This week has been busy. I talked about how I feel about busy in this post.
In our little family, Ben and I have an order to life.
God - First
Family - Second
Ministry - Third
The rest of the list varies for each of us, but the first three are the same, and have to be in that order. Within that order, life works. It doesn't mean it's always smooth and easy, it just means that it works, because for us, that is the order God has given. We know that without a doubt.
This week, we (mostly me) have jumbled the order sometimes...and that does not work. At all.
In the wrong order, I begin to get irritated with all three. Seems silly, but it's true. It took me a few days to figure out what the problem was. At first, I was pretty sure the problem was just my kids being naughty and my husband not paying enough attention to me...so I informed them of this.
My husband, of course, listened and apologized while my children stared at me with blank expressions, wondering who this crazy lady was standing before them. I was sure it would be better now that I informed them of their wrong-doing.
But the next day...I still felt the same. Irritated with them.
Puzzling. And then God gave me that list...that order, and the vast knowledge that it was not my husband and children that were the problem...it was me. Ouch. I was the one shuffling the order of things. And once again, I am thankful that I can go before a gracious God, repent, and start fresh.
This morning I opened to Luke 6, and read this verse...(41&41)
"And why quibble about the speck in someone else's eye - his little fault - when a board is in your own? How can you think of saying to him 'Brother, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the board in yours? Hypocrite!"
Just His gentle, loving reminder for me as I begin a new day :)
- Sarah@Life in the Parsonage
- Wife to Ben, who also happens to be the Pastor of a sweet little church in a tiny little town. Mama to three boys and little Lucy. We live in the parsonage, 27 steps from said little church. This is the journey...it involves lots of run-on sentences.
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The Fringe Hours
Thank you for this post. I know my priorities are out of order right now as well and I need to sit with God today and re-adjust.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true! When I'm having a bad day I always blame someone else first, never giving thought to myself. My kids have looked at me the SAME way many times!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post and the reminder!
Michelle
When I get things out of order, I feel the same way. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteI can so relate! Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteI am so thankful that God does give us an order for what our priorities should be. Because if it was left to me, things would be a mess!
ReplyDeleteMy problem comes in remembering to follow His order, and not take matters back into my own hands!
Thanks for the reminder, and your honesty in writing it :)
Have you been stalking our house? We have been having the same issues! Wow! Isn't great that we have a God that forgives and blesses us even after we keep messing everything up?!
ReplyDeleteSo easy for me to do the same thing, and always with the same results. Like you, I'm so thankful for a gracious God who serves up a fresh new portion of mercy every day! Thanks Sarah, for this very timely reminder!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Tracy
I can also put things in the right order in my life, yet not in my heart. Doing the right things not living it out in the inner most parts though. Does that make sense?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder.
Jill - also a bit irritable this week.
You know, one of the things I love about you is your tender heart. When God speaks to you, you respond. I know that that is lovely in His eyes. My 'conversations' usually end up more like this:
ReplyDeletehttp://shalomseekerblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/imported-post-from-previous-blog-lousy.html
I'm lousy like that sometimes. :-( May you find the riches of His grace at your disposal in your 180. :-)
Blessings,
-J
P.S. I did eventually repent...but it was such a struggle.
Glad God is speaking to and thru you! There has been a re-prioritization here this week too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a convicting post for the week. Thank you so much for the eye opener!
ReplyDeleteWow...if you only knew how timely this post is, and how much it relates to my "God-sized" idea. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and commenting. I love reading about "life in the parsonage" and it's always such a treat when I read comments from you.
ReplyDeleteOUCH!!! I THINK YOU HAVE HIT ME BETWEEN THE EYES WITH THIS ONE!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, how I love God's sense of humor. Even when rebuked, He can make us smile while getting His message across.
ReplyDeleteThis was enlightening to me - as well as encouraging! :) You go girl! :) Way to be used by God. :)
ReplyDeleteI get right there with you girl quite often......
ReplyDeleteToo often my selfish "pay attention to me" "Listen to me" attitude comes out.....
but then, what do we do with children who seem to have VERY selective hearing! =)
Love it when that happens. Thanks, Jesus.
ReplyDeleteThis was so encouraging to me!!! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou're speaking to many of us ... and that's the great thing... We're not alone!
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. You are so right...when our priorities get out of whack it all goes down hill
ReplyDeleteI was just reminded of this very same thing. It is so true when we take what God has given us out of order and try to do it on our own it puts everything in wack. God is a great God!! Keep truckin on!!!
ReplyDeletehit me on the nose, it happens so easy!! completely me so often. the blank look in their eyes, and apologizing husband, how true. why do i so easily do it?
ReplyDeleteI always love how the "gentle reminder" can smack you in the head like the "board in yours (eye)..." yeah like that. BUT the good thing is I NEVER.do.that....wow that almost hurt to type... ok ok GUILTY. there, now i feel better too!
ReplyDelete