Focus on the Family: {I Mean Both The Show and the Goal}

NOTE: You can still enter to win one of five copies of our new Proverbs 31 devotional book by checking out new blogger Jen Thorn in this post. Winners announced Monday. And you can still watch last night’s Women Living Well webcast on growing your walk with God (featuring the Good Morning Girls) until 11 pm est tonight by clicking here.

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letitgo_coverFirst of all, tune in to Focus on the Family today  to hear me interviewed on the message of my latest book LET. IT. GO. How to Stop Running the Show & Start Walking in Faith. {Also known as “How to stop being a control freak and start trusting God}

We’re talking about mothering and marriage and our circumstances and the look of the house…you get the picture! And this two-part show (yesterday and today) is about my tendency to be controlling, knocking down anyone and everything in my path. Well, just HAPPENS the first day aired on the same day that tropical storm “Karen” formed out in the ocean. Very funny God. Click here to find a station or to listen online.

So that is Focus on the Family, the show.

Now for the goal. You know, to focus on your family.

More and more I see how in today’s culture it is easy to get pulled in a gazillion different directions. Many of these directions are in fierce competition with spending time with our families.

We don’t eat dinner together as families like we once did. Or, if we are gathered around the table, a few unwelcome electronic gadgets are beeping and buzzing for our attention.

Or maybe we are over-committed with activities or even church responsibilities. {Yes, there is such a thing as being at church too much! Don’t mistake a relationship with God with doing things for God.}

Been there. Nearly had a break-down!

This weekend I double-dog-dare you {and me!} to block out the noise and the activity and just focus on our families, even if it is in a small way. Or a simple way that just says, “I was thinking of you. I love you.’

Try these ideas on for size:

focus.on.family.ideasMake ’em a meal. I know, I know, sounds cliche’. But I mean make them a meal. Not buzz out for pizza or maybe pop in some frozen lasagna from the grocery store. (Although there are certainly times when both of those cooking methods come in super handy!) I mean make a main dish from scratch. Maybe even a side dish or dessert. Something they love. (I’m gonna share a few of our family favorite recipes with my Go-To Gals today. Want to find out how to become a Go-To Gal? Click here.)

Be random.  Do something out of the ordinary. Interrupt your Saturday to kidnap the kiddos or grand kiddos and blindfold them. Take them on a mystery trip. Maybe you’ll land at a park. Or a museum. Or a cider mill to pick apples. Once you arrive, make them guess {while still blindfolded} where they are. Then….go make a random memory!

Make it game night. Pretend it is 1978. No cell phones or home computers. No X box. Actually…..wait for it….play a game together as a family. Our favorites are Balderdash, Mind Trap and Monopoly. (Well, everyone else likes Monopoly. I hate it. I prefer Trivial Pursuit because I rock at it. It may or may not have something to do with having once memorized several of the answers in college for a tournament against our brother floor.)

*Meander down memory lane. Gather the gang and pop some popcorn while you also pop in some home movies. Maybe it is your wedding video. Or some old tapes of when the kids were tots. Reminisce and snuggle. Whisper a prayer thanking God for your family.

* Bless another family. Know a struggling family? Someone who has lost a loved one, is facing a divorce or has a member gone in the military? Brainstorm what your family can do to focus on their family. Bring them a treat. Take them out for a movie night. Invite them over and make homemade pizza or caramel apples.

* Tuck a surprise into their day. Maybe it is a note in their duffle bag, wrapped around a granola bar, as they tote it off to spend the night at a friend’s house. Maybe it is a quick text telling them the top five things you appreciate about them. Or write a love message on their bathroom mirror with lipstick.

Pray together. When was the last time you asked every member of your family how you can be praying for them? I mean beyond the usual, “I have a science test next Monday” kind of prayers. Let them share their hearts. Then, pray with them. Don’t stop.

Have fun this weekend and don’t forget to focus on your family!!!!! {And I’d be oh-so-grateful if you also listen to me on Focus on The Family here.}

13 Comments

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    They all have older kids, I just found myself looking at my kids and saying oh my they are growing up. 2yrs ago in Oct 29 I was w/ my girls 10 @ the time shopping for costumes,I took something for my mmigraine, which I have been on for a long time. This time while driving I passed out. We were downtown at noon we went through 2 red lights, my youngest twin saw I was not good undid her seatbelt and climb on part of my leg, broke the truck to a stop w/ no injuries or damages.
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    With this lesson god is telling me I made the right move to stay home and go to the game.
    I am in a sunday school class were we r doing one of your studies! Love it and thankyou

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