Intentional:
done on purpose; deliberate.
I have come to appreciate the meaning of this word during my sabbatical. Oh what a difference intentionality makes when it comes to our faith walk.
As I prepared for my Sabbatical I had one overarching desire or priority and that was to be intentional in my time focusing on God. Does intentional mean reading more? Reading less and meditating more? Does intentional mean praying more? I did not think this question would be this difficult to answer!
I arrived in Denver last night. On the schedule for today was a round of golf with my old buddy from the neighborhood Jesus. It was an absolutely gorgeous day here in Denver with the backdrop of the snow capped mountains-it really could have not been any better! After the round, I was going to go back to my Mother’s house for dinner but Jesus also mentioned after our round that he would love to have me over for dinner if I didn’t already have plans. Well, something was “nudging” at me to take his offer and go have dinner with he and his family. So I did.
Jesus and I both grew up in inner city Denver and we have been friends from childhood. It was a difficult environment to grow up in and we both had our challenges. But there is something to be said about the bond that is formed when you go through battles together. We managed to stay in touch through the years and just before I moved to Texas (2010) Jesus was born again and his life was changed forever. The whole time I was on the periphery watching the transformation. What a thing to behold when God takes a life and sanctifies it! His testimony had a direct impact on me and his step of faith gave me the courage to seek out my faith.
His family and I sat and had dinner this evening. We talked about our faith journey and thanked God for our blessings. One of his older daughter’s who of course, witnessed his transformation made an interesting comment-she said “Dad for you it was like a rocket ship!”. She was describing the swift and powerful change God made in her dad’s life- the joy in her face was unmistakable as she described the experience.
I thought to myself..do we take our salvation for granted? Do we forget the desolate place from which we came when we were without God? Are we today much different from the Israelites when they came out of Egypt? At the dinner table this evening I was reminded of His majesty. Jesus is now a successful business owner and community leader. I am very proud to call him my best friend and brother in Christ!
Thank you God for being in the rocket ship business! Your grace and mercy are so POWERFUL!
I am so thankful I had this time to spend with my Brother in Christ.
And I did learn a little something about being intentional today…be still and listen to those “nudges”!
God is intentional all the time all we have to do is listen and be still.
“Be still and Know that I am God ”
Psalm 46;10