Our values in life and what is most important to us are shaped early in our lives.  Our values are what directs us, guides us and are learned and taught most directly from our parents.  Our brothers and sisters, grandparents, schoolteachers, friends, extracurricular activities, sports, church, community organizations like cub scouts, girl scouts, work, dating, clubs, secondary education, all play a part in shaping us. 

Values shall be defined as the degree and level of importance or worth of something or someone;  our principals and standards of behavior that we hold most dear to us.

Here is a partial list:  Honesty, trust, respect, loyalty, commitment, confidentiality, money, work, family, God, friends, status, power, influence, teamwork, leadership, success, beauty, responsibility, wisdom, health, fairness, justice, fun, privacy, recognition, adventure, citizenship, independence, authority, freedom, contributions, religion, spirituality, hard work, peace, determination, courage, fitness.

After reading these values let us turn to the words of truth as spoken by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Matthew 10:37-39  “ He who loves father and mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And He who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”  

Many of you can and will struggle with these verses, because, like me, you have placed so many other values above God at this point in your life. For 53 years I followed my own ways over God’s ways and lived according to the desires of this world. I was blind, foolish, and ignorant to the truth and had no desire to pursue the spiritual gifts God so willingly gives. I was in control and was living according to what I thought was best.

These verses are at the heart of what love and loving Jesus Christ is all about.  It is the essence of truth in where God needs to be placed in your life.  God is the creator, the supreme power and source of everything that you are and have become.  With God at the center of your life you will reach levels of Love, Peace and Joy you have never known.  In fact, when you truly accept and receive Christ Jesus into your life you will come to love the people closest to you even more.  (more detail found in the book  “Finding Calm in the Storm of Everyday Living “)

 Galatians 2:20 “ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loves me and gave Himself for me.”

Start today – Don’t delay and change your life - Let the words of God speak to you and be filled with a peace and joy beyond measure. 

 Find additional inspiration and encouragement found in the books “Finding Calm in the Storm of Everyday Living” or “Heart and Soul” either going to Amazon directly or hitting the home page of the store and scrolling down to books.