Do you ever get the feeling that God is trying to drill a lesson into your brain?
Like — you’ll have all of these odd coincidences that just keep happening. And finally one day you wake up and you’re like…”Oh! Perhaps I’m supposed to recognize all these things to mean XYZ?”
Yeah, well — let’s just say that’s been happening to me here recently. A lot.
I was on my morning jog earlier this week, and a commercial came on, interrupting my “Latin Reggaeton Jams” playlist. ((Because, yes — I am one of those curmudgeons that still has the free Spotify and refuses to fork over the cash for ad-free listening.))
I digress. The ad caught me off guard, because it was for Black Friday. And the ad said, “Spend your Thanksgiving with us! Doors will open at 6pm on Thanksgiving for doorbuster savings!”
SIX PM. On Thanksgiving. Right when the turkey is supposed to be being carved, this store had the audacity to lure people away from their loved ones to get a sick deal on some electronics.
Now, I didn’t catch which store this was — and believe me, had I remembered I would put them on blast for having a sale at dinnertime on Thanksgiving.
But like, are you kidding me? IS NOTHING SACRED ANYMORE?
I didn’t have too much time to deliberate over the impudence of it all, before my favorite Bad Bunny song came on, and my mind quickly went elsewhere.
However, that evening — I was having coffee with a friend, and the conversation somehow turned to priorities. And he proceeded to share with me a fascinating piece of information, which — for the record — I have since fact checked on Google, and it is, in fact, true.
The word, “priority” was never meant to be pluralized. It was always the singular: priority. For hundreds of years, it was always recognized and accepted that, by definition, the nature of a priority is that there can only be one. It wasn’t until the late 1900s that the word’s plural form, priorities, came into existence.
Compelling fact, no? Anywho, I filed that away in the, “share-this-at-a-party-to-sound-smart” section of my brain.
But the next morning, I kept circling back to it.
My life has been all over the map here recently — with work, with people in my life, with family, with social engagements. The pile of unprocessed clean laundry in my apartment can attest to the fact that I have been going a mile-a-minute, nonstop for the last several months.
And to be fair, I love it that way. I love the hustle. I love spending time with people. I love the fast life.
BUT. All these recent happenings have me calling into question what exactly I am prioritizing in my life.
Sure, I’m at the stage in life where it’s all about the hustle: you’re trying to build a life, and earn a living so that you can pay your bills, and nurture relationships to cultivate a thriving community. So yeah, it’s easy to spread yourself thin and become so scattered you don’t even have time to put your clean clothes away.
But it begs the question: what do I prioritize? And if I’m truly trying to listen to what God’s been throwing at me here lately, the question I really should be asking is, “What is my singular priority?”
It’s an uncomfortable question, let’s be honest. Ask me at different times of the day, and it’ll be a different answer every time.
But deep in my heart, I know what that answer truly should be.
All the things in life that I want to prioritize: my family, my friends, my health and recovery, my job, my passions, my social life, my fitness — all of those things are actually offshoots of the greatest priority of all: my relationship with God.
Because here’s the thing: none of those things can be at the healthy, optimal level I want them to be, unless I am grounded in my relationship with God.
I cannot be the daughter, or the friend, or the writer I want to be, unless my feet are firmly planted in a foundation in Christ.
I cannot respect my body, and honor my recovery, unless I am centered in the identity and worth I have in Christ.
All of these things I want to prioritize — and yes, they are important and should be priorities on my list — I cannot fulfill them to my fullest potential unless I first prioritize Him.
That’s something that I really need to work on sometimes. Ok, a lot of times.
So what does that look like?
Spending time in prayer. Going to mass. Seeing myself and others through a Christ-filter. Giving of my time, talent or treasure – especially during the holiday season. Speaking about my faith with others.
Easier said than done, believe me. Much easier.
But I think it’s important to at least try.
So my question to you, is what is your singular priority? And perhaps the even more challenging question, is: Would your actions and words communicate the same answer?
Dun dun dunnnnnn!!
Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving, my friends!
Hugs and love xox
Care
“This is what the Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.” Ez 37:5
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199 responses to “Actions, Words & Priorities”
Well said, as always. Happy Thanksgiving, kiddo. God’s grip – Alan
Thanks so much Alan 🙂 Gods grip, I like that 🙂 hope you have a wonderful thanksgiving too! Hugs and love xox
Hi Caralyn, I have indeed had the feeling that He is trying to drill something into my brain. You’ve given me some things to think about, thank you! ❤️☺️
Hey john! I’m glad you can relate! Yeah He’ll do what ever it takes to get the message across!! Hope you can get some clarity! Happy thanksgiving! Hugs and love xox
Same to you and your family my friend. ❤️
I’ll be at home in Las Vegas and alone for the holiday but it’s OK. Going to Michigan early December for our (early) family Christmas, yay!! 😎
Oh I’m sorry about that! I hope you can find a good football game on tv 🙂 Glad you’ll get your family fix in December! 💛✨💛✨💛
Thanks! There’s always something I can be doing around this house. 😎
Haha good!! 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼
You are not alone, count me in Spotify with ads. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!!! Enjoy time with family and friends. 🤗🙏🌸
Haha glad I’m not the only one! I’ll hold out until forever! 😂😂😂 Thank you! I hope you have a beautiful thanksgiving too! Hugs and love xox
You are welcome. No you are not the only one. Haha… 🤣🤣Yes, I’ll continue holding out too. Thank you, we look forward to a beautiful Thanksgiving. 🤗🙏🌸
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Cute! Thank you ✨💜✨
♡ It’s Actually Goddess EveryOne because SHE!!! is Being Ignored; it’s Crystal Clear Clarity that “God” is Playing Smart and Keeping Quiet 😆😅😄😃😂😁😀😉😊
…♡♡♡…
Patriarchal language and tradition can be tricky. When a man and a woman shed their blood (their family ties) and cleave to one another they become a new person…a new man. They become HIM. When God’s Son the Everlasting Father…unites with cleaves with the Goddesses’ Daughter, the Wonderful Counsellor, the two become HIM…CHRIST.
