Monday, November 21, 2011

Teach Intentionally..."Family Time…God’s future & your future", with Stacy Davis ~ Bible Teacher and Sky Ranch Board Member


Family Time…God’s future & your future


In my years of women’s ministry and after talking to Moms, I have found that they range from spontaneous Moms to planner Moms in their own lives. I am more of a planner, but married a husband who is spontaneous and we met in the middle to raise our family. And that balance is a good thing! I enjoy looking ahead to the future and setting a goal and working toward the goal. He keeps things fun and interesting by helping our lives not be too structured. It is great…how God puts the right mix together of strengths and weaknesses in Moms and Dads for each family. Romans 8: 28 tells us that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose. (NASB)”

However, as a young Mom, it took me awhile to realize that my kids needed direction with their futures too. At 2 or 3 years old, it was hard for me to see the need to teach my kids about their future. However by the age of 5, I began to see it was useful to begin discussions of their likes and dislikes. These discussions did direct the activities that we signed up for and those activities did shape them. For example, my daughter at a young age really liked cheerleading (or at least the pompoms of cheerleading). But she did not like team sports. Those moments of testing activities and choosing the direction that she took did eventually shape her and her interests. She now is a strong leader in her school activities of student council and cheerleading… and she is willing to lead a lunch time bible study in a secular school. God really developed her desire to lead as her future unfolded. But it took a lot of praying for the future, guiding and encouraging. The future was truly in God’s hands and He shaped it. I just can’t wait to see what God does next.
This week in your family time, I would encourage you to prepare by praying about your kids and asking God how to lead your kids in conversations about their futures.  Spend time talking to your kids and just listening to their responses. Then, notice the activities that they seem to enjoy and as a group you will begin to see the right direction for each person. You may want to try writing down under each person’s name a list ideas of things to try or goals to set. Then, you can try this same listing as a family.  Brainstorm, but keep it simple at first and don’t list too many things. Try covering topics of fun vacations, educational vacations, local places to visit and community service projects for the family. And as the kids age and get closer to college, you can talk about jobs that they can picture themselves in to help them focus on degrees and college choices. You can even cover topics of friends, and their Christian community of friends.  Encourage your family with the promises that they are valuable to God and He loves them and has a plan for each of their lives.  Jeremiah 29:11 tell us “For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans  for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. (NASB)”
Do you need help or prayer for your family time?  Email me at SkyMoms@skyranch.org.
I will be praying for you! 
Stacy Davis
Click the link below for your free copy of the Sky Ranch “Open your Eyes” Family Devotional … 
This week we are in the 3rd Month Topic and 4th Family Time (or page 32 ) of the Sky Ranch Devotional “Open Your Eyes”…
Family Time 4: 
Month 3 Topic: God can do anything because God made everything…His future/your future
Talk with God: Read…Isaiah 44:24-28
~ Isaiah 44:24-28 
(24) Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and the One Who formed you from the womb, “I, the Lord, am the maker of all things, stretching out the heavens by Myself, and spreading out the earth all alone...”
In v24, what is God the maker of?
In v24, did anyone help Him?
(26) “Confirming the word of His servant, and performing the purpose of His messengers. [It is I] who says of Jerusalem, 'She shall be inhabited!' and of the cities of Judah, 'They shall be built.' And I will raise up her ruins [again].  
(27)  “[It is I] who says to the depth of the sea, 'Be dried up!' And I will make your rivers dry.  
(28) “[It is I] who says of Cyrus, '[He is] My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire.' And he declares of Jerusalem, 'She will be built,' and of the temple, 'Your foundation will be laid.'"
Walk with God: Discuss… In v26, God is telling us that He decides and causes cities to be built again, and in v28  it is the rulers who will perform His desire. Cyrus was named by Isaiah as a ruler almost 150 years before he lived. God knows the future. He has planned it and thinks about it. We are to imitate Him in our lifestyle. Do you think about your future, your family’s future? Have you considered a general plan for the next five years?
Prayer suggestion… Pray for God’s direction for your future.
Family Time 4: 
Leader Answers:
All things
No
Discussion ideas: Will everyone still be in school in five years? Are there any educational trips or fun trips that the family would like to take? Do you need to start saving money now to take them? A five-year plan can help you set goals and a way to accomplish the goals.
© 2011 Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.

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