How do we know God's will in our life?

How do we know God’s will in our life? It’s the question that haunts each of us who claim to be a believer in Jesus. We all want to follow God’s will but sometimes it’s foggy or distant or blurry. If you’re like me, you want clear boundaries and parameters in direction. You want to know where you are headed so that you can correctly make wise decisions.

We know prayer is an essential part of a Kingdom-person’s life. We pray to our Heavenly Father to speak to us and guide us. We want to hear his voice. We know, based on Jesus’ own life on earth, that Kingdom-people love, serve, and live humbly. Jesus’ Kingdom is upside down compared to earthly kingdoms of fame, wealth, and power. In Jesus’ Kingdom, the greatest will be servant and slave of all. The first will be last and the last will be first.

So, in the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus prays, “You will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Most of us pray that but then add, “I’ll weigh out your will and if I like it, then I’ll do it.” But how do I know God’s will? What do I need to do to find God’s will in my life?

Well, for God’s will to be done, I have to obey his instruction. Any of us that have children know this to be true. There have been moments when we taught them to change a tire, load the dishwasher or mow the grass. In those initial moments, we walked with them and interacted with them. They learned from us by being with us. They obeyed our instruction and example in order to accomplish the task.

So, to obey God’s instruction, you have to hear his voice. How in the world do we hear the voice of God? It comes in many ways. On Sunday mornings when you are gathered to celebrate Jesus as one big family of God, you hear the voice of God through the singing of praise, through the comments offered by the person presiding over communion, through the reading of God’s Word, and through the pastor offering his or her observations over a text from God’s Word. In those moments, God is speaking to you. Equally, as you interact with other people in your small group or a ministry group or even your own family, people offer insight from God into your life as you journey together. Sometimes, in the stillness of your day, you feel the Spirit of God laying some direction on your heart and soul.

But to truly hear His voice, you have to be listening. Years ago, my youngest son played high school football. The stands on Friday night were always fun, full, and loud. It was south Kansas City and the school was 6A so it was big deal. But out of all the noise that happens during a game, my son said he always heard two voices: his coach on the sidelines and his dad from way up in the stands. It’s because he had trained his ear to hear the encouragement that my voice offered during the heat of the battle.

To be able to hear God’s voice then, you must spend time with him. Compare the time you spent with God last week reading His Word and in prayer to the time you spent on the phone or on social media or binging Netflix. If you really want to hear God, you must dedicate time with him every single day. God’s voice is like radio waves…they are always in the air. You and I must “tune in” his voice to discover his will for us.

Ultimately, in order for God’s will to be accomplished, I have to be willing to let go of mine. God must become priority in life. His voice is the one you follow over everything else. His will is that you would live with him forever. He’s pursued you through all of history, eventually sending his Son to die for you. His upside down Kingdom is calling you. Your best life will take place when you answer God’s voice. So, create margin in life and in your calendar. Listen closely to those around you. Lean in and hear his whisper. Blessings on your journey.

Moat-less Kingdom.

I remember growing up in my particular church tribe. As a young boy, many men would ask me about football or band or my newest girlfriend. It was normal discussion. But then those same men would get on stage to say a prayer and suddenly, their voices would become deep and profound and speaking in King James Version. It was like they thought you had to sound a certain way to really pray to God.

But God doesn’t want that. He just wants a conversation. He just wants you to talk to him like a child talks to their earthly father. He wants you to tell him all about your victories and celebrations as well as you fears and anxieties.

Jesus teaches us how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13. In his prayer, he says, “Your Kingdom Come.” We hear that and we think “spiritual” right away. But the people in Jesus’ day thought political. It’s because to them, Kingdom of God means…well, them! They, Israel, are the Kingdom of God in their minds.

Many different sects of Jews wanted to usher in a new kingdom. One without the Romans and a liberated, restored Israel. Several of them wanted Jesus as part of their group. In John 6, it says after Jesus miraculously feds the 5000, the crowd planned on forcing Jesus to be their king. Can you imagine forcing Jesus to do anything?

Instead, Jesus’ kingdom looked very different than what Israel was expecting. In Jesus’ kingdom, he came to be servant of all. In his kingdom, the first will be last and the last will be first. It’s where the greatest will be servant and slave of all.