And you are so right Yernasia Quorelios relationships matter. Paul counselled the early church to become Brides and not to settle for relationships that were unevenly yoked or lacking commitment. If a guy can’t openly declare his love for his gal, his bride and see her as a goddess … he is not worthy of his woman’s attention. If he should be shouting GREAT IS ARTEMIS…GREAT IS MY WOMAN the mother of my family the one who loves me much…she is a goddess and an incarnation of our MOTHER, GOD’s cherished GODDESS BRIDE (Ephesians 19:28).
Thank you so much Yernasia. May you and your family have a God/Goddess blessed Thanksgiving.
♡ The Book of Esther is the Only Book in The Bible that doesn’t mention “God”; it’s Crystal Clear Clarity that SHE!!! kept “God” Quiet
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Wow. Very well done, my friend. God doesn’t want to be a part of our lives, He is our life. You’re right. Everything else comes out of that. I think He’s been showing me the same thing. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! KB
Thank you so much Kenneth!
Sorry it sent too soon! Thank you Kenneth! You’re so right – He IS our life, what an important thing to remember. The first and foremost. So glad you stopped by! Have a happy happy thanksgiving my friend! Hugs and love xox
HAHA! No worries. I’ve done that many times. 🙂 By the way, I’m a fellow Spotify curmudgeon. Ads all the way and the occasional 30 min free runs. 🙂 Thank you!!
Haha Ads all the way!! 😎😎😎
I have always tried to make serving the Lord my first priority but all the distractions of life sometimes pull me away. Thanks for the reminder. Have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!
Thanks so much Barbara! Yes! This world also battled for our time. But even just being aware of that is a huge win 🙂 have a happy thanksgiving! Hugs and love xox
Amen to that! We can lose sight of what’s really important. You might have heard: “Don’t Major in the Minors.” (Rule 5: Everything is explained through baseball!) This morning, I was reminded to be thankful and start with your salvation in Christ. 🙂 And what about our own suffering? We’re told to give thanks for even that. I have a problem thanking God for a broken tooth but that’s what I’m supposed to do. What’s God saying in all this? Good question because I don’t know the answer. 🙁 I am reminded that His grace is sufficient so that maybe good enough for now.
PS> Unlike you, I paid for Spotify. 😀
PPS > Piles of dirty laundry on the floor? I can’t imagine that. If I don’t do laundry, I’m out of clean underwear and socks in 8 days. LOL
Thanks so much! You’re right about that! Even our suffering is something to be grateful for because God is growing us and forming us through it! Have a happy thanksgiving! Hugs and love xox
Wow. Convicting, but needed. May we keep our hearts, minds, and eyes on Jesus alone, and get ready for the next leg of the adventure He has planned to walk with us. ❤
Thank you so much! I’m so glad it struck a chord with you:) yes! Eyes on Jesus alone! It’s an exciting thought:) Hugs and love xox
And happy thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving should be a universal holiday. It should be more than a day. Thanksgiving should be a lifestyle. Excellent post, friend.
I agree! Thanksgiving WEEK!! Goodness knows we have enough to be grateful for! Thanks for stopping by! Cheers to that lifestyle! Hugs and love xox
And happy thanksgiving:) 🦃
So true! Thank you and happy Thanksgiving 🙂
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Sounds like The Rock Method, eh? I remember the movie City Slickers with Billy Crystal and Jack Palance. Billy played a city guy who went to a dude ranch to “find himself.” Bill asks Jack – a wizened cowboy – what the meaning of life is. Palance holds up his index finger and says it’s just one thing. You just need to figure out what it is. Great movie, if you haven’t seen it.
Nice nugget about “priority.” I’ll have to try and remember that the next time I need to look smart! Happy Thanksgiving, my friend!
The Rock method! Yes!! Such a great movie moment — they sure don’t make em like they used to!! Haha is a great nugget for sure 😉 oh he’s, I hope you and your girls have a wonderful thanksgiving!! Sending big hugs and perfectly baked pumpkin pies 😎😎😎 haha xoxo
So interesting about “priority!” Amen and amen. Happy Thanksgiving, Caralyn!
Thanks Heather! Yes! I thought that was an interesting factoid too! Hugs and love xox
And I hope you have a blessed and beautiful thanksgiving too!!!! 🥰🥰🥰
This is very interesting, and it has a great point considering that we should really have one priority. Sadly for stores, there priority is sacrificing family and observance for profit. Thanksgiving is the most important holiday we celebrate in this country, yet many businesses are sacrificing this day. Thank you for sharing, and I wish YOU and your family a great Thanksgiving.
thanks so much JB! yeah, sadly as long as there are presents to buy, stores will always force us to choose between shopping and family on black friday. I hope you have a happy and blessed thanksgiving too, my friend! hugs xo
You are welcome so much. Hugs to YOU!!!
