A lot of what I write about has to do with the legacy you are choosing to leave. We are all leaving a legacy; the only question is whether you are being intentional about the kind of legacy, or whether you are simply letting “the chips fall where they may.”

I have made a commitment to life-on-life discipleship. I don’t have random relationships when it comes to spiritual maturity, I have a purpose and a direction and a process that I have developed and am constantly refining.

I must admit that at times I do wonder whether what I do is working or whether I have somehow missed the mark, and yet every so often I get am allowed to see the impact it is having or can have and that gives me the motivation to stay the course. Whenever these events happen, I just chalk them up as a God ordained encouragements and take in the energy to keep moving forward.

Two such encouragements came to me in the past couple of weeks.

My 18 year old daughter has been involved in the Junior Youth ministry in our church for two years. Her key role is as a small group leader where she and two other leaders have responsibility for the lives of about 15 girls in grade 7. Every Tuesday they meet at the church in the evening. As my daughter has interacted with these girls since they started grade 6, two years ago, she has been very interested in making sure that what she is doing will truly impact their lives – she doesn’t simply want to go through the motions of meeting. Two weeks ago she came to me with an idea – she wanted to pull two of the girls aside and begin her own triad, the term that I have been using for the guys I meet with. “I want to do it just like you do it dad” she said.

She has observed me use this format of discipleship for years now. I talk about the guys I’m meeting with and when appropriate I’ll share some of the things we are learning. She has witnessed the impact over the years and wants to be part of it too. I suppose that there is nothing like having a third party observer validate what you are doing. And believe me, my daughter is not one to “go with the flow”, she has always been an independent thinker, never allowing others to influence her thinking, even her dad. If it doesn’t make sense to her she doesn’t buy it. She has been watching something that works and wants to leave a similar legacy.

Another encouragement came from an email I received recently. It stated: “I must confess I am a little envious when I hear you and many others talk about the role mentors have played in both your spiritual and professional lives.  I think I have missed out on that and see the added value to your lives.” This individual is older than I am and is someone that I am asking to come alongside someone else in an intentional relationship. They are going to step up and yet if only someone had come alongside them years ago and journeyed with them how much more confidence they might have today. It is notes like this that keep me encouraged to continue doing what I have always done. People are out there looking to be led. If I/we don’t step up and lead, who will?

And as such, you need to keep doing this as well. Develop your techniques, keep learning and refining, but above all else, don’t stop doing the hard work of discipleship. Week after week, month after month, year after year. You are leaving a legacy of lives – it’s always worth it, so be encouraged.

For the kingdom.

I attended the memorial service for my Uncle Henry the other day. It was a very nice service that honoured him in many ways as several hundred people sat in the pews of the church. I was glad that I attended and had the opportunity to speak with my cousins about their father and our memories growing up.

As a pastor, I have participated in many funerals over the past 9 years, both leading as well as an attendee. As I reflect on each of them, in a way I have discovered that attending funerals has become something of a spiritual discipline for me. Strange yet true.

Funerals, if you let them, will always ground you. They will remind you, if you let them, that your life too will come to an end. They will ask you, if you let them, to think about your own legacy and what people, especially those closest to you, will say when they stand up at the podium or engage in conversations during the meet and greet time. They will cause you to think about, if you let them, your eternal state and the conversation you will have with God when you enter into the heavenly realm. They will humble you, if you let them, as you realize that many of the things you are chasing after are really a lie and will never provide you with the happiness that you think they will. And they will energize you, if you let them, to give your life to something so much bigger then yourself, something that will scare you, move you out of your comfort zone, and yet be so enticing that you can’t help but move to engage in.

Spiritual disciplines can take many forms. Yet I must always remind myself that they are disciplines. It may be nice to avoid funerals as much as possible because they make me uncomfortable, and yet I would then miss out on the growth that can take place.

So it is with scripture, prayer, journaling, solitude, mentoring, etc. Just because you don’t feel like doing something doesn’t mean you should avoid it. It was said about Jesus in Hebrews: “Who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” We discipline ourselves because of the joy set before us.

And this is what you are to model to those you are walking alongside. As Paul reminded his followers, “imitate me.” When you lead someone you are asking them to imitate you. No, you won’t be perfect, but don’t use that as an excuse. If you don’t lead others, who will? You do have something to offer, never forget that.

Engage in your disciplines, no matter how strange or difficult. Be blessed and be a blessing and one day you will hear “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into your rest.”

For the kingdom.