Jesus began the Sermon on the Mount well. In Matthew 5:3 he says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for their’s is the Kingdom of Heaven.” See, God’s Kingdom has a foundation built on love and humility. If we are kingdom people that means we are to love, to serve and to live humbly with those around us.

And Jesus’ kingdom comes no matter the chaos around us. No matter if there’s a pandemic, a lull in the economy or political unrest. Jesus is the one who brings kingdom, not anything in this world. When everyone else says “power”, Jesus says, “love and serve others.”

So when you pray “kingdom”, know that means you start loving your enemies. You pray for people who bully you. You bless those who make your life difficult. You aren’t motivated selfishly but rather selflessly. So pray it up but know Jesus’ kingdom looks very different than this world’s expectations. Blessings on the journey.

Learning to Talk.

As a Jesus-follower, one knows prayer is an essential part of our journey. But there are critical moments when we know prayer is an absolute must. There are significant decisions to prayer over like who to marry/date, what career path to choose, and where to live. Sometimes we live with an uncertain future where you need to be laser-focused on what to do next. Moments when your job is eliminated or you’re unsure of the economy. And there are difficult circumstances like a devastating diagnosis, or a spouse leaves you, or you’re battling a sense of depression and loneliness.

When these moments come, and they will, we should not be looking left or right but up to our incredible Heavenly Father for direction and peace.

Jesus shows us how to do that in the Sermon on the Mount and specifically in the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6. But first, he shows us how NOT to pray. Jesus addresses it in verses 5-8 where he describes the religious leaders of his day who loved to be very showy with their prayers. The word “hypocrisy” that Jesus uses is a theater word which envisions being an actor with an audience. Don’t be an actor.

Instead, Jesus says pray in private. Just have a conversation with God the Father. There is no “right way” to pray so don’t worry about the wording or your body position. Simply have a conversation with the God who loves you.

Jesus reminds us as he opens the prayer in Matthew 6:9 that we are praying to “our Father”. And this indicates it’s a very personal relationship we have with our God. So many times we pray as if there is a contract in place and God is somehow obliged to us. We come to him and say, “God, I’ve tithed, gone to church on Sunday, been a part of a ministry 2-3 times this year…why aren’t you granted my prayer request?”

But Jesus in opening his prayer with the word “father” reminds us that we have a father/child relationship with God. He knows you by name and your story well. So come to him unconditionally as you would your own father knowing God wants what’s best for you.

“Our Father” also indicates immediate access to God. You can go to God anytime, any place. He’s available. Although the opening indicates his home is in heaven, He’s never far away but awaits to have a conversation with you about you life and Kingdom work.

God lives outside the time and space we are confined to live which means he knows more about our story than we do. He’s already in tomorrow so trust him like you would your own father and follow his design for life. In Isaiah 55:8-9 God says, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Trust in God and follow how He’s called us to live in his Son, Jesus. He knows what is best for you.

Finally, Jesus says, “Keep His Name holy.” Holy means set apart, separate, make sacred.” It’s a reminder that God is in a category all his own. We are saying that God has no equal. There is nothing in all creation like God. So, when we pray, we are putting all things under Him and in His will. In prayer, we remove our focus from the mountains in our life and focus on the mountain mover.

Our personal relationship with God the Father comes through Jesus Christ. Start this year by recommitting to Jesus and a regular prayer life. Speak up. God wants to hear your voice. Embrace Jesus and gain access to the Heavenly Father. Blessings on your journey.

It's a Wild Wilderness!

I remember the summer of 1986. It was the summer before I went to college and my dad wanted to go on a family vacation. So he took us to see Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. He wanted to make it adventurous so he took us in the back way through the Badlands of S.D. We ended up breaking down on this gravel road and my brother and I walked seven miles to the nearest town to get help. Walking through those badlands was hot, sweaty, and long. It was not hospitable.

Sometimes in life, you find yourself in a wilderness. It’s tough. It’s painful. You feel abandoned and alone. Sometimes it’s a season of spiritual dryness. But our deepest need becomes a gift when it drives you to depend on God.

That’s what happens to the prophet Elijah after he defeats the 850 prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel in 1 Kings 18-19. He literally has this epic mountain top experience with God but one person says something that sends him running. It’s like he forgot all of the experiences in his life that showed him God was with him. That God was real. That God would protect him. That God had a relationship with him.

