Like children wait with anticipation for Christmas morning, what are you waiting for this Christmas season?  There is One who is waiting to love, to rescue, and to save you, so much so that He died and is coming again for you.  Invite Emmanuel to spend this Christmas season with you and your family.   Emmanuel.   God with us.   God with you.  Watch this video to hear how Emmanuel “has come, and He will come again”.

 Advent: God With Usfrom The Village Church on Vimeo.

I have heard that if you take a look at someone’s check book, you will know what their priorities are.  Is it true that where your money goes, so goes your priorities?  Here are seven ways to know what you truly value:

1. Where do you spend your time?  This is one of the best measuring sticks. When you have free time, do you spend it on the computer, watching TV or playing golf with the guys?  Or do you spend it playing outside with your kids or having coffee with your wife?  People should matter most.  They are the ones that will be there for you when you need them.  Choose to invest your time in the relationships with the greatest return.

2. Where is your money spent?  With big purchases, people tend to take the decision seriously.  With smaller amounts, that is where you can lose focus.   Do you spend your money on clothes, re-decorating your house, big impressive toys, or entertainment?  Or do you tithe and support charities or missionaries?  There is nothing wrong with having fun, but make sure you are investing in things with lasting value.

3. Where do your thoughts stray?  When you are just sitting at your desk, waiting in line or doing nothing, what kind of thoughts come to mind?  Where your thoughts go, so goes your heart.

4. When you are gone, what legacy will you leave?  Don’t let life pass you by.  Don’t wait for tomorrow to make a difference because we are not promised one day beyond today.  Spend time on the people, places and things that matter most.  Leave a legacy of changed lives.

5. If you had one day left to live, how would you spend it?  If today were your last, how would you spend it?  Do it now!  If you are waiting for an answer in one area of your life, do not put the rest of your life on hold.  No regrets!

6. What area of your life do you neglect the most? Find the area in your life that you neglect the most and you will find the area that you care the least about.  Make sure these areas should not be moved up the list of priorities.  Family, marriage and other relationships should never be on the list of neglects.

7. When was the last time you were truly happy?  If you can’t remember the answer, make a change!  Remember, happiness is influenced by circumstances, joy is not.  If you have faith, you have the ability to be joyful in all circumstances.  But, if you want to have a happy, abundant life, then you may need to make some adjustments to the things that are under your control.  Check out All Pro Dad’s 10 Thoughts on Happiness, take a quick inventory, and then make any necessary adjustments.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on what you value most and how you invest your time and resources to maintain your priorities.

Dave Ramsey offers some tips on how to make your post-holiday shopping not so painful in January.  He also offers financial advice on many topics that can be found on www.daveramsey.com.

Some of you may be headed out today, on Black Friday, in search for great deals. Here are three tips to keep in mind while you shop to help ease the after-Christmas bills blues, because nobody likes to sing that tune.

1. Research – Before you head to the mall, look for deals online.  Visit the websites of the stores you plan to visit, and check out their prices.  Don’t waste your time shopping at one store if you know the store down the street has a better deal.

2. Make a budget – This is common-sense stuff, but it’s amazing how many people have no financial plan for their spending.  They are like an energetic kid in a toy store, grabbing the first toy that looks pretty and tossing it into the shopping cart.  In order to work your way out of debt, you must become disciplined during the holiday season.  If you must buy for everyone, keep it simple and stay within your means–however meager they may be.  Don’t get caught up in “bigger is better,” or else the bigger debt in January will remind you of how stupid that mindset is.

3. Use cash – As Dave says, you spend less when you use cash.  Before you hit the stores, swing by the ATM and pick up a pre-planned amount of money.  Then, stop shopping when it’s gone.  If you planned ahead and followed the two steps listed above, then using cash should be easy.  You’ll know what you need to buy and how much it will cost–before you start.

To help you stay organized for your holiday shopping, try using iMOM’s Money Saving Christmas Gift Planner before you leave the house.

© 2011 by Dave Ramsey. Dave Ramsey’s Thoughts on Holiday Shopping, You Don’t Have to Go In Debt to Celebrate. All Rights Reserved. Originally published at www.daveramsey.com.

I asked my wife, Susan, to share one of our Thanksgiving traditions as a family for today’s blog post. I hope you and your family have plans to relax and remember what truly matters most during this holiday season. Here’s a little bit more about what we do as a family.

Thanksgiving is steeped with aroma, more than any other holiday I know. I can smell Thanksgiving. And I hope my children will have that fragrance of roasting turkey and bubbling apple pie imprinted on their brains, too.

