2019: A Year of Challenging The Status Quo In My Own Family

Progress is always preceded by change; change is always preceded by challenge; challenging the status quo is often where leadership begins.
(Andy Stanley)

My wife Daniela and I made a commitment to come together as a family everyday to build an altar. 

It's not easy. 

It'd be nice if there was some kind of cruise control button for our spiritual walk.

Reality is, we have to press on, relying on the grace of God above all else while still realizing that there are things that God Himslf will not do for us. We must do our part. 

I heard Andy Stanley talk about changing the status quo in your church, organization, or company, and he said:

Challenge what is for the sake of what can be/should be.

​As the leader in my family, I need to consistently challenge what is for the sake of what can be. With God's Word as my guide, here are some areas I'll be challenging during 2019...

​1. SPIRITUAL 
When all is said and done and we are called to our eternal home, I want to know that my family and I are 'in the Lord'. Abiding in Christ must become my daily delight if it is to become a way of life.

• Question Current Reality: Are we meeting with God everyday? Have we (as a family) gotten into a rut? Are we just going through the emotions of devotionals or are we on fire and filled with the love of God?
• Challenge: Pray in the morning, before doing anything else. Keep a prayer journal and review it at the end of each month. 
• Motto: Press on towards the goal, Christ Jesus!

"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." - Phil. 3:12-14

​2. FINANCIAL 

• Question Current Reality: Are we faithful in our giving? Are we responsible with the worldly wealth and possessions we have been entrusted? Are there new things we can do with the skills God has enabled us with to earn additional income and abound in our giving?
• Challenge: Outgoing: Give in ways we have not given before; new missions and ministries, families who are in need, local groups and needs. Incoming: Expand our side work and generate extra income using the skills God has given us.  
• Motto: Be trustworthy with worldly wealth.

"And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." - Luke 12:15

"So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?" - Luke 16:11

3. PHYSICAL
If I'm not a good steward of the physical life God has given me, how can I expect to fulfill the good works He has prepared for me and to be a blessing for others? To enjoy good health, I must be intentional and not lose sight of the connection between my body and soul. 

• Question Current Reality: Are we taking care of ourselves? Are we careful about the things we eat and drink? Are we exercising and taking time to enjoy God and one another? 
• Challenge: Daily: Drink more water. Weekly: Exercise more often. Monthly: Make time for a get-away or some kind of staycation, to simply relax and enjoy one another; Put in on  the calendar!
• Motto: Honor God with your bodies.

​​"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." - 3 John 1:2

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." - 1 Cor. 6:19,20

What to Expect:
​

• Push back - Maybe not everyone will see things the way I do and they won't support me in these personal challenges. I can't control what they think, I can only control my own actions. 
• I will need to do something daily - Whether it's prayer, making a phone call, spending time with family/loved ones, budgeting, etc. Nothing will change in my life unless I change something I do daily.   
• I'll forget - Simply put, life will get 'busy' and I'll lose sight of these resolutions. Good thing I'll have this post to refer back to every so often. And so will you, should you choose to challenge the status quo in your own family... 

Keep the Fire Burning,
Danny