Leaving a Legacy of Faith (Part 2 of 2)

Your aim that the Lord tarries and there are seaborne children.

50 years now I have a dream that they will still say I'm thankful for Dan who passed on his way to his family and I will be said about me were all dying to know you my love affair, so when we die eventually lead to our children.

Things that really matter that is the heart of it all. When we died. Those final moments that last breath to be thinking about is will our kids. The face forward will be meet us in heaven one day.

What else is going to matter at that point. That really is the essence of this message that we are continuing today on Focus on the Family with focus, Pres. Jim Daly I'm John Fuller and this really is a thought-provoking and energetic message from Dan seaborne sure is John last time Dan shared with us the importance of being deliberate about passing our faith to our children and is using an analogy from the study of biology about the lifecycle and how reproduction occurs and the question is are we reproducing our faith are we passing it on to our children. Dan seaborne is a much sought after speaker, former pastor and the author of winning at home tackling the topics that confuse kids and scare parents and you get a copy from us directly, where the proceeds go right now is Dan seaborne on focus on. My grandfather supposedly is in his twilight, I say is in this most significant teaching years of his life.

About 10 years ago willing to visit him. I keep his little hat in my office in my office he would see his name is Jay.

He wrote a rod in his hand so he would forget to get up.

I will have on the first shelf. When you walk into my office, you will see it along with his Bible.

Several other men in my mother's Bible. My father's Bible. Several great mementos with this to was the 19th big grandpa so cool you know little peppermint sticks absorbed want to make sure that no matter the age or stage.

I get to I keep teaching about Jesus Christ what you think I like this while in office rollover missile not long ago I was going through a tough situation rolled off his chair over his head up. I don't always do this, but on this particular day I said Lord grandfather Jesus knew what grandfather they were really close grandpa do grandpa's past. All now I remember the first Sunday I preached I used his Bible first Sunday after he passed away. I did it not only to honor him but it was the first time. Grandpa never heard me preach because he's in heaven looking down and he taught me a lot if they Jay said don't you ever stop teaching when we know all something for grandpa Noel. I know they opened his mouth and said and I think I'll teach you see when we know and we teach.

Let me go to 6 o'clock ready when we know and we teach that I know there is there is a transition. Dan seaborne is standing on this date send this message in the right now because grandpa said I know I and now I sit here and say I know Jesus Christ as my Savior. Not because my grandpa, but he told my mom told I would leave same way, how do you know they now can you tell when the children are learning about God and really know about God. Well, I got rather simple little place. When they start imitating Jesus Christ.

We see and do something that looks like Jesus I family too much. I'm guilty. I'm Mr. Guild right you cooling your father leaves the rest of the place we see Jesus and stuff like that could do that again more often. I think that would be more like Christ will hold M out of the office or whatever Jane usually knows and if our children do anything at home. That's like Jesus. The rule is called dad so see what else he was out of the blue is exactly what will happen. She will call me up to say that I know your busy meeting whatever. What is well today so and so think they did this site.

All my friends get the kid on the file say you know why Sagan I want to give you. What do you know when you say say to them. Hey son or daughter that reminds me of what Jesus would do.

And Danny is real proud and I'm proud of you you I love you too dad I see when I get home I give you five okay that why because all my gear is all my life is very name of Jesus. And when we see each other know what is in the family are brothers and sisters in the Lord instead of being jealous. We celebrate somebody else's acting like Jesus Christ. And when we teach, and then they know they keep see that keeps the spiritual cycle of the family going. It's been interesting for me because you always learned me talk about my grandfather a lot today.

Don't talk about your dad very often. You know, with all due respect to my father. We did not have the greatest relationship growing up. My mother was a prayer warrior wonderful woman godly woman who prayed for me on Saturday mornings right outside my bedroom window drove me crazy. See prayed for me. Every Saturday morning, early, early, and every day. But that particular day.

