Noble Call Weblog

Summary of the Strategic Leadership Summits

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 09:13:00 GMT

It has been my joy to be a part of this strategic leadership process over the past five months. Over 500 people have collaborated in the development of a noble plan that will support ATI families in building the foundations of many Godly generations. This is only a summary of the collaboration process and the initial plans for a support network. The details are taking shape and will be presented at the Regional ATI conferences this summer. The following is just one of many testimonies from the Strategic Leadership summits.

Dear Mr. Hogan,

What a weekend! I’m a changed man today because of the word of God, the spirit of God, your ministry, and the brethren encouraging me. It really all started on a Wednesday a few weeks ago when I began to cry out to God concerning my relationship with my children. I was so discouraged that I felt like giving up. That very afternoon my son called to tell me he had a personal conversation with Mr. Bill Gothard and that he would be calling me back that night. Mr. Gothard was so encouraging and was speaking right were I was at that time. I knew God was showing me that he cared for me and my family. The next day Mr. Gothard’s email was encouraging me to attend one of the Strategic Leadership Summits. As I sat at times with my mouth wide open listening to you speak at the Maryland Summit I was able to hear someone put in words that which my heart has been trying to say for years! My wife and I were highly impacted. And I was so blessed for the times you came up to us at the break and spoke to us with such a joy and freedom! We have signed up for ATI next fall and are trying to make it to Nashville next month. I know God is touching families today and thank God for these ministries that are busy about equipping the fathers. “Behold, I have received a commandment to Bless, and he hath Blessed and I cannot reverse it!” God has blessed my family, and I believe it is just the beginning.

God Bless you!

Father from Georgia

Summer Conferences

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 07:47:56 GMT

Be exhorted, comforted, and charged in your Christian walk and as a family. Attend an Advanced Training Institute regional conference and develop the skillful art of wise living as a person, partner, parent, provider and proclaimer.

Additional Details…

That's My King

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 06:24:56 GMT

The late Dr. Shadrack Meshach Lockridge (March 7, 1913 - April 4, 2000) presented an incredible message describing our God and Who He is. Although God can't be described with just words, this is an inspiring message that makes us rejoice in our King. This will be one of the most exciting six minute messages you will ever hear.

Transforming into a Noble Partner

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 13:20:21 GMT

Idaho Character Foundation Hosts Marriage Conference

Dan and Kathryn Pinkerton along with the Idaho Character Foundation sponsored a Noble Partners Marriage Conference in Post Falls, Idaho after attending one in Dallas last fall. They invited many of their friends and employees but also opened it up to couples in the Northwest. I quickly became aware of the fact that there were many couples who were considering separation or divorce and this was a last ditch effort to rescue their marriage. Some of the couples gave a testimony at the end saying, “I had no hope coming into this conference but I am leaving with enough hope to make the changes necessary to develop a noble marriage.” There were other couples who needed a breakthrough to get them to the next level of oneness in their marriage.

Breaking through into Intimacy

One couple who needed a breakthrough was Phil and Sherri Janzen. This was the first marriage conference they had attended in their twenty-two years of marriage. Sherri had been praying for just such an opportunity but Phil was preparing for the spring farm season. When it rained for three days he began to think that maybe God was trying to get his attention, and he figured he might be able to collect some money from a customer who lived close by. They drove seven hours to attend and Phil became a little restless sitting inside when he is used to the many activities of farm life.

Standing on the Rock

Phil decided to take a run during one of the breaks and found a trail that led him down into a flowing stream, a place where he could contemplate his life, his marriage and hear from God. He spotted a tree standing on the rock ledge and saw how it’s roots had traveled along the rock face to find soil into which it could find nutrients. He felt God telling him, “Stand upon the rock and drive your roots deep into My Word.” He had been experiencing a lot of frustration and anger with his business, his children and his marriage was in a desperate need of revival. Sherri and Phil had fallen into the combat cycle of criticism, despising, defending, and withdraw. I had shown a power point, which explained the combat cycle and Phil could plainly see where his marriage was and where it was headed. God began to break through years of hardness as Phil became more and more willing to walk in the light with God, to become transparent and honest, authentic and sincere.

Confession leads to Communion and Union

Phil came back to the conference and kept to himself until I exhorted an engaged couple to maintain their purity by drawing on the power of the Holy Spirit to keep them separate during their courtship so they would then know how to draw on His power to keep them united in marriage. I mentioned that many couples allow lust to bring them together during courtship and dating and drive them apart during marriage. After exhorting this couple Phil jumped up out of his seat and confessed that it would have been his desire to start off his marriage in this same way. Phil continued to share what God was doing in his life that afternoon and Sherri joined him as they confessed their need for a fresh start from God. The couples prayed for Sherri and Phil and Anne sang a blessing over them.

