"heredi-TEA" : an individual cuppa

We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders. (Psalm 78:4, NLT)

In the Christian faith, one is not born a Christian. Everyone comes to the Lord on his own. Acceptance of faith is not hereditary. Heredi-TEA in the Lord doesn't come through the bloodline of the parents, but through an individual's acceptance of the atoning blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. One claims faith for himself; it's not ascribed by birth.

However, God's word instructs us in several ways to guide one's children to that end: to share the goodness of the Lord; to tell of His deeds and power in one's own life; Recalling all the ways God has shown His hand.  

Legacy in the spiritual realm is a lifestyle as you can only leave what you live.

As DTS former professor, Howard Hendricks, said, "You cannot impart what you do not possess."

You teach what you know, but you reproduce what you are.
Our older son brings each of his sons to Memphis the summer prior to his kindergarten year for a “heritage trip.”  A trip to Daddy’s hometown to see us, the paternal grandparents, along with Daddy’s former homes, schools and favorite places, and a side trip to Pickwick---where his daddy spent his growing up years.

A time of one-on-one events, coupled with lots of BBQ.

May each Liles generation "set its hope anew on God,..." (Psalm 78:7)

Building relationships is key to sharing a faith that "sticks"......"so the next 

generation might know them, even the children not yet born and they in turn 

will teach their own children." (Psalm 78:6)

"Heredi-TEA" : an individual cuppa of faith served singly (one by one) by the Lord Himself.

"Prosperi-TEA for Posteri-TEA"

So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. (Psalm 71:18, ESV)

Prosperity means many things. For most it indicates affluence based on a healthy bank statement. In both scripture and Winnie the Pooh, it can indicate "milk and honey." For the Christian, prosperity goes beyond one's calculated financial wealth. Prosperity for all Christians is made up of faithfulness to and trust in the Lord----regardless of their bank statement. Most of us know believers who have eked out , scratched by and suffered "lack" most of their lives, yet lived lives of utter fidelity to God. How prosperous are they!!

A "Prosperity Gospel" imagines the Lord as a "vending machine" God. This health and wealth gospel teaches that all one has to do is believe and receive, as they ask for God's blessings. The prosperity gospel is a half-truth, perhaps less.
Yes, God is good. God is faithful and God does bless His people, but God.....the one true God of the Bible is the God who will see us through regardless of the circumstances. Sometimes blessings are obvious and it is easy to thank Him. Other times when it seems times are so hard that one is not experiencing the blessing of God, one can still trust that God is there,  just waiting for us to turn to Him, and learn that in loving Him we have life's deepest blessing.

Posterity, on the other hand, indicates a future generation of people. People who need to know the truth of God's faithfulness. Who will tell them? Who will pass on the prosperity that accompanies a life of true faithfulness to the Lord?

As Crickett teaches," God is more interested in our character than our comfort." Our faithful character will be our legacy for posterity.

If one wants to pass on prosperity for posterity, he/she needs more than a T-shirt to tell of God's truth. The whole truth will be told by their life.

Serve a cuppa of true prosperi-TEA for the posteri-TEA of the next generation.

"connectivi-TEA"

And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come. (Psalm 71:18, NASB)

iPads, iPhones, iPods, e-mail on my iMAC----so many devices to allow me to stay connected with my grands. (grandchildren) But....do they allow me the ability to connect spiritually? Maybe in the not so distant future, when I no longer have voice or possibly can't even find my brain, then hopefully this blog will continue to be a reminder of God's truth that was such a part of their grandmother's life. That's the legacy I want to leave them. A life well-lived. A life lived for God.

A cuppa connectivit-TEA sweetened with a God-filled legacy to keep my "grands" and me connected on the spiritual level in the years to come, regardless of the condition of my mind or body.

***Interestingly enough---this thought was on my mind 4 years ago today as I blogged about the "grands" visiting. Very similar activities---we even have a "tummy bug" once again. Plus, now there's another boy in the family. 

Spreading Seeds: Spitting, Dripping or Sowing

7/10/12 Watermelon---a “southern exotic” fruit which I LOVE! Can one pass on a love for such a food in their DNA? Certainly little Lucy seems to have her southern grandmother's propensity for loving to slurp this sweet fruit. A quintessential pleasure of summer in the south or in Lucy’s case, on Long Island.

Her enjoyment, so obvious in this picture, “took me back” to times gone-by of sitting on the back porch step at 2211 with a wedge of “seeded” watermelon, (there was no other kind) slurping, dripping and spitting seeds. No doubt Lucy dropped a few small seeds herself. However, love of watermelon is probably not in one’s DNA any more than one’s spiritual inclination is. We all come to these on our own. But….someone along the way sowed a seed and each of us had our first taste of sweetness, be it of watermelon or the Lord. I hope to continue to provide watermelon for Lucy and all the grands when we meet in Florida in 10 days. But more than that, I hope to be the one to continue to sow seeds of faith in the lives of all 7 of their precious souls.

Having tasted and seen the goodness of the Lord. (Psalm 34:8) I want to share all that sweetness, especially with those whom I love.