Planning Your Marriage

image courtesy of Rachel Ledbetter Photography

Last week Brett opened us with a great lesson on our calling, our gifting, and our burdens. He assigned us some homework, and challenged us to sit down with our spouses and uncover what gifts and talents we each have been given. We were to list all the gifts & talents we bring to our marriage and discuss the complete list of what God has brought together between the two of us.


This week, Brad added in finding what is the biggest burden God has placed on our hearts in our marriage. For example, Brad & Rachel's burden is marriage. They have seen so many broken marriages lately, they feel God is putting that burden on their heart to minister to married people. That is how they will focus in on using their gifts and talents.


This week, Brad brought in creating a 50 year vision for your family. By analyzing our gifts, talents, and burdens that each spouse brings to the table, there are many clues as to what God may be calling us to in the future.


We should be praying through very specific details, both in how we want to be spending our time and money in 50 years.


With your spouse, think & pray through these questions this week:

1. Based on the gifts, talents, and burdens, what might the Lord be calling us to for our marriage and family in the future?

2. How do we want to be spending our time & money in retirement? What does retirement look like for us?

3. Do we feel called to leave any money or resources to our family? To a charity? To a ministry?

4. Develop a mission statement for your marriage.