By contributing writer, Ann Dunagan of Harvest Ministry
Visionary Women, are you ready to seek God’s VISION for 2012?
I’m excited to share a reflection and projection tool (a FREE 2012 New Year’s Prayer Guide with a mission-minded focus) that has helped me, and our family, for many years. But first of all, I’d like to introduce you to my dad . . .
My Encouraging Dad
Here’s a picture of me and my awesome dad. I wish you could meet him. He’s always overflowing with joy, and has the most exuberant “Hallelujah!!!” shout of anyone I know. He’s a wonderful husband to my mom, an encouraging dad to me and my 5 siblings, a jolly grandpa with 18 grandchildren (and counting!), and such a faithful man of God.
Growing up, my bedroom adjoined a small sunroom which was his daily Quiet Time spot; and every morning, without fail, I woke up to see my dad enjoying his time with the Lord — with a cup of coffee and a well-worn Bible.
Every evening, without fail, we had family devotions together — even if we had company and even if we were visiting relatives! Our family “prayer-time” was always simple: we’d sing a few songs, read from the Bible, each of us would thank the Lord for the day, and then we’d close with the Lord’s Prayer.
Even now, whenever my husband Jon and I take our kids to visit my folks we always wake up to see “Grandpa and Grandma” sitting side-by-side in their living room with their morning coffee — reading the Bible, praying together, and taking Communion.
Every morning, without fail.
A Godly Heritage . . . That Didn’t Just Happen!
For years, my dad was a simple school teacher (teaching high school seniors about life-planning, and becoming such a favorite that he was often asked to speak at graduations or to attend his student’s weddings). After he retired, he became a very successful business man (completely focused on expanding God’s kingdom).
My four brothers all work with my dad in the family business; and my sister and I (and our husbands) are both in international ministry. All of his descendents love and serve the Lord, and we all love each other. My parents have a happy and God-glorifying marriage (going on 50 years this next summer) and my parent’s home is as welcoming as you could imagine (with a Thursday night home prayer meeting that’s always been the highlight of their week!).
My dad has given our family a heritage that we are all so grateful for; but his faithful example didn’t “just happen” by accident. My dad diligently and daily has sought the Lord for His direction, and he followed and obeyed God . . . with continual vision for the future and regular time to recheck and realign his priorities. He’s been successful in every area: in his career, his family, his personal relationships, and most importantly in his walk with God and His eternal work for God.
Seeking God’s Vision . . . and Setting Yearly Goals
Setting yearly goals is a good habit, but simply adding a few empty “resolutions” will not be enough to bring life-long fruitfulness or eternal impact. Instead, as Visionary women, we need to seek God’s purposes and His priorities, and rely on His GRACE to obey what God is calling us to do.
Especially at the end of every year, I’m reminded of my dad’s goal-oriented leadership. He would always encourage us to pray and to seek God for His direction for the year, and then to write down specific and measurable goals in every area: spiritual, mental, physical, and financial.
He would encourage my siblings and me to make a plan for our daily prayer time and Bible reading, to make specific plans for our personal educational goals and grades and independent reading (so they were our “own” goals, and not his), specific goals for our family and friendships, goals for fitness and health, and financial goals for work and savings. He encouraged us to look ahead, and to begin preparing a godly foundation for our futures.
As women of God, wives, mothers, homemakers, and homeschoolers, we also need to understand the particular season of life that we’re in. We need to take time to find God’s direction, both for this season and in preparation and laying a strong foundation for the future.
I especially want to encourage you to get a bigger vision than simply “maintaining” for another year. God is bigger than that! Seek God for a Kingdom-advancing vision that’s bigger than merely maintaining your own family, your own kids, and your own home.
As Bible-believing women, we need to remember God’s Great Commandment (to love God with everything we’ve got, and to love our neighbor as ourselves) and God’s Great Commission (to go into all the world to preach the Gospel). And as our kids get hold of a vision to be kingdom-advancing leaders (and not just “good kids” to merely impress other or to not embarrass your family), they will be much more motivated to seek God with fervency and passion.
Download a FREE New Year’s Prayer Guide:
Watch this 2 minute video for a quick explanation of this prayer guide. My heart is to help you to plan a more fruitful and effective New Year . . . for God’s glory!
