Priorities

If I didn’t believe Jesus was true, if I didn’t believe God is who He says He is, I would live my life in a very different way. Urgency would have a different priority: If our life on earth is it, there’s an urgency be with family as much as I can, be near to them and friends, be happy, make this life last as long as I can. But because our mindset is eternal, because we believe our purpose and mission is to learn more about who God is, and we let Him lead as Lord of our life on earth. We trust that He is our Savior and way to eternal life in a perfect heaven. And we want to bring as many people with us as we can. So our priorities shift: the urgency is to share Jesus with people, to spend time with God and hearing what His plan is instead of asking him to bless our plan. We spend time with family and raise our families, and those are important things. In fact, they are incredible blessings from God. But we have to view that under the umbrella of where He calls us. It’s not just a decision. It’s a calling. It’s being led and trusting in a path that isn’t forged by me but a Holy and powerful God who knows so much more than I could dream.

There has been a slow shift for me in my priorities over the past 15 years. When Andrew and I were dating, he thought he might be called as a missionary to Brazil. At that point, I had only taken one mission trip and only been out of the country one time. I had not traveled many places beyond Florida, and at two hours away, this Midwest girl was living as far away from my family as I ever had or wanted to. It was a defining moment in our relationship, with lots of long conversations and tears. I ended up deciding that I knew Andrew was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, and if God was calling him to Brazil, then He would call me, too, and I would go. I told Andrew then, and I still say it to him often, "I will follow you anywhere." Because I know the good, Godly man He is, and that Andrew will always follow the Lord, and he always considers how it will affect me, and now our children. How could I not follow him (Andrew)? How could I not follow HIM (God)? It might not always be easy, but God has been so gentle with preparing my heart for each step we've taken, and we've been on great adventures, and I believe we have many great adventures ahead as we prioritize following the Lord. Together.