I noticed a few small blessings today and whispered a prayer of thanks.
How many itty bitty blessings came my way today, I wonder, that I didn’t notice?
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this
is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Watch for the little blessings. And be grateful.
At a recent wedding reception I attended, the pastor offered what seemed to be a standard blessing: “Thank You for this food, and bless the hands that prepared it . . . ” Her next words were far from standard: “. . . from the ground to our plates.”
How many hands? Who prepared the ground and planted the seeds? Who prepared the seeds? Tended the young plants? Who did the picking and transporting? Who touched it between the farm and the restaurant kitchen? How many hands between the kitchen door and the waiter who put the plate in front of me?
That’s one BIG blessing!
The Apostle Paul made specific note of one woman’s legacy:
2 Timothy 1:5 (NIV)
I am reminded of your sincere faith,
which first lived in your grandmother Lois
and in your mother Eunice and,
I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Timothy was an early convert to Christianity and Paul’s cherished helper. Paul credited Grandma Lois with sincere faith that lived on in Timothy. Trace Timothy’s path through the book of Acts and Pauls letters — he was a key leader in the growth of the Christian church.
Lois’ legacy lives on in us.
Leave a trail of blessings:
Hebrews 13:16 (MSG)
Don’t take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship—a different kind of “sacrifice”—that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets.
Don’t put it off for later. Your legacy starts now.
We can leave a long-lasting legacy, and that’s good.
But that legacy is not of our own doing.
We owe it all to our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Remember this from the Ten Commandments:
Exodus 20:5-6 (NIV)
I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Over the years, I’ve seen children suffer the consequences of their parents’ sin. Children hurt by their parents sometimes hurt their own children.
Sin – punished to the fourth generation.
Love and obedience – blessed to a thousand.
Choose love and obedience, choose a good, long legacy.
Psalm 78:1-4 (MEV)
Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter insightful sayings of old,
which we have heard and known,
what our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children,
but will tell the coming generation
the praises of the Lord,
and His strength, and the wonderful works that He has done.
We inherited this story of peace and light.
We must share it with the next generation.
I’m back from a family reunion. We didn’t use last week’s word, inheritance, but the concept kept coming up. We talked about our grandparents, aunts and uncles and their good (or not-so-good) genetic, emotional and spiritual legacies.
Which brings us to this week’s word: legacy.
What legacy are we leaving for the next generation?
What will the next generation remember about us?
Psalm 145:4 (NLT)
Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim your power.
What have you told the next generation about God’s power and mighty acts? It’s not too late to start.