A Fresh Start

The next morning when we had breakfast and took a walk with Sherri and Phil to see the site where he had met with God in solitude, Sherri said that they had been up late talking, repenting and preparing for a fresh start. She was so overwhelmed with emotion because all she had prayed for and all that she could not even imagine or think was beginning to happen.

Transformation of a Noble Partner

She was watching her husband transform from a normal man who comes, sees, conquers and retreats into a noble man who comes, calls, clothes and connects. Sherri watched Isaiah 66:2 come to pass in her husband’s life that night, he became broken and contrite and trembled at God’s Word. Just as God regards and draws close to such a man so do their wives and children.

I received a couple of e-mails from Sherri and Phil when I got home from this trip. Here is what Sherri wrote:

Experiencing Oneness Like Never Before

My husband and I have found a complete spiritual breakthrough and are experiencing a oneness that we have never experienced in our 22 years of marriage. We have been in ATI since 1994 and my husband is the head of our Family Support Network group that meets in Salem, OR, yet was resisting the grace of God in his life to overcome the attacks of Satan. Now, he understands his identity in Christ in such a real and meaningful way. We experienced such a time of cleansing and forgiveness on Saturday. God’s goodness is now overwhelming our whole family and me. We had the opportunity to have breakfast Sunday with Chris and Anne and went on a walk with them through the woods and God spoke so clearly to us through them and the testimony of their lives. It was wonderful to have those 2 hours with them before they had to leave. My husband and I had all day Sunday to drive home and spent so much of the time reading the Word and praying and confessing and asking God for more revelation and strength. Then this morning he called of the children together for a time of confessing a praying and the children forgiving him and us for not having the marriage that God wants for us. We have a new energy and excitement that I haven’t experienced for a long time. We praise God for his goodness and how his truth and mercy can conquer sin and evil and we can be victorious!

Making Progress 2 Weeks After the Conference

Chris, Thank you so much for the impact that you and Anne have had on our lives. Almost 2 weeks, and we’re still doing great! We’ve had many opportunities to continue growing in Christ and growing in our oneness with each other. We have been doing spiritual warfare and it’s sometimes hard, but the victory and hope we feel is definitely worth it! God has sent other couples into our path already to minister to and Phil has had the opportunity to talk to each of the children and is making a lot of progress in relationships there as well. Thank you so much for caring about us. Your willingness to share your lives and what you have learned has been a great blessing in our lives.

God bless you, Sherri Janzen

To find out more about a Noble Partners Marriage Conference Click Here

Big Sandy ATI Conference

Thu, 10 May 2007 21:44:10 GMT

Opening Ceremonies

Each year the Alert Team opens the conference with a rousing patriotic theme. They are an inspiring sight of what God can do when men give themselves fully to the service of God and mankind.

Singing in One Accord

One of my favorite parts of an ATI conference is when families sing together in harmony. I caught these two sisters singing together as they practiced and those of us who were backstage thought it was a CD that was being played. The glory of the Lord rests upon those who have a perfect heart, one that is fully yielded to Him.

Praying in One Accord

Families spent a day of delighting in the Lord which included:

Asking God to open spiritual eyes.
Enjoying a jewel from God’s Word.
A search for wisdom from Proverbs.
Turning scripture into prayer.
Identifying their most pressing issue
Outlining history’s greatest sermon.
Sharing exhortations.
Getting alone for personal study.
Learning how to delight in God’s Word
Delighting in Scripture more than in food
Learning the rewards of waiting on God
Develop the skill of waiting on God
Enjoying the sweetness of silence.

Families were given the opportunity to have communion at the end of a day of delighting in the Lord. We were able to enjoy the power of one accord as we loved one another with a pure heart cleansed by God’s Word, a good conscience from experience forgiveness during communion, and a sincere faith that comes from removing hypocrissy form our lives.

General Sessions

We enjoyed many excellent messages that exhorted us in our faith. Anne and I shared on The 6 Barriers to being in One Accord We had the opportunity to put it into action an hour before our message. I had just purchased a new van and we figured out that we spilled raw milk in it on the way down to Big Sandy. The smell began to get stronger each day with the heat of the sun and the humidity of Texas. God motivated me to take the time to learn it at a deeper level before sharing this key message with others. I have been using this tool as a means to getting to the root lies with accuracy and speed so we can help people take their vain imaginations captive and rescue them from the ocean of emotion. Anne and I were able to come into one accord within 45 minutes and then speak to an audience without having time to practice, or even look at the power points together.

