I have another idea for our inspirational signs out in front of our building. You know the bumper stickers that say “Got…milk”? Well how about we follow that old advertising campaign, and change it up a little….to say: “Got…legacy?”
As I previously shared, I’ve been on a roll recently in participating in memorial services. And then yesterday I drove by the remains of this horrific car accident on Pioneer Parkway, which looked like it involved the loss of life. And of course, we have the threat of the ongoing virus strains. This all has me soberly looking at my life and the life we collectively try to live by faith. These events continue to remind me that our life is “like a mist that appears for a brief time and then vanishes” (James 4:14). Everything and everyone is temporary. And the human memory goes only for maybe one or two generations, and then all that we have said and done will indeed be forgotten.
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The only legacy that we can be a part of that will last is one that is connected to eternity. What kind of impact are we having on the souls of humanity? What kinds of things do we pray about? Are we focused on the Big Picture…or just what’s in front of us at the moment? We so often can get caught up in our own vision for things. We get so easily disappointed in others and in organizations. Forgetting the temporariness of life, our expectations can run all over the place. | |
I have been a part of two church start-ups: one that never got off the ground; and one that started, but did not end up the way our original team planned, and has none of the original team as a part of it. I continue to learn that the church as a whole is really out of our hands. If the Holy Spirit is not behind it, it will falter. In the end, it doesn’t matter whether Aunt Marsha or Uncle Jack paid for the pews and the tables…the only legacy that remains are the souls that were cared for and loved and nurtured by that church. We learn to let go of our sense of earthly ownership in spiritual matters, and become aware of what is invisibly happening around us—the Kingdom of God in our midst is growing. | |
There seems to be a growing sense of urgency in the air. As we look in the mirror, we indeed see that we are aging… As we look around the earth, it is also aging… And very much hot and on fire! Everything is temporary. And yet, we are blessed to be a part of Emmanuel Lutheran—a church that has stuck around for a while, and is impacting people with eternity: divine love, grace, truth and purpose. We are connected to helping people discover what it means to really live and to leave a legacy! | |
At a recent memorial service I was a part of, we learned the man did not come to know Jesus until he was 55 years old. He had stated, “I hope most of the first part of my life is forgotten and forgiven”. He spent the last 30 or so years of his life very intentionally serving God and his neighbor. Even in his death his memorial service was very encouraging and uplifting: he had created a variety of ministries and supported many others. | |
May we too continue to dream big and prayerfully consider what the Lord has for us to do in the coming days. For we do not know how long those days will last. Got…..legacy? | |
Here's a beautiful rendition and reminder for us: | |
A Bible verse for today:
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God…
2 Timothy 1:5-6
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Peace in Christ,
Adam
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Prescott Valley, AZ
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Here's the link to tomorrow's scheduled livestream. You will receive the Worship email tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. (so that it'll be higher up in your Inbox around 9:00 a.m.). If you're subscribed to our channel you can set a reminder! | Remember that it takes a few hours for YouTube to process our livestream video after we finish filming. If you want to watch the service soon after our livestream ends, you can click here to go to our Videos Page, then select "Uploads" (Step 1 below) and then "Past livestreams" (Step 2 below). Thanks, Gary Kiser, for that information! | | | |
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
7763 E. Long Look Dr.
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
PH (928) 772-4135
FX (928) 759-3541
website: emmanuellutheranpv.org
email: emmanuelelca@gmail.com
submissions: ELCPVnews@gmail.com
Office Hours
Monday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
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