New Year's Intentions...

This year, 2oo9, instead of coming up with lots of resolutions, the Lord has really been speaking to my heart about focusing on living intentionally. Webster defines intention as: a determination to act in a certain way; a synonym of intention is purpose. I want to live intentionally, I want to live my life with purpose, every day, every moment of my day. So many days this past year I have just felt like I was in survival mode. I just wanted to make it through the day; so I went through the motions, and did what I needed to do to just "get through" my day. At the end of days like that I do not feel fulfilled or satisfied with myself. I desire for my life to have meaning and purpose, not to just be lived to be lived.

So I am determined that 2009 will be my year to begin living more intentionally. I desire to intentionally be a servant to my husband and my children. I desire to have a purpose, an eternal one, for the things I do; the activities I get involved in, the things I do with and for my family, and most importantly in my relationship with my Lord and Savior. I desire this year to focus primarily on my relationship with my Lord and my family, and to not get so weighted down with all the extra things, even though they may be good things, that can easily fill our schedules and calendars.

In light of all this, I will be intentional about memorizing scripture this year. My goal is 2 new verses a month. And you can join Beth Moore and countless other women as we all strive to fill our minds and hearts with His Word, allowing it to change us, teach us, convict us, and make us more like Jesus.

I will also be joining DeeDee for Tuesday's Together in the Word. We will be following the same Bible reading plan and sharing weekly about what we have learned through our readings that week. Please visit her and join us if this sounds like something you would like to do with us!

I plan to be intentional in taking care of myself, eating healthy and getting exercise (continuing to run, I have grown to love it!) and encouraging and enabling my family to do the same.

And I plan to be intentional in serving my husband and children with a cheerful heart and a good attitude. I desire to have a gentle and quiet spirit as I go about my days, and to be under the control of His Holy Spirit.

I also desire to be intentional in reaching out to and ministering to others that the Lord places in my path and lays upon my heart. There are so many people who are hurting or are overwhelmed in life right now that just need a word of encouragement, a hug, phone call, or card to know that someone cares, or just a helping hand to help ease their load. I desire to be more obedient to the Lord when He prompts me to reach out to others.

I want to live intentionally for Jesus this year... what about you?