And some of you are there right now. You’ve had enough. You can’t take anymore. You’re exhausted and overwhelmed. The truth is a nap will not cure how tired you are. The truth is you’re spiritually depleted. You need a real, intimate encounter with God. You need a revelation of hope and loving kindness from a living God. You’re asking God, like the Psalmist in Psalms 23, to restore your soul.

In Elijah’s story, he runs away from the threat on his life but God is with him. And in his wilderness, God asks him a question, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

God may be asking you the same question. “What are you doing here? You know better! You have full access to me. You’re a child of the King. You’re part of my family. Why are you running away?”

In Elijah’s story, God asks him to come to the edge of the mountain so that God can pass by in front of him. There is a multitude of things that happen: rock-busting strong wind, earthquake, fire…but God was not in any of those radical moments. God ultimately is in a quiet whisper. And why does God whisper?

Because he’s very close…he’s near to you. He’s right there with you in your wilderness. You can reach out and hold his hand. He’s that close to you. And what is he whispering to you? “I will never leave you or forsake you. I will hold you up with my strong right hand. I will stand by you. I won’t let you fall. I will be a light for you. I love you more than you can imagine.”

So know as we say goodbye to 2020, we embrace a new story and a new year. It’s a story where God is with you no matter what you are experiencing in life. He loves you and will never leave you. Blessings on your journey.

Jesus is Immanuel!

2020 has been a rough year. For some, they lost a job. For others, they lost someone dear to them. For many, they lost freedoms we had all taken for granted. And I dare say there have been times this year you felt like you were all alone. You were walking through the valley of tears by yourself. Yet, here we stand in the week of Christmas, a joyous time of year for many who remember that God never forgot about us, his prized creation, and sent his Son, Jesus, to walk with us. Indeed, he became the ultimate Christmas gift. In his birth, we find hope for a better tomorrow.

This time of year, we hear a word. It’s incarnation. But what does incarnation mean? One description I found was this:

“In Christian theology, the doctrine of the incarnation is that Jesus the preexistent divine logos, God the Son (the Son of the Father) taking on a human body and human nature who, made flesh, conceived in the womb of Mary. This doctrine states that Jesus is fully God and fully human, joined in hypostatic union.”

Well, that doesn’t seem too helpful of a description! I’ve got an advanced degree in theology but I was lost on some of those words. Ultimately, it means God became flesh in the person of his son, Jesus.

The whole world remembers that God remembered us this time of year. God's Son, Jesus, came to earth to live among us (John 1:1, 14). But if He came, what was his mission? Jesus says it is to seek and save that which was lost. Namely, us! So, he’s a rescuer and he came to bring us life and life to the full. His birth brings us hope and his death brings us life.

So when you read of his birth in Matthew 1:23, it says “His name is Immanuel, which means God is with us.”

So when you are afraid, Jesus is your peace. When you are alone, Jesus is your companion. When you are are lost, Jesus is your guide. When you are sick, Jesus is your healer. When you are tired, Jesus will carry you. When you are weak, Jesus will be your strength. And when you feel the weight of your sin on your shoulders, Jesus will be your Savior.

Jesus birth and life is the greatest story ever told. It’s what Christmas is all about. He is the ultimate gift. So, are you going to open him this holiday? He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He’s the promised Messiah. He’s the Son of God, the Lamb of God. Jesus is the light of the world. He’s Immanuel. Jesus is God with us. Blessings on your holiday season.

Seems Always a Storm.

2020 was a record year for named storms to hit the US mainland. We had 12 named storms which shattered the old record of 9 storms set in 1916. 6 of those storms were hurricane force and did $37 billion in damage. Interestingly, in 1954, meteorologists began naming storms after their girlfriends or wives. (I make no correlation here)! But in 1979, men’s names were added to options for naming storms. In our lives, there always seems to be a storm going on.

In your life, you may be enduring the storm of divorce. You could be battling depression. The storm could look like financial distress or an extended illness. A friend of mine once told me, “You’re either in a storm, coming out of storm, or there’s a storm just around the corner.” In other words, life is a series of storms you must navigate.