She chose to do it out loud by my bedroom window because it was a day like this to legally, my father and I didn't really miss and I I looked at that circle and I thought me.

It hurts me that he's not in my mind really connected with me in the circle that was grandpa and then with dad. It was really tough.

Now we Dan. The Lord spoke to me during a family life conference sedan is time for you to make arrival. Your dad and I went to the fourth floor seminary Western seminary will place I like the study of fourth floor window model upper room.

A call that I was looking out at the cross on the Hope College Church and I penned these thoughts to my father that I said Lord, wisdom, practice hi dad, I know you don't usually get letters from me, but I think it's about time you did sitting in my flavorless by the library town where love the studying as I sit here I find myself recalling a lot of talent remembers time, James Porter, my dad's good friend was playing football with Billy my brother trying to jump over him because my brother and dad.

I was fine. I can still remember the time you plan my basketball goal and rip the room down trying to help me. It drove me crazy that I got a lot of good memories about stuff and then that I have some that are so fun to but I'm thankful that both of us have God's full forgiveness for the things that we both probably wish it never occurred but the main reason I'm writing you today. Dad is let you know I love you.

I have always wanted you to be proud of me.

I know it's not like you to say that kinda stuff that I tell you love me and I believe that you believe and I want you to know I believe in you too dad.

I love to see the closeness you and mom are having now you look like two kids sometimes. I love it. I'm thankful for the fact that you stayed together even when it got to I write a few more things. Something personal to say here and then I said dad please keep praying for me. I will always seek to love and follow Christ. Thank you for teaching me discipline, hard work and service because he did that. I'm convinced those ingredients help make me the man the Lord has made me today. I pray this little letter makes your heart bubble over with joy. Dad it does mine just arrived. I love you dad and I'm glad your mind and assigned it. Danny folded the letter up. I didn't let anyone read it, put it in an envelope and I mailed it to my dad on Micah Monday.

My parents call me every Saturday or Sunday.

I can wait for Saturday hours.

Dan Scott call he's going to be popped. Were going to be like high school. How Saturday came no phone call he's getting excited. He's waiting for Sunday worship out of getting pumped and then he will call me Sunday came call Sunday afternoon. My mom first typical mom to son conversation. The greatest and preach like you. You're the best son calls feel like you think about little negative.

Negative sign that wasn't on okay hey dad, a sign, how you doing this week that good. Anything exciting happened know pretty much the same stepson really thereby doing okay here my voice that I hey dad, thank you guys for calling. Okay see you as is. Let my heart went from here when my room cried over that again.

The sender Jane. I bet the Postal Service didn't get it. That's what it is. Next, wait till next weekend so I live through the next week waiting Saturday no call son hey mom hey son son you are to live again like you. My grandkids are mutable. Love you too mom you are some else in some money came on dad there areas hasten jokingly know same old stuff. Really, thereby doing good good that my headaches.

Thank you so I want this circle to include in so few more days past.

I came home from a speaking engagement. As I recall, I was laying on the accounts found in the sun, sunroom and Jane was just talking with me just sharing a little fun stuff together and the phone rang. It wasn't a Saturday or Sunday. Remember, Jane came in with the cornerstone said honey it's your parents really is on another call during the week cool Saturday since mom gradients can learn a lot about you. She faces the whole spiel and then I heard another phone along the line and mom and dad have only gotten himself a to phone connection you had an overseas South Carolina last let me in on why weigh a lot. You are mixed up and down. Hey mom, both mom talked for a while and then I heard her put her hand over her receiver say Joe, don't you forget to mention that U government board game so so I said dad you there you tell good week going anything need them all about the same in anything more data I got that letter you sent me you did that, did you like it I like that boy. He said I want to know what and I put it in my box of most valuable possession that dad yeah I love you my eyes change you and Nancy like it will still box. Then we watch as video leave in your will wear that box is I want to see it was like all of a sudden all carriers would like all you know you my amazing what I know you know is 3736. Whatever was divine. Your dad is years old. You and you will and you will Jesus Christ know tell you some fun is no running or when just a few days ago we left my little home in six my dad cries all the way over the worries walking to the Farm Bureau, so no softer and I know a lot of people are afraid for me.

