Priorities Perfected Part Two in the Prioritize Your Life Series

Today this post goes up later than usual. 

You know why? 

Because today I went to a funeral of a man so loved and honored that it took from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to say goodbye. 

People had wonderful things to say about him. He was honored by neighbors, community leaders, and everyday men and woman. Pastors were begging for the honor of conducting the service, because this man was so amazing in life. 

His name was Luther L. Davis and he was someone I barely knew, yet his life and testimony reached hundreds of people. 

As person after person got up to share stories of Brother Davis’ faithfulness, his love, his service to God and his service to the people God called him to love, tears streamed down my face. 

At one point my pastor, who had conducted the bulk of the service, asked me “You didn't know Brother “D” very well did you?” 

My answer was this: “No, but you did, you loved him, and because of that, I loved him and wanted to honor him for what he meant to you.” 

What a life. He impacted people so profoundly that by acquaintance he was influential. 

Brother Luther Lloyd Davis 89 years old. 

The most poignant and awe inspiring thing said today was by my pastor as he eulogized Brother Davis. 

“In 1958 Brother Davis changed my life forever, and I wasn't born until 1961. That year Brother Davis made a profession of faith and he never looked back. He served, he gave, he loved. He will be missed.” 

Think about that. 

What a legacy. 

As I talked to people after the service people said over and over in one way or another that Brother Davis was a good man, a Godly man, and a man worth knowing. He impacted and imprinted people for Jesus wherever he went. 

What kind of legacy will you leave behind?


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In Michael Hyatt's book, Creating Your Personal Life Plan, he asks “What will they say when I am dead?” Michael goes on to explore this idea in the context of relationships and how that impacts his priorities. 

(If you have not read this book, I hope you go to MichaelHyatt.com and subscribe so you can download it for free. It is a wonderful book. ) 

Michael says “This is an incredibly powerful question. To answer it, you have to “fast forward” to the end of your life and look back. This exercise forces you to think about the things that matter most.” 

Obviously, Brother Davis did things right somewhere along the way. To be honored in such a heartfelt way and to leave such a reach legacy of love and service behind means he had his priorities in order. 

He chose God first, his wife, then his church (he had no children of his own) then his community. He walked out these priorities every day by his acts of love and service. 

Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” 

This was the key to this man’s legacy. He lived out loud for God and loved people all along the way. 

As a man with the “keys” to the church in his 50-something years of service at my church, Brother Davis was a fixture. As a way to honor him, and to remind us to strive to be better servants, the pastor gave us each a single key. 

It unlocked no doors. 

No one walked away as a winner of a new truck. 

The key just reminds us that in order to leave a legacy like Luther L. Davis, we have to serve God first. 

Love God, Love people, and serve others. What a perfect example of priorities perfected! 

Was there ever a Brother Davis in your life?

Stay on Target

Photo Credit: Creative Commons

When the Walls Are Crumbling 

Nehemiah 8:10b (NLT) “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

When our walls are torn down around us, like Nehemiah describes, and our enemies seem to press in on us, it is easy to give way to dejection and sadness. 

We have this problem you see: we believe in the illusion of control, mainly that we have some.

We don’t. 

Not over circumstances, not over other people’s opinions, not over our kids, not over our spouses. 

Stay on Target! Stay on Target!

I picture my life as an old-fashioned target. I am the middle, my immediate family is one ring out, then the next ring is work/church friends, the next ring acquaintances and local community and the outer ring, the world at large. 

Can I control what happens on the first ring or the second? NO! I can only influence. The only thing I can control is in that center space; the bull’s-eye: aka ME. 

So when things are not going the way we think they should, the way we planned them to be, feelings like dejection, sadness, despair, loneliness, fear, and anguish are common. 

These emotions are a part of living in a broken world. But releasing these to God is what allows us to become free. Jesus said in Matthew 16:24 we must deny ourselves. In this society that seems like a tall order, but therein lies real freedom and joy. 

Preaching to myself...

I am in no way saying I have this down…no way. I am speaking to myself here as well. Emotions are heady things, but they are not what should control us. But emotions are a soul issue that needs to be conquered. 

We are not supposed to be quick to anger. (Proverbs 15:18) I am guilty of that one. 

We are supposed to use soft words to turn other’s wrath away, ummm, haven’t perfected that yet. (Proverbs 15:1) 

We are supposed to never go to bed angry, failed at that one a time or two in nearly 18 years of marriage. (Ephesians 4:26) 

We are not supposed to be tossed by every wave, (Matthew 14:24) yet many of us, and I include myself; have ridden the emotional roller coasters that frankly leave us with emotional whiplash. 

Think about it! 

What we DO have control over is our thoughts. We have to make a   conscious effort to turn our thoughts away from the tumultuous emotions, and remember what God says.

Philippians 4:8 says “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” 

Some emotions if allowed to fester bring on conditions that can have effects on our health and relationships. Depression is something I know about. Both my husband and I have battled it. This is no easy thing. 

It is not just you! 

The psalmist David knew what this was too: first, seeing King Saul go through depression, and then his battle with it later in life.

Depression is living in that head space that allows unchecked thoughts and emotions to grow into a debilitating condition, that if not stopped can rob you of more than your joy, it can rob you of your life. Psalms 94:19 says “In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.” 

