Spiritually Smart Families
20 May - 10 June 2009
Presenter: Bobbie Simpson
© 2008 Officers’ Christian Fellowship of the USA, Larry and Bobbie Simpson. All rights reserved.
- May 20 Can Our Hearts Betray Us? Reclaiming the Mind
- May 27 Affair Proofing the Heart: Issues of the Heart
- June 3 Personal Spiritual Formation
- June 10 I Choose Joy: The Power of a Made Up Mind
Can Our Hearts Betray Us? Reclaiming the Mind
Marriages are under full-fledged attack from every direction. Women must come to the battle for their homes and marriages with transparency and commitment. Status quo coping mechanisms and undisciplined minds are endangering their own desire to build strong relationships. We must learn to master our unruly hearts and practice the wisdom of those who “drink deeply from their own wells.” (Proverbs 4, 5 and 2 Corinthians 10:5)
Session Principles
A. The Word is the remedy for an undisciplined, unruly mind.
B. Pre-emptive and relentless action is required to protect our hearts from straying.
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Affair Proofing the Heart:
Issues of the Heart
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This stand alone (45 minute session) or piggy-back session with Reclaiming the Mind provides insight into attitude changes that must occur and to steps women must take to make their hearts steadfast before God and in their marriages.
Highly interactive and deeply reflective – this session is based on Proverbs 5.
Session Principles
A. Attention to matters of the heart and home can pay dividends in a marriage.
B. Setting intentional boundaries for the eyes, feet, and heart can lead to
satisfaction in marriage.
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Personal Spiritual Formation for Military Spouses
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This participant-driven session begins with a personal assessment of one’s growth along a Spiritual Growth Continuum and culminates in the formulation of a statement of faith similar to Joshua’s “but as for me and my house…” (Josh. 15:24) declaration. In marriage a wife must focus on her own personal growth and responsibility for change in the relationship. The “If he would only” is useless in building a marriage that goes the distance. This tool has proven encouraging and transformational in moving spouses in a purposeful direction in their marital role.
Session Principles
A. God’s purposes for you in your marriage can be known and should be
discovered.
B. Women who are intentional about success in marriage set goals and work
toward them.
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I Choose Joy: The Power of a Made Up Mind
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Military spouses often feel that they have few choices. Life happens to them, seemingly, without their full permission. It is easy to feel angry, hopeless about the future, and pessimistic about today. These feelings may lead to disengagement in the marriage and in parenting, which may present itself as depression, fatigue, and
unhealthy choices. This session focuses on an intentional mindset shift. What would happen if spouses chose joy? What would that process change look like? (Phil 4)
Session Principles
A. While we cannot choose our circumstances, we can choose to trust the outcomes
to the Lord. (Matt. 6:33)
B. Resignation and a feeling of powerlessness are not ingredients in the joy recipe.
