Tuesday, December 25, 2012

2012 Family Verse & Vision


I've been asked to write a bit more about our Family Words, Prayers, and Visions. It's a nudge I need,  as we realized if we want to capture these in print for the blog, I need to write a post rather than simple listing in the sidebar.

I first saw this post  (or one similar) from Ginger about a year ago. Ginger explains she chooses an annual "prayer verse" for each member of her family. She prays this verse throughout the year into that person's life.

We adapted and for the first time in 2012 chose a FAMILY PRAYER VERSE (because coming up with 11 was too daunting for me and I didn't want to wait a year while I collected individual verses).  This verse has been prayed into the lives of those Gherkins living in both Japan and  America. I believe we've seen God answer in each of our lives.

Michael and I also discussed a Family Vision for 2012. 

Mission Statement has come to mean a statement of purpose, reason for existing

Vision Statement defines what we will look like as we walk out our mission.

 An example of this would be my personal mission statement:
"My goal in life is to passionately love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I endeavor through teaching and mentoring relationships to lead others to an extravagant, lavish, passionate, whole-hearted, love of their life. It is my goal to truly love others."
Through the years this has shortened to four words: Love God ~ Love Others. I suspect one word would do - LOVE - but I wanted the wiggle room of "teaching and  mentoring" to be included.

I also have a yearly memorial stones a personal annual vision as it were:
"Grace, Holiness, Delight, Choose Joy, Contentment, Surrender, Intimacy"
I will walk in joy as I love....I will walk in surrender as I love....I will rest in grace as I love...

I have been doing this for years in my personal life and for ministry groups. Michael has been doing this for Chapels.  After reading Ginger's post, Michael and I decided to implement both a family prayer verse and a family vision for 2012.  I had thought I'd write about them, but life has been too hectic. However, both have been in the side bar as reminders to Michael and I.  We've reminded each other, prayed about it. As for that family mission statement....we know what it is; but we're still working on how to best summarize it....we hope to get it "right" before Stacia graduates. LOL
2012 Family Prayer Verse: "And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." Luke 2:52
2012 Family Vision: Walking Worthy - "...walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light." Col 1:10-12
This began as a personal practice, transitioned into a couple's practice, and this year it is fully a  family practice.  Michael and I prayed about a verse and vision for 2013. We also made it a topic of conversation in family circle and asked the kids to pray about it. We agreed on both and I'll share as we enter 2013.  Michael and I will be more intentional on keeping the verse and vision before our kids this year....through devotions, discussions, blog posts, read aloud selections....and whatever other means the Holy Spirit quickens to us.

Since the selected family vision incorporates the word I was thinking for "my word," I'm now wondering if that's the way it's meant to be or if word number 2 is my word.... ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

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