Notes from this week's podcast: Jo & Sydney Discuss Success...Or is it Wisdom?

What is success? What is life supposed to look like? What does a home life look like?

Your aim is to please God. It doesn't matter what stage of life you're at 

* Visual: Driving. Dark night. Person waving a flag. You have choices: go around them; stop and find out what is wrong; see it ahead and turn around to a different path.

When we draw closer to God, He gives us His vision of success.

Success is wisdom that leads to a fulfilling life that pleases God; wisdom that grants you soundness, the competence to live life well for the Lord.

Sydney: Success is not just knowing but following the Lord.

Jo: That is a strong foundation. It's based on the Word of God. So we can all stand on that.

Sydney: Scripture -- being a daily part of our lives (not always structured, sitting down) -- putting Scripture in our every day -- what we listen to, what I and my husband are studying, passing on the wisdom God gives us to our children + being rooted in a faith community

Jo: You have to be intentional because the world, the social media, groups can get us off track. If our aim is to please God, we have to stay rooted in the Word.

* Don't take your eyes off the bullseye. You may miss the mark every now and then. But come back and re-aim. If you miss it, that's ok. Come back. You know what to do. Get back aimed again.

Lay the foundation. Aim to please God in your home. The bullseye is God -- it's what God has planned and purposed for your home and your family.

Sydney: The other outer circles aren't bad, but that shouldn't be our aim. Aim at the bullseye and all those outer circles get taken care of

Intentionality + picture of bucket (sand, small pieces, big pieces) We can't fit big things (priorities) in the bucket. The order of your life matters. It takes intentionality and forethought. 

Jo: As Christians, we're all aiming for God and His glory. The world will cloud, distort your vision.

Sydney: Our time. What we're going to say yes to -- Being at church on Sundays sometimes means sacrifice of other opportunities (like sports). I want to steward our time as a family well.

Jo: Time like money is an investment. We want to grow something.

Sydney: We have to be bold enough to say no to some things. And protect what's most important -- reaching our children's hearts. That can look backwards to the world.

Jo: Always ask why. Why am I doing what I'm doing? (especially when we have to make the hard choices) Does it come back to the heart of God? What is the motive of your heart? It can uncomplicated our lives -- simplify things for us.

Sydney: Delight means to lean in and fall. As we lean in and fall on Him daily (even minute by minute), He fulfills those desires in our hearts.

Jo: He pushes aside or away the other stuff that's causing turmoil. Let Him be what you're yearning for

If you're not leaning in to Him, that's a red flag. The enemy and our flesh can get us off track.

Wisdom is when we know what to do and we do it.

Prayer: God, Why did You allow me to hear all this? What is it that You are speaking to me? Give me the strength, the humility, the brokenness to move in the footsteps that You have patterned for me.  

Scripture for further reading: Proverbs 2:7, Proverbs 4:23, Psalm 37:4, Isaiah 30:21