This week, the week of April 4th, is week 5, Chapter 5 (although I'm getting this out at the tail end of the week!). We had a great discussion Monday at Sacred Key over the first four chapters!
We camped quite a bit on the Priority chapter (Chap 4), and I challenged us all to a little project that I do believe will be fruitful for each of us and our marriages.
To preface the project we discussed the importance of vision. It is important to look ahead, sit with the Father, and see where He wants us to go in different areas (or what He wants that area to look like). Goals give our vision legs and writing down our goals brings us over 70% closer to actually achieving them. Just like the Priority Planner Linda Dillow suggests, writing these things down helps us be more focused and intentional, and more likely to 'succeed'. In Chapter 4 she asked the reader to stop, take time and write out your Life Purpose Statement. Surprisingly, many have not actually done this. Thus, our Vision Project.
Here's the 'instructions' leaving much room for creativity and the Holy Spirit to work:
- Prayerfully brainstorm something that represents you (an object, a place... a 'picture' of you and your life and/or where you are heading).
- Carrying out this illustration, bring in the Priorities in your life - the main areas that consume your time, that are important and that you need/desire to focus on.
- Illustrate these areas in a visionary fashion (both literally and figuratively). What is your vision for each area? And what 3 or more goals will bring you closer to achieving that vision?
- So an example for me could be the Oak Tree. I could draw or actually make it out of material, cardboard paper, actual bark (whatever!). The trunk and the roots would represent parts of my life, the branches, the leaves, the fruit... the seasons the oak goes through, etc. In this oak illustration, for example, I would include my vision for Family (children), for Husband (marriage) for Home, Health, Job, Spiritual (growth, Scipture memorization, etc - Church can be with this or separate), Myself, and outside the home (maybe Sacred Key, hobbies, etc) - and then at least 3 goals for each one.
- BE CREATIVE!!!
- It takes extra thought, prayer and commitment to actually think these things through and write them down and illustrate them! That extra effort will pay off as we continue sowing these seeds and become more intentional in becoming all that God has us to be.
In this project, make sure to include your Life Purpose Statement, and your Wife Purpose Statement (if they are pretty much the same then that's cool). Just a brief, concise statement of who you want and are determined to become.
We will share these at our meeting June 6th.
Our Scripture for this month was 1 Cor 13:4-7. Meditate on each part of this powerful 'all-too-familiar' passage - then replace the word Love with your name each time it is used. Then do the same for your husband. Pray in faith my friends!
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easiliy angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
I pray that the Lord is working in your heart and marriage, as He is mine, through reading this book and working through the Scriptures. Keep up the great work!!
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