God’s Deliverance

Because the process includes crying out to God for Him to deliver us, God delivered us from the smell of raw putrified milk when a man came up to me afterwards and said at the prompting of his wife, “Would you like for me to professionally clean your carpet with a commercial machine and use enzymes to help eat up the protein that is causing that smell?” I was thrilled and he did it that night. The next morning I had to sit in my van to do a coaching session on the phone and I could only smell a hint of it and it was enough of a reminder to thank the Lord for His deliverance. Anne had her opportunity to practice when I took her through the process weeks earlier in a moment of crisis. I look forward to making this information available through an article. In the mean time you will be able to purchase it through IBLP’s website.

Gary Smalley

Gary shared from a life of experience the greatest key to success in life. He was a credible messenger who shared with great authenticity and transparency.

Alert Cadets

Childrens Institute

Pre-Excel

Fellowship Around the Campsites

Maintaining a Mobile Ministry Mindset

Thu, 10 May 2007 22:18:10 GMT

Mobile Ministry Mindset

I Enjoyed the Variety of 13 Beds in 28 Days

April 11, 2007 I left my bed in Springfield, Illinois

April 11-12, 2007 I Spoke at the Dad’s Conference on “How To Go From Zero to Hero”

The meal times were as exciting as the sessions. God’s Spirit directed our coming and our going as we willingly allowed Him access into our each area of our lives.

Ken Pierpont enjoys the conference sessions with his sons. Many fathers brought their older sons to experience the power of men meeting together with God. This must be why God set up a system of gathering the men together on a regular basis throughout the Jewish year for men to be renewed in the worship of God and in their love for one another.

Bill Gothard taught on the history of the House of God going back to Genesis when Jacob experienced God at Beth El. The men experienced the power of being in one accord and enjoyed the presence of the Lord during our worship.

April 13-14 I Spoke at the MACHE (Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators) Conference

I was given the privilege of sharing three messages at the conference. It was a true joy to see all the men attending with their wives. The three messages I shared were chosen by Mrs. Watkins, an organizer of the conference. I started in a room of around 500 and it became standing room only, then they moved me into the grand ballroom of what I’m guessing was over 1,000 and it was standing room only. The next day I shared a message on Courageous Conversations to a crowd of around 2,500. I asked Mrs. Watkins her thoughts on why there was such an interest in the homeschool community on messages such as those I spoke on? She shared with me that people have focused on academics and have realized that their relationships are suffering due to a lack of balance.

My three messages were:

Becoming Somebody or Containing SomeOne? Three Things We Cannot Fail To Do As Parents Or All Our Efforts Will Be Rendered Inconsequential
Fruits of a Balanced Early Education Devleoping Four Types of Intelligence
Courageous Conversations Resolving Your Most Pressing Issues while Energizing Your Greatest Relationships”

I spoke on behalf of Noble Call Institute but enjoyed working in the Advanced Training Institute Booth explaining the joy of raising up Ambassadors for Christ. ATI is an organization that helps fathers disciple their families by using Wisdom Books which expound on the Sermon on the Mount. All learning is based around the Bible and the character of Jesus Christ. The vision of ATI is to build the foundations of many Godly generations by turning the hearts of fathers to the children and children to their fathers in order to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

April 15 I Spoke at Church with Pastor Watkins and his Family

It was a joy to equip families in the skill of having a courageous conversation. We focused on making sure your content was in agreement with your intent so you will experience fulfillment. The three elements of content and the associated importance on clarifying intent are:

Words 7%
Tone 39%
Non-verbals 54%

April 16 Arrived at the South Campus of the Indianapolis Training Center

Our children get to experience a guerilla education opportunity. They learn about he fine art of milking goats and caring for their offspring. Josiah got the chance to work with Kim Whitten in the wood shop making bunk beds for the Institute in Basic Life Principles. Each child was able to participate in the life of the Shipley family who has graciously watched over our flock twice now when Anne and I have travelled for an extended period of time. Our great joy is to know that Mr. Shipley will lead them in morning devotions each morning keeping them focused on the main thing, Jesus. Mrs. Shipley works hard to keep them focused on homework in the morning and then they get to do the wonderful chores unique to a training center.

