Priorities

What are your priorities? Do you know? In other words what is most important in your life? You need to have this one correct in your life because it has very long term effects.

Here are some examples of wrong priorities:
A minister that values the needs of his church over his children's needs.
A husband that values only his wife's beauty.
A father or mother that climbs the company ladder at the expense of their children.
A parent that allows a hobby or interest to take priority over their family.
A missionary that sets aside their own children's needs for the needs of others they are bombarded with.
A wife that simply pursues material possessions and gets caught up in "keeping up with the Jones".
A father that wants to make his child a sports star at all costs.


Our priorities determine how we spend our time and money. This has a huge impact on how we live our lives.

The Bible gives us clear guidance on this question in these two statements.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind".
"Do unto others as you would be done by and love your neighbor as yourself".

First we should love God.
Second we are to love ourselves.
Third we are to love others.

Loving God with our heart, soul, and mind gives us a worldview that is larger than ourselves. Our human perspective is very, very, limited and it would be easy for us to fall into a hedonistic*, self-centered lifestyle.
* hedonist- living for pleasure, seeking self gratification.

Loving ourselves does not give us permission to simply live for our own selfish interests. However, loving oneself is quite necessary for us to be able to love others. Self hate leads to a crippled life complicated by self-doubt, guilt, and an unhealthy body. We are UNABLE to serve others if we do not love ourselves.

Loving others is a great investment. Our families should be the number one "others". Your children will know where your heart is. Missing this one has very long term consequences. If you love God and take care of yourself you will be able to raise children that will put God first in their lives and love God with their heart soul and mind.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well". Matthew 6:33

Weird things my Mom says and what they mean...

Look before you leap.
Spend a lot of time with your intended before you marry him or her. The rest of your life is a long time and divorce is very, very messy.

Check out the pros and cons of a job before you take it.

Do some independent research before you invest your hard earned money.

A stitch in time saves nine.
Fix it now or it will be a bigger repair later (and cost more money).

Fish and company stink after three days.
Remember this one - especially if you're the guest! Your host will love you for it!

Big hat no cows.
Remember that the Jones' that live next door are probably in debt up to their eyebrows. Everybody that looks rich isn't.

A penny saved is a penny earned.
Every dollar you waste is a missed opportunity.

Sip all day get decay.
Lay off the sodas.

A man's work is from sun to sun but a woman's work is never done.
I am a mother of four ... do I need to explain this one??

Fools names are like their faces always appearing in public places.
Thou shalt not scribble your name, or phone number or anything else on the bathroom door.

Make new friends but keep the old - one is silver and the other is gold.

Get a job.
You'll do yourself a favor.

Idle hands are the devil's tools.
Kids and adults without responsibilities are likely to find trouble.

Get out of bed. Get busy.
Don't let life's difficult circumstances stop you from being productive.

Turn off the TV / computer / video game.
Do you have a life or are you watching someone else have a life?

Get a life.
Accomplish something that is tangible. Definition of tangible: something that can be touched, something that is real. For example: knit a scarf, plant a garden, or give the dog a bath. Sorry, high score on a video game does not count!

Life is short.
Don't let another day go by without letting your family members know how much you love them.

Don't throw your pearls to swine.
You will encounter those who will not listen to wisdom. When you meet mockers and scorners don't waste your time, energy or wisdom on them.

Work real hard for about ten years and you'll be an overnight success.

You reap what you sow.
If you sow stupid you'll reap desperate.
If you sow a plan and work hard you'll reap success.

Brainy, Bright, and Interesting kids

As you plan your children's activities this summer I think that it is important for your kids to have a good mix of different kinds of activities. Those children that only play sports or video games are missing out on using all areas of their brains. Music, sports, arts and crafts, games, gardening, and reading are all fun activities that will exercise different parts of their brain and will help children develop into smart and interesting people.

Remember it is the process not the product that is important here. So let them sing off-key (loudly), scribble away, and strike out. It's all good even if they do it badly. You're seeing to it that your kids are using all of their gray cells by stimulating different parts of their brains.

Thought for Mom and Dad... how are you doing in this area? It's important for parents to have a mix of activities too. Don't become a workaholic or a mono-hobbyist. Life will be more fun for you too.