However, Thanksgiving is more than just food and I was afraid that we were missing that. As my children aged (especially the girls) we were going straight from the dinner table to plotting a materialistic strategy for Black Friday shopping.

Thanksgiving is steeped with tradition. The tradition of food (we had that one down), but also a history rich with thanks to God, love for family, and desire for freedom.

How can we refocus our hearts and minds from food to family? I needed a solution that would be easier than the dinner. But I wanted to make the moments of reflection as sweet a memory in my children’s minds as that apple pie!

So here is what we did and here is how easy it is for you! I researched the history of Thanksgiving – it is so rich. We formatted it into story cards. It is very easy to use and a great way to turn Thanksgiving into a delightful time of…

THANKS

Consider this the whipped cream on your pumpkin pie!

Thanksgiving Story Cards

These are the story cards.  They tell the real story!  Things I never knew about that first feast.  Very intriguing.  Everybody picks a card (there are 12) and so everyone has a part in telling the story.

Did you know that the first Pilgrim to die was baby Oceanus?

Do you know what “Pilgrim” means and how they got their name?

Some of the cards are a bit tricky to read (especially for eyes over 50)  because the Pilgrims like to use an f where we put an s.

Thanksgiving Share Cards These are the sharing cards.  You put the name of one guest on each card.  Everyone picks a card and fills it out about the person they chose.  Then everyone takes turns sharing how they are thankful.  Precious.  Especially for the grandparents.  They love to hear the children share about them.

You can download all of the cards with one hit of the print button including instructions at http://www.imom.com/tools/seasonal/thanksgiving-story-cards/.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I love stories about underdogs.  That’s why I am excited about a new movie called The Mighty Macs.  It’s cut from the same cloth as Hoosiers and Rudy.  In the film, we travel back to 1971 where we meet Cathy Rush (played by Carla Gugino), a woman ahead of her time, who is about to embark on an adventure for the ages. Cathy is hired as the basketball coach of tiny Immaculata, a Catholic college that has no gymnasium, no fan support, and no money. The college president (played by Oscar award-winning actress Ellen Burstyn) basically tells Cathy she’s on her own!

While it appears the Macs don’t have a prayer, all hope is not lost. With the help of a booster club of elderly nuns, Coach Rush creates a new game plan that just might bring the team—and the school—together as champions.   Your kids will love The Mighty Macs. With well-known lead actors, basketball-playing actresses cast as team-members, and an original Cinderella story, this G-rated movie will have you cheering on The Mighty Macs. Take time to go see it this weekend with your children.  Let’s Go Macs!

Do you have a “bucket list?” Well, a lot of people have put together such a list over the last few years after watching the movie, The Bucket List.  As you probably know, a bucket list is just a list of things that you want to do before you “kick the bucket.”

I had not planned on putting together a bucket list, but after being prompted by some of our team here at Family First, I decided I’d give it a shot.  Here it is.

• Love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.
• Be faithful to my wife, Susan, all the days of my life and love her well.
• Watch my children, grandchildren and many generations to come love God with everything they’ve got.
• Watch my daughters and sons walk down the aisle with their life-long mate and dance with my daughters at their wedding.
• Have our children live in the same city as Susan and me.
• See the birth and growth of many grandchildren.
• For Susan and me to spend every moment we can with our children and grandchildren.
• Celebrate holidays with our entire family together.

Those are by far the most important things on my list, but here are a few other things that I’d enjoy!

• Spend a month in Tuscany, Italy with my family.
• Surprise Susan with a trip for just the two of us (I can’t say where since she may be reading this!)
• Take a trip to Hawaii with my family.
• Go hunting in Africa with my sons.
• Take my daughters on an all-expense paid shopping spree in New York City.
• Take an Alaskan fly fishing trip with my sons.
• Speak more with Susan at marriage and parenting conferences and events.
• Write a marriage book with Susan.

That’s my list for now.  What’s on your list?

“If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.” – Thomas Edison.

When setting personal goals, we should first take stock of where we already are. Perhaps you have done quite well financially, but your personal relationships are severely lacking. Maybe your marriage is secure and amicable, but in the area of romance the fire has long dimmed. We need to take an honest assessment of where we have succeeded and where we have failed. Then we can determine how to proceed forward. With this in mind, here are 7 areas of life to focus on for the next 10 years of your life plan.