However, you never allow the presence of a storm to cause you to doubt the presence of God. God is always with you. That is literally what the name of Jesus means. Matthew 1:23 reads, “They will name him Immanuel which means God is with Us.”

But there are moments when the storm rages. You can loose hope. I’ve sat with many who have said there was no hope for their marriage. They found no hope to ever locate a job. There was no hope to be healthy again. It seemed hopeless to ever conceive a child or climb out of debt.

Sometimes we blame the Devil. That’s appropriate but sometimes our storm is because of things we did. Sometimes, we spent too much money keeping up with the Jones’ and now we are in financial hardship. Sometimes we let our emotions get the best of us. We said things to people we love we can’t take back. Sometimes we procrastinated and now we are between a rock and hard place. Sometimes, it’s our fault.

But there are times we are in the storm when it wasn’t our fault. Our parents divorced and we are in the middle of the family storm through no fault of our own. The company you worked for made poor financial decisions and now you’re out of a job. You trusted someone but they didn’t show up and you were left holding the bag. Sometimes you are enduring a storm that you did not create.

There is an incredible miracle and ministry moment in Mark 4. Jesus has been preaching and teaching. He has been performing miracles and healing the sick. It’s the end of the day and he is exhausted. Jesus and the disciples find themselves at the Sea of Galilee so they get in a boat and push out to the middle. Almost right away, Jesus falls asleep. But in the middle of the night a massive storm blows up. Thunder and lightening. Wind and huge waves. Water is coming into the boat. So finally, the disciples wake up Jesus and ask, “Don’t you care if we drown?”

Jesus asks, “Do you still have no faith?” Then he stands and commands, “Peace be still”. Immediately, the wind dissipates and the waves disappear. The sea is like glass. The stars are shining through. It is still. And the disciples whisper, “Who is this that even the wind and waves obey him?” They found peace because Jesus was with them.

But peace is not found in the absence of a storm. Rather in the presence of Jesus! Jesus said in John’s gospel, “In this world you will have trouble but take heart, I have overcome the world.” My faith isn’t in what I see but in what God says. My faith isn’t in the boat but in who commands the wind and waves. My faith isn’t in the ship but in the one who made trees that made the ship.

You can’t control how big the storm is or the damage it does. You can’t control what people do to you or say about you. You can control what you believe and how to project that belief on those around you.

Psalms 46:1-3 reminds me that God is our refuge and our strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So even if I loose my job, I believe God. If my relationship falls apart, I trust God. If the economy is shaky, I will trust in God. If I feel isolated and alone, I believe God is with me. Even if a virus runs rampant in the nation, I trust God. If my candidate looses the election, I have faith in my God. I will not be afraid because my God is alive and walks beside me!

You see, peace is not in the absence of the storm but the presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords. “Look! the virgin will conceive and bear a son. They will call him Immanuel which means God is with Us.” God is with you this holiday season and beyond. Feel his presence. Call on him to direct you and defend you. He’s the greatest gift you and I will ever receive. Blessings on the journey.

Big Valley.

The year has been trying and testy. We have been challenged in our work, buying habits, school, homework, travel, church connections…well, just about every facet of “normal” life has been changed. None the less, the Christmas season has arrived! We celebrate Jesus coming to earth to live among us, create among us, die among us, and conquer all among us.

I remember earlier this year when we said, “If we can just make it to December.” Guess what? You made it! The grace of God is good all the time. But how do we experience the thrill of hope when we find ourselves in the valley.

Now, we love the mountaintop experiences with God. It’s easy to feel the presence of God when we bring our first child home from the hospital or deposit our first real paycheck from our first real job or hear from the doctor that we are finally cancer free.

It’s difficult to feel God’s presence when you’re in the valley. Moments when you receive the divorce papers or hear you can’t have children or the doctor says the cancer has returned. Or even years when you find yourself in a pandemic. So, where is God when you are in the valley?

I know this: we enjoy God on the mountain top but we do get to know him intimately in the valley. The Psalmist reminds us of some things in Psalm 84:5-7. Israelites traveled on pilgrimage to Jerusalem off and on all year long. Jerusalem sits on top of a mountain. So to get to the incredible City of David, one had to travel through the valley to reach it.