We are a spirit, we live in a body, and we have a soul. God is concerned foremost with the spirit, but He comforts our soul. (Our mind, our will and our EMOTIONS) 

Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

A Child of the King

Reigning in emotions is a battle I believe that every human, while on this earth, has an issue with, no matter who they are. However, if you know WHOSE you are you can learn to rely less on them and more on the Father and His word. John 15:11 “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” 

I know it has been said many times, many different ways, but LET GO AND LET GOD! Let God free you of every hindrance in your life, every fetter that holds you down, and let the chains of emotional baggage fall away as you (and I) turn our eyes toward Him. 

So Stay on target and remember that aim is a verb. 

Question: 

Do you have a hard time taming your emotions? Leave a comment below. 

IF anyone you know is battling depression, please seek the advice of a medical professional. If someone you know is suicidal, call or go online to the National Suicide Hotline at http://suicidehotlines.com/national.html 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Wake me UP!

Jamming out to Natalie Grant today, God used her song Awaken to really speak to me. The Holy Spirit brought this to my memory and I went to read it. Normally I wouldn't pick such a long passage to talk about today, but what a passage…. I promise it will be worth it if you just hang with me through this one.

Mark 5:22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.

25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”

31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”

32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”

40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. 43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

I just want to point out a few things…

First, Jairus is not just anyone. He is a leader in the synagogue, well known and well off. His name means ‘Whom God Enlightens”, and as we study this passage we will see that he really was. This leader, a prominent man in the city and in the temple found Jesus, and throwing himself down before him, with a great crowd pressing all around, he besought, or called upon Him in exhortation and begged in many ways for Jesus to heal his daughter, who while they spoke was taking her last breath. “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”

When we look at the Strong’s Concordance at the meaning of hands and live, Jairus essentially said “lay God’s hands, that created the universe and control the destiny of men, on her that she may be healed and will live a real life, full, worthy, active and blessed; endless in the Kingdom of God”. WOW! What a proclamation before all of the people!

What faith and insight into whom Christ was. What revelation! This moved Jesus to meet Jairus’ need. This moved GOD TO ACT! But then, in the middle of Jesus going to heal Jairus’ daughter, it seems like Jesus gets sidetracked. The woman with the issue of blood reaches out to touch his robe, and because her faith is great too Jesus stops and points out her faith for all to hear.(Sometimes our faith reaches out and grabs his attention when He isn’t really expecting it…seems like God like surprises) He could of kept going, but then this woman, who had an issue of blood for years that made her “unclean’ and therefore not allowed in public, would not have received the fullness of all God had for her. Jesus not only healed her, he announced her as whole, cleansed, and restored her to society. Isaiah 55:11 “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” God doesn’t do things halfway.

Meanwhile, Jairus received news. His daughter is dead. I don’t know about you, but I would be rocked to my core. That initial shock we all experience when we get news like this is usually followed by unbelief. Think about it. Have you ever immediately responded to news of a death with “I don’t believe it”? But Jesus!!!! He says “Do not be afraid, ONLY believe!” The meaning of that word is this: place your confidence, your trust, and your fidelity (loyalty) in God. Confidence is a part of our mind, will, and emotions (or soul); trust is a heart issue, and loyalty we express in the outward actions of the physical. In one word, Jesus grabs Jairus’ mind, heart and body. O He is faithful. This is the second main point I want to make: He does not leave us even in our darkest hour. He reminds us of WHO He is and WHAT we mean to Him. O how He loves us!

But that is not all! (I sound like an info commercial, but when you’re telling people about Jesus, it is hard to just stop at the good stuff, you have to get to the GREAT stuff!)

Next I want to touch on the circumstances surrounding Jairus when he gets home. Jesus has left all the crowds behind, and brought only a few of His disciples with Him, so that they can both bare witness and join their faith to what was about to happen. When they arrive professional mourners are in full wail, and Jairus’ home is inundated with unbelief. They are a ‘tumult” of activity. You know the kind of activity: noisy, distracting, made by people that think they are helping. These people are detractors, and left unchecked they will rob us of our miracle if we pay attention to them instead of what God says about our situation. DO NOT FORGET WHO IS IN CONTROL!

Jesus was that day and He still is today! He kicked all the well-intending naysayers out and got down to business on behalf of Jairus and his family. “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” That word, ARISE, means Wake UP! Stir yourself, and begin to build a life! She immediately responded. This is what our reaction should be to God when He speaks to us. When we do, the people around us will be astonished, as Jairus and his wife were.

The word astonished in this passage literally means thrown out of place, BLOWN AWAY! And wholly fixed on the DIVINE! When God does a work in us, when He “Awakens” us, and we obey immediately those around us, (and yes, even us), become Blown away by God, and we begin to fulfill what we were made for. To be lights, beacons on a hill: a conduit of God’s manifest love in our immediate little worlds that impact the people around us as they become fixed on the Divine in our lives.

So my prayer is this, (thanks Natalie Grant) “Awaken my heart, awaken my soul, awaken Your power and take control. Awaken a passion to live for You Lord, Awaken me.”

Be blessed and be a blessing, and remember awaken IS a verb.