“And this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children’s children forever. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Isaiah 59:21 NLT)
I’ve been invited to serve as both the speaker and worship leader for a women’s retreat at the church where I was formerly on staff. The retreat will take place on September 19–20, 2025. I believe the Lord has given me the theme of “Legacy” to focus on during this time.
As I prepare and reflect on what to share, I’ll be passing along some of my thoughts with you. As I’ve never been the featured speaker for an event, I would deeply appreciate your prayers—that I would clearly hear what the Holy Spirit wants me to say, speak only what I’m meant to speak, and honor God in every part of the preparation and the retreat itself.
I’m at this interesting place in life – my kids are launched or launching. I’m still young enough to have a great deal of life in front of me, but old enough to have lived a significant part of life. I come to you today not as someone who has it all figured out, but as someone who – at this point in my life – has been thinking about LEGACY. You may be thinking about the legacy of your life, too.
Legacy is what a person leaves behind after they’re gone—not just in possessions, but more importantly in impact, values, and influence.
“What we leave behind after we’re gone.”
Sometimes we think of legacy as in what property or vehicle or life insurance policy was in a person’s estate after they died. But more important than possessions are their impact and influence on our lives. It’s not just about what we own—it’s about what we’ve sown.
“What we leave behind after we’re gone.”
It’s easy to think about the legacy of a George Washington or Abraham Lincoln or J. S. Bach. These brilliant and talented men had a huge impact on their generations and generations to come. But even less famous people can have a deep impact on our lives.
Think for a moment about people who are gone from your life – maybe in death, but maybe just in life circumstances. They are no longer with you, but what do you remember or hold on to?
Let me share a bit about my own family as an example.
My mom’s parents were part of my childhood, even though they lived over an hour away. We saw them often for dinners and holidays. They cared deeply for others, serving their community and church. My parents do the same. This legacy of serving others is something I’ve chosen to carry on.
On my dad’s side, music is the legacy. My grandparents met in a high school band, my grandmother played organ, my mom plays piano for church, and both my parents now play in a community band. Music runs deep in our family.
Although not all legacies are good, today let’s celebrate the good things that have been handed down to us.
Legacy. “What we leave behind after we’re gone.”
God,
Thank you, Lord, for the good legacies you have established in our lives. Thank you for the ancestors, parents, teachers, coaches, and others who have sown seeds of your goodness, righteousness, and faithfulness into us.
We’re grateful that your Spirit remains with your children—those who seek you and serve you—and that your blessings are meant not only for us, but for our descendants as well.
Today, we praise you and thank you for the good inheritance we’ve received. We ask that you continue to pour out your blessings on us, on our children, and on the generations to come.
We pray this in Jesus’ name, AMEN.