April 17-18 Anne and I stayed at Dan and Kathryn Pinkerton’s home

Dan taught me how to take my family devotions up a notch. He currently is having his family listen to a KJV Dramatized version of the Bible on tape and going following along as they go through the Bible in a year. He then reads a page from the Daily Success E-mails he receives on the 49 commands of Christ, and finishes up with a short reading about character from the Power of True Success book that describes the 49 character qualities of Christ. They have incorporated many wonderful scripture songs that they intermingle into their devotions.

April 19-21 Anne and I spoke at the Noble Partners Marriage Conference in Post Falls, ID

This conference was unique in the number of couples who were separated, contemplating separation or ready for divorce. We were amazed at God’s intervention that was due to the intercessors who volunteer to pray for those who attend the conferences. We introduced some new content that seemed a little disorganized and yet God moved in spite of our weaknesses. You can see more testimonies under the weblog entitled “Transforming into a Noble Partner”

April 22 We Returned to the Pinkerton’s

April 23 Trained Coaches at the Courageous Conversation Coach Training

This is becoming a favorite training workshop. One husband wrote, “The time was extremely valuable and to the point. You have really given me the tools to acccomplish what I’ve been spinning my wheels on for a long time – hearing one another’s heart. We are excited about the living this out in our own family and shariing this with other couples and families we minister to as well.”

April 24 We arrive back home to a Welcoming Party

April 24 Back Home for a Few Days

My brother sold my van for me so we had to quicly purchase a new van. I decided to finally purchase a trailer so we would have more room in the van. This also provides a back seat for me to lay down when we do all night drives and Anne relieves me during the hourse of 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Josiah got to come with me to pick out a trailer, our goal was to find what we needed and get the best quality for the best price. He learned about researching the best quality, and negotiating for a fair price. Josiah was in on every part of the process.

Josiah went with me to purchase the things we needed to outfit the trailer for our customized needs, like a hanging clothes bar.

We Enjoy our Noble Family Fellowship

The men at Noble Family Fellowship are a great support to my family. We hold each other accountable in our relationships with our wives and families and with God. Many of us meet on Monday mornings in my upper room which is above my garage for discipleship. Eddie King and his wife Diana have been a great joy to our fellowship this past year, he has taken over much of the teaching on Sundays with each of us adding a word of wisdom or a spiritual song. One of the conditions for joing Noble Family Fellowship is that a couple gives one another the freedom to call another couple of their choice to help them work through the stages of nobility in marriage. We also ask every man to lead his family in communion on a weekly basis during the fellowship time. Our men are growing mighty in the scriptures, fervent in spirit, and noble in character.

April 30 Stop in Springfield, MO. to Visit Our Mentors

Ginny and Alec Wade mentored us as a young couple and taught us how to turn our home into a ministry center. They now live in Springfield, MO. and have purchased the Finley River Ranch. They have started a 501C3 organization for the purpose of helping leaders be restored, renewed, and equipped. They are a true source of refreshing to our family.

May 2 The ATI Big Sandy Conference

Josiah enjoyed his days in the Alert Cadet program that is designed to teach character and life skills. It is a great joy to see Josiah becoming a man and getting the opportunity to try new things each year as he goes through this unique training.

Gary Smalley shared two wonderful messages about transforming scripture into beliefs by meditating daily on key passages of God’s Word. Bill and Gary pray together for the opportunity to spread this message of gaining success God’s way.

The little children learned new skills in the camp ground each night as families would enjoy a special fellowship at one another’s camp sites.

May 5 We visit the Wades for some more horseback riding lessons and gun safety training

The children enjoyed watching the saddle bred horse of John Whalen, who is a well known trainer throughout the U.S. He gave them lessons one evening from 10:30 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. and again in the morning. They truly enjoyed and appreciated the expertise of a true horse trainer.

Josiah and Emily got the chance to learn gun safety from Alec who is a fire-arms specialist. Alec is now retired from the F.B.I. and enjoys training children in the art and skill of fire-arms. They were able to hit the mark after taking the time to learn the basics.

May 7 Arrive Home Safely

Family Landscaping Project

Tue, 22 May 2007 12:31:44 GMT

Developing the Full Potential of Our Home

One of our goals as a family is to develop the full potential of our home. This includes developing five centers of the home: worship, learning, health, hospitality, and productivity. We want people to experience God’s design for a home when they visit us; this includes how we keep our home, both on the inside and outside. Since I have been travelling more in the past three years I was getting behind but I was able to experience the joy of getting outside once again to work the ground and do what Adam was first assigned by God, to keep the garden and dress it.