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✨💛🦃💛✨✨💛🦃💛✨✨💛🦃💛✨And may millions be thankful for YOU!!!
hahah 🙂 aw shucks xoxox
I’d love to say my priority is God, but I keep wavering over whether I believe He exists. Equally, I’d love to say “my recovery”, but right now I barely even have to think about it – life’s good. If I was being romantic I might say “my wife”. My mental health must be close to the top of the list because everything else sucks when my health is poor.
OK, I’ve decided… the priority in my life is my new random orbital sander. It’s the best DIY tool I could wish for, it makes my life complete. It even has a special spot on the pillow next to me!
thank you for sharing your heart, Rock. examining out priorities is definitely a challenging exercise – i certainly found that to be true as i was writing this piece. but you’re right – mental health is definitely up there. And as far as faith goes, i’d like to just encourage you — because faith is a journey with many ups and downs. Keep asking questions. and i’d also like to suggest a movie: A Case for Christ — it is fascinating, and about an atheist journalist that sets out to disprove the existence of God. it was first a book that became a movie. i believe you can find it on netflix. I hope you have a beautiful thanksgiving, my friend. I don’t know what an orbital sander is, but if it is literally one of those wood carving tools with the sand paper, i am laughing hysterically!!! 🙂 big hugs to you xox
I’m still a work in progress. Thanks for the inspiration and may you and your family have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving.
yes! we are all works in progress!! thanks so much John, i hope you have a great thanksgiving as well! hugs xo
Not 30 minutes ago, I finished with a group talking about this very thing. We’re entering a season that we know is joyous, but we complain about, because of the noise of sales and promotions and buy, buy, buy on Thanksgiving night and beyond. But we contribute to the noise by getting pulled into those sales! And we can stop it, we can say “Enough,” by holding to our one singular priority.
Lovely post, as usual. Hugs and love– Mike
oh my gosh, incredible! sounds like God is trying to get you a message too! you’re so right about that — we have the ability to press the big red stop button. thanks so much Mike for stopping by! i hope you have a beautiful thanksgiving!! hugs and love xox
Loved this Caralyn, all the other things are definitely offshoots of the one single priority- our relationship with God.
Love and hugs 🤗
thank you so much!!! yes!! if that one thing isn’t in alignment, our whole existence will be off balance! I went to a christian sports camp growing up every summer, and the motto was: “I’m Third — God First, Others Second, I’m Third.” They had it right! so glad you stopped by! have a wonderful thanksgiving! hugs xo
Ooh I like that God first, others second and I am third.
Have a wonderful thanksgiving 🤗
it was such a great experience as a kid. i went for seven summers in a row!!
Nice write. Good message. So easy to get off track/distracted. Surrendering to Him daily helps me keep in tune. Tough balance and I’m still learning this. No matter what- #1 priority is my relationship with God, as He deserves my love and attention more than anything of this world. Have a blessed Thanksgiving! -Dustin
thank you so much!! i love that – surrendering daily – that is so important! you’re right, Dustin – He deserves the #1 spot! so glad you stopped by! have a wonderful thanksgiving! hugs xo
Excellent, and well said. Happy Thanksgiving and Many Blessings!
Thank you so much John! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! have a beautiful thanksgiving, my friend! hugs xo
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thanks Tonya for the link up! hugs xox
As always, I love you, precious friend. I have missed your presence and am glad you are reaching a reminder on your main priority. Happy Thanksgiving!!! Hugs! XO😄❤
thank you Tonya!!!! 🙂 yes! i think going into the holiday weekend, it’s important to take a mental check of the priorities! hope you have a beautiful beautiful thanksgiving, my friend! love you!! hugs x
You too!! Have a peaceful, joyous, calm Thanksgiving with family!😄❤
✨💛🦃💛✨yes!!
This was a good read. Thank you for the challenging post!
Thanks so much Kim! I’m glad you enjoyed the read 🙂 hope you have a beautiful thanksgiving! Hugs and love xox
Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!
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Love your take on what exactly a priority should be.
Thank you so much Eric! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post! I hope you have a beautiful thanksgiving! Hugs and love xox
You too!
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I just finished this book called Rhythms of Grace in my small group that really helped me learn what needs to be prioritized in my life. It really focuses on about how God wants us to live in shalom! It’s super good and thought it related a lot to how you talked about how life is always so busy and how we need to fixate on God in all it.
Keeri Wheems does a really good job of explaining how God intends for us to live in His rhythms for our lives. If you get some time, check it out! Such a good book. I think you may enjoy it. It helped me a lot with learning how to live with intention and in peace, trusting and fixating my eyes on Jesus and His peace!
LOVE this post! Thanks for always sharing.
Oh that sounds like such a great book! I’ll definitely check it out! Thanks for the recco! Living with intention is something I’m really trying to do more of!! So glad you stopped by! Big hugs to you friend xoxoxoxox
Yes ma’am! It’s really good, and the author is such a great storyteller too!
that’s so great, i can’t wait to check it out 🙂 thanks again~
This is Matthew writing from Common Issues.
Thank you for the word lesson. I was not aware that priorities has not always been pluralized. This is quite fascinating. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving. Enjoy your sacred time with your family.
