Values What is most important to us

values What is most important when lost in Northern Canada? A ball of steel wool A small ax A loaded.45-caliber pistol Can of Crisco shortening Newspapers (one per person) Cigarette lighter (without fluid) A ball of steel wool A small ax A loaded.45-caliber pistol Can of Crisco shortening Newspapers (one per person) Cigarette lighter (without fluid) Extra shirt and pants for each survivor 20 x 20 ft. piece of heavy- duty canvas A sectional air map made of plastic One quart of 100-proof whiskey A compass Family-size chocolate bars (one per person)

values Focus on Waiting for Rescue 1. Cigarette lighter (without fluid) 2. Ball of steel wool 3. Extra shirt and pants for each survivor 4. Can of Crisco shortening x 20 foot piece of canvas 6. Small ax 1. Cigarette lighter (without fluid) 2. Ball of steel wool 3. Extra shirt and pants for each survivor 4. Can of Crisco shortening x 20 foot piece of canvas 6. Small ax 7. Family size chocolate bars (one per person) 8. Newspapers (one per person) 9. Loaded.45-caliber pistol 10. Quart of 100 proof whiskey 11. Compass 12. Sectional air map made of plastic

values What does this illustrate? Your mission depends on your context. What is important depends on what your goal is. Your mission depends on your context. What is important depends on what your goal is.

values Genesis 2:24 “a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh”

values Values and Marriage You and your spouse come from a different background but are becoming one. God has brought you two together for a mission unique only to you. (Don’t be some other couple) If you find out what God has made most important to you, you will begin to see His mission for you. You and your spouse come from a different background but are becoming one. God has brought you two together for a mission unique only to you. (Don’t be some other couple) If you find out what God has made most important to you, you will begin to see His mission for you.

values Values – Why do we do what we do? Values dictate what is most important to us and what we refuse to budge on “lines in the sand” For many years God led you on a path to shape your values separately Now He is bringing them together. Values dictate what is most important to us and what we refuse to budge on “lines in the sand” For many years God led you on a path to shape your values separately Now He is bringing them together.

values If you had to choose? Due to political unrest the entire village of Blue Creek is being evacuated. You only have time and space to take 5 things to start your new life elsewhere. What would you take? Due to political unrest the entire village of Blue Creek is being evacuated. You only have time and space to take 5 things to start your new life elsewhere. What would you take?

values If you had to choose? You just heard that you have cancer and only 3 years to live You no longer have time to do everything you do now What will you stop doing and what will you put your energy towards? You just heard that you have cancer and only 3 years to live You no longer have time to do everything you do now What will you stop doing and what will you put your energy towards?

values What do you want to be known for? Instead you both lived for another 40 years Imagine that you and your spouse just passed away. At the funeral each of your children decided to buy something that symbolizes something important to you. What would they buy or make that would remind them of what you were all about? Write down on your “values sheet” the values these items represent in you. Instead you both lived for another 40 years Imagine that you and your spouse just passed away. At the funeral each of your children decided to buy something that symbolizes something important to you. What would they buy or make that would remind them of what you were all about? Write down on your “values sheet” the values these items represent in you.

values Timeline Divide a piece of paper into 3 sections. Childhood, teen years, and together Write down your fondest memories on the timeline. Place it near the top for really good or near the line for just okay Divide a piece of paper into 3 sections. Childhood, teen years, and together Write down your fondest memories on the timeline. Place it near the top for really good or near the line for just okay

Childhood Teenage YearsTogether Our Wedding Teaching Job Vacation to Canada First Car Hiking with Dad First day of School

values What do these events tell you? Which events made you feel like, “I was made for this?” How come? How about the rest of them, why are they important to you? How did this event shape you? Which events made you feel like, “I was made for this?” How come? How about the rest of them, why are they important to you? How did this event shape you?

values Homework Continue to fill out the value sheet Write down what is most important to both of you. Tomorrow we’ll pull it all together and discover “our mission” Continue to fill out the value sheet Write down what is most important to both of you. Tomorrow we’ll pull it all together and discover “our mission”

Mission Why did God bring us together?

mission Where are you going? If you don’t care where you are going then any road will do…

mission Esther 4:14b “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” - Modecai to Esther

mission God raises up people Joseph – to save his family Moses – to bring Israel out of Egypt Solomon – to build the temple Daniel – to witness to the Kings Nehemiah – to restore the wall

mission What is a mission statement Answers, “Why did God bring us together” What is our unique contribution we have been called to make? Short enough to fit on a T-shirt Motivational

mission Theme Hunting Pull out your “Values Sheet” Group your values together by different colours If something is really important circle it more than once Write a 3-5 word phrase summarizing each grouping Is this an “end” or a means to an end?

