Post-It Note Love: Follow Up

How is Post-It Note Love going for you? The days that I make time to encourage my wife with a note of encouragement starts us out on the right foot, but more importantly it makes my wife feel valued, encouraged, empowered, and loved, which is my mission as her husband.

 Here is a story of an all-star husband using Post-It Note Love to bless his wife.
Rick writes... “I simply had the house cleaned for her by a cleaning lady... made dinner, got her flowers.. pulled out the two poems I had written for her.. had candle light dinner with wine for her, had christian music playing and had 52 post it notes around the house letting her know 52 reasons how she was special and why I loved her... all ready for her when she got home from work...”

 I love it! This is exactly the kind of thing that we want our homes to be filled with.

 Ephesians 5:25-28 says... “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loves the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkly or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives....”

 This verse is a great reminder that as a husband my mission is to daily uplift my wife so that she may be radiant. Post-It Note Love is just one way to do this...

 Send me your Post It Note Love stories to share how God is using it in your marriage. Get creative, have fun, and keep Living a Legacy!


 Click HERE to read the original Post-It Note Love post.

Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children...”

Be Joyful Always - 1 Thess 5:16 - part 3

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

 I think it is important to understand the difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is an emotion that is a response to the ever changing circumstances and events that surround us. Joy is the reaction to the consistent, persistent, unchanging and never ending love of Jesus Christ. Regardless of the circumstances, joy remains. Joy is a result of God’s love, and because God’s love is unchanging, consistent, and never ending, our joy will be also. Thus, allowing us as followers of Christ to be joyful always. Joy is rooted in hope, hope is rooted in love, and God is love. Happiness and sorrow may come, but our joy is never ending.

 So being joyful always isn’t a naive assumption that we need to be on top of the world all the time, but rather that our actions and thoughts are rooted in the one stable thing in this ever changing world, the love, salvation, and abundant life that comes only from knowing Jesus Christ. (Jesus put it best when He taught the parable of The Wise and the Foolish Builders in Luke 6:46-49)

As Paul was persecuted and imprisoned, he said “for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned teh secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.” Phillipians 4:11-13
These are the challenging words of a man who has true joy. He knows that what is most valuable to him can never be taken away.

 What things are you doing/thinking that keep you digging down deep and building your house on the firm foundation of God’s love, hope, and joy?

Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children...”

A Legacy of Prayer: Kay Pistek

Earlier this week I posted about the power of prayer in our daily routines. This legacy story reflects that perfectly. My good friend Scott Behrends wrote this legacy story about his grandma. The life that she lived and the example she set in prayer still challenges him today.

    Some of my most memorable childhood memories involve spending weeks during the summer at my maternal grandparent’s house. Often times many of the numerous boy cousins close to my age would also stay over. I cherished this time even then- but now I realize how it truly shaped me and blessed me. My grandpa would take us fishing or we’d play sports in the backyard together. When we were tired, we’d raid the freezer in the garage for frozen goodies then go back at it! 

   My grandma went to be with Jesus about a year ago now. My aunt shared a story at her funeral I will never forget. She had asked her mom how she was able to remember all the names - and birthdays- of all the kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. This doesn’t seem like a large task until you are in an amazingly blessed family with 95+ people. My Grandma’s reply was her legacy … “Well, I go down through the families of you 9 kids and pray for each person every night.” When I heard that, it literally took my breath away. Every night my grandma prayed for me, her grandson, one of 95 in her family. 

    This has challenged me to spend more time on my knees or in the word instead of on my computer before bed. I realized how much neater it would be if my boys would remember images of me praying or reading the bible rather than sitting by the glow of a screen. I thank God for the memories of my quality time with my grandparents, and for the time my grandma specifically spent in prayer for all of us.

Pray Continually 1 Thess 5:16 - part 2

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 

   As men striving to Live a Legacy for the Lord, I feel we are called to be ready every day, and be disciplined in our routine. When we start our day with time praying to the Lord, reading His Word, and memorizing his Word, we are looking into a mirror that holds the image of who God has made us. Daily reminding ourselves of who God has already made us to be puts our hearts in a place of adoration, passion, and desire that consequently helps us to talk with Him throughout the day, to pray for others as God puts it on our hearts, to act in the giftings He has given us, and live in the power of the Holy Spirit He has put inside of us (Ephesians 1:13-14). I think that praying continually really means being in constant communication with God, both talking and listening. I have found the most important key to this is how I start my day. The start of a race can mean everything in the outcome, and each day is no different.
  
