I've decided to pick out one word that will help me stay focused throughout this year. After much thought, debate, and prayers, I decided on the word intentional. It kept coming back to me throughout the last few weeks as I would read, go about my daily routines, etc. That word kept popping back into my head. I want to be intentional with life, my time, my children, my husband, and most importantly my time with God. I want to be intentional with spending time with my children. I want to make each day count. I don't want to just be in the same room as them, but rather take the time to listen to my nine year old, sit on the floor and play with my toddler more, and snuggle with my baby and enjoy her as much as possible while she is young. I want to be intentional with my time with my husband. I don't want to just go through the motions daily knowing that he will always be there for me, I want to be intentional about making our time, especially our alone time special. I want to be intentional about bringing others to the Lord, spending time with the Lord, and making that time count. I want to be intentional about teaching my children about the Lord. I want them to grow up loving him more than anything else in the world. I want to be intentional about praying for their future spouses now. I pray that God is preparing their hearts and guiding their parents to raise them to know him. May sound crazy, but after talking to my mom last year about someone losing their son and how she would want to know that her kids are going to heaven someday and not just assume, I remember thinking, there is nothing more that I want for my children (and grandchildren) than for them to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I want to know that they will be in heaven some day. This doesn't just go for my children, but my family members, siblings, children in my care now, in the past and in the future. I want to know that I did everything I could to bring them to the Lord even if I just plant the seed or pray for someone to come into their lives that will. So for this year, this is my word: INTENTIONAL! I want to be intentional with my walk with the Lord, with my time with loved ones, bringing others to Christ, and living my life to the fullest!
Putting my word into Action:
I've decided part of the way to be more intentional is to stay off my phone as much as possible when I am around others, watch tv only when I am spending time with someone important or all is asleep and I have that extra time. I plan to read books that will encourage my walk with the Lord and strengthen my relationships here on earth. I plan to follow a schedule as much as possible so that I can work in my schedule the intentional time I need with each person in my life as well as a way to keep my life and home a little more organized and clutter free in 2016. I notice when I half do something, and old favorite Bible verse pops into my head, "Work willingly at whatever you do as if you are doing it for the Lord rather than people." Colossians 3:23. Then, I change my attitude, redo what I just did or make an effort to do it enthusiastically the next time without complaining. This verse has really helped my outlook on life. I recently read a short study on being a Proverbs 31 woman and boy did it make me feel like a horrible wife, mom, daughter and sister. I know that wasn't the intentions of it, but it made me rethink a lot in my life, from how I treat my husband, children, and family members (not that I treated them badly), but I wasn't being intentional with my life. I was only being half of what I should have been being, I wasn't trying my best to keep up on things. I wasn't being the best that I could be for my family. I knew I could have been praying more for my loved ones especially those unsaved and for the future of my children. I knew I could have been spending more one on one time with those I love. I knew I needed to keep the house better, but I was tired and wore out, and I knew things would be hard to change, but little by little God showed me how to handle my life a little more for him. I was able to work into my schedule, ways to keep up on laundry, dishes, vacuuming, and sweeping (things I feel are never ending as a mom and wife). Now that I have that worked into my schedule, I have more time to be intentional with holding my daughter, playing with my sons, and enjoying time with my husband, seeing other family members, as well as time set aside for the Lord. Is my life running more smoothly? Definitely! But there is still so many times God reminds me that I am doing this thing called life for him and not for people. So here is to 2016! A new year! A new Chance! My chance to be the best mom, wife, daughter, teacher, sibling, Proverbs 31 woman that I can be!
The thing is we don't know how much time we have here on earth. We don't know when that last day with a loved one may be. I've seen and heard so many stories as well as been around people who lost loved ones this past year that I want to be intentional about the time I have here on earth. When I meet Jesus, I want to know that I did all I could to love him and bring others to him.
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