Keeping Priorities Straight
Mondays always seem to come quickly, but I must admit, these summer months of family time with the kiddos off from school and summer basketball in full swing have made them seem to arrive even more quickly! I have to admit, I too easily find myself feeling the stress of not getting much accomplished on my to-do list. I get anxious that my areas of ministry suffer because of the haphazard scheduling of our days.
But then I have to look myself in the eye, give myself a swift finger wagging, and say,
“Priorities, sister!”
Because, whoa! God gave me these precious lives to Mother here on Earth. Lives I prayed for long before they came to me. Lives that are growing way too quickly! They are my priorities. They are my ministry.
And I can trust God to fill my gaps as I tend to the ministry of Motherhood.
I can stop stressing and getting anxious. I can actually step back and fully enjoy every single moment of time with them! So, this week, as I slide into #MomentsofHope on the tail end of a trip to a Las Vegas Basketball Tournament for my middle guy and the NBA Summer League Games for my older one, I share with you the hope we can find in parenting.
And speaking of hope in parenting, I wanted to share with you an organization called GEMS (Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior). They sent me a couple of their magazines to review and I must tell you, if you have a daughter between the ages of 5 and 14, you should check them out! The magazines are a part of a bigger online organization that has great resources for you and your daughter.
Sparkle is the magazine for younger girls and Shine Brightly is for the older ones. Each one is filled with stories, devotions, games, crafts, puzzles, and outreach opportunities that cause young readers to discover and embrace the role God plays in their lives and how they are uniquely created in Him. Along with the magazines, their website has podcasts, a blog, and many more resources. (Writing friends, they regularly accept submissions, as well!) There you also have the opportunity to join an established GEMS Girls group or start one in your area.
Looking for a quality Christian resource for your daughter? @GEMSGirlsClubs offers magazines and a website full of great stuff! Share on X
I love both the magazines and the website and plan to get a subscription for my daughter. My little one has developmental delays and isn’t able to comprehend all of that is within the pages. However, there is much she can enjoy and it gives us a little springboard for simple conversation about how much Christ loves her!
I just have to tell you, as well, that what is offered here is engaging and of high quality. I have high radar for “cheesy” Christian material. Honestly, there has been too much of it in the world of media and it makes me frustrated. If we want to reach the world with the message of Christ, we can’t present it in underfunded or poorly presented materials. There is nothing “cheesy” about Christ or a life lived following after Him, so we shouldn’t present it as such! With GEMS, this is not a concern. They do the message of Christ very well!
What wonderful words to wake up to. Thank you for your kindness in featuring my post this week. A simple post has sparked many comments and I’m glad my heart listened as I was stirred to reflect on the topic. I appreciate you featuring it. Looking forward to beginning the Come With Me bible study with you Lori. Began reading the book last night and I see areas already that I will be challenged in. Have a great Monday.
What a timely message for me, Lori! I feel like I’m running around in 500 different directions, yet I still have to make fun time with the kids. Your message today reminded me of my priorities. Thank you! Also, I’m really excited about the Gems magazine! My 11 year old loves to do devotionals. She just finished her last one and this would be right up her alley! Thanks for the heads up! ?
Lori, Shine sounds like a great resource. I so echo your feelings about “cheesy” Christian materials. Thanks for shining His light and sharing His hope! Blessings and hugs!!
Lori- I get this so much! Trying to keep the balance here too. Great reminder that our kids are our #1 ministry. It’s easy to want to pursue more exciting ministries, but we have the greatest impact within our household.
The resource sounds great! Wish my daughter was still in the age range for it!
Thank you for your blessing of words today!
Julie
Hey Lori,
Good morning!
Thanks for always being a voice of hope on Monday mornings!
Hope you have a wonderful day today~
Blessings,
Melanie
Hello Lori! Thanks so much for hosting! I”m so with you on the balancing issue. I started reading my book, Come With Me (it arrived yesterday) and I already love it. The magazines look so colorful and inviting. What a wonderful resource for girls to be fed the truth when they have so many other things trying to get their attention. I sure love coming to your blog–always filled with hope, grace and love! Hugs!
Lori, my very first published piece of writing EVER was in Shine Brightly Magazine back in 2007! It was a piece on my missions trip to Mexico with photos and everything—it spurred me on to pursuing life as an author… specifically writing a Christian trilogy for teen girls! Love these mags and the beautiful message they portray… Thanks for sharing this 🙂
Hi, Lori. I am feeling the exact same way. I have been working on ways to work smarter because I do have this ministry of mothering to fulfill. What a gift God has given! These magazines look great for girls! I would love to Sparkle with her! She is only four but she loves a good bible study! Thanks for this opportunity and ideas from GEMS magazine. Have an amazing rest of your summer and enjoy your sweet kiddos.
Lori — thanks once again for the opportunity to link up AND for your wise words today. I admit, I have struggled with priorities and the “tyranny of the urgent.” Even now that my boys are grown, I make too long of a to-do list for the day and then feel frustrated when I don’t get more done. I am learning to shorten that list and prioritize and also to be kinder to myself. I am enjoying your ministry! xo
Hi, Lori! Yes–motherhood is the most important ministry for us right now! 🙂 About two years into my motherhood journey, God took me out of “ministry on a stage,” just wanting me to focus my energies on raising my children and letting that be my ministry. It is often difficult, but always so rewarding! I love being a mom. 🙂 And I would love to get that subscription to Sparkle for my eight-year-old. 😉 Blessings! – Tasha
I always look forward to the fun and relaxation of summer but in looking back, I see that they were (and are for my young mommy friends) the busiest times of the year! So I totally understand your feeling of being overwhelmed, but in that chaos you are still listening for and listening to the voice of God, Lori. What a wise and good mom you are! Hang in there, sister! These are some of the best days of your life so soak them up before they evaporate before your eyes. 🙂
Thanks so much for the encouragement, Beth! I need it because this Mama gets overwhelmed! 😉
Hey, Lori! I thought that I was up to date on sweet Michelle’s blog posts, but this featured post is one that got by me somehow. Thanks for the heads up!
Yay! I’m so glad I could give a sister a helping hand! 🙂
What a beautifully thought provoking post by Michelle, Lori! Thanks for featuring it. Such a sweet, simple reminder to focus our thoughts and actions on what really matters.
I thought so, too, Carlie! Such a simple and straightforward, but powerful message from her!!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Aw, Lori.
How I wish all mothers have the same realizations as you have. That their most important and first ministry is their children.
Thanks, Lux! Somehow, we find ourselves getting our priorities mixed up at times, don’t we? I’m praying for God to give clarity to all of us Mothers when we begin to see things incorrectly. Thanks so much for joining me! I love to see you visit♥
Lori,
It is always a blessing to connect with you. I love your piece today about priorities. You wrote about the priority of parenting well, and I wrote about the priority of self-care. And of course, our relationship with God is what has to lead in all of our other priorities…He gives us His love to pass on to our children AND ourselves! I would love to have a subscription to Shine Brightly for my daughter Jenna, as she is just entering middle school and can use all the godly wisdom and inspiration she can get to stay on the right path! Thanks so much for sharing your journey, sweet friend. As always, you inspire me.
Blessings!
– Linda
Linda, I treasure you! Thank you for your kind words! You always inspire me, as well! I will be sure to put your name in the drawing 🙂
Hugs,
Lori