I Meant to Do That!

Well it's been too long since my last post, but our children's bereavement camp is over now and I am back to only one or two full-time jobs! Do you ever feel like life is a runaway train and you're dragging off the caboose? Can't let go - not sure if you can hang on? That's how I've felt for the past several months. As I anticipated the end of camp and a reprieve of sorts from the non-stop craziness I thought about how my life had gotten so out of control. I figured out that it happened this time the same way it happens every time. Little things creep in subtly until I'm completely reactive. Basically that means that I'm bouncing around like a pin ball in one of those arcade games. That makes me dizzy and gives me a headache!

What to do about that?

Well the opposite of reactive is proactive, one definition of which is: acting in anticipation of a change or need. Some synonyms are: fore-thoughtful, forward-looking, visionary.

Visionary. I like that. That's what I want to be.

Look back at the definition. The first word is 'acting'. Taking action. A deliberate thing. Intentional. That is what I want to be.

I have a vision. My vision is to establish a non-profit organization to address needs in my community such as homeless families with school aged children, and young women facing pregnancies for which they are unprepared. As I have recovered from the exhaustion of camp and begun to pray and think more about these needs, God has begun to feed ideas into my head and with them is coming an energy and excitement that I have not had for a very long time.

I have a vision, a vision to write and publish fiction novels and inspirational books to help others in their walk with God.

I can have these visions all day long. I can think about them, dream about the future, wonder what it would be like if only...but until I intentionally step out, make a plan and work it, they will stay only dreams. I don't want to get to the end of my life and have regrets about these visions. I don't want to say, "if only...". I want to live the next part of my life with purpose and intention. I want to decide what is important and do it. I don't want to just sit back and see what God will do in my life. I want to intentionally engage him every day, learning his heart, letting him change my life, and letting that change fuel the visions that he has given me.

I must intentionally:

• cut out wasteful activities and useless busyness
• schedule time to plan and research
• DO IT!
• live every day knowing that I am on a mission for Christ
• say no to activities - even good ones - that are not productive and will get me sidetracked
• look for opportunities to serve others - every day
• make it my mission every day to be noticeably different for Jesus
• seek the Lord every day  - he is my strength, my protector, my source of life and love

Tonight and every night, I want to be able to look back at the activities of my day and say,

"I MEANT TO DO THAT!"

What about you? Are you living deliberately - intentionally? How do you manage that? If you are not but want to, what are the obstacles that you face? Please share. We all need the encouragement!