Keeping God's Will Simple

I told you last week about my lunch date with my Daddy (age 93) a couple of months ago.  He was so excited to tell me what the Lord had done in his life ... shown him how to forgive his own Daddy after 70 years.


Well ... my sweet Daddy keeps teaching me more about walking with Jesus.  Yes.  Even at age 93, I see such a desire in him to learn and grow and serve the Lord.  Truly amazing.


In a phone conversation with him a couple of weeks ago, he told me that he has 3 priorities for his life:


#1  To serve God
#2  To serve his wife 
     (who is in very poor health)
#3  To take care of himself




#3  Take Care of Himself:  Though nearly blind (from macular degeneration), he is always searching for ways to keep his body healthy ... always seeking treatment for his ills ... always communicating his wishes with his doctors ... never just sitting down and saying, "I can't do it.  I'm too old."


#2  Serve His Wife:  He is also always desiring to do all he can for his wife.  (They got married when he was 81 and she was 74.)  While her 11 children and 42 grandchildren do much of her care, my Daddy always wants to be involved ... always wants to be "in the know" ... and spends many hours sitting in his recliner next to hers, as she sleeps much of the day.  He loves her dearly, and will do anything for her.


#1  Serve God?  You may be wondering what, exactly, a 93 year old nearly-blind retired pastor is going to do to serve God.  Let me tell you ...


Last summer, he joined a Small Group at his church.  He absolutely loves the bi-weekly meetings.  He tells me that he thinks he talks too much, but that the others in the group assure him that they enjoy what he has to say.


Last month, he volunteered to be the Committee Chairman for a new committee at church.  He is very excited about his work with the new "Fellowship Committee".  He has gathered a few leaders in the church to be on his committee, and they meet monthly to plan fellowship opportunities for their small congregation.  Go, Daddy!


And, two weeks ago, he gave the sermon at church.  He used to give the sermon every couple of months, but it's been 3 or 4 years, I think, since he has done the message.  But ... as I said ... there is a new spiritual spark in his life that is exciting to see.  While he pretty much had to memorize the sermon (because of his blindness), he was excited to share with the congregation what the Lord had laid on his heart.  I am so very thankful that his pastor allows him to be so involved ... that his pastor doesn't just tell him  "No.  You're too old."

I just love how my Daddy keeps life simple.

Serve God.

Serve his wife.

Take care of himself.

These sound like pretty good priorities to me.  

I think we can get so caught up in the STUFF

of life ... that we sometimes fail to

get back to the basics.

How about you?

What are your priorities?

Is it time to simplify your life?