Legacy

It's a pretty somber day in Happy Valley, especially after losing a legend, THEIR legend.  After Joe Paterno died yesterday at the same hospital I delivered my son at just months ago, I can't help but feel like we need to seize the time we are given here and DO something. What a huge impact one guy had on a town, a sport, a university and even way beyond that. We are all leaving eventually (as in coming and going or gone forever) and we should all have our legacy in mind. A legacy leaves behind more than an inheritance ever could. It's much deeper. Money can be spent quickly, but impacts can last and last.

I came across these words this morning and I thought it was very fitting to share. Our generation was bred to strive for "success", but what about "significance"? Here's the difference:

"The successful person has learned how to make money, but the significant person has learned how to give it away - how to be generous, to share the blessings of money with those who are in need or those who help to meet a variety of social/humanitarians needs.

The successful person has achieved great things - sadly sometimes at the expense of others. He or she is proud of what has already been accomplished. The significant person understands that the greatest thing anyone can accomplish is to serve others and to help them achieve their goals.

Finally, successful people have attained a measure of status. Others look up to them and maybe even see them as role models. We often discover later that those who have become our role models let us down. They turn out to be something less than we had hoped. In direct contrast, the significant person is one who values relationships. They become trusted friends and invaluable mentors, and they invest their time in others rather than in striving to build status."*

Instead of asking "how much money can I make", think instead "how much of myself can I give"... sharing resources, serving people, and nourishing relationships. That's whats gonna last!

So are you aiming to be merely successful or lastingly significant? Think about your own legacy today.


And please keep the Paterno's, Penn State, and State College in your prayers

*Quote from the book The Generosity Factor by business guru Ken Blanchard and CEO S. Truett Cathy

Taste and See

I have been blessed with a very non-picky eater, and as much as I'd like to take credit for my 3-year-old gladly enjoying calamari, spinach, clams, steak, etc., every kid is very different. My little boy just started eating solids, and each time he takes a spoonful of something new, he shivers with the most repulsed look on his face. Then I try again, he goes for it, but with more dramatic nasty faces. By the third bite, however, he's attacking the spoon and yearning for more. It's good! But I can't convince him of that; he doesn't know it until he tastes it and finds that out for himself.

How many times have you heard your parents say (or as a parent have said), "How do you know you don't like if you've never tried it!?"  A pretty valid point, no doubt. But still we insist that it's no good without seeing for ourselves. Or maybe we smell it or take just one tiny nibble, and declare it inedible. But did we ever actual taste and see?

When people ask me where my faith comes from or how I "know" God is real, I can only reply that I know because of what He has done for me. I've tasted the abundant life and I have seen it first-hand, and it is more than clear to me that He is who He says He is.. He is very, very good!

Psalm 34:8 suggests this very idea: "Taste and see that the Lord is good." That's the only way you can know. It follows with, "Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!" Those who have trusted in Him, and handed their life over to Him, are the only ones who have actually tasted, and I'm sure they can tell you what they saw... a whole lotta good.

Psalm 25:8-9 declares, "The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way."  Just to clarify, it says the Lord is Good, not necessarily religion and not at all Christians themselves. The church and its people can only hope to try to come close (with His help) to mirroring His goodness. But only He is truly good (Mark 10:18), the definition itself, and wants what is good for you. But if you never even try Him, you couldn't know that. So I don't blame those who question His goodness, because clearly they haven't tasted it. But it's never too late to try, especially when it comes to God.

I've tasted and I've seen, and He is so so GOOD!  Can I get a witness???  :)

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Recently, I had to remind myself that our God is omnipresent, everywhere. A basic fundamental you could say, but when people and things all around you seem to be probing you with questions, what better way to stand strong in your faith than to remind yourself of WHO God is. God is not some guy on Earth who I decided to jump on the bandwagon for. God is God, and even in my wavering, I at least know that.

So as I go back to the basics over the next few months, reviewing all the things God has revealed about Himself through His Word, feel free to use this as a reminder with me or a tool for growing in understanding. In a world that focuses only on "Who am I?", let's remember first Who God is, because after all, we are His.