Thank you so much! Yeah i was super intrigued when i found that out about the word!! I appreciate you stopping by! I hope you have a beautiful thanksgiving as well!! 🦃🦃🦃 Hugs and love xox
This is Matthew writing from Common Issues.
I appreciate you too. I will try to stop by when I can. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving too. I’m giving the hugs and love right back to you! You deserve it all! Thank you!
Gotcha!! ✨💛🦃💛✨
We don’t have a Thanksgiving day in South Africa 🇿🇦 although we often share the sentiment. Giving thanks is good. But why do we nowadays have horrid Halloween and Black Friday?? Those two are my pet peeves. But Thanksgiving could sit well with me. I must prioritize that.
Oh gosh – yeah, Black Friday – yes it’s great for sales, but it truly brings out the worst in people!! Yeah – thanksgiving though – it’s awesome 🙂 thanks for stopping by! Hugs and love xox
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🙂
Love this post 🙂
It reminds me of what Jesus said- Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you.
Also- Delight yourselves in the Lord and he will grant the desires of your heart.
But if we seek first the kingdom of God and delight ourselves in the Lord, our desires will change to match what he wants for us. 🙂
Thank you so much! Yes! Oh my gosh you’re so right about that – seek Him first!! Have a happy thanksgiving! Hugs and love xox
Dumb question… are the big deals at stores on Thursday night a new thing in your parts of the country? It’s been going on for several years here.
I hate it all. I hate the whole concept of what happens in the retail world on the weekend of Thanksgiving. And I think more people need to know the truth of the origin of the name “Black Friday”; maybe then we’d see that this isn’t something to celebrate. (Hint: it has nothing to do with black ink and profits.)
Hey friend! No, Black Friday has been a thing for as long as i can remember – but it was always midnight and beyond. NOW the stores are having it start during dinner time on Thursday. I’m not a fan either!! Oh really! I’m unaware of the origin. Hugs and love xox
That’s what I meant… around here, stores have been opening Thursday evening for about the last 10 years. Is that not the case in New York and/or Ohio?
And historically, days were always referred to as “black” when something bad happened on that day, like “Black Monday” in 1929, the stock market crash that started the Great Depression. Police officers in the 1960s first started referring to the day after Thanksgiving as Black Friday in reference to unruly crowds, traffic, and rioting shoppers. The retail industry started using the term in a positive light, including the fake story about the name referring to black ink and profits, about a generation later. To me, taking a day that is known for rioting and unruly behavior and turning that into a cause to celebrate seems just wrong.
Interesting – wow those facts really make you reconsider it all doesn’t it?? Thanks for sharing that. Regarding the start times, I guess I just never really paid attention to it 🤷🏻♀️ powerful food for thought
I was driving/exploring in very southwest remote jersey last week, and kept passing what I could tell was a really old cemetery, I kept telling myself to stop (or was that only my voice?), so I finally did, I took the time to look at the graves, and they were indeed old, in fact most of the inhabitants (as it were) were actually British citizens, the forest had actually taken over most of the place, there were graves ranging in age up to the 1900s, the monument (behind some trees quite off the road) was dated 1909, the inscription begins: “in memory, of the true and good men and women who coming in the seventeenth century founded here on the Cohansey. The Church of the Christ in Fairfield, May 19, 1708”, there were whole families and generations laid there… that was a reminder, we have this spun out techno laden life but we are here living now and should feel the miracle every minute, or as best we can, your post echoes that, I think, at least, to me.
Thanks David for sharing that – you’re right – the miracle of every minute — time is not something we should take for granted. So glad this resonated with you. Hugs and love xox
Thank you David for noticing the tombs, the graveyards. I don’t think this was mere coincidence. The Church of the Christ in Fairfield tugged at you and reminded you of something larger than your techno laden life.
When a cell phone dies, where does the data and all the pictures so readily available go? If you can remember the passcode and you have taken the time to upload the soul of your cell phone to the cloud, when the owner gets a new cell phone, his/her cell phone springs back to life.
For those Christians who have taken the time to upload their souls to the Everlasting Father and his BRIDE, Scripture is their passcode. For Paul who was crucified for Christ the Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6) counsels the Thessalonians and many other churches
In Thessalonians 4: 13-14 Paul says “Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
Thank you David for linking death with our techno laden life! May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving full of sharing the amazing and wonderful life our God and our techno laden world provides.
My dear friend Caralyn,
Often our mind is wandering like a nutshell on the endless ocean of life. Waves of attraction let our minds focus on them like life performs a theatre for us. The more we follow it with our outgoing senses, the more we are captured by them, like iron is attracted by a magnet. In wandering here and there, we often forget our Father, the Christ-power, only when our mind finds some peace we remember Him again. So our world is like a market: full of shining presents that attract our eyes dishing up more and more toys for us. In doing so we identify us with those gifts, thereby forgetting our Father who is the Giver of all and everything: the Giver of our lives, our souls of His breath in our breath. So we have to decide what we really want: those thousands and millions of attracting things the world is offering us or do we want the Giver of all and everything, the King of all Kings or do we play this game: sometimes here and sometimes there…
When we know all belongs to Him, all is He, then we can look at all things seeing Him behind all things and we are permanently connected with Him in sweet remembrance of Him. Indeed, this should be our foremost priority. The more we think of Him, the more we develop love and receptivity for Him.