1.         Marriage and Family Harmony

Maintaining and growing, as well as restoring and healing in this area, should absolutely be a top priority in your personal goals. Pinpoint the relationships in the direst condition. It could be that your marriage is in severe trouble. Does a relationship with your ex create great pain in your entire family?  Perhaps it’s effective communication issues with your children. Wherever the danger points are, the goal is to determine them and devise a plan on resolving the issues. Be sure to highlight where you have succeeded as well, and how you might grow those seeds elsewhere. The goal is a family living in peace and harmony.

2.         Proper Mindset and Balance

What is your attitude like? Are you overly aggressive and abrasive? Timid and self-defeating? Your mindset needs to be in proper balance. Too much or too little of any one particular ingredient can send you in the wrong direction. Personal growth occurs as we begin to learn exactly who we are—our strengths and our weaknesses.

3.         Career Passion and Personal Satisfaction

When people set goals, they almost always look towards their careers first. That is a mistake. That’s not to say your career isn’t important, because it certainly is, but are you a workaholic? On the flip side, are you lazy and uninspired? Make sure you keep work in a proper perspective. Your goal here should be to passionately enjoy your chosen profession while maintaining an excellent home life.

4.         Financial Stability

At every turn, you hear talk about financial discipline or lack thereof. In Washington, in state government, in local government, and in your own home, financial matters are important. Getting your “financial house” in order is an essential priority in your 10 year planning. Strive to dramatically lower or eliminate your debt. Increase your savings and build on your family security. Check out All Pro Dad friend Dave Ramsey for great advice in this area.

5.         Service and Social Responsibility

Despite our issues, America is still the wealthiest nation on Earth. We have a duty and responsibility to do good works with our blessings. For instance, Coach Tony Dungy places a high priority on mentoring. Do a little research and think of an area of need that ignites your passions. Create a plan to become permanently active in the needs of your community, and include your entire family.

6.         Leisure Time

We have talked about healing family relationships, moving ahead in your career, straightening out your finances, serving others, but how about a little “you” time? Stress is a killer. It is of utmost importance that time is set aside to relax and just enjoy life. However you see fit to do so is up to you. Just make sure that in your planning, leisure is included.

7.         Expanding and Growing Faith

Faith is the most important item on this list. Without faith, the rest of this list is pretty pointless. Start and finish your 10 year planning based on growing your faith and becoming the man or woman God created you to be.

Have you ever written a life plan? If so, what are some of the goals you included?

Our friend, NFL Hall of Famer, and All Pro Dad, Lee Roy Selmon died last weekend.  He was a big man with a big heart and his legacy will not be forgotten. A few months ago, I interviewed Lee Roy at our All Pro Dad Father and Kids Experience held in Tampa, FL at Raymond James Stadium.  I’d like to share that interview with you where Lee Roy talks about the importance of fathers leading their children, fathers spending time with their children, and the significance of instilling a strong work ethic in our kids.

While there are many books that have influenced my thinking, here are 10, in no particular order except the Bible, that come to my mind.

1. The Bible

2. Good to Great by Jim Collins

3. Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy with Nathan Whitaker

4. It’s Better to Build Boys than Mend Men by S. Truett Cathy

5. Secrets of Dynamic Communication by Ken Davis

6. The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

7. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

8. Heaven by Randy Alcorn

9. Laugh Again by Charles R. Swindoll

10. Lead…For God’s Sake! by Todd Gongwer

What books have impacted your life?

The entire world has been following the unraveling of the personal and professional life of Tiger Woods. In fact, his sponsor, Nike, released the following commercial featuring the voice of Tiger’s deceased father, Earl:

In recent news, Tiger announced that he would not play in this year’s U.S. open because of a persistent injury, but hopes to return to the game in July.  And whether or not you were rooting for Tiger to win at the game of golf, should we be rooting for his success in piecing his life back together? Here are a few things to think about as you answer this question.

• All of us have messed up in different ways and in different areas of our lives and have been shown grace—undeserved forgiveness and favor. Whether it’s the way we have treated our spouse, how we have not done our work well, or our rebellion against our parents growing up, everyone has made mistakes and everyone has been shown mercy. Should Tiger be an exception?

• Tiger has already suffered natural consequences for his indiscretions – he has lost his wife, time with his children, money, championships and, most importantly, his reputation. Should there be more consequences?

• Remember the story of the Prodigal Son? He left his father, rebelled, blew his inheritance, and then was welcomed back by his father who ran to hug and greet him as soon as he chose to come home. Should Tiger be welcomed back?

• Tiger is still young and can have a full life ahead. That means he has an opportunity to do an enormous amount of good and teach the young how to avoid the mistakes he did. Should he be given an opportunity to do so?

This is a tough subject to tackle. What do you think? Should you root for Tiger Woods to succeed personally? Professionally?