The Great Provocation

We bought our two-bedroom home twelve years ago and have had to steadily increase its size as our family has grown. Since purchasing the house, I have not had the time or resources to complete a landscaping project that has been on my mind from the day we bought the house. God tells us to count it all joy when we experience trials, and last year we had an opportunity to do this as a tornado came through and uprooted many trees and destroyed our garage and rear deck— but because God hears our prayers— the tornado miraculously jumped over our house.

During the night of the tornado, we found shelter in our basement and began asking God to place a hedge of protection around our home. I forgot that my garage and rear deck were not attached to the home, and consequently did not ask God to protect them. The tornado passed directly over our home, destroying much of what was surrounding the home. Our house was nearly unscathed; we only replaced a few screens! After the tornado, we rebuilt the garage with an upper room that is now used as a ministry center for couples in crisis. It is also used on a weekly basis for men’s discipleship and Friday night couples discipleship.

The Landscaping Project

After rebuilding the garage, I decided to tackle the landscaping project in the front of our home that used to be filled with ivy. I decided to make this a family project, teaching my children how to make a plan, research a design, contact professionals for advice, negotiate deals, and then do the layout and actual landscaping work. I contacted an owner of a landscaping company, Frank Mosdcardelli from Pleasant Nurseries, whom I met twenty-one years ago when I sold him his first Ford truck. He has since bought many more vehicles from my father’s company and was glad to help me put together a design, giving me expert advice on each stage of the project.

Frank helped us pick out the tree, plants, and stones we would use in the project. He is now in his eighties and is still a driving force in his family business. He enjoyed helping my family get involved in something that is very meaningful to him, and it was great to watch him pass on some of his experience and wisdom to another generation of children.

We began the project on a Wednesday afternoon and finished Thursday evening. The children learned how to level a wall and rebuild it on a rock foundation, and how to choose the best plants for sun and shade. They also learned about spacing plants, choosing colors, and knowing what plants look best in the front and back of the garden. They learned about transplanting trees and plants and how to feed and water them. Josiah and Ben became my helpers. They saw the inner workings of a nursery, and enjoyed seeing all the equipment, as well as watching the men load our truck with a Bobcat skid steer. They observed the many types of equipment necessary to run a business like Frank’s, and I asked Frank to tell them what he looks for in a good employee. Frank gave them a lot of insight into what he values in those who work for him and why others are let go. He pointed out those employees who were demonstrating good character and why this was essential to keeping his customers satisfied.

Children learning to work together as a team to prepare the area for landscapting.

Building a wall on a rock foundation.

Leveling the wall one stone at a time.

Working as a team.

Emily planting annuals to compliment the perrenials.

Learning how to use equipment.

Josiah shared with me how much he enjoyed working with his older cousin, TJ, who let him use his tools and wasn’t afraid that Josiah would break them or ruin the job. Josiah learned how to use a paint compressor, a air paint gun, and many other tools. I decided it was time for him to learn how to drive his grandpa’s tractor and learn how to use the bucket and box scraper. It is great to see Josiah grow in skilfullness of hand as well as integrity of heart. Boys become men as we their fathers confirm that they have what it takes in Christ. They look to us to say, “Son, I am well pleased, you are a fine young man.”

Some final shots of the project as we were nearing the end of it.

A before and after shot

Courageous Conversation Coach Training

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 20:59:47 GMT

Here is a group photo of the people who took the training in Indianapolis, Indiana. They learned how to facilitate a conversation to help people resolve their most pressing issues. They learned about the two agreements each person must agree to before beginning a courageous conversation. These agreements are based on the process of reconciliation taught by Jesus in Matthew 18. “

Two Agreements of a Courageous Conversation

1. I agree to hear until my conversation partner is satisfied that I have understood their viewpoint and their feelings regarding the issue. This does not mean they have to agree with the person’s viewpoint or feelings, but understand it.

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Matthew 18:15

2. I agree to go for the good, acceptable and perfect will of God by considerately listening to your perspective as well as courageously sharing my perspective.

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 18:19

Couples learn through interactive training sessions that are facilitated by Chris Hogan. The training consists of teaching, opportunities to practice each step of a courageous conversation, and facilitate a courageous conversation as a coach. Particpants witness Chris facilitating a courageous conversation and they have opportunities to ask questions.