Be warmly hugged and greeted
Didi
Hi Didi, thank you for this beautiful response. You’re so right- we have to decide what we really want. and yes! all belongs to Him! I hope oyu have a beautiful Thanksgiving, my friend. I was so encouraged by this note this morning! hugs xo
Thank you, my dear friend Caralyn 🙂
In fact we should have thanks-giving day every day, to thank Him for what He gives us, and not only every day, every moment, my dear friend 🙂 then the harvest, food for our souls, will be ample and overflowing…
I am happy when we can help and encourage each other 🙂
Happy Thanks-giving, dear Caralyn
From heart to heart
Didi
I love that! Thanksgiving every day!!!! He is so generous with us, it’s the least e we can do! Hugs and love xox
Hugs and love, dear Caralyn 🙂
🤗🤗🤗
Didi
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Caralyn, Happy Thanksgiving! I can relate to getting busy and not making God the top priority in my life. He wants our full attention. Too often I get distracted. It is so true, when we put God first, everything else falls into place. Love and hugs!
Happy thanksgiving to you as well! Amen! it all falls into place! thanks for stopping by! hugs xo
Well said Caralyn. Happy Thanksgiving. 😊
thank you so much! same to you! i hope you have abeuatiful thanksgiving! hugs xo
Caralyn!
Happy Thanksgiving to you! Keep up the great work and words!
May the upcoming Advent Season be a time of preparation as you journey to see the newborn King! Joy to the world and joy to you!!
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
thank you so much David!! this is so kind 🙂 yes! Joy to the world! Have a beautiful thanksgiving my friend! glad you stopped by! hugs xox
A friend and I had a similar conversation a few years ago about priorities. We concluded the typical ordered priority list of: God, Family, Work, Hobbies, etc. was inaccurate. We didn’t know at the time about the historical use of priorities/priority (BTW: thanks for that info). We summarised that God is the one and only priority. When we put Him as the priority, He influences our efforts and activities in all the areas of our lives. If He cannot be a priority in something then we need to eliminate that from our lives. Thanks for the good word and affirming our thoughts. Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Harry! Oh how interesting — amen to that — He influences our efforts in every other area!! hope oyu have a beautiful thanksgiving!!! big hugs xox
Paul the Apostle had a singular priority and that was the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness.
oh yes! he had it right! thanks for stopping by! happy thanksgiing! hugs xo
That is very interesting about the use of the word priority. Life is more complicated than it used to be.
But there is one fact that is not well known, and that’s most wealthy people do things by the calendar, not by the to-do list.
Their goals and priorities are calendar driven. They manage their lives that way.
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Psalm 90:12
thank you so much! you’re right – much more complicated!!! what an interesting tidbit. by the calendar! hmm!! something to think about! big hugs to you friend xox
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your mom and family.
Thank you so much!!!! And happy Thanksgiving to you and yours too! sending you big big hugs!!
Out society makes it very hard to prioritize. We’re all expected to be able to do one hundred things on time and perfectly without complaint. You’re so right that we only need to prioritize God. Everything else will fall into place.
You’re so right about that. That’s sadly become the norm. Amen. Everything else will fall into place. thanks for stopping by Amy! Hugs and love xox
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Caralyn!
And you as well! Happy thanksgiving!! 🦃🍁
AMEN! As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
Amen!! I love that so much!! Hope you have a beautiful thanksgiving!! Hugs and love xox
It sounds like you have figured out your priority. There’s a spiritual enemy who wants to stop you. Keep going…
Thanks John. Big time work in progress over here but trying-one day at a time. And dang you’re right about that!! Hugs and love xox
Love this. Interesting tidbit on priority. Makes you think and I know there are other words like that whose meanings have been altered….
https://13ahamoments.com/2016/11/30/the-aftermat/
Thank you so much Avery! So glad you enjoyed the piece! Yeah it’s fascinating to dad how language has evolved. Isn’t it?? Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and love xox
Makes me think of the Lauren Daigle praise song, “First.” That’s the place God has to be in our life.
Ooh I haven’t heard that one I don’t think! I’ll have to give it a listen! Thanks for passing it along!! Hugs and love xox
So true! A great idea would be to create (maybe through journaling) My Life’s Priority list…do a data dump of what you consider a priority in life and see if it mirrors your goals and intentions. By doing this you can determine if there is any blockage of energy. Is what you are making a priority aligned with what SHOULD be a priority (i.e. self, God, family, health, etc.). Our biggest priority should be self, which isn’t that ultimately what God wants for us?
This is the time for us to show gratitude, Thanksgiving should be every day (maybe not with turkey and stuffing), not just one day a year 🙂
Take a peek at my self love/self care articles http://www.aveshaempower.com
Hi friend!! Ooh I love that idea to journal about priorities!! Such a powerful exercise!! I’ll absolutely check out your articles! Thanks for passing them along! Hugs and love xox
Hugs back. You are very inspiring. Would love to know more about your Journey! xo
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I am so thankful people want to make God a priority in their life. For me, coincidences are “messages” from the ETERNAL God Consciousness…and I experienced a coincidence yesterday too!
I was perplexed about the relationship between Our Mother St. Paul and Barn abbas. I just couldn’t understand how two “servants” of God could be hailed as Zeus and Hermes in Acts 14 and then have a dust up shortly there after.
