Every New Years our family prepares for the coming year by doing a Family Destiny Conference. We set aside 3 days (plus or minus) and plan a conference at home in the same manner we would if we were to attend a conference elsewhere. We jointly decide on a schedule where we take time to study the Word of God, pray and seek His face together as a family and as individuals. We take time to hear the hearts and desires of each member of our family, and take time to pray and release those things for the coming year. (One year we prayed over and released the meanings of each child’s name. Another year we anointed and released each of our children’s individual gifts and callings. My husband and I often share childhood memories that give our kids insight into our personal journeys. Every Christmas we hang a stocking for Jesus, filled with individual note cards from our previous Christmas/New Years (one for each family member), on which each of us have written something we desired to give Him in the year to come. Each Family Destiny Conference we go over our cards from the previous New Years, discussing whether/how we followed through on our gifts as individuals and/or as a family (study, prayer or worship time, talents, an area we are desiring to overcome, such as eating healthier, etc.). We then pray and write anew on our note cards and place them back in our stocking for Jesus, to be packed away and brought out next Christmas/New Years. )

We give each family member choices of eating out one fun meal and participating in one fun activity each day, whether it would be going to a movie, sledding, bowling, going to the community center to swim, play basketball or workout, etc.. My husband and I each prepare a daily teaching, the topics often sought through prayer and fasting prior to the conference. This year we plan to focus on Psalms 127 and The Arts Express’d. We are launching a new ministry, a vision from the Lord revealed over the past seven year season: The Arts Express’d (see www.TheArtsExpressed.com). We want to ensure that He is the One building the ministry exactly as He has prepared and purposed in and through us. We desire to be vessels He can build His Kingdom through as a family and as individuals within our family who will be launching out over the next 2-5 years with ministries of their own.

This nation is at a critical juncture and it is so important for families, regardless of the individuals who make up your family unit (husband and wife, single mom and kids, widow, grandparents with kids, etc.), to take time as 2008 comes to an end and 2009 begins to unfold before us: spend time seeking His heart, His purpose, His will for each family member; pray; fast; worship; study His Word: for each family, for the city or region He has placed you in, for the Church, and for our nation. His Word promises that when we seek Him we will find Him. We have dear friends at a church in the Cities who spend the first 7 days of each New Year 24/7 in the church to pray, fast and seek His face. Regardless of how much or how little time you’ve spent seeking Him this past year, make time this week. Seek Him early in the A.M.. Seek Him late at night and during the midnight hours. Purpose to set aside time during the day’s busyness and distractions to seek Him; to hear His still, small voice and what He’s speaking to you for 2009.

2008 has been a difficult year for our nation and for many people. 2009 holds the manifestation to many unanswered problems and unfulfilled promises. 2009 will be a year of great change. 2009 will also be a year in which God reveals that He sits on the throne of this nation and on the throne of each heart that has said/will say, “Yes” to the Lordship of His Son. 2009 will be a year of God revealing His amazing glory and love throughout the world. Purpose to do your own Family Destiny Conference this week, however that looks for your individual family, with whatever time you can make available (even if you don’t have any free days, He will honor whatever time you give to Him). You won’t be disappointed…that’s a promise you can count on! I would like to conclude with the words to a song the Lord dropped into my spirit this week.

I AM
I SEE EVERY FACE ON EVERY SINGLE CHILD
THAT NOBODY WANTED
THE WORLD THREW THEM AWAY

I SEE EVERY TEAR ON EVERY SINGLE FACE
FROM EVERY BROKEN HEART
NEEDING SOMEONE TO LOOK THEIR WAY

I AM THE ONLY ANSWER
DON’T BELIEVE THE LIES THEY SAY
I AM THE ONLY HOPE
YOU’RE ALL CRYING OUT FOR THIS DAY
HOW DID YOU GET TO HERE?
HOW DO YOU GET TO WHERE YOU NEED TO BE?
JESUS IS MY NAME

I SEE EVERY CHILD HUNGRY, SICK, ABUSED,
CRYING FOR SOMEONE
TO TAKE AWAY THEIR PAIN
I SEE EVERY CHILD EMPTY AND ALONE
FEARING THAT NO ONE
CARES OR KNOWS THEIR NAME

I AM THE LOVE YOU’RE LOOKING FOR
I AM PEACE AND SO MUCH MORE
I AM YOUR WAY, YOUR TRUTH, YOUR LIFE
I AM
I AM THE FREEDOM THAT YOU SEEK
I AM YOUR STRENGTH WHEN YOU ARE WEAK
I AM YOUR SHELTER FROM THIS STORM
I AM

Copyright 2009 Tammy Sorenson/Jaran Family Ministries