First Things First

Above all else..."Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." Next, "Love your neighbor as yourself." I was again reminded today of what those commands mean in my own life. Loving God with all that I am. Easier said than done. Each and every day, I decide who's on the throne--me or Him.

Loving my neighbor as myself...Who are my most important neighbors? The ones who live under my roof. For me, that means loving and caring for four guys. All of my energy gets poured into the ones that have been entrusted to my care. First. Foremost.

I was on the mission field with people who didn't want to be there. While living in a third world country, I saw husbands/fathers drag their wives/children to serve. In Bible college I was surrounded by hundreds of people. Many left their families to attend the school. Husbands left wives and children behind, stating that God called them. I wonder what God thinks when He hears His name attached to such madness. I know of missionaries who say they are called to far away lands, but won't even tell their next door neighbor about Jesus. Most of us know of "PKs'" "Preacher's Kids" who rebel against God, church and anything to do with holiness. This is often due to the fact that Dad always had time for the church folks, but was never home.

Can we get this right? Do we still have time? Our homes are where it all begins. If we are not ministering in our homes, taking care of the ones He's given to us...What business do we have trying to "minister" elsewhere? I don't stand to judge, I am on this journey myself. I have a lot of regrets from all the years I ran here and there, going to church meetings three or four nights a week. I missed suppertime and bedtime prayers too many times when the boys were little. If I could go back and change time, that's where I would start. Since I cannot, I choose this day what matters most. First things first. My God. My family. Everything else must fall into line with those priorities.