Last week I took my kids to dinner and scheduled it days in advance to create anticipation. I let them choose the restaurant in our county seat town and it was a date. The younger two thought I was giving them a prize and my older two thought they were in the deep weeds. Cindy and I shared with them that this was a vision dinner. We have regular “town hall meeting” events around the table, but this was different. God had called me to speak into their lives that this is going to be “The Summer of Vision” for all of their lives. Not just a few weeks to attend camps, pools, barbecues and sleeping late. This summer was going to be an eye opening glimpse of their future potential for God’s Kingdom.
I shared with them:
#1 Prepare
Be ready for all God wants to say to them.
#2 Plan
Now for the attack the enemy has in store for them once they get back in school this August.
#3 Pray
For vision to see themselves changing the world for Jesus Christ.
#4 Possibilities
Never letting their mind become small with their surroundings, but desiring to see how Big God is.
#5 People
Will come and try to discourage their passion, but leaders will fuel it.
#6 Power
Comes from daily reading and praying with this extra summer time.
#7 Purpose
Is the power today for their future tomorrow. Summer camps and recreation is time to enhance God’s purpose more clearly.
God specifically asked me to share this moment with my children. I realized God has asked me to do this more and I don’t need a Holy Spirit unction. I am believing God for greatness in each of them. Just a challenge for you to speak into your kids’ lives and capitalize on every moment of it.
Karen Richardson says,
Awesome Shannon and such an encouragement as a parent!
on 20 June 2011 / 7:48 AM
Shannon O'Dell says,
Thank you!!
on 20 June 2011 / 9:23 AM
Robert Beyl says,
Shannon, you have always been a true man of God and a person that I took many years ago when I came to Christ, as a person to learn all I could from. Even now, with not seeing you for years, I still see the same person, just more passionate and more in love with God. You are awesome, and God is Great!!!!
on 20 June 2011 / 5:58 PM
heath says,
Great challenge for all of us parents to expect God to do something great through our children!
on 20 June 2011 / 5:59 PM
Shanyn says,
Thank you for this, if I may I’ll be sharing this with my family, it seems perfect for our summer this year! Bright blessings!
on 20 June 2011 / 5:59 PM
heather says,
Hey Shannon,
Thank you for this encouraging word to challenge our children for the cause of Jesus Christ.
Aaron turns 19 this month and he recently got a summer job at the Bryant Boys & Girls Club at Bishop Park. I sat down with him and we had a long talk…I challenged him to not treat this as just a job but to realize this is an opportunity that God has given him to make a difference in a child’s life. Many of these kids have a rough home life and Boys & Girls Club is the only positive thing in their life. I thought of the young Ken Freemans of the world…Aaron has the chance to plant a seed and reach kids for Christ.
This will be a summer of vision and change indeed!
on 20 June 2011 / 6:16 PM
Mark Farmer says,
I thank God for giving you the boldness to share your visions. Not only sharing Gods vision for the Church and His Kingdom. You also share the visions He has giving you for preparing your children/family to listen and be ready for when God calls them to a ministry. Not very many fathers will share things such as this. Your passion for loving the Lord and wanting others to have a great relationship with Christ shows everyday. Thank you Shannon for sharing and letting His light shine brightly through you.
on 26 June 2011 / 10:44 PM