Mmm…Scripture records how Paul and Barn abbas separate. And then something happens. Barn abbas suddenly wants to go to Cyprus. And then…curiously Silas comes onto the scene. …People wanting a relationship with God who say that God is their LIFE should pay attention to the WORD of God in this passage. So I was trying.
I awoke yesterday and I noticed my Greek/English Bible was on my desk. I had neglected to put it away the night before… So I picked it up and I opened it, intending to study the passage in John where Jesus asks Peter “do you love me” …because Peter had messed up and disowned Jesus…and did not want to take up his cross and walk the talk.
Now let me explain. I was pretty sure the Barn abbas and Paul dust up was similar to the Peter and Jesus dust up. Yet, when I opened my Bible with that thought in mind…I was mega surprised when the Bible opened not at the John passage I was seeking…but at the very verses that I was contemplating regarding Barn abbas, Paul and Silas!!!
Just a mere coincidence…Ha! It was a mega greeting of all MEGA’S HAIL Moments welcoming me back from my sleep.
With my attention so caught, I checked into the Greek WORDS CYPRUS and SILAS…To my surprise CYPRUS is the GREEK WORD for HENNA TREE….and SILAS IS THE GREEK WORD for WOOD/ WOODY!
For those of you who pay attention to the Word of God and make the Word of God a priority in your life… heads up…you are SIMONS…and JESUS chose the SIMON who loved and paid attention to the WORD of GOD most intimately and deeply to be the WOODWORKER, FATHER and ROCK of the CHURCH…
Happy Thanksgiving week! And thank you so much Beauty Beyond Bones for believing Coincidences are ways God uses to catch our attention and communicate with people to rally and fortify their “blood” and bones together for a huge THANKSGIVING EVENT that prepares the way for CHRISTMAS.
Thanks you so much Linda !! Yes! E have a lot of competition these days for that top spot but it’s important to remember what really matters especially as we enter the season of hustle and bustle! such interesting tidbits about scripture. Thanks for sharing that! Hugs and love xox
Thanks for reading my comment. It arrived in my inbox at precisely 5:39 PST time. Often when I notice an extraordinary happening, I will take note of the time and coincide that with a popular Scripture verse.
You have so many replies, yet you take the time to reply. That is extraordinary. It is actually a mega delineation, of servanthood, of a loving caring person.
As John 5:39 says…recognizing Eternal Life in Scripture is a commendable priority for those that do. For they witness, they delineate Jesus’ character so that it will be a tablet of God’s heart poured out.
Thank you so much Beauty Beyond Bones! May this Thanksgiving be full of joy and thanks giving for you and your readers, sponsors and family.
You’re so welcome! And gosh what a kind thing to say. I love reading people’s thoughts and learning from them! I hope you have a beautiful thanksgiving as well!! Hugs and love xox
loved the fun fact about the word priority; I’ll have to think about my top priority…
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks so much Jim! Yeah it’s a really illuminating – albeit deceptively challenging – exercise! Hope you have a wonderful thanksgiving! Hugs and love xox
Yes, I am one of those old-school people that would prefer to see all stores remain closed on Thanksgiving. Believe it or not, when we first moved to Virginia in the late 1970s, almost all stores were closed on Sundays. I have been trying to learn some Greek and Latin lately, but I just can’t seem to absorb a second language. I used to tutor algebra and do math in my head, but for some reason my brain doesn’t learn new words. Happy Thanksgiving Week!
I agree! Let’s let everyone enjoy some time off with their families! Oh wow what a time to be alive!! Thanks for stopping by! Happy thanksgiving my friend! Hugs and love xox
God Himself sets our priority: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NKJV)
When we love Him with our ALL, He will bring all other things into alignment. Who can do better than a life planned by God Himself?
Thanks so much for sharing that Ted. You’re so right- He made it crystal clear! So glad you stopped by! Hope you have a beautiful thanksgiving!! Hugs and love xox
Happy thanksgiving!
Thank you so much my friend! I hope you gave a beautiful thanksgiving too! ✨🦃💛🦃✨
We had ours in Canada a month ago. However, everyday is thanksgiving to me as God’s beloved daughter!😃 Thanks beautiful!
Oh nice!! Oh I love that so much. You’re right! We have so much to be grateful for every day a children of the King! Hugs and love xox
Hugs and kisses
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First of all you may not even get to see this with all the comments I see pouring it BUT,
I saw you mention this on Instagram and I just had to check it out!
I’m sorry I haven’t been around much but if you’re keeping up with my blog then you know why.
I really enjoyed reading this and I promise to get back to reading the many more I’ve missed. ‘
Bless you kind lady
J
Hey there J! I totally understand 🙂 glad to see your name pop up on my screen! Hope today is a good day for you my friend. Thank you so much for stopping by. Hope you have a beautiful thanksgiving. Hugs and love xox
I always love hearing from you, so positive and uplifting even in a comment. Thank you, and you have a great Thanksgiving
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Btw I hope one day to be trusted enough to actually talk. Got a feeling you would become a true friend, have a good night 🌙
☺️ thank you for saying that:) yes!
One bad thing about me is I don’t lie lol 😂
I hope you’re having a great Thanksgiving
that’s a great quality! 🙂 xoxox
Thank you 🙏
But sometimes it does get hard not to
Never want to hurt someone or make them worry
Happy Thanksgiving to you also.
