Jeff Applegate

I came across a card along with the names and birthdates of my friends kids that I sent over several years on their birthdays. These were the men that invested 16 years (2010 blog about these guys) during the time of early marriage and raising children that we retreated to Estes Park for a long weekend of reflection and planning for the coming year. We all talk about committing to pray for each others kids but I wanted the kids to know and be reminded each year on their birthdays that their fathers friends were committing to pray for them. The inside of the card tells the specific prayers that we are committed to praying. Most of our kids are grown and several are starting families of their own. A good practice to share with you and I can report to date have been 100% answered. Praise to the Lord.

3 John 1:2-4 ² Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. ³ For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Ephesians 3:9-11

… to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Occasionally I have the opportunity to meet men who have read Lead Your Family and used the resources to create a Vision, Mission and Core Values for their family. My friend Marlin Sosa is a father of a young family with a passion to lead his family to be a light in his community. I was so encouraged by his efforts, I wanted to share this on the blog. Enjoy.

Mezuzah Sosa Purpose: Vision

Bring Light to Darkness, Order to chaos, And peace to others.

““Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”

Acts 26:15-18 NIV

What God did for us we will do for others: Mission

Producing life in our house and the people around us by being light and trusting that God will guide, provide and empower us.

Genesis 1:2–3 (NIV)
2Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Core Values:

The Lord will provide.

God will always give us what we need for every circumstance.

Genesis 22:8 (NIV): Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

Genesis 22:13–14 (NIV): Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.

14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

Stand on your feet.

We cannot be defeated, because the one that sent us cannot be defeated.

Acts 26:16 (NIV): 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.

2 Samuel 23:9–12 (NIV): Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the Israelites retreated,

10 but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.

11 Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them.

12 But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.

Being attached to the body of Christ:

Supporting one another, focusing in where God has me now and being faithful to all God has given me in my allotment.

Joshua 17:17-18 NIV — But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”

Rejected by some and loved by the Righteousness.

Not everyone will love who we are and as darkness flees from light, some will flee, some will love us.
Acts 4:11 (ESV): 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 1 Peter 2:4 (ESV): 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,

Our Family is a Sign to others.

We live by the example Christ gave us and we invite others to it.

We start being life at home first putting things in right order and then bringing peace to others around us. We will do this anywhere God puts us.

Isaiah 42:6–7 (ESV)
6“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,
7to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.