Amber Bolton leaves a trail of glitter wherever she goes—quite literally! Not only does glitter fall out of her Inspire Bible, but more importantly, her faith shines beyond the pages of her Bible into her life. Amber enjoys expressing her faith in the margins of her Bible as a creative response of worship. She colors and paints, hand-letters, and—you guessed it—adds glittery and sparkly things. Amber’s love for the Bible is an inspiration as she reminds us what is most important: spending time with the Lord in his Word. It’s a grace to welcome Amber to the farm’s table today…

Guest Post by Amber Bolton

Legacy. It’s a heavy word. It’s what others will think, feel, and believe about us after we are gone. A person’s legacy speaks to how they invested their time in this one short life.

For followers of Jesus, leaving a legacy of faith is essential. We want others to see our faith in action so they’ll remember it long after we are gone. A faith legacy inspires others to live out their faith boldly too, sometimes for many generations.

The legacy left inspires me to think about what kind of legacy I want to leave.

Think of the legacy of faith left by those you’ve known. How has it impacted your life? Was it someone in your family? A friend? Someone from church? An acquaintance?

I think of Joshua leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. Paul writing from jail to tell others about Jesus. My friend Rufus, who lived a life of integrity, laughter, and quiet humility.

The legacy they left inspires me to think about what kind of legacy I want to leave.

James 4:14 says, “Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone” (NLT). That certainly puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?

Daily demands and never-ending to-do lists often hold me captive. My mind tends to be on this moment. I’m not thinking about the long term. I’m not thinking about eternity while I’m running errands or doing laundry.

I want to inspire others with my faith. I want my life to matter to this generation and beyond.

But I’m not interested in squandering this life.

There is a tension in my heart to live in the moment but also to create a legacy. I want to inspire others with my faith. I want my life to matter to this generation and beyond. How can I do that if all I can think about is taking out the trash and making sure all the bills are paid?

When I feel overwhelmed in the day-to-day, I stop and breathe. I place my hand on my heart and feel air go in and out of my lungs. This reminds me that I am alive. My quick morning fog may still be there, but I have a shift in perspective. I can move away from the daily grind to living out my faith legacy.

A significant way I’ve chosen to live out my faith legacy is by creating in the margins of my Bible.

There are so many ways to engage with and respond to God’s Word. I enjoy creative Bible journaling because it slows me down and allows me to tap into my childlike heart.

I remember what it was like to be a little kid sitting on the floor with my crayons and coloring books. Carefree and creative, I would color inside and outside the lines. I used my stickers generously, and I was present in the moment.

Creative Bible journaling is like that for me now. It’s a breath of fresh air and a reminder to stop and take a moment to connect with the Lord and express my creativity.

I’m inclined to overcomplicate everything! Maybe you can relate. Bible journaling allows me to let go of all the responsibilities and distractions in my life. I can set them aside and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to me as I read my Bible and respond creatively to what I’ve learned.

I enjoy using colored pencils, stamps, paints, and stickers to express what the Lord is speaking to me through his Word. I also have an app that pairs with my Bible (it’s called the Filament Bible app) to help me dig deeper into Scripture. It is filled with Bible study resources, videos, devotionals, worship music, and more. I find the Filament Bible app to be one truly great resource as I’m creating in the margins.

Let’s give ourselves permission to grow our faith each and every day

Being caught in the tension between the “right here, right now” lifestyle and the long-term dream of leaving a legacy of faith is challenging. I often have to stop, take an inventory of what fills my days, and make sure I am prioritizing actions or habits that build up my faith.

The dishes may be piling up and the notifications on my phone may be endless, but taking time to sit in the Word and create in the margins helps me focus on legacy. It helps me build my faith so I can live it in the day-to-day. Slowing down to color and create gives me a chance to reflect on the Word.

In Isaiah 55:11, God says, “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it” (NLT).

Creating an everyday habit of getting into the Word matters. We can trade in the cleaning brush for a paintbrush and read God’s Word. It all adds up over time.

My legacy is not built on my toughest days, it’s built in the daily habit of soaking in the Word.

My faith is strengthened during those few minutes of Bible journaling. My legacy is not built on my toughest days, it’s built in the daily habit of soaking in the Word. It takes shape as I create a lifestyle that invites the Holy Spirit into my day. Let’s give ourselves permission to grow our faith each and every day—and I’d recommend using a few art supplies while you’re at it!

The Bible I’m pouring my heart into? It becomes a legacy piece that will tell my faith story. My goal is to have one Bible for each important friend and family member in my life. I want them to read my prayers, look at my illustrations, and be inspired to grow their faith too. I want to leave a legacy of faith and inspire others to do the same.

[ Our humble thanks to Tyndale Publishers & Inspire Bibles for their partnership in today’s devotional. ]