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Key Bible Verse: Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4, NIV) Dig Deeper: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

A mission statement is a family project. Involve everybody in the process; decide together what your values are and how they can be reflected in your mission. It doesn't matter if your children are 5 or 15. When everyone has a voice, you'll have what the business world calls "buy in" for years to come. Everyone takes ownership. Everyone is invested in the outcome.

So, how do you go about it? It's a simple process, really.

• Pray for clear direction and unity.
• Discuss principles and goals that are important to your family.
• Talk about how you'd like the family to be remembered years from now.
• Write down several possible statements. [See Wednesday's reading for examples.]
• Narrow it down to the best one, then pray about it for several days.
• Reconvene and determine your family mission statement.
• Schedule a regular time for the family to pray and evaluate your progress.

—Dave Stone in Building Family Ties with Faith, Love, and Laughter

My Response: How might I modify Dave's suggestions in this reading so that they fit better into the unique personalities and dynamics of my own family?

Thought to Apply: Your children are a mirror which reflects back on you the kind of image you cast.—Fulton Sheet (Roman Catholic archbishop)

Adapted from Building Family Ties with Faith, Love, and Laughter (Thomas Nelson, 2012) by permission. All rights reserved by the copyright holder and/or the publisher. May not be reproduced.

Copyright © 2012 by Christianity Today/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Heavenly Father, show me how to lead my family to be intentionally and purposefully united in serving you and your kingdom.

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