Now what?

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now what?

hey hey,

I hope you are enjoying our new 2023 blog format! Today, I want to share “a Word, a Song and a Laugh” by talking about Vision and I want to inspire and encourage you to prayerfully develop your "vision board" for the future!

 

Today’s blog will be a little longer than usual … so buckle up and enjoy.

 

 

A WORD

 

“And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by.” Habakkuk 2:2, AMPC

 

What vision has God given you for your future? Have you written it down?

 

There is something about creating a “vision board” in such a way that you can actually see it, envision it, remember it and run with it!

 

Over the years we have created various pictorial vision boards for our lives as the Lord has put His vision in our hearts and the crazy thing is: everything we’ve put on our vision boards — whether hand drawn stick figures or magazine pics we’ve glued to foam core — has always come to pass in one way or another!

 

As we look ahead to the new season we are in, we have been seeking the Lord and prayerfully creating new vision boards for our future.

 

For us, it’s been exactly 2 months … 60 days … since we passed the Valley Family Church Lead Pastor baton to our son and daughter-in-law … and more than once we’ve been asked the three questions below — and the answers to these three questions have helped us shape our vision boards for the future…

 

Did you guys retire?

Are you living in Florida?

What are you guys doing now?

 

Our “vision boards” (which we have created in the form of photo grids) answers these questions perfectly, so we thought it might be helpful to share them with you in the hope that you are inspired to create your own vision boards in the way that best suits you.

 

So, here goes…

 

OUR VISION

 

Question #1: Did you guys retire? 

 

We did not fully “retire” — we “transitioned.” After planting and pastoring Valley Family Church for the past 32 years, we passed the Lead Pastor baton to Eric and Alexa Jones, our son and daughter-in-law on January 29, 2023. (They are the church are doing exceptionally well and we couldn’t be more pleased!!) We have transitioned into our role as the Founding Pastors to guide, mentor and support VFC’s future. In addition, we are still taking the gospel basics to the world as the Lord leads us via books, podcasts, online courses, etc. Here’s what we see in this season:

 

 

>> As Founding Pastors, we see our role includes:

 

-cherishing the past.

 

-remaining on the VFC Board to help lead and guide VFC’s future developments.

 

-championing the next generation.

 

-providing legal and financial guidance.

 

-offering oversight and pastoral insights for Eric and Alexa Jones.

 

-maintaining an office at VFC.

 

-teaching at VFC in-person and virtually throughout the year.

 

 

>> As it relates to other ministry endeavors, we see ourselves:

 

-sharing the good news of the gospel wherever we are.

 

-serving the Lord together in new ways.

 

-going where the Lord leads us.

 

-speaking where the doors open.

 

-writing what the Lord put in our hearts.

 

-teaching the Bible basics via books, podcasts and video through The Basics With Beth outreach.

 

 

So … you can see we did NOT retire, but our 32-year Mach speed pace as the "Founding Senior Pastors" has slowed down a tad to a fun new speed as "Founding Pastors." The photo grids below are the "vision boards" we are running with these days …

 

 

Question #2: Are you living in Florida or Michigan? 

 

Both! We are splitting our time between Florida and Michigan. We sold our dream house on a beautiful lake in Michigan and bought a small cottage on another lake in Michigan and we built a home in Florida. This allows us to split our time between Michigan and Florida and enjoy family and friends in both USA peninsulas! This pictorial vision grid will help you see what see, and I hope inspire your vision for where you “see” yourself living.

 

 

Question #3: What does your future look like?

 

Our future looks like Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 — it’s a fun “eat, drink, enjoy the fruit of our labors … gift from God” season! We are loving the extra time we have to spend with the Lord, to stay active and golf, see old friends, meet new friends while making new memories with our family, grandkids and the people we love. We are excited about new, creative, faith-adventures and we are expecting the best and brightest days ahead. By God’s grace, we plan to enjoy our relationship with Jesus and live a long, satisfied life and we look forward to finishing our race with joy.

 

What about you? What do you see? I hope you will make some vision board grids of what you see. Here are the “vision boards” we see for our future…

 

 

 

A SONG

 

Today, I have one song for you - but in several eclectic versions. Be Thou My Vision is a beautiful classic Irish hymn. I first heard this song when I was a fresh college grad and in the choir at church (yes, I was in a choir for about 2 months, anyone else??!) We sang this song and I loved it, but I didn’t have a vision to stay in the choir! (wink!) Still it’s such a great song about keeping Jesus as the object of our vision. Enjoy!

 

Be Thou My Vision, by The Petersons

 

Be Thou My Vision, by Shane and Shane

 

By Thou My Vision, by The Lord’s Quartet

peace, love and blessings,

 

A LAUGH: Celebrating every part of a vision accomplished! :)

 
 
CLICK HERE: FREE STUFF TO BUILD YOUR FAITH!
 
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Fear is not your future!

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

 

 

 

fear is not your future!

hey hey,

God has new horizons for you!! Be encouraged today by “a Word, a Song and a Laugh!”

 

A Word: “But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18

 

Did you know that better days, brighter days, blessed days are your future? No matter how difficult the current season may be, God has promised better days for you! And of course…the ultimate future ahead for all of us is our eternal destination in heaven, so for sure — our future is BRIGHT!!

 

The past several years has certainly been used by the enemy to put a damper on our spirits — but there is a Jesus-revolution happening around the world and God is renewing our hopes, dreams and vision for His bright future!!

 

Today, why not make the choice to believe it: better days are ahead!! Your best days are yet to come! There is light at the end of the tunnel. Fear is not your future.

 

Say hello to: peace, joy, love, hope, strength. Say goodbye to: shame, fear, anxiety and depression.

 

A Song: Today, let these songs minister to your heart and stir up fresh vision for new horizons within you.

 

Fear is Not My Future, by Maverick City - we heard this song a few weekends ago when we spoke at a Faith Family Church in Houston and both my husband Jeff and I fell in love with it. One day later my cousin Deb Boyd sent me the link as it had become her new favorite song! Since then ,we’ve had it on repeat in our home!

 

Brighter Days, by Blessing Offor - our friend Carolann Davis turned us on to this worship artist and I love his fresh sound and words of faith.

 

Future, by River Valley Worship - I stumbled on this song and I love it!!

peace, love and blessings,

 

A Laugh: Anyone else? :)++

 

P.S. Today, we saw the movie: Jesus Revolution — the revival that started among the hippies of the 60’s … and WOW!! I highly recommend you do whatever you can do to go see it!! I got saved in the early 80’s and was blessed to be on the tail-end of the Jesus revolution — I am eternally grateful those revival waves kept splashing for decades to sweep and my entire family up into a relationship with Jesus. I believe a fresh Jesus Revolution is happening now around the world and I love seeing Gen Z and other young people embracing Jesus, prayer, worship and the Word. The best is yet to come!!

 
CLICK HERE: FREE STUFF TO BUILD YOUR FAITH!
 
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