THINK FAMILY

A sense of belonging gives one an assurance of security, connectedness, value, ownership

and the list could go on and on. Assimilation, Webster defines this word to mean; to take in

and incorporate as one’s own; absorb. We must be sure to assimilate new members into the

Family of God but we must also continue to assimilate each member into our earthly family.

To many times a family evolves into an unknown entity. The family becomes unknown to

each other, unknown to other families and unknown to themselves. A family that fails to “fit”

each member into the family results in a dysfunctional family. I am reminded of Isaac and

Rebekah’s family; this family had many traits of a dysfunctional family. Why were they

dysfunctional, they did not make a place, a specific place in the family for each other. Isaac

and Rebekah became estranged from each other; Jacob and Esau, Isaac and Jacob, Rebekah

and Esau they all had lost there place in the family. The connectedness that is necessary for a

family to function was not in place for this family resulting in each individual not having a place to fit in the family.

In order for the church to function as it should each member must fulfill their place in

the family. So it is in our earthly family. As new members are added and as each member

ages and matures we must work to see that every one has a place to fit in. Grasping the fact

that fitting in is essential to a Godly family, what must we do to insure this happens? Listed

are several ingredients that will create a recipe for a positively functioning family.

· PLAN, include each family member, inclusion fosters ownership.

· BE ALERT to each family member and their development.

· DETERMINE the role of each family member.

· EDUCATE each family member of their role, parents this is your primary responsibility.

· WORK each family member must work on assimilating each member in the family

including themselves.

· PRAY with each family member, individually and collectively. God’s bank of blessing

is opened through prayer, pray just one more time each day..

Remember each person needs and deserves a place to belong. We are God’s adopted

children. It is great to know that God has a place for each one of us in His Family. Assimilation,

the effort is minimal and the results are bountiful, try it and you will see.

Live Faithful, Jeff