Sometimes in life to get to a place of true appreciation of God, you have to push through some pain to get to the goodness! The writer reminds us to set our mind on things of God. What you think about matters! Paul knew that and admonished us to do that very thing in Colossians 3:1-2 and Philippians 4:8. Set your minds on heavenly things, not earthly things.

You may be thinking about how you will travel this holiday season with COVID restrictions in place or how to pay for the kid’s gifts since you were downsized at work or maybe you’re facing a past holiday tragedy that you must face every year at this time. Whatever the valley you find yourself in, remember that greater is the one in me than the one who is in the world. Say out loud, “My God is going before me to prepare a place for me.” Rediscover that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you and solidify that you are more than a conqueror.

But I’m also reminded in our text the we are pilgrims…just passing through. You see, the valley is not our destination! When we find ourselves in a valley moment, remember that God will not leave you. Prepare to meet him in your difficulty. Make provision for his provision. If you prepare it, he will fill it. If you seek him, you will find him. Slow down and seek him out. God rarely reveals himself to hurried people. It’s probably why he said, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Know that God will provide strength on strength for you as you walk through your valley. We do enjoy the mountain top but we get to know God in the valley. When you feel weak he’s your strength. When you find yourself in darkness, he’ll be your light. When you are in trouble, he’ll be your joy. When you are in pain, he’ll be your comfort.

May God reveal himself to you and may you have the courage to embrace him. He’ll never leave you. He’s always with you. He is Immanuel…”God is with Us”. Blessings on the journey.

Sometimes we say we want one thing, but end up doing something different. That’s what happened to McDonald’s (the hamburger giant) in 1991. The public wanted a healthier menu item so they came up with the McLean. It was cheese burger that was 91% fat free and made up of seaweed. The public said they wanted healthy but continued to eat Big Macs. The McLean became the McFlop.

More than we hope, we live in the gap of our intention and action. What we say we want to do we don’t always get done. We want to save money but “life” happens and we spend. We want deep friendships but we don’t make the time for memories. We want a deeper spiritual life but we don’t join a small group or do our daily Bible reading or attend on a Sunday morning.

As we reflect on King Josiah of Judah who reigned about 604BC, we discover he focused on God not moving to the left nor the right. At the end of his life the text says there was not a greater king before him or after him in Judah. His story can be found in 2 Kings 22-23. So, how did he accomplish that?

Like Josiah, we have to understand the power of God’s Word and read it for ourselves. We must allow the words of God to transform us and change us from the heart out. Josiah had a profound respect for God’s Word. We must elevate God’s Word to guide us and coach us on how to live. Josiah looked at culture through the Word of God to see what aligned with how to live. If it didn’t align, Josiah moved it out of the way.

Josiah also went very public with his commitment and conviction about who God was in his life. Some of us live in the gap of wanting to follow God but hesitating. Sometimes, that’s called being on the fence. Well, Satan owns the fence. Josiah tore down all the idols in Judah so the people could worship the one true God. While we don’t bow down to a physical altar, we all have idols in our life that we need to tear down as well. God has a lot of competition.

So, you and I have to deal with the distractions that keep us from fully focusing on God and embracing his Son, Jesus Christ. Sometimes those distractions are innocent. Our kids can be the excuse we are not involved in God’s plan for our life. Not allowing our comfort to be interrupted could be the thing we worship. All the social media and digital media can be the thing that pulls us to the left or right.

Did you know the average person looks at their phone 50 times a day? 40% of smart phone users say they feel lost if they are away from the phone for only an hour. 30% of married couples say their smart phone has taken away intimacy in their marriage. We have a desire to connect to God but there are idols that get in our way.

The opposite of intentional is accidental. Don’t live an accidental life. Live on purpose for Jesus. This holiday season is a perfect opportunity to think about how you can reconnect to the King of kings and the Lord of lords. We too could have a responsive heart, a humbled life, and an outward life style that shows we serve a risen savior and him only.

May you feel the strength of the Spirit in your life. May you embrace the relationship God wants to have with you. May you live on purpose to lift up the Name of Jesus. Blessings on your journey!

On Purpose!

We’ve all had those moments when we intended to do something but never got around to it. We meant to clean up the back yard but it was easier to sit on the couch and watch TV. We meant to send thank you cards but never got to the store to purchase them. We meant to get healthy but it was so easy just to go through the fast-food drive through for dinner.