For what it’s worth, I have read a lot of your posts. If someone asked me what your priority was I would answer your relationship with God without hesitation. It is there in your posts and quite obvious to me. Yes you write about a lot of things but they all lead back to your relationship with God, except maybe your food posts and recipes.
My priority is happiness. Under that are bullets. 1) Stay rooted in God and my faith 2) Avoid drama and negativity. 3) Health etc. All of these are a sub-priority I guess one could say. Without them there would be no happiness. I don’t know if this makes sense to you but it is the way I look at it.
Once again a great post and thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Thank you so much!! Oh my gosh- I am so touched by those kind and encouraging words!! If you ask me, everything in life, every, every situation and happening, it all stems back to Him 🙂 haha yeah maybe not the food posts – although, He brought the specific carb diet into my life to heal my ulcerative colitis so haha I guess the food posts are even a offshoot of His goodness! Hahha Anywho- I love your priority list – thanks for sharing that. I hope you have a beautiful thanksgiving my friend. Hugs and love xox
The Singular is just that huh!?!? Great post.
Hah! You’re right about that Brian!! Thanks so much for stopping by my friend! Hope you have a beautiful thanksgiving! Hugs and love xox
You do the same!! Love and Peace.
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My relationship with last person of the Trinity-the Holy Spirit who guides us to all truth. I want to hear from HIM only, as to what are the next steps in His calling upon my life while I’m here in this earth. 🙏
Yes! I think our relationship with the Holy Spirit is so special – our helper, our advocate, our guide, I love all his names! Hugs and love xox
Thank you Simply Balanced for making your relationship with the HOLY SPIRIT a priority for HIS calling upon your Life…
Many people are deceived by the pronoun HIM. When God joins a bride to her bridegroom they both shed their blood. They leave their old families behind…
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” They will cleave unto one another. In patriarchal language, he/she become HIM.
John 3:28-29 confirms this teaching too. For John’s followers called him Lord and Rabbi and believed him to be the Christ. Yet John instructed them saying…You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him.’The bride belongs to the bridegroom…”
May you have a joyous Thanksgiving this year full of TOM TURKEY…fully stuffed and remember how the TWIN needed to see the evidence of Christ’s firm attachment “cleaving” to the TREE!
TY, and you too enjoy you Thanksgiving and Christmas!! ❤️
I feel like this is precisely what I needed to read today; thank you so much! Some days it seems like all I do is worry, and then I remember that God has been with us through each day; even our worst days. And He’ll continue to be with us and love us for the rest of our days, too!
Oh good! I’m so glad this resonated with you Kaitlyn!! Amen- He is always with us! What a comforting fact! Hugs and love xox
Arranging Priorities often have a connotation of “worry” behind it. If you don’t make something or a someone a priority, it will disappear from your life and you end up regretting it.
Often we have to decide for ourselves what our priorities are and often, we have to arrange them in a particular order. You said something very important. The greatest priority is your relationship with God.
I think it is best said by Christ himself in Matthew 6:24 – 34.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
You’re so right about that! He has got it all under control. What a comforting truth that is! J all e have to do is trust and be patient! Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and love xox
“Like — you’ll have all of these odd coincidences that just keep happening. And finally one day you wake up and you’re like…”Oh! Perhaps I’m supposed to recognize all these things to mean XYZ?”
I read your post just before going to sleep last night. The 2nd of 3 verses of the day I follow was Luke 11:13
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: HOW MUCH MORE shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
How Much More seemed to jump off the screen saying look at me. I looked up the verse in the interlinear to learn more about that phrase. “How much” is one Greek word “poso” and means just that.
More – G3123 mállon – the comparative (“-er”) form of malla (“very”) meaning “rather, more than,” i.e. more than what it is compared to. 3123 /mállon (“more than, better rather”) is a comparative adverb so it refers to what is better as compared to what is merely “good.” This INVOLVES Prioritizing or ranking to elevate the better over the good, i.e. THE HIGHER Priority (the more important) over the less-important.
In Hebrew thinking, and in the language, it is said there is No singular Hebrew word for coincidence. Everything is a “Happening of God.” It’s like, “Is God Sovereign or not?”
So the mindset of God believing Jews, what the world calls a coincidence is really “God Saying Hello”
https://www.aish.com/sp/ph/God-Says-Hello.html?mobile=yes
So this morning, God said Hello to me too through your post and this verse of the day.
God wants us to take note that He takes note of us. Isn’t that an awesome thoight!!!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this, and for sharing those verses! I love that – God saying hello! Love it!! Hope you have a happy thanksgiving! Hugs and love xox
Full disclosure, I just discovered your blog and am so glad I did. I loved this post! I have written about this topic before and yet, it never gets old (which is sad that we need to discuss so often). We all need a wake-up call now and then and reminder of who is in charge and how we need to redirect our lives. Thank you for sharing and I look forward to more great posts! Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you so much Mary! Aw what a kind thing to say!! You’re so right – a reminder of Who is in charge!! Especially as we enter into the holidays! Happy thanksgiving! Hugs and love xox
You’re right. Jesus should be our priority. And you’re right. It is hard. Which is odd. How can it be difficult to respond to a God who is constantly saying “I love you”?
Amen to that Penny! He’s always pouring His love on us! I think sometimes we can be afraid to let that love in! At least it is for me! Thanks for stopping by my friend! Hugs and love xox
Prirotizing is so important. It sometimes takes a health crisis but when it comes from thinking about life and considering the legacy we want to leave, what a rich experience! My singular priority is to truly live a life that Christ died for me to live. This encompasses serving him with my gifts, living a full life in which I leave nothing on the table, and ensuring people around me see his love through me. I pray that is what my words, actions, and priorties show. I’d have to ask those around me to be sure.
