more for our programming or our personhood? For our accomplishments or our character? Our successes or our significance?

I sat down the other day and just began to write down the top ten things (in no particular order) that I value most which I wanted my boys to see in me and to emulate. This also holds true for the people I serve, know, work with, and come across. As you read through these, ask yourself “What would be on my list? What am I doing to assure that happens?” Not to say I am perfect and have mastered these things, but I do aspire to leave this kind of legacy. This is a goal I press onward for. This is the significance that I chase so that I have it as my own in order to give it away. To me this is what life is all about.

Qualities I Value Most for my Sons
1. Godliness:
The determination to live a holy life, pleasing to God, and to do what’s right. To allow Jesus to live through me. To carry on a daily, vital relationship with my Almighty God that permeates in my behavior, my choices and my attitudes.
2. Influence:
The determination to make a difference in people’s lives. To be a light that points the way to Jesus. To allow other people to see that Jesus is real in my life and see Him work in me, through me, and for me.
3. A Giving Heart:
A heart that always cares for the underprivileged, the underdog, the often overlooked people, and puts action behind that concern. A compassion that drives me to give what I can to help in time of need.
4. Kindness Towards Other People:
Showing genuine respect for other people as God’s equal creation. Especially those who often get overlooked or mistreated or looked down upon by others. To treat others as Jesus would.
5. An Encouraging Spirit:
Having that ability to give people hope and making them feel good about themselves. The ability to help others get from point A to point B through encouraging words, positive spirit and positive example.
6. Endurance, determination and persistence:
A “never say die” attitude. A “Never give up” spirit. Even when things look bleak from a human perspective, believing I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength, and believing we are all over comers through Christ, and believing all things work to together for the good who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.
7. Faith:
A true belief that God is directing my steps and that He will not lead me the wrong way. A belief that I can do anything in His strength. The ability to trust in His providence even when I am scared or can’t see what is in front of me, or even when things don’t make sense.
8. Belief in those Around Me:
The ability to make others, especially in my own family, believe in themselves and believe they can be or do anything they set their minds on being or doing.
9. Trustworthiness:
Being a man of my word. My word is my bond and something no one can take from me.
10. Integrity:
Living an honest, upright life, always seeking the right thing to do in all situations. Doing what’s right, even if it is inconvenient. The right way out is not always the easiest way out.

These are qualities I want to leave behind for my two sons and their children and on down the line. This is the legacy I want to leave. Funny thing – all the things I want my boys to see in me, I have already seen in my Mom. (I didn’t notice this until I was nearly done jotting down my ideas). Mom left me a lasting legacy by possessing and modeling these and many more qualities in front of me. My Mother is still living, and is as vibrant and full of energy as ever, and she continues every day to model these qualities! “Lord, may I leave the same kind of legacy that my Mom left for me; not only for my boys, but for anyone who takes the time to know me.”

Be Encouraged Today…………and leave a legacy!
Cya here, there, or in the air!
Uncle Charlie

http://www.cmconnect.org/group/beencouragedtoday

I have been flooded with email about Susan Boyle. Susan Boyle is a 47 year old unemployed, single woman who lives in a small village in England with her cat named  pebbles. When she said that she wants to be a professional singer  she was met with cynicism and smugness from the audience and the judges.  Nobody expected much from this plain looking woman with the wild curly hair, frumpy clothing and the quirky personality…..until she opened her mouth…and stunned every one,  including the infamous Simon Cowell.

I don’t know if she has won the talent show, but that does not matter,becuase she is an overnight success, her face and her story is all over the internet,and is covered by all major TV stations on the evening news.  Who would have expected that this woman can sing so beautifully? Who would have thought that this humble woman who had a learning disablity and was mocked since she was a child is now an instant star.

Susan Boyle has taught us that you cannot judge a book by its cover, and you can never underestimate a person’s potential.  Most of all she has taught us that we should never give up our dreams.

So when you look at the children who are under your care, how do you see them ?  The one child who is giving you so much grief now may grow up to some body who is caring and loving…we have a handful of them at BAC, they surprised us and bring us much joy and pride….if you got a difficult kid, don’t give up…there is hope at the end of the tunnel ….you will be surprise one day.

This post is dedicated to all the children workers of BAC.  When you feel tired, overwhelmed, overworked, unappreciated and maybe ready to throw in the towel …read this and be encouraged.  If you ever have any doubts about your ministry, let me tell you something– YOU ARE  VERY IMPORTANT  !! Don’t believe it ? then read this…

 I am a minister. I minister to the largest mission field in the world. I minister to children.

My calling is sure. My challenge is big. My vision is clear. My desire is strong. My influence is eternal. My impact is critical. My values are solid. My faith is tough. My mission is urgent. My purpose is unmistakable. My direction is forward. My heart is genuine. My strength is supernatural. My reward is promised. And my God is real.

In a world of cynicism, I offer hope. In a world of confusion, I offer truth. In a world of immorality, I offer values. In a world of neglect, I offer attention. In a world of abuse, I offer safety. In a world of ridicule, I offer affirmation. In a world of division, I offer reconciliation. In a world of bitterness, I offer forgiveness. In a world of sin, I offer salvation. In a world of hate, I offer God’s love.

I refuse to be dismayed, disengaged, disgruntled, discouraged or distracted. Neither will I look back, stand back, fall back, go back or sit back. I do not need applause, flattery, adulation, prestige, stature or veneration. I do not have time for business as usual, mediocre standards, small thinking, outdated methods, normal expectations, average results, ordinary ideas, petty disputes or low vision. I will not give up, give in, bail out, lie down, turn over, quit or surrender.

I will pray when things look bad. I will pray when things look good. I will move forward when others stand still. I will trust God when obstacles arise. I will work when the task is overwhelming. I will get up when I fall down.

My calling is to reach boys and girls for God. It is too serious to be taken lightly, too urgent to be postponed, too vital to be ignored, too relevant to be overlooked, too significant to be trivialized, too eternal to be fleeting and too passionate to be quenched.

I know my mission. I know my challenge. I also know my limitations, my weaknesses, my fears and my problems. And I know my God. Let others get the praise. Let the church get the blessing. Let God get the glory.

I am a minister. I minister to children. This is who I am. This is what I do.

(Roger Fields)