My Grandmother passed away over 30 years ago but she left behind a living legacy that her great-great-grandchildren enjoy today. Fifty years ago, she planted an apple tree and today that apple tree produces hundreds of pounds of apples. We ate fresh apples, apple pie, froze apples, made gallons of applesauce and cider and hardly touched the apples on the tree.

The reason I'm mentioning this is because tomorrow is Tu B'Shevat the Jewish New Year for trees. Some people follow the custom of planting a tree on that day, others make it a point to eat lot's of fruit to celebrate the good things that God (and trees) give to us. I would encourage everyone that can to plant a tree. For $20 or less you could leave a living legacy that your great-great-grandchildren can enjoy. This year I'm planting a Peach tree and 3 1/2 years from now, when my son eats a fresh juicy peach, he will remember that cold day in February when we planted it and thank God for the wondrous things he has given us. What a blessed Holy Day!

What a great idea. I've planted many trees in my yard and my parent's yard. We're enjoying all of the satsumas and juicy naval oranges that we can eat. In spring I'll have my 3rd crop of peaches. Who knows, maybe my pear tree will yield fruit this year. Then there's the japonicas, the ornamental fruit trees, and the 2 magnolias that came with the house.

Don ! WOW! That is wonderful...It is also a wonderful idea....

Peace to ya

Well lets try this again! I had typed a long post and bam it was gone! So I had to wait until tonight to repost it. Anyway Don this is a really good idea! What a neat tangible thing to leave behind for all to enjoy the fruits of your labors!

I have been thinking about the whole legacy thing for sometime now. I don't know if it is an age thing or what but it is something that I have pondered off and on for several months. What kind of legacy do I want to leave behind? How will I be remembered? What did I leave my children and my grandchildren to come? I pray that I leave them a Godly Heritage! I pray that when I am gone that they can say she was a woman of Faith, someone that loved and feared the Lord!

I know that I have shared this here once before but it seems fitting to share again. For many years I had searched for a verse that I could claim as my Life verse! A verse that characterized how I wanted to be remembered like. One afternoon a few years ago my 93 year old grandmother had came to visit me. I guess she was probably about 91 at the time. We sat and visted and like so many times before she would break out in a poem or story. This day as she wept she quoted this verse to me!

Psalm 71:17-19

17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. 18Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

Wow! As the tears began to stream down my face I knew this was the verse I had searched for hor years!
I said thank you Jesus! Lord this is how I want to be remembered! A woman that was taught of the Lord from her youth.

A mother, wife, daughter and friend that declared the wondrous works of the Lord! A lady that continued to seek the Lord even when she was old and greyheaded but even then it did not stop there! That even in old age that I would show the strength and power of the Lord to the generation to come! Yes dear Jesus this is the Legacy I want to leave!

I have attended 4 funerals of close friends and a aunt in the past few weeks. So this subject is close to my heart. I thought a few days ago that the song Legacy by Nicole Nordeman is one that I want to be played a my funeral. I pray that I leave this kind of Legacy!

Legacy

I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
At such'n'such ... it wouldn't matter much

I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl'
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthly list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well Done" good and faithful one...



Don thanks for another way to leave a lasting and living legacy!

Your Friend in Christ,
Val
Messiahiscoming

That's great, you're blessed with being able to keep them alive. We used to have a pecan tree that produced bumper crops of nuts, and a few apple trees. The only close pecan tree to ours died, and ours quit producing enough nuts to even go looking for them. My horses ate the apple trees. Not just the apples. The whole tree! All of them. (They weren't very big, but they did make apples.) We still have so many trees on our family's property that even after twenty plus years of culling, cutting, and turning them into firewood, that we still haven't thought of planting any. If Mom says "That one's ugly.", that means it's firewood, and boy, do we have a lot of ugly trees! Storm damage, mainly. Maybe we'll get around to planting some pretty trees before long. I hope so.

In Christ, Angela

There is another kind of tree, another kind of living legacy that you can leave behind.
I know that you have planted this kind of tree Val, for you have encouraged me many times and God only knows how many others you have encouraged. That is your treasure and your legacy.

If you have encouraged one person and saved them from death, only God knows how much fruit that tree can bear. They may encourage and share their faith with 10 others, who in turn will encourage and share their faith with 10 others and soon you have a mighty river of faith.

Be encouraged Val and rest assured that you have left a beautiful and lasting legacy and I know that you're not done yet, you will continue to lift up and encourage many, for that's just who you are.

I love you brother! One of these days here or on the other side I cannot wait to

give you a great big ole hug!



Your Sis,

Val

Messiahiscoming

Val... I too instantly thought of this song when I read Andonaicole's post.

I think it is a marvelous idea! You are truly loved, Andonaicole.

Thank you for the encouragement jhamner, you have moved me beyond words.
You are a beautiful, shining example of lifting up your brother with love. We all need to love one another, the time is too short to speak harsh and discouraging words or quibble over differences of opinion. If any have been guilty of harsh or discouraging words, do not be discouraged, for we have all been found guilty, but God has given us the great gift of forgiveness. Come and I will show you the way, as I pray.

Glory to God in the highest.
Lord, I humble myself before you with great fastings and prayer, on my knees begging for your forgiveness, for I am a sinful man. Teach me to do good, to plant seeds of hope and love, to be a shining light placed on your lampstand, that those in darkness may wonder at the light and see your glory. Let healing for the body be found in my hand and healing for the soul in my mouth. Fill me with the compassion of Jesus, who so loved us that he laid down his very life, that we might have hope and forgiveness. I pray that I might encourage others as Val and jhamner have encouraged me. Thank you Lord for all the wondrous things that you have so generously given us. Thank you for letting our eyes see, Your kingdom come, Your will being done.
Glory to God in the highest.

Hello. I am having dificulty posting on here. I tried to introduce myself in the intro section but was unable. I would like to learn about bible Prophecy. Unable to post in that forum as well.

Welcome Barnabas,

You can learn plenty about bible prophecy on this forum, I have. I don't know anything about the technical problems you are having but maybe one of the moderators could address that. I hope you enjoy this forum, there are many strong believers.

Welcome, Barnabas,

I think you have to make so many posts before starting topics, perhaps 20? It's in the info thread for new members. Until then, just join the discussion!

Your sister in Christ, Angela