What a Legacy....

Recently I had the opportunity to witness the most unique Memorial Celebration Service. A friend of mine, Marty Faw, passed from this temporal life into eternity on Friday, November 4, 2011. On Wednesday, November 9, 2011 was Marty's Memorial Celebration Service and what a celebration it was!
In my past experience of memorial or funeral services they were dismal and blah, but not this one! Marty left memories of laughter after laughter and the dedication he showed and shared of Jesus' love with others was remarkable.  Marty always had a scripture or story from the Bible that would relate to your situation that you were going through. He would make you laugh when you were making streams of tears fall from your eyes. He was quick with jokes and shined with God's love from his smile. He was a dear, gracious, giving and loving man. He was a rich man by God's standards I am sure.
This made me think long and hard about my own obedience to the Lord and those around me. I want to be a better servant for the Lord as Marty was. I desire to be used in ways that are God size and not of my own strength or power.  Marty had such a humble heart and you knew it through his prayers. I miss hearing him on Monday mornings when we gather here at work to pray.
Marty would always  be found reading a book or the Bible when he had down time here at the office or at home. Sometimes Marty would read a book more than once when it was really good.
One day, Marty and I sat here at the radio station and talked about his stroke.  He had tears in his eyes because he was frustrated that he couldn't move and talk smoothly like he use to. Marty cried because he wanted so much to be able to play the piano or his trumpet for the Lord again. He talked about how he enjoyed playing with Linda at the nursing homes because it brought joy to Jesus and others. He expressed how he was mad that his body wasn't able to do all the things that he could do before. We talked about how God would still use him and it was only a surprise to Marty not to God.
Marty wowed me with his love for the Lord. At that time that we talked, I remember thinking how I wanted to have that love, admiration, and joy for the Lord as Marty did.
God did use Marty all the way up to the last moments of going home to Jesus.
He touched the lives of the pastor, his wife, his daughter and son through those passing moments. I am almost jealous of Marty not in a malice way but in the fact that he is sitting at Jesus' feet and asking all the questions he once had while he was here with us. Marty is in his new body with no pain, no worry, no sorrow, no regrets.
After the memorial service, I began wondering what can I do to be more obedient to God, to be closer and deeper in my relationship with Jesus. I want to be so close to Jesus  that when I am at my last breath all I want is to see is Jesus; not my parents, siblings or friends.
I wondered what people would say about my walk with the Creator? Would I be remembered for my relationship with Jesus and his glory shining through me like it did Marty? Would there be someone that I helped lead to Christ?
Then my mind shifted and realized it doesn't matter.
What does matter is my personal relationship with Jesus; as it is for you too.  I have only thought about what I was leaving behind just once before. I recently found out that my daughter and grandson are moving away. This means that my influence in their life is limited, but none the less prayer works. My son, whom I love very much, and I do not talk to much; I miss terribly.  I know God has a plan and purpose for their life and will watch over them as He did in Marty's life.  I trust in the Lord with all my heart that the legacy I now have in Jesus Christ will overflow to my children and grandchild. I do not worry what I leave behind, but who I leave behind.
I pray that through my relationship with God others will see it and want their relationship to grow just as much.


♪ People get ready Jesus is coming soon we'll be going home...♪


 ~Marjorie