This past weekend my husband and I left our nose-picking/crying kids (above) overnight for the first time since our Honeymoon. :) We got some much needed time alone to spend on just us; we were invited to attend a weekend marriage retreat. My husband was reluctant, to say the least. But once the trip was gifted to us by our church and my mother-in-law heard that we may be in need of a babysitter, he knew there was no backing out. Emotions and talking are more exhausting for Doug than a four hour workout, plus we had no idea what to expect. "Are we going to be bunking with other couples?" Doug asked on the drive down. "Is this gonna get weird!?"  

LOL We would both tell you now that it was not at all weird, but a perfect weekend. There was plenty of time alone to focus on our marriage, pray for God's will for it, and then intentionally make that happen. One thing we did together was look at how God has blessed us over the last few years. We usually just know that He has, thank Him, and move on because if we dwell on it too long it just blows our mind and we start feeling those exhausting emotions coming on. But Doug suggested we write it down this time. What we came up with turned out to be a flow-chart looking thing, where my struggle and his struggle came together at just the right time for a kick-off blessing, and then after that, each huge miracle led right into the next. It was incredible to see on paper. Which brings me back to who God is... God is FAITHFUL. 

Even if our faith is shaky at times, He remains faithful to us! Faithful is defined as steady in allegiance or affection, constant, reliable, true to his word. And God is most definitely true to His Word. This weekend my husband and I saw God's faithfulness in our life clear as can be on paper. And as a visual thinker, it was just the reminder I needed.  "Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands." -Deuteronomy 7:9

Great is His faithfulness. Even when ours is as small as a mustard seed, He promises to remain faithful TO US, knowing one day we will be able to look back and declare it as true. Psalm 89:

I will sing of the Lord's unfailing love forever!

Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.

Your unfailing love will last forever.

Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.

My personal reminder of the week... 

Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O Lord? You are entirely faithful.  (Psalm 89:8)

Amen

God on the Schuylkill

Traveling away from Happy Valley over the holidays and back into bumper-to-bumper traffic, packed malls, and constant noise sometimes takes takes its toll on me. Growing up outside of Philly, I had always believed taking an entire hour to drive 20 miles was a normal thing. I guess you don't know any different when you're in it. But when you spend some time in a place where everywhere you need to go is just 15 minutes away or less, the Schuylkill becomes more dreaded than ever. An instant headache that's guaranteed to last at least as long as the stand-still traffic. Every time we trek back into Jersey I seem to wonder "How did I live here for so long and not go insane?" My husband (who actually rocks a tribute tattoo of his home state on his torso) can't help but to think the same.

Good Old Philadelphia

Some trips, as the surrounding mountains are replaced by strip malls and the cows by countless cars, it feels as if we are driving away from God's presence. Our peaceful little town filled with friendly people becomes far away and as we near the city, people start cutting each other off with honks and fingers galore. But then the inevitable homeless person at the entrance to Ben Franklin says to my husband with an outstretched hand "God Bless ya man." And I'm reminded that He is most certainly here too!

View from Mount Nittany 

The tranquility of our beloved Happy Valley combined with our fellow friends in faith out here remind us daily that God lives here. But He is omnipresent. Everywhere. There is no where you can go where He won't also be. Maybe a tad bit intimidating to some, but how reassuring to me.

 Psalm 139:7-12

 Where can I go from your Spirit? 

  Where can I flee from your presence? 

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; 

   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 

   if I settle on the far side of the sea, 

even there your hand will guide me, 

   your right hand will hold me fast. 

 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me 

   and the light become night around me,” 

 even the darkness will not be dark to you; 

   the night will shine like the day, 

   for darkness is as light to you. 

No matter where we go, loud cities, rolling hills, spotless suburbs - God is there. At home, at work. Still there. In the sanctuary and on the streets. The same God. It may just be our own attitude that's preventing us from meeting Him there. When the world is loud, God is still there whispering. But you have to turn towards Him to hear Him. God promises us in His Word, "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8) 

He does not abandon us. No matter where we go, even Jersey! He's going there too, leading the way for us. God is everywhere - even my 3-year-old could tell me that, but this week I really needed that simple, true reminder. Maybe you did too.