She did it again.
Last summer, I blogged about a friend whose prayer request resonated with me. She wanted to use her summer break to “Love Deeply, Care Openly, Share Boldly”—a request that became my own that summer, too.
Her request this year also touched me. She asked for prayer to organize a Bible study this summer to “bring joy, change lives, and spread hope.”
Her request made me think. My goals this summer were to prepare for the study I’ll teach in September and to complete a writing project or two. And of course, to support my hubby as he completes his chemotherapy.
Of those three goals, only one of them is people-oriented.
It’s so much easier for me to think and plan in terms of projects. The boundaries of my comfort zone are lined with to-do lists. And I receive an excessive amount of satisfaction in crossing off every item by the end of the day.
Today I’ve revised my summer goals…thanks to my friend’s prayer request:
Bring joy:
Joy was my “one word” for 2016. I confess, joy hasn’t been something I’ve been intentional about focusing on the past few months. My new word for 2017, hope, has been the target of my all-consuming focus. Hope that that my husband’s treatments will be effective. Hope that words like cancer, chemotherapy, and radiation won’t follow us into 2018.
But I can’t bring joy if I’m not experiencing joy. And if I truly believe my source of joy is my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, then circumstances—even cancer—will not be able to steal that joy. So I’m thankful for this reminder to be more intentional about finding joy in each moment. I don’t want to take those moments for granted, for none of us know how many moments we have.
Change lives:
I don’t have the power to change someone else’s life. But I know the One who does. Because I belong to Him, I can share what I know about who Jesus Christ is. And I can live in the reality of that relationship. As others see His power changing me, my prayer is that they will see He has the power to change their life, too.
Spread hope:
Hope…my “one word” for 2017. I’ve written about my need for hope in this post.
But now I need to look beyond myself and my family and spread that hope. Since I have hope—something everyone needs—it’s time to communicate it in both words and deeds. Hope is contagious and I want to be a carrier who infects everyone around her!
So those are my new summer goals, starting today!
September will roll around before we know it. What are your summer goals?
Ava, This spoke to my heart as well, I totally relate to sticking to my list of tasks, crossing off accomplishments and not sharing the joy with people around me. I’m thinking as an introvert, sometimes. I guess we all have a little of those tendancies. But I’m thankful for your and your friend’s thoughts of reaching out, starting a Bible study. I’ve longed to start one since I left Florida and my Bible study there. I expect we will be in a situation soon where we’ll have more engagement with community allowing Bible study opportunities. God used your message to inspire me not to wait. This summer’s goal just changed. Thanks.
Thank you, Marlene. I love how the Lord uses us to encourage each other!
This touched my heart and made me reflect on my goals as well. Your goal to change lives…this post has already accomplished that one…everyone who reads this will in some way be changed.
Your goal to spread hope, is also accomplished because your post has given us hope that we can also share hope with others. “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12
Thank you for sharing your heart and your goals with us…what a blessing!
As for joy…you brought joy into my heart as I read this. There is so much in the world to be sad about…but when we look full into the face of our Savior…His joy is our strength! My cup runs over…and it spills out on everyone around us! You are a joy!! Thank you!
Thank you for your kind encouragement, Marla!