Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Girlfriends-in-Ministry: Priorities

“If you don’t want us to be in the ministry anymore, just say the word. Right now, you make the decision. What’s it gonna be?”
These were the words of my husband who was frustrated and simply wanted peace. The stress revealed there was a crack in my foundation. That was it, my foundation. Terry and I had been married for less than a year and were part-time youth pastors doing full-time ministry, as well as, working outside jobs. Prior to that night, I had no thought toward the “building blocks” of my life. In that instance it became very clear I needed to dig deep and rebuild. I needed to establish priorities.

Whether or not you agree with the order, is up to you. I've found the following work for me:
  1. God
  2. Family
  3. Ministry (or Career)
  4. Myself
Imagine each of the above priorities in the tangible form of a solid block of magnificent rock hand hewn out of the side of a mountain. Starting with Myself being the smallest of the blocks and increasing size with each priority, begin stacking. You'd soon discover you created a wobbly wall with the weight of the ministry and family and outside influences teetering on your strength. See where I'm going?

Early to modern-day architects agree you gotta go deep with a strong foundation to build a sound structure. Reverse the order of our stones with the God-stone, the largest, now, bearing the weight, thus fortifying the entire structure. It can take-on any force, because God, Himself, is absorbing the shock. You may feel the tremors, but trust His strength.

"My gift of undeserved grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak" (2 Corinthians 12:9, CEV)...courtesy of YouVersion.

How are you holding up? Have you ever given thought to your own priorities? Ask God, our living and loving Father, to help you evaluate your own "structure." 

~"Sam"
P.S. It's 2-on-Tuesday, so at 2pm, look for blog post #2, which will be a recipe!

3 comments:

  1. LOVE your post regarding the "building blocks" of our lives. I agree with you...if you turn that list upside down and let the order be...GOD...FAMILY...MINISTRY...MYSELF you've GOT it. When we focus too much on ministry, and let our family survive only on leftovers, we'll lose our family. LOVE you analogy of building on the side of a hill, with the smallest stone (myself) being used as a foundation stone! GREAT wisdom knowing that we MUST build our lives on the Word of God, Prayer, Meditaion with Him.....which QUIPS us to better handle the responsibilities of family and ministry. We also have to take care of ourselves physically, emotionally, etc. And I'm not referring to tanning beds, nail salons and shopping malls. Back to building block ONE...."Time spent with GOD is time well spent". It will show in our countenance and our overall health! GREAT words of advice!

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  2. I'm glad you commented...especially on letting our family have the leftovers of ourselves.

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  3. Love this! Sometimes we focus so much on things that really in Reality do not matter or the little things that really should not even bother us... but those are the ones that seem to bother us the most! Its all about others and not about ourselves... even as hard as that may be sometimes. We have to love even when its more tempting not to and be a blessing :) As you are everyday Sam! I LOVE your posts.

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