Priority Refreshing

Everyone has a list of priorities in life. Some of them are stated and others just seem to happen due to a variety of situations. One must understand that priorities of life can change and in fact can change without us even knowing about it. Therefore from time to time we ought to examine ourselves to identify what our present priorities actually are and then compare that with what we have said what our priorities ought to be. To assume that this will always be the same is a huge mistake because we can move forward in life thinking we are OK when in reality we are not focusing on the right things. I want to use use Bethel A/G as an example. As pastor there are two main things that I want to be the highest priorities in all that we do. Number one priority is loving God. Number two priority is loving people. This has been and will be our first two priorities of church life. The first step is to sit back an examine ourselves to see if what we are doing is actually in alignment with our main priorities. There are seasons that I think we are doing well and then there are seasons I am sensing we are slipping a bit from those two priorities. To get the whole church family to align themselves up with those priorities is and will continue to be a challenge. One I have analyzed where we are then we must begin to make intentional decisions to make sure we are doing the right things that will help to stay on track with our stated priorities. One thing that I have learned is that we need to state what our priorities actually are in order to keep them before us so we will actually live it out in life. There are many people who have stated that God is number one in their life but you would never know it by looking at their lives. It takes energy and endurance to keep what we say is our priority our actual priority. What is true in the life of the church is also true in our personal lives.
May the God of all love and peace guard your hearts in Christ Jesus our Savior.
Pastor John