"kick the bucket"

I
am
going
to be
making
a bucket
list........

{things i want to accomplish before i "kick the bucket"}

also known as GOALS

In Mark Betterson's book, The Circle Maker, he talks about having goals for your life. He lists some of his goals that are ever growing. Some have been marked off and some are awaiting accomplishment.

One thing I've realized about myself lately is that...

I
NEED
goals.

Goals and DEADLINES.

I'm a perfectionist.

I ignore things in my life that need to get done if i can't get it done perfectly and completely.
I dislike this because when i have things that need to get done like say, the dishes, I have a horrible time getting started. But once i am started the whole house tends to get clean. {usually}

So for the greater good of me and my family and anyone who dares to come into my life ever, i will make goals.

starting
with
small
goals.

Goals to organize my house.
Goals to prioritize my life.

To prepare my life for the blessings that I KNOW are heading my way.

so...as i get my thoughts together...be looking for

my
very
own
bucket list.

{NOT} all about me

Luke 9:23

And HE said to all, "If any person wills to come after ME, Let him DENY himself, DISOWN himself, FORGET, LOSE SIGHT of himself AND his own INTERESTS, TAKE up his cross DAILY and FOLLOW ME, cleave STEADFASTLY to ME, conform WHOLLY to MY example in LIVING and, if need be, in DYING also. 

fact about me:

 i usually can be found reading in the epistles in the Bible rather than the gospels. 

I like the practical applications in the epistles.

i felt ashamed {as a good Christian girl} that i didn't necessarily LOVE to read about Jesus.

But the Lord has been POURING Himself out to me lately in LUKE.

the DOCTOR

the FACT giver

AKA~ the boring one.

But JESUS is not BORING! 

the world says: 

"Find out who you are and do it on purpose" 

{what movie is that from?} 

JESUS says:

"Lose sight of yourself" 

I used to {and sometimes still do} think that i JUST need to know myself better ~ then I'll be better at life.  

find out what I'M good at

figure out what MY favorite things are

BUT JESUS calls me to DENY myself. 

"Lose sight of yourself and and your own interests" 

Lose sight of my own interests......HUH......

There is an ENTIRE app on my phone dedicated to MY interests! 

{my FAV~ Pinterest} 

Jesus says:

give UP yourself

most of my life is all about TAKING 

taking time for me 

taking money for me 

taking care of MY body

{don't get me wrong- these are all good and necessary things}

but i'm consumed with me

"Give up himself"

give GIVE give

"But you'll burn out!" 

NO

Giving myself WHOLLY to Jesus will make me BURN UP not OUT. 

My flesh will burn until i'm useful for nothing else but MORE burning,

BURNING for HIM.

"take up his cross DAILY"
take up your cross, pick it up.
the cross: a cruel, torturous weapon of death.
where Jesus died to make all things NEW.
where the sins of the world were forgiven.

pick it up
DIE to self~DAILY

Denying myself- leaning WHOLLY on Him makes all things NEW!
my outlook is NEW
my faith is reNEWed
my purpose is NEW
*its not about me-its about what Jesus wants me to do: Be a blessing:PRAY for others: show HIS love.

{I am made NEW, taking UP my cross and following You}

"Cleave STEADFASTLY, Conform WHOLLY"
Cleave = stick; cling; to remain faithful to
Conform = to become similar in form, NATURE, or CHARACTER
Conform to HIS character!
that means i need to know HIS character! NOT mine. His likes and dislikes! NOT mine.

Knowing God: Reading his WORD.

Jesus IS:
the DOORWAY to DELIVERANCE
the PATHWAY to PEACE
the ROADWAY to RIGHTEOUSNESS
the HIGHWAY to HOLINESS
the GATEWAY to GLORY

JESUS is the WAY!

And He calls us to live by HIS example.
"In LIVING and, if need be, DYING also."

This is talking of a physical death but we are called to DIE DAILY.
Dying to self.

to be like Jesus,
a PATHway ~ a DOORway ~ a GATEway
to JESUS.