"Papa, Papa." The boy pointed to a stack of twelve stones as he yanked on his grandfather's tunic, "What do these stones mean?"
"Oh, Jacob, let me tell you a story about our Lord's hand of deliverance . . ."
After forty years of pitching tents and digging graves, the children of Israel finally crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Before God let them loose to replace manna with grapes and lukewarm water with milk and honey, He commanded them to build a curious monument out of twelve stones:

Now when all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, "Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe, and command them, saying, 'Take up for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet are standing firm, and carry them over with you and lay them down in the lodging place where you will lodge tonight'." (Joshua 4:1 – 3)

Once the men had hauled the river stones to the designated spot, Joshua explained their purpose:

Those twelve stones which they had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. He said to the sons of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What are these stones?' then you shall inform your children, saying, 'Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.' For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the Lord your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; that all the people of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever." (Joshua 4:20 – 24)

Trust me — no child treated this heap of stones like a jungle gym. These formed a visible memorial of God's enduring faithfulness. They were "legacy stones." Sitting on the banks of the Jordan River that day, the Israelites learned an object lesson on how to create a legacy. Think for a moment; where are your physical reminders of God's legacy in your life? This passage in Joshua prompted me to think of three words.

First, CREATE. God wants us to go to the trouble of establishing historic markers. Notice I said, "Go to the trouble." Creating legacy reminders is not easy. These were big stones. They needed to be chosen, hauled, stacked, and then maintained as a lasting reminder of God's faithfulness. Now, your historic markers may not be stones. Maybe you'll create a plaque with a statement about God’s character, or start a prayer journal with His answers permanently scripted in ink, or frame a handwritten copy of your salvation experience. But, whatever you decide, it will take creative thinking followed by intentional and deliberate action.

Second, REMEMBER. God cares about our remembering Him and what He has done. Memory is a wonderful thing, but it fades as time passes. God doesn't want us EVER to forget what He has done or who He is. Unfortunately, we remember our failures far more than God’s faithfulness. We remember tragedies and forget about triumphs. Physical reminders of His provision help us refocus our thoughts on Him when we lose a job or go through economic downturns. Monuments of His mercy comfort us when our children are rebellious. Reflections on His character give us courage for the future.

Number three, IMPART. God cares that our children remember Him and what He has done. It's at home where life makes up its mind, where life underscores its etchings. God is deeply concerned that the next generation learns about Him. That happens best through us. The story about my grandson and his five stones in this newsletter is a perfect example of passing down truth through tangible memories.

Before leaving on long trips or family vacations, Cynthia and I would usually pray in the car with the kids. It became such an expected practice that if we took off in a hurry, one of the children would pipe up, "We forgot to pray!" We'd pull over immediately and settle the issue. Of course, right after we said, "Amen," one of the four would snap, "Are we almost there?"

Children learn by repetition. I don't know how many times our adult children, now with children of their own, ask, "How many times do you have to say the same thing before they get it?" My answer is always the same, "More than you wish." You have to do it over and over until it's a habit. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a lasting legacy is worth a million. CREATE . . . REMEMBER . . . IMPART . . . Do you have any legacy stones in your life right now? If not, it’s time to create a few. That’s why I am so excited about our newsletter theme for 2004: Creating a Legacy.

Each month this year we will help you create a legacy in an area of your life. And we're going to help you with a handy bookmark. It'll be a physical reminder to: 1. Create. You'll establish a legacy stone of your own in conjunction with the monthly theme. 2. Remember. We will provide verses and quotes to help prompt reflections on God's character and His works. 3. Impart. You'll learn to pass on your legacy to your family or close friends. Oh, and one more thing. Be sure to write or call us with your story. We want to know what your answer will be when someone asks you, "What are these stones?"

Join us this year as we create legacies to pass on to our loved ones. To get started, take some time to ponder what God has done in your life. Think about:

-Your salvation experience
-How you met your spouse
-How you came to live where you currently reside
-How your children came to be
-Your career
-Your church

See if you can trace God's guidance in your life in each situation. Look behind the scenes to see things you haven't noticed before. Then spend some time thanking God for His hand in orchestrating the circumstances that have led you where you are. Pray for His continued guidance. And don't forget to read our February newsletter, where we'll learn to leave a legacy of love.