Then I would restore our relationship and new know who you are and you for a long time but it's I can tell the grandkids a he's in this sorry I'm southern, and one day we get to that big family reunion in the sky. I believe it's going to look a lot like this little Russian doll little little children that we've raised will be tucked inside this thing that we call family that God gave to us.

They're all unique manner, all different colors all different, all different personalities and God's gonna say okay Dan Seymour couture handed out number the Gouverneur Morris Lord Lord James got some I did I'm sorry Lord I failed her many times and Lord. Look all the way down all my tune.

I wasn't perfect messed up. But Lord, I want to, which is checking now evaluate my life. See if when it was my turn to teach Lord how did I do when my grandpa's like up in the head of the line like up there.

His name J when he's up there when he has to like. He and his like that, probably be back over your someone will go long on the blowhard homerun line 90 when I stand on the kids with me and Jamie. I love to hear some little grandkids and great grandkids going God is good grip on dad's screams of those little grandkids in the background could be so excited that my family is behind me is when it was my turn, I passed it right on to and everyone of us sitting in his doing to not know what stage you are you.

We teach go doing okay. Go to Google give all you God for the glory of God, so that when she returned to say I made a difference for Christ and that's what will happen in today's presentation from dancy born on focus on the I love the word picture then gave us their job presenting our lives and our family to the Lord in heaven for his inspection. That's intimidating and if you want that moment to be a good one. We need to concentrate on ordering our priorities well. We need to spend time with our kids. We need to keep the eternal things first, and it is so important to applaud the good things that your children do catch them doing something right. And if were busy and distracted head down on her phone or watching TV when I cannot notice godly behavior. We need to engage with our children to nurture those good things.

Those godly attributes and we also need to remember that her kids are watching us, and act accordingly they will model our behavior much more than we might like that is so true, and certainly this is been time well spent thinking through legacy and long-term goals for parenting and I trust our listeners have been encouraged to get beyond the challenges of the day and all the little things that tend weigh us down as moms and dads lift up your eyes and look down the road and and look toward passing that baton of faith on that's well said and let me encourage you to get a copy of dancy born's newest book. It's called winning at home tackling the topics that confuse kids and scare parents in the book. Dan teams up with credentialed members of the winning at home staff to provide a faith-based perspective on some of our culture's most complex topics like mental health, interpersonal relationships and successfully parenting adult children get your copy from Mr. Focus on the Family, where the proceeds go right back into her ministry to help more families thrive and Christ will send the book to you. When you make a donation of any amount as our way of saying thank you, yeah. And unlike other booksellers we include free audio download of dancy born's entire presentation when you get the book from us.

So please donate generously online and request those resources.

Details are in the show notes forgive us a call for #800 K word family have a great weekend and be sure to join us on Monday for insight, wisdom and encouragement for grandparents coming into some strength and this is what we can do is grandparents at work and on the sidelines were ready were sated naming mom and dad on here, but when we were cowed by Lewis or whatever they Coliseum where fresh or not.

I do nothing about that race and the key things that we can come with fresh strength on behalf of Jim Daly and the entire team. Thanks for listening to this Focus on the Family podcast appreciated. Take the time to waiting for us in your podcast interviews so you can let others know what you I'm John Fuller inviting you back next time. As we once again help you and your family thrive.

Focus on the Family we know you want to see your grandchildren follow Christ that the legacy grandparenting summit, the only national conference on Christian grandparents coming over 100 locations on October 20 and 21st. You'll find wisdom, direction and inspiration from speakers including Graham Lotz and Miles McPherson. Register now for the legacy grandparenting summit@legacycoalition.com/summit