Psychologists have a phrase for that kind of action. It’s called the intention-action gap. It’s the difference between what we say we will do and what we actually do. And if you are like me, I find myself living in the gap too many times.

There is a story about an eight-year old boy who becomes king of Judah. His name is Josiah. His story is found in 2 Kings 21-23. He had ever opportunity to live in the gap but chose to follow God. His grandfather, Manasseh, created idol worship throughout all of Judah. Then Josiah’s father carries on that ungodly legacy. But we find Josiah decided…intentionally…to follow God. He tore down and obliterated all the idols and idol worship in Judah and brought his people back to God. That kind of action doesn’t happen on accident.

As we live our lives, we may find we really do want to be in God’s Word every day. We really do want to have a meaningful prayer life. We really do want to surround ourselves with good, wholesome people. We really do want to dedicate our income and material possessions back to God. We really do want to serve people like Jesus served people. But all those things will not happen by accident. You and I have to be intentional if we want that kind of life. So what did Josiah do to turn it all around?

Well, one, he had a responsive heart for God. He heard the Word of God read for the first time at age 27. It changed his heart…led him toward God. He allowed God’s Word to sink into his soul. He was a different man almost immediately. That’s called conviction. Being in God’s Word everyday will allow us to be pulled toward God and the life He wants us to live.

But Josiah also humbled himself. That’s probably the hardest thing for any human to do. To de-throne yourself and say that someone else has a better idea than you takes resolve. Jesus says in Luke 18:14, “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” So, if we are to move in this direction how do we get there?

We ask for help. Josiah asked his mentors and friends to go to bat for him. So equally, I have 5 guys in my life who I’ve given permission to ask me hard questions, to kick me in the seat of my pants when I’m not acting like Jesus, to journey with me through the good and hard times. They are men I could call at 2AM and they’d be right there. They don’t judge me but remind me that there’s a better way with Jesus.

Finally, Josiah tore his clothes and wept. That’s a physical representation of a changed heart. So too our lives should represent that we follow a risen Savior. Our lives should look like Jesus in the way we talk, treat other people, honor our spouse, discipline our kids, in our work ethic…the list goes on. The world should be able to look at your life and say, “There is something very different about that person in a great way.”

So get out of the gap and live on purpose. Be intentional about how you live your life, knowing we are here to lift up the name of Jesus. He is our hope and Savior. Blessings on your journey.

What Will Your Legacy Be?

I just started a brand new sermon series looking at the life of King Josiah in 2 Kings 22-23. He came to the throne of Israel when he was eight years old! I remember playing in the jungles of Africa when I was 8 but certainly not running an entire country. The text tells us that Josiah’s dad and grandfather did evil in the eyes of the Lord but Josiah lived an intentional life serving God and his people. He left an incredible legacy for his country and his family. In fact, at the end of his life, the text says, “there has never been another king before nor since like Josiah.” What an impactful legacy!

As you think of the future, what will you leave behind? In terms of inheritance, will it be stocks and bonds? Property? An impressive, investment-worthy art collection? As important as planning for the future is, there is one aspect that so many fail to recognize. Every day, you’re creating a legacy that will live well beyond your death. More than any physical riches you pass onto others, it’s your character that will linger long after your life on earth has ended. So, the question to ask yourself is this: what story will your character tell?

“Unquestionable character” is one of the greatest gifts that we can leave our heirs. And yet, in the focused pursuit of amassing financial wealth, far too many fail to develop honesty, responsibility, compassion, or love for God and their fellow man into the lives of their kids.

If you want to leave behind a legacy of strong character, it starts with you. The way you live is the best example, because character is more easily “caught” than “taught.” You can’t leave a greater gift than teaching the next generation how to live with integrity and unquestionable character.

Wouldn’t you like to know that your life will be remembered for more than money? What a legacy to have our kids reflect on our lives and say, “My Mom and Dad kept God in the center of our family life and it showed. They are the finest people I’ve ever known.”

So may you reflect and be empowered to leave a legacy of a Godly life. May you remove everything that pulls your attention away from God. May you focus on retelling the story of Jesus with you life, using words if necessary. Blessings on your journey.