Monday, January 7, 2013

HOW TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEW YEAR AS A FAMILY

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 
 
 
BENJAMIN WRITING
 
 
BRITTNI BUSY WRITING
 
 
ALIVIA PEN AND PAPER IN HAND
 
 
ALIVIA'S GOALS/PLANS FOR 2013!
 
BRITTNI PONDERING HER GOALS
 
 
MY SUMMARY OF THE LAST FEW YEARS BEFORE I START THIS NEW YEAR!
 
 
2013
 
ONE DOOR CLOSES...ANOTHER OPENS!
 
I pray God leads the Baxter family to the edge of some cliffs this year. We need to learn to trust Him fully and let go!
 
I also pray the same for you!
 
I have always instilled into my family that the Lord has a huge plan for us as a family and for us individually.
 
God desires for us to DREAM= a desire in your heart for more of what God has for you!
 
God has a longing for each of us. When we just take the time to write goals and visions for the year we allow God to help us organize our thoughts... which are really His thoughts.
 
Then when the time is divine we can embrace and pursue the open doors through out the New Year.
 
God has placed within our hearts a perfectly-fit God sized dream and this is part of our life purpose. This purpose will lead to more joy, meaning and hope in our lives.
 
I tell my family that everyone has a GOD-SIZED dream. If you think you don't you just haven't discovered it yet.
 
I think its important to keep a log of goals and desires as a family. This allows us to communicate with one another and most importantly God.
 
Communication opens the doors to New opportunities.
 
This past weekend every family member had a chance to share some goals and visions they desire in certain areas of their life.
 
My husband and I still stand amazed at the opportunities and needs that became very clear after this vision meeting time!
 
The Lord showed us needs, desires and plans to grow more successfully into His will as a family and individually in 2013.
 
My son shared a desire to really know God more this year and not just go through the actions but to experience God in very real ways for himself. My husband  decided that night that they should start a weekly bible study together to help them grow together in this new season of desires for Ben.
 
I was able to share my personal goals of writing and publishing my first bookstudy for women by June 2013. I was also able to discuss more of my ministry visions to the family. Sometimes they only see mom doing the "mom things" but never understand what goes on with my own personal desires. I am excited for my kids to see more opportunities open for me as I travel and speak more in 2013 at my church and many other churches and or events.
It feels good to speak this to the family.
 Especially on days when I am writing silently all day for this book to come to pass! I am glad I shared the vision because the celebration will be that more exciting as a family.
 
My husband shared his desire for us to pursue the Financial Peace class as a family to learn to budget and handle our gifts of money better in all areas of our life. This class will start end of January!
 
My daughter Britt shared her desire to RUN more this year! I pushed her to run 3 miles with me this past weekend!
Oh of course when you share goals we then as a family can push each other toward a plan of action!
 
Alivia shared her favorite bible verses from 2012 and also many favorite memories and ended with her goals and challenges for 2013.
 
Lastly, we discussed how to LOVE better as a family! We tend to get a bit harsh with each other so we decided to try to relate and take a bigger part in each others lives this year and really care for that persons needs instead or our own.
 
My Pastor Brad Powell stated this:
 Without unity...marriages, families, businesses, communities, churches, nations...fall apart. Sound familiar? This seems to be the norm in our world today.

Unity requires unselfish commitment...the willingness to surrender self-interest for the good of others...for the good of the whole. No wonder most relationships in this world are falling apart. We're a world devoted to self-interest...not unity...devoted to getting for ourselves not sacrificing for others,
 
We need to take time to learn about each other this year as a family. How about you?
 
I love to see my children LEARN to write goals down.
The lord teaches us in Habakkuk chapter 2:2 to write down the visions (goals) make them plain on paper and then run with them in the year to come.
 
Writing things down allows God to send you revelations to match your desires. When you hear and discuss goals from everyone in the family then as a team you can help discern revelations for each other.
 
I feel as a mother this is very important in helping shape your children for their future.
 
This year will bring many victories along with many struggles. I pray that we can always reflect on our visions and goals throughout the whole year knowing God is working everything out for our Good.
 
I want to encourage you to have this time with your family. I handed each child a sheet a paper that was titled 2013 goals/plans. I gave them examples of areas to dream about.
Spiritual Goals
Physical Goals
Relational Goals
FAMILY GOALS
School Goals
Areas of their Gifting Goals
 
This really opened doors of opportunities and needs! Have fun and don't miss the opportunity to HEAR God in your family.
 
Lastly, I have a few worksheets below to step it up in your personal life.
I challenge you to DREAM LOUDER and BIGGER with God this year!
A more effective door will spring open if you take the time to focus, learn and listen.
 
Here is HOW TO: DREAM BIGGER:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dream Big Friends