I confess I still enjoy The Price Is Right.   As a teenage boy I liked the show for obvious reasons.  But as I have made a hobby of grocery shopping, I find I understand many of the games more clearly.  One of my favorite games rearranges the price tags.  The game begins with all the price tags on the wrong items and the goal is to rearrange the tags appropriately.

The more I think about it, there are moments and seasons when we need to check the price tags we have placed in our lives.  What price tags?  Wife… children… the Lord… job… hobby… you get the idea.  Are any of them out of order?

The past month or so I have been on a blogging break as many have noticed.  Don’t get me wrong, many days I have wanted to write.  However, I made a commitment to not resume until I sensed I had rearranged some price tags in my life.  I know… I know… many of you are surprised (those who know me are not) because “professional Christians” are supposed to have all of this stuff figured out.  Yeah… not so much.

So here’s my discovery and how I have found the price is right in my life…

• My relationship with Jesus!  It’s easy to fake this one and make others think your relationship with Jesus is strong, isn’t it?  Am I spending time daily in His Word not for the purpose of study but simply to learn more of who He is as revealed in Scripture?  Am I a person of prayer?  Am I sensitive to opportunities He provides the share the gospel?
• My relationship with my wife!  Am I nourishing and cherishing her?  Are we still dating?  As my most precious disciple, am I helping or hurting her spiritual growth?
• My relationship with our daughter!  Are we spending time together?  Am I leading by example in purity in what I watch and how I speak?  Am I watching my tone when we talk?  Am I helping her move towards independence and preparing her for college life by equipping her to make wise decisions on her own?
• My role as a pastor!  Am I devoting enough time to prepare as fulfill my calling to preach the Word?  Am I hearing from God regarding next steps for our church family?  Am I fulfilling my role as a shepherd?  How is my counseling load?  Is there anything I am currently doing that I can delegate to others whom God might be calling to fulfill the given role or task?
• Time to re-fill!  Am I taking time to do the things that re-fill my tank emotionally, physically, recreationally, etc?

So what am I missing?  What are your priorities?  I’d love to hear your story of how you have found success in this area!

Recently our family was faced with a difficult decision.  I realize that many people approach decision making even within marriages and families from an individualistic approach.  Our family has chosen a different path.  As a matter of fact, I would argue that for married couples who are both followers of Christ the Ephesians 5 model reveals that when a couple is united in Spirit all decisions are made together.

As our daughter has grown older, we have begun including her in the decision-making process.  Some might say that a teenager is not prepared to make big decisions.  I think it’s vital for a teenager to learn to make wise decisions and what better environment than in our home where there is an abundance of counselors.  Our goal in parenting is to prepare our daughter to not be dependent upon her mom and dad to make her decisions.  Rather, I want to equip her to make wise decisions on her own.

So how do we make decisions as a family?

• Pray!  Before we consider any major family decision we commit ourselves to pray about the decision asking God for His wisdom and to unite us as a family.
• Discuss Openly!  This is an important part of the process for our family.  This is the opportunity before our minds are made up to ask questions.  We can better understand perspective.  This also provides a great opportunity to consider the ripple effects or the consequences both good and bad of the decision we are about to make.
• Seek Counsel!  If advice from others is needed, this is the time to ask others for their opinion and ideas.
• Agree Together!  There are times when I counsel with both pre-married and married couples and they make decisions but they fail to agree together about the decision.  One person ends up making the decision and all others just go along or there is tension because of the decision.  After discussing the decision, come back together and agree as to the decision and the next steps that need to be taken.
• Take the Leap!  If God has united your family in prayer and there is agreement together, don’t delay when God gives you the green light.  Delayed obedience is disobedience.  If it’s a major decision, there will be uncertainty.  There might even be some fear.  But at some point in time we must stop putting off the decision and take the leap.
• Take the Hit!  This is really for husbands and dads.  If there is a family decision you make together, men, please do not blame the decision on your wife or children.  Be the protector of your family and take responsibility for the decision you have made.  God will honor that decision!

What have I missed?  How do you make decisions as a family?