Friends Family Relationships Ministry Having an Impact Eternal Significance Personal Growth Life-Long Learning Minimal Fitness Spiritual Growth Going to Church Relational Intimacy Personal and Spiritual Growth Helping Others Grow

mission God-Centered We cannot divide our lives into our part and God’s part – all of our lives are drenched with the supernatural and God is part of all of our lives. This journey we are on is really a journey with God.

mission Personal Growth Central to our mission is that we ourselves are growing and are not satisfied to stay as we are. Growth is holistic – spiritually, intellectually, socially, mental, and physical.

mission Helping others grow We want our lives to make a difference. We believe that God has given us special gifts and abilities to help others grow in their spiritual and personal journeys.

mission Authentic Relationships People are important to us! We do not want to be alone, neither do we want to turn all of our relationships into ministry transaction void of true friendship, instead, we want strong relationships where we can be ourselves. Of greatest importance are God, then each other, then family then friends.

mission Giving our best In the end everything we do is for God so we want to give God our best efforts in all that we attempt. This value is applied in work by doing our best, in finances by being good stewards and being generous, in relationships by being our best and in spirituality by giving up sin and living a life devoted to God.

mission Rest We believe that God wants us to enjoy life and not just burn ourselves out. Rest includes such activities as TV, biking, games, story, sleeping and just having fun.

mission Write your mission statement Create a slogan that captures your key values in one statement Need to be short enough to remember Needs to be you! Examples…

mission Moses “Draw out God’s people”

mission Joshua “Bring God’s people into God’s rest”

mission Nehemiah “Rebuild the wall”

mission Jesus “To seek and to save the lost”

mission The Apostle Paul “To preach Christ where he has not been preached before”

mission Chris and Cory “We are on a journey of becoming and we are inviting others to join us”

mission You

mission Tips: Keep it short It should cover your larger life not just this year. It should motivate you enough so you get up in the morning Don’t cover the how’s (that comes later) Make sure it is you!

mission Homework Polish off your marriage mission statement Polish off your values

SWOT Analysis If we were adding another session I would put SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) in here.

How are we going to get there?

How will you get there? A mission statement is useless if it collects dust. We have to make choices or we will just drift through life.

Why Plan? Mt 25 – Stewardship of our lives Gen 2:24 – Part of going from being two to being one Surrender of the will to God

Wild Ideas If I gave everyone a blank cheque got someone to cover all your responsibilities What kind of things could you possibly do to see your mission fulfilled.

Life Projection Go back to your life chart If things continue as they are what can you expect from your future (Status- quo) What if you focused your values, what could you expect to see.

Values Lived Out For each of your values write down What would you look like 20 years from now if you lived it out? What prevents you from seeing that reality? What can you change so that reality becomes real?

Authentic Relationships To deliberately take time to build strong and authentic relationships between God, then each other, then our family, then our friends. Combines values relationships, giving our best, helping others grow This relates to our mission in that we cannot invite others to join us unless we have people involved in our lives

Authentic Relationships Plan Weekly date between each of us Weekly visit with family and regular visits to interior BC Become a “great” uncle and aunte Make our home safe for friends

Helping Others Grow Embrace (or create) environments that will invite people to take another step in their spiritual journey Serve in Belize Speak at Conferences and Retreats

Spiritual Growth To have a thorough knowledge of God’s Word applied in a daily intimate relationship with God. Daily: Read the Bible every night Weekly: Study together for 1 hour a week Quarterly: Evening of Prayer and Planning Yearly: Go on retreat for reflection, prayer, evaluation and planning

Homework What are 3 things that you can do in 90 days that will make 50% of a difference