My Bucket List

Do you have a bucket list? I have never made one, and my daughter thinks that’s terrible! I think that I view every day as an adventure of sorts, and that while I might have things I want to do in this life, God might have different ideas, and his imagination is way bigger than mine!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen! Ephesians 3:20-21

Now, I’m not saying that we shouldn’t want to do stuff, or see stuff, or enjoy planning our lives. I’m just saying that we should remain flexible, and obedient. That being said, I also believe that sometimes what we want most is exactly what God wants for us.

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this. Psalm 37:4-5

When we delight in the Lord, he gives us right desires, desires that are appropriate for us and for the person he knows we are, and then he meets those desires. With this in mind I have created a mini bucket list. These are my desires. Some are wants that benefit only me. Some are deep yearnings that I know only he could have put there. I’ve listed my top ten, backwards, David Letterman style. They are in no particular order.

         10. I want to travel. There is so much beauty and history and diversity in this world, created by God, and I want to experience as much of it as I can. Ireland. Israel. Poland. Washington DC. Denmark. That’s my top five.

         9. I want to always see the good in people and situations. I know that bad is there, and I am a realist, but I want to be that annoying Pollyanna who looks for things to be glad about. I want to see with God’s eyes. He knows all my sin, and yours, and loves us and works with our potential. I want to be like that.

         8. I want to live without fear, and do things that reflect that. I want to go zip lining. Parachute. Kill spiders. I want to love fearlessly.

         7. I want to be a lifelong learner. There is so much I don’t know, or don’t understand, and I want to know and understand. I want to study Hebrew. I want to know how to fix stuff.

         6. I want to be a writer. I want to write a book and feel the satisfaction of holding it in my hands.

         5. I want to be a woman after God’s heart. I want to reflect his nature to people around me, to respond to every situation in a way that makes God smile, and to never grow weary of doing good.

         4. I want my family to know how much I love them, to never doubt that they are amazing people and that they make my life rich. I want them all to have a relationship with God that ensures that we will be together for eternity, but to also know that they are free to choose, and I will love them regardless of the choice. I want them to see their beauty.

         3. I want to be an encourager. I want my words to be sweet and my actions to be uplifting.

         2. I want to be thin. I admit I don’t have much hope that this will ever be marked off my bucket list, but I will continue to work to be healthy, to make good food and exercise choices, and to try to ensure that diabetes makes a minor impact on my life and future.

         1. I want to love well. I want God and others to know that they are important in my life. I know I am often not successful here, but I will keep trying.

I’m not sure this is the bucket list my daughter was looking for, but I am glad I put my desires in writing. I am clearer about what I want from life, and can make choices that reflect those desires and values.

What does your heart desire? I want to know!