Values

I usually have a hard time remembering them...but this on be was different. It was a casual outdoors setting and all of my siblings were together and one of my brothers was responsible for writing down each of our top three values. Sounded easy enough....but it wasn't....I was getting ready to leave the event and he said wait you have not stated your top three values in life....It was just a dream but one of those very real ones. I wish I knew what had happened in my week to generate such a question in a dream...but I have no idea. And furthermore I look back on that dream and would very much like to have known what the values of my other siblings would have been.....but I guess what really should matter to me is what are mine becasue that is what I have to work off of each day.

Now seriously, that is a question worth pondering...and if you were asked to state yours would you be able to come up with an answer without some real thought? I remember in my dream...finally saying I value God, my family and my friends. But turning back to my brother who was sitting on a close by hillside, expressionless, and restating the values to be "I value my relationship with God, my family and friends." There, to me, was a great difference between the two. It is not merely what you value but how that value effects how you react and respond to others as well as to yourself. The value itself is just an object of reference but when you add "relationship" to it..it becomes an incentive. An incentive for behavior, for thoughts, and a basis for how you work things out and through....and why.

A value is something that has relative worth or importance and merit. So what are three things that are most valuable to you? When we look at monetary value...out lists will differ depending on personality, hobbies, opinions, and what we hold to be of great worldly importance. But over and over in the bible God pulls us from looking to worldly incitements and tries to draw us closer to his heavenly ones. For where our treasures lie also will our hearts be.

RE: Value
Luke 16:15
He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.

1 Timothy 4:8
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Hebrews 11:26
He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

RE: Treasures
Matthew 6: 19-21 Treasures in Heaven 19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

RE: Relationships
John 13:34
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another
Deuteronomy 6:5
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength

We choose what we value and relationships that we value...and we work around and through whatever it is that is important to us... We subconsciously and consciously commit our actions, our desires and our incentives as the reactions to our base line of values. But we have to be able to identify that base line and then determine if it in fact is the base line that lines up with the base line that God has intended us to have. It is our call....but the great thing is it is not solely up to us to accomplish the set up....God is right there to help us...becasue he knows we NEED HIS help and are not in a position to accomplish His purposes without His continued counsel and spiritual nurturing.

It was just a dream...but it sure did make me consider my values a little closer....and not just what my values were or are...but why....and then take it a step further and ask God what I can do to further line my values up with His. I am sure he has some adjustments...but what I love about God is he is so subtle when he helps me to have the strength and the courage to make the adjustments. I only have to ask him and then trust that he will do it...then be obedient when he helps me to realize that he is nudging me to do something different than what I have been doing.

Dear Lord, What a blessing that you even speak to us sometimes through our unconscious land of dreams. Thank you that you have no bounds of communication. ...and that you love each of us that you do so personally. Amen

Praise God wherever you are or whatever situation he has allowed you to be in...for His glory will shine through.

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