Click here — for your FREE 2012 New Year’s Guide!
(PRINT 1 copy of the entire document, pgs. 1-16, and 3 EXTRA COPIES of pgs. 10-11. Also, here’s our favorite 1-year Bible Reading Plan from www.Bible-reading.com.
Feel free to share this with your friends, or share the link by posting it on facebook, twitter, and your blog. And let me know what you think. How is God directing you and your family to impact God’s Kingdom in 2012?
(And by the way, comments and feedback are encouraging!!!)
Have a Happy and Mission-Minded New Year!
In His Love,
Ann
About Ann Dunagan
Ann, I love your encouragement to do more than survive the new year. Thanks for the tools. And for sharing the legacy of your family. God bless your richly.
Yes Jeannette!
May we all do more than merely “survive” the new year. Let’s THRIVE in God’s grace and anointing as we obey His day-by-day leading for our families, and for God’s kingdom!!!
God’s Blessings to you and yours in 2012!
Wonderful article, I’ve printed everything and will be working on it today.
Awesome Gina!
I sincerely hope the New Year’s prayer guide will be a blessing of FOCUS for you and your family, as you seek God’s purposes for the future.
What a wonderful testimony! I was so challenged and encouraged. Thank you for making this planning resource available for free!
Mamachildress,
WoooHooo!!! You’re SO welcome! Our heart is to encourage and challenge other families for God’s Kingdom, and for world missions. Appreciate knowing that the article ministered to you.
To God be the GLORY!!!!
I remember ur dad and mom being so faithful to the lord…..beautiful article…good luck ann this coming year
Debbie, I really appreciate your comment, as someone who personally knows my parents and their faithfulness. They’ve sure been a good example to all of their descendents . . . and to many others. Blessings to you too!!!
My grandpa has always been one of the consistent people I have ever known, always always praising God in all times.
Love you, Caela!!!
Mom
Hi Mrs. Dunagan,
Thank you for taking the time to encourage us to expand our vision. For taking the time to point us to our King for the Vision HE has for us that is often no more than simply embracing the opportunities He has placed us in and being His hands and feet!
So appreciate your family’s ministry and voice for the Savior! Blessings to you all this New Year!
Runner4BareFeet –
I love how you mention about being God’s hands and His feet. Have you happened to see the new ministry my oldest daughter and I are working on? It’s called DARING DAUGHTERS & DIRTY FEET (a mission-minded challenge for teen girls), based on the verse from Romans, “How beautiful are the feet of them who preach the Gospel of peace and bring glad tidings . . . ”
here’s the link: http://harvestministry.org/daringdaughters
Yes I have–and I do follow you both there! Your “Bare Feet” theme photo was actually part of the inspiration that our King used to give me the vision for the Running4BareFeet Project. Someday, I’m thinking in 2014, I would love to run on behalf of Yuma Ga Nesu as well as a couple of other ministries in Uganda. This year I am running for Filippino ministries, and next year will be India, and I hope to include Aasha Children’s Home then. I will be contacting you all in the next couple years as the Lord leads!
Blessings to you and yours!
Thank you for your wonderful post and free mission minded prayer guide. I just printed it out! Thank you!
Also your dad seems like such a wonderful man. I loved reading about him!
Your post was amazing. Thank you very much!
Gretchen,
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed the example of my dad, and the prayer guide. Giving a godly heritage is a blessing (especially through our personal example and testimony, not only through our words of teaching) . . . which we need to remember as we’re raising our own children. Our little ones (and bigger ones) are watching us, that’s for sure!!!
I will read it. Thank you for Mrs Dunagan
Terese,
After you read and reflect and pray through the New Year’s guide, feel free to share highlights of how the Lord is directing you forward this coming year!!!
And you’re welcome!!!
Thank you so much Ann for sharing this with us. This year my church’s theme is from Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” and sharing was so timely. Thank you once again.
Katherine,
Matthew 6:33 has always been one of our family’s favorite verses. We sometimes phrase this theme, “Don’t seek money, seek SOULS!” We want to focus on God’s kingdom and His righteousness. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings to you and your family!!!
~Ann