Saturday, January 6, 2018

Intentional for 2018

I always think I'm not going to mess with picking a word for the year...but then a word quietly fills my head and won't leave. Some past words have been:

Simplify
Faithful
First
Come Alive

I still have a couple of these words spelled out with Scrabble letters where I can see them every time I open one of the blinds. This year's word won't fit on the Scrabble holder, so I made a sign.

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Over the past couple of years I've tried to protect myself from doing things - or not doing things - out of guilt or obligation. Now I'm to the point where I need to be more intentional - in my spiritual life, my relationships, my finances, my home, and my health. I need to follow through and finish what I start, and the word intentional sure sounds less painful than discipline - HA!

I'm building on some goals I've set during the past two years in these areas and have a good idea of what is realistic and attainable.

  • I'm not going to memorize a book of the Bible (I have a hard time memorizing a verse), but I can be intentional in daily readings to complete the Bible this year. 

  • I'm not going to be everyone's best friend, but I can be intentional and pour into my family and a couple of special friendships.

  • I'm not going to win the lottery, but I can be intentional in budgeting and tracking our spending through Every Dollar by Dave Ramsey.

  • I'm not going to have a perfectly clean house (ever), but I can be intentional with a specific chore for each day.

  • I'm not going to become a fitness guru, but I can be intentional with realistic exercise goals and healthier food choices.

Being intentional about being intentional almost feels like I'm learning to walk and just taking baby steps. I'll probably take a few steps forward with a couple of steps back...and I may even fall down. You would think I'd have life figured out by now, but even at 50 years old, I'm still a work in progress...intentional progress.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Philippians 1:6 (ESV)