Each question of a courageous conversation is reviewed and the reason for it is explained so a trained facilitator knows what to look for during each stage of the process. There are five stages to a courageous conversation that we review.

Five Stages of a Courageous Conversation

Pressing Issue Discover Truth
Painful Consequence Accept Reproof
Personal Responsibility Course Correction
Potential Future Vision of Hope
Powerful Plans Training in Righteousness

Goals of a Courageous Conversation

The participants gain a thorough understanding of the goals of a courageous conversation so they can maintain a proper focus throughout the conversation.

Come To reconcile our relationship through God’s wisdom.
Call To research and gain understanding of the core issues.
Clothe To resolve our core issues with the knowledge of God.
Connect To restore one another with God’s love that casts out fear.

“Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3-4

To read more click on 10 Questions of a Courageous Conversation

Nightly Wisdom Book Studies

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 21:43:32 GMT

We take turns reading through the Wisdom Booklet and stop to discuss key points. It is amazing to see how the children can relate current activities to the principles of God’s Word. Some of my goals for a proper education of my children are found in Proverbs 22:19-21

Goals of a Christian Education

1. My children will trust in the Lord

“That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.”

2. My children will be certain about the infallibility of the Word of God

“That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth”

3. My children would share the truth of God with their generation.

“That thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee”

I used to imagine that my children would sit perfectly upright around the table and listen with rapt interest at all that was read, shared and discussed. I have now come to understand that sometimes children will be under the table, drawing, writing and doodling but they will pop up and enter into discussions letting me know they were listening.

One of the things I’ve learned about doing research with my children is that they want me to be a learner as well. A great method for teaching is to ask questions so the children become curious and discover for themselves the truths of God. A goal I have for myself is to draw out the counsel that is deep within the hearts of my children with wise questions. Solomon wrote, “Counsel in the heart of man is deep and a man of understanding draws it out.” Proverbs 20:5 Instead of trying to teach my children material, I want to introduce God’s Word, help them research it’s meaning and then tell me verbally what they are learning, discuss with me ideas, and put it into writing. We don’t try to cover material as much as we try to facilitate discussions around the material in our Wisdom Books.

The last part of our time in study is to pray these things back to God. David said, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee,” When truth is cast upon us, we are to pray it back to God and allow Him to work it into our lives by grace and the Holy Spirit. We cry out like David, “I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth [all things] for me.”

Priorities & Planning for a New School Year

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:54:34 GMT

We are embarking on a new school year, which means reviewing our priorities and prayerfully arranging our schedules. Families are asking how to set priorities so they can press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. As we set family goals and develop our schedules, these are the three priorities we must keep in mind.

Top Three Priorities

1. Be Person Centered

This means we have placed Jesus Christ at the center of our lives. We allow Him to live in and through us to do the will of the Father. Without Jesus at the center we cannot even desire to do the will of the Father. Jesus gives us the freedom to choose and to willingly offer our freedom unto God as a pleasing sacrifice to be used for His glory, just as Christ did as He walked this earth as a man. Centered in the Person of Christ, we find Jesus meets our deepest needs and provides security and significance in Him.

This priority will develop you into a credible messenger of God’s love to your children.

2. Be Principle Governed

This means we govern our relationships by God’s Word. All relationships are governed by principles. God has taught us how to love through the principles contained in His commands. Principles are God’s universal cause-and-effect sequences that are true throughout all eternity and applicable at all times in all places. They differ from values in that values are subjective and may or may not be based on principles. The closer our values align with God’s principles the straighter will be our paths. God gave Adam and Eve His command and blessing for a couple, He gave Israel the 10 commandments to govern their nation, and He gave all of us the commands of Christ to govern every sphere of life. God balances His truth with equal and opposite principles such as law and grace. Acting on principle is never an either/ or choice but a both/and action to apply with God’s wisdom. We need to be Person (Christ) Centered to have the wisdom to apply His commands.

This priority will turn your home into a safe, joy-filled ministry center.

3. Be Purpose Motivated

We experience God’s energy and power as we discern His purpose for our lives and understand that we are God’s workmanship created for good works. (See Ephesians 2:10, Titus 2:14.) Our goal is to hit the mark for which God as made us by developing the our full potential in spirit, soul, mind and strength.

This priority will help you incrementally release your children into God’s purposes for their lives.

When we are Person-centered and principle-governed we will be able to do God’s will, in God’s way, within God’s timing because we are supplied with His resources to bless the nations.

To go deeper read the article Noble Planning Part 1: Person, Principle, and Purpose