It really is so impact! I love your priority! He died for us to live – that is what it all boils down to – that is the truth we need to center our life in. Thanks for sharing that! Hugs and love xox
As has already been said in the responses God does set our priority. The tricky part is the also God given power of choice for each individual is to be aligned with this priority and we as fallen humans are not good at that. We even need to be gifted the will to do that. If we don’t align our priority with God’s best plan for us the end result is we will get what we’ve chosen in our life and that is to be outside the kingdom Jesus has gone to prepare for those who genuinely want to be in that kingdom. That unfortunately is the choice of the majority. I’m glad you choose to be part of His kingdom. 🙂
Thanks Ian for this thoughtful response. You’re so right, He has it all laid out for us, e we need to just align our priority with Him. Great food for thought. So glad you stopped by! Happy thanksgiving! Hugs and love xox
Matthew 10:37. “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
40. He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.”
….👉Priority👈….☝☝☝
God Bless & Happy Thanksgiving
Thank you so much for sharing those verses! They are truly illuminating. Growing up i always had such a hard time conceptualizing those verses, but now, I think i understand more the meaning behind them. hope you have a blessed thanksgiving! hugs xox
It’s unfair to blast the retailer for starting Black Friday on Thanksgiving evening. If you wish to blast somebody, blast the *consumers.* It’s they who want it, demand it, RESPOND to it en masse. (In fact, many state they’d rather be shopping — or anywhere away from families but that’s another subject!) Remove the consumer demand and you remove the reason retailers open.
That’s a good point. Yeah, but that’ll Bea hard one. I mean I’m guilty of getting some Black Friday deals on line today. Who can pass up a foot hundred dollar discount on the I phone 11?!? 😩😬😬😬😬lol thanks for stopping by! Hugs and love xox
Wasn’t suggesting consumers should — or would — forgo their Black Friday Fever! Might as well tell the blue sky to turn purple … the pope to become a New York party boy … Americans to put down their cell phones … ain’t gonna happen!
I was only pointing out the shortsightenedness & unfairness of blasting retailers for meeting *consumer* demand. Not for nuthin’ but I wouldn’t go within a 10-mile radius of any Black Friday slapdown so will be forever passing on that iPhone deal! 🙂
hahah – gotcha. you’re right about that. luckily i got my black friday deal online! no mall madness for me! haha hugs xo
Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability.
Thanks so much 🙂 I appreciate you stopping by!! Hugs and love xox
I wasn’t aware of that priority was meant to be singular – as in, you have ONE priority. At a time. That’s it. All else is secondary.
On the outset, it feels kinda constricting, but when given pause – it’s actually feels very refreshing.
And THEN, when you add the lens of faith on top of the whole spectacle, it becomes wonderfully simple. I don’t have to be the boss – I get to be the servant! And for me (the guy who haaates making decisions), that’s a yuge relief!
it does feel refreshing when you think about it, doesn’t it?? thanks Josh for sharing your thoughts!! hooray for serving the Lord! 🙂 glad you stopped by! big hugs xox
And thanks to you for replying BBB. I really don’t know how you keep up with all the replies on your posts? But kudos to you anyway! Lol.
you’re so welcome! hahah it involves hunkering down with a piping cup of tea 🙂 xoxoxo
I have been having problems with this very issue lately. I just don’t know what do to get back on track.
thanks for sharing that, Amanda, yeah I think it is something that we all have to continually work on. i would just suggest carving out some time — even just 5 minutes at first — to pray and listen to His guidance 🙂 hugs xo
Your blog posts are always so informative. Your are so gifted. Thank you for teaching us how to improve our health and prolong our quality of life through healthy eating, living and God’s word! Blessings!
Beloved, since you follow my blog; I hope you will also read and share my prayer journal and workbook: Journaling with Intentionality for My Beloved.
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/JournalingwithIntentionality
Or
My blog post:
https://gabrielsinspirations.wordpress.com/2019/11/21/my-new-book-on-sale-now-journaling-with-intentionality-for-my-beloved/
I would love you know your thoughts. Hugs,
Georganna W. Lewis
Oh my gosh what a kind thing to say. Thank you so much!! I look forward to reading your journal. Hugs and love xox
Amen! You have articulated your priority as God would like it to be. Thank you for sharing your personal testament. God bless!
You’re on a reading roll! thank you so much! God is good!!! 🙂 i appreciate you stopping by! big hugs to you xo x
I love your perspective. And I always laugh as His persistence with His plans. 💕
Thanks so much Bobby! What a kind thing to say! Hugs and love xox
◇ – Diamond Hard – ◇
◇ As a Boy, “God” EveryOne, I Simply Go About My Business with Relative Peace without Actually GETTING ANYTHING GIRLY DONE!!! while My Cells Evolve; it’s Crystal Clear Clarity that The Girls in My 3DLife Starting with My Mom ARE KEEN TO DO THINGS!!! ergo “God” often Finds HimSelf Saying to His Spouse, “Goddess”, “Please just chill, relax and destress; otherwise these Natural Disasters WILL!!! Be Just Continuing Happening.”
◇ – Diamond Hard – ◇
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