   As I conduct band rehearsals each day, I continually find that the first five minute of rehearsal sets the tone for the 45 minutes that follow. It can be the difference between a productive focused rehearsal, or a disorderly rehearsal with nothing gained at the end. The first 5 minutes of our day is no different. It is the beginning of God doing greater things than you could ask or imagine in your life, using you to share the Legacy of Christ, that it may resound through generations.

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.” 

Is your day starting off in a way that puts you in constant communication with God?

Proverbs 13:22 "A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children..."

The Legacy of a Father: Steve Hinderhofer

My friend Steve sent me a copy of this letter that he wrote to his Dad, Steve, on his birthday. What an awesome way to dwell on what he is thankful for, and pay tribute to the legacy that his father continues to leave on his life. This goes to show that as dads, siblings, or whatever it is, God can use us to have an amazing impact on the lives around us from the little seemingly insignificant things to the big things. Thanks for sharing Steve..... 

 Steven John Hinderhofer is a great man, loving father, encouraging friend, and husband. This is his legacy in my life. My dad is a regular guy with some very special qualities. Here are a few things I remember from growing up. 

1. When we used to go to McDonald’s, sometimes he would buy and extra small fries, just so we could eat them on the way home. 
2. When we were kids dad managed a gas station and he would take us to work and buy us Munchoes before we went home as well as a few more snacks. We would always sleep on the way home because we were usually up at 4. He always got us home safely. 
3.  When we were playing baseball as kids we would play doubleheaders on Saturday. During the summer it was about 1,000 degrees on some of those days and I was the catcher, sometimes catching both games in between the innings he would always have a cold wet towel to hang around my neck and would tell me really positive things while I sat in the bench to cool off. In between the games he would let me just sit there and bring some food and gatorade over to me. 
4.  My dad worked at a church while we were in high school and the beginning of college. Each Wednesday he would set up the chairs and tables at the parish center for the seniors who would come and have lunch and play BINGO. He did this every week. There must have been 40-50 eight foot tables and 200-250 metal chairs. I remember this only because I hated doing it. Setup and tear down sometimes took place in the same day and happened every week. He cared so much about those seniors, that all the chairs were set up right and that place was clean. Thomas and I were always reluctant to help, but we did, and I am glad we did. There is some legacy lesson in there about making things right, being consistent and serving others. 
5.  In 1994 I was involved in a bb gun accident that would eventually result in the loss of vision in my right eye. I remember going in for surgery one of those first times and being as scared as I had ever been in 12 years. He held my hand and I cried. He cried too. We were both scared. He taught me it is ok to be scared. 
6.  I was taught to drive by the best driver. I don’t drive here much in Iowa, but it serves me well when we travel to Mexico and navigate the streets of Tijuana. 
7. My dad disciplined us and we are better because of it. 
8. My dad taught me how to mop a floor. I love mopping. He also taught me to do the dishes. I don’t love doing the dishes. 
9.  My dad took me to my first met’s game. He taught me where to park so we wouldn’t have to pay $10. He also knew the guy on the field box level. We used to give him $20 to let us sit down there. I'll never forget how green that grass was. 
10.  After the bb gun accident, I had to stay home from school for three quarters of my 7th grade year. We loved the horses, so dad set up an OTB account where I could call in and bet on the races before my tutors came to the house. Boy was that fun. 
11. Belmont Race track was always a fun trip. Horse poop smells fantastic. The excitement is second to none. 
12. When I headed to college I had a chance to walk on and play some baseball. My dad came to every game that he could make and sometimes twice on weekends. I wasn’t even playing and he would come and hang out, talk with the guys. They always enjoyed him coming down to watch and cheer. 
13. After I decided to come to Iowa to pursue further education, he drove 18 hours to get mom and I here safely. That sure was a long day! 

Proverbs 13:22 "A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's chidren..."