I’m going to ask you now to form a new vision.
Take out your notebook and let’s get ready to dream a little more…
How does your dream look if you are keeping Jesus and your family first, and shaving the extra time you need off the bottom of your priority list?
How do you see your dream or vision fitting in with your family’s lives? Maybe these questions could help you think outside the box a little:
Is it possible that this dream is something you and your husband can work together on?
Perhaps your man has envisioned something that he could use your help on and it’s something you both feel passionate about?
Maybe you are called to come alongside as a helpmeet and work from home to help provide some extra income?
How could your husband and/or children be involved in your vision to a healthy degree?
Don’t let my questions take the wind out of your sails!
I’m challenging you to aim for some ideals when it comes to keeping your husband and children first, but this could look different for everybody!
My husband is not incredibly involved in my ministry work online, although he does read over most things I put out, because I want to have his covering and blessing! I hope that at some point in the future we can work together more on marriage material and ministry, but for now, his role in my ministry and writing looks like this:
He knows my heart and vision better than anyone else, covers me in prayer and gives me his blessing to move forward.
I talk to him about new material and projects to get his feedback. His opinions mean more to me than anyone else, and God always uses him to bring balance to my thoughts and plans.
With my husband’s blessing, we use a very small amount of our tithe money to help pay for my website and some additional small expenses.
He helps keep me on the straight and narrow (I don’t know a better way to put this but I am prone to the loopy, crooked side-roads and over-complicating things!)
He is an accountability partner in life-balance. He is my husband so is the first to notice if I’m not putting first things first.
He sees this as an arm of ministry for our family. The majority of his ministry happens through work relationships, soccer coaching and mentorship, so he sees this as a way to reach out into the world for God through a different avenue.
Now before you go thinking: “Oh I wish my man were so supportive of me, and really cared and had MY back.” Listen! You need to know that the things I listed above really do not take a whole lot of effort on my husband’s part. And he likes it that way to be honest. It is mostly about the fact that I have his blessing, support and input when I ask for it.
WE ARE NOT PERFECT, FAR FROM IT!
But I believe God has blessed our desire to be faithful to him and his word even though we fall short, get tired, and don’t do nearly enough. We have learned that we don’t need to be perfect because GOD is perfect.
And I’ve realized that I’m going to be pouring my time, energy and effort into SOMETHING (or multiple somethings) in this life. So rather than it being a bunch of little trivial things, I would like it to be something I thoroughly enjoy, and something that helps lead women to Jesus!
And I pray that God would help open the door for something you really love and desire to do, especially if you can honor him with it!
Ok, so last question for you to answer in your notebook. And on this one, I would love for you to really take your time. Make it long. Make it detailed. If it’s still messy and rough, THAT’S OKAY! Here it is:
Given your current situation- your schedule, your marriage, and your children- what would the first phase of your dream look like if you had to fit it into the current realities of your life and your budget? Be as specific as possible.
Could you make it work without adding significant stress to yourself and your family?
Take some time, dream a little more, write down your thoughts, and see if you can start to come up with something a little more concrete and doable!
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