L.I.F.E.

My Grandma had a little wooden box. It measured about 6 inches wide by 9 inches long. I don’t know what fascinated a six-year-old me more; the fact that I’d never seen one like it or that my grandma had it but didn’t keep anything in it! I wanted it from the first time I found it sitting on a shelf in her basement. I began my campaign to make it mine. Putting on my cutest smile I asked and was turned down. Every week my resolve increased; my intention was to own that box. She wasn’t even using it!

I thought about that box, imagined what I would place in it. A box of my very own was something my three sisters would never have! With each weekly visit to grandmas I would find the box and wipe it down, treating it like my favorite toy. I wheedled and whined but she continued to say no; probably because there was only one box and I had three sisters and she didn’t like to show favoritism. Undeterred, I pressed on in my campaign for ownership. I was on my best behavior, gave extra kisses and hugs, (always with my prize in sight) until at last she gave it to me!

Victory is sweet. I still have that box today. It sits on my dresser and it has held my prized possessions from time to time. It will always be a symbol of my focus and intention, (not to mention my Grandma’s love).

Intention is an amazing thing. Whenever we steadily focus on a goal or objective it usually leads to our expected or intended result.

Goal setting became popular in the business world in the 1970’s. Suddenly we had to state our desires and intentions at every annual employment review. At first, for me it was a foreign idea. Then as I began to see the value in crafting a one year, three year and five-year plan goals became easier to achieve. My career took on a new meaning for me. Intentionality is a powerful tool. It’s much easier to get where you want to go when you have a pretty good idea of what it is that you want and a step by step plan to achieve it.

But may I ask fellow reader what are your goals or intentions when it comes to your faith? Are you living with a goal in mind? You may answer sure, to get to Heaven. While that is a lofty goal and one we are all anticipating are we living an intentional Christian life? Do we approach each day with our one year, three year or five-year plans as a Christian?

Why do we want to get to Heaven? Have you asked yourself that question? How are you living your L.I.F.E? Are you living it with that goal in mind? Are you living your life with the intention of leading others to Christ and mentoring them along the way? God gave me a sermon on this very subject and I am going to share it with you in this book.