Family Insight Guide | Day 5 |
Your family project: Achieving your mission with real impact.
“Somewhere along the way, we must learn that there is nothing greater than to do something for others.” Martin Luther King Jr.
The idea of having a mission and looking outside of yourself and your family, is an idea that is not only biblical, but is vital to building a Grace Fueled Family.
The receiving of grace from God, through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is the missional work of God to us. We didn’t deserve it, we can’t earn it, we need only accept it and extend the invitation to others.
God gave us the example of his family mission, so as a response we can follow his example of mission with our families.
In Acts 20:35 we see that “there is more happiness in giving than in receiving.” Generosity (financially and practically) is God’s currency so when we are generous, we are blessed.
A happy heart is one that gives, a happy family is one that seeks to live generously. Families on mission together have a purpose greater than themselves and serve others and add value to this world for the glory of God.
Mission will be a reflection of your family values. Your values will steer your family to the lifestyle mission that God has you on.
Have you established your values? If not revisit your values from day 4.
Do your values include missional elements? If not, how can you add this in? i.e. Be kind to others.
There is a saying ‘Charity starts at home’ The way that you act at home and the ways you train your children to act will help influence your family's missional heart.
As a family we love an opportunity to bless others. Some ways we do this:
For pocket money the kids have a give, save and spend jar and once every few months they get to decide where their giving goes. It is a joyous and life-giving time as they decide what they will give to.
We make meals for others and our kids help us make and deliver them while we pray for the people receiving them together.
Each day on the way to school Nicole prays that they will be God's hands and feet and be leaders of kindness. The kids come home with stories of how they have been able to do this.
When we encounter people who are sick, we pray, and our kids join in.
Our street is a mission field, and we are very intentional with growing relationships so we can love and support our neighbours.
Our family charity (the one we give most of our financial generosity to) is the Bali Life Foundation (Bali Life Foundation). They are a foundation with a huge heart and live to restore HOPE, DIGNITY and PURPOSE to the underprivileged children of Bali and other parts of Indonesia.
We love them because we worked with them for 3 years on the ground. An experience that was life changing for us and we desire to visit them regularly as a family, so our children can experience the realness of what an overseas mission looks like.
As part of Grace Fueled families, we also desire to run future trips to Bali Life so others can experience the good works happening over there.
Max Lucado sums this topic up well when he says -
‘None of us can help everyone. But all of us can help someone. And when we help them, we serve Jesus. Who would want to miss a chance to do that?’
Your family needs to be on mission every moment of every day, as we are called to show this world Jesus Love.
Activity time:
Have you finished your family values? If not, go back to day 4 and finish them. Make sure you have some outward focus.
List your daily/weekly/monthly practices that help to build your family mission.
Can you implement anything new or adjust something you currently do to remind your family to live a lifestyle of mission?
What charity/charities can/do you support? List them.
Do you have none? Why not research some trusted charities to support.
How can you make helping your charity a real experience? For example:
Could you plan a trip to meet your sponsor child?
Can you offer to serve at a local soup kitchen?
Can you make care packages for people struggling financially?
Can you make a meal for someone or invite them over?
