Father, as head of your home, how are you completing the above title for your family? Every home is making an ending to this title in one way or another, consciously or unconsciously.

Today the title is being completed in many different ways. The following are some examples:

• As for me and my household, we will concentrate on having the money to maintain the standard of living we desire.
• As for me and my household, we will strive for all the fun out of life we can get.
• As for me and my household, we will spend the major part of our time observing and/ or participating in sports and will spend any amount of money for doing so.
• As for me and my household, we will use much of our time and money to enjoy all or any of the TV channels, VCR tapes and movies available.
• As for me and my household, we will do all in our power to have all the latest in technical equipment, vehicles, recreational toys and devices, clothes or anything else of importance to us.
• As for me and my household, we will diligently pursue maintaining both a beautiful house and a cottage, RV or camper, and enjoy much vacation time even if it causes a lack of money, time and energy for spiritual and other responsibilities.
• As for me and my household, we will use all the time and money necessary for hunting and fishing and all other recreation, entertainment or hobbies we desire, even if it means neglecting more important things.
• As for me and my household, we will make my career and business a success at whatever the cost to our spiritual life or to our family.

The title, "As for me and my household, we will...," was completed by Joshua in his address to the people of Israel with the familiar words of Joshua 24:15: "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." This was the testimony of Joshua, and he clearly stated it to be his choice for his first priority in life.

Father, evaluate how you are completing the title for yourself and your home. Your priorities determine how you are completing that statement for your family. Your priorities are shown in where you are spending your time, money and energy. If you are completing the title with any, some, or all of the endings I suggested earlier, consider the ending Joshua gave. Adopt his ending, "we will serve the Lord," and apply it to your life and your home in every area. Then self-centered, materialistic endings to the title will be changed to God-centered endings such as the following:

• As for me and my household, we will faithfully read and study the Bible every day and follow the Bible as our guide for living.
• As for me and my household, we will daily take adequate time to have a meaningful prayer life together.
• As for me and my household, we will show love to one another and to others.
• As for me and my household, we will not be too busy to go to church nor let other interests or activities take priority over our going to church.
• As for me and my household, we will put God first in our finances, time and energy.
• As for me and my household, we will put God and family before money, sports, recreation, entertainment, hobbies or other material things.
• As for me and my household, we will put our spiritual life and family life before my career or business.
• As for me and my household, we will daily praise and thank God for His gift of salvation and all His blessings.

Joshua said, "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Father, with another Father's Day observance this month, consider whether you have chosen the testimony of Joshua for yourself and your family.