Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Leaving a Spiritual Legacy

"...We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. " Psalm 78:4b

Surrounded by stained glass and maternal family members, I sat in the sanctuary of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, the church of my grandparents, Anna and Louis. It was the place where they dedicated their babies to the Lord, and then years later, were confirmed. The old black and white confirmation class photos hanging on wall proved it. Historically, it is a Norwegian Lutheran congregation. That particular morning was the tenth anniversary of 9-11. I was glad to be in a house of worship.

Over and over, I reflected that this was my grandmother's church. This is my mother's home church. And then, the Holy Spirit's reminder..."This is where your spiritual walk began". With that realization, and the horrific memories of September 11, 2001, the choir began to sing "Jesus Loves Me", a familiar childhood Sunday school song. I was nearly undone with emotion.

How sweet the Lord to orchestrate my days and take me back to my spiritual roots on that day of remembrance. I quickly jotted down my memories of this spiritually significant morning. I did not want to forget.

Recording our faith stories help us to remember  ways God has worked in our lives. We can use our stories to teach and share our faith. We can record stories of significant events and people who influenced us. Journaling our prayers and God's answers help remind us of His faithfulness.

Archival safe scrapbook-type albums, journals, notebooks, video technology, digital books, and even blogs are available to preserve our faith stories.

For faithbooking ideas and inspiration, I use Creative Memories.

I encourage you to begin recording your faith stories to share with your children and grandchildren. Tell them of the Lord's presence, power, protection, and provision in your life. Tell of His goodness and unfailing love. Tell them how He sustained you in challenging times.

Begin by asking the Lord for His direction. If you struggle with fear and procrastination to begin your faithbooking project, ask for His help. Ask for His wisdom, and to help you overcome the temptation to overbuy supplies. Schedule a time to work on your faith stories. Enjoy the journey!

So, where did your spiritual walk begin? I'd love to hear from you!

Lori






1 comment:

  1. Thank you, Lori, for encouraging us to write down our faith stories. This has led me to study my family's history with Ancestory.com and discover a Godly heritage.

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