The Family: Living an Intentional Life

First, I would like to say what an awesome blessing and responsibility it is to start a family. A few years back, I took Terry and Sonya’s engagement photos. Now, they are expecting their first child. Congratulations are in order! I pray the two of you will have a very healthy boy and God’s blessings as you strive to raise him in the counsel of the Lord.

I would like to share some words of wisdom from my pastor’s message on last Sunday, titled, “The Family: Living an Intentional Life.” The message was given from Psalm 127:1-2:

“Except the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to His beloved sleep.”

For the family to live an intentional life, my pastor provided six “E” words:

1. Essential – The Person of the Lord. -- “Except the Lord” is the head of our homes, we are wasting time. There is NO substitute.

2. Establish – The Presence of the Lord. -- “Except the LORD builds”.
Notice the passage says “builds”, not “build”, meaning it is a continuous process. God wants to be involved in every aspect of each of our family’s lives.

3. Effort – Preserve in the Lord. -- “Except the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain”. This indicates to us that if we want a strong family we have to work at it, but we should not do it without God.

4. Empty – Purposeless without the Lord. -- “The watchmen waketh in vain…”
We can work hard to accumulate things, build a large home, etc., but without God our family’s lives will be still be empty and purposeless.

5. Eyes – Protection with the Lord. -- “The LORD keeps the city…”
This let’s us know God is the priority of our family. He watches over and protects each one of us from many dangers, seen and unseen.

6. Ease – Peace with the Lord. -- “For He gives to His beloved sleep.”
It does not mean life will be easy, but God does promises to give us peace in the mist of the problems of raising a family in this world.”

It is not easy for a family to live an intentional life but we don’t have to do it alone. Give your life, your spouse, and your children to God.



God Bless,
N'Sight Photography