Mentor Moms' Monday

AN INTENTIONAL LIFE

     In the Sunday school class I attend at First Baptist Church of Anoka the subject study is "Unlocking the Secrets of an Intentional Life" with Dr. Randy Carlson. The bases of the teaching is that intentional life has the characteristics of the following:  it is about obedience, it requires our head, our heart, and our hands, and thinking, emotions, habits, actions and deeds need to be in balance. 
     The foundational principles are having a godly goal, based upon God's purpose and plan, taking sustained daily action by doing the next right "one thing".   Since I like illustrations and they seem to stick in my head so I can actually remember....this week's lesson was particularly memorable.
   It is based on four quadrants with a description of what type of insect represents that quadrant.  The upper left quadrant has the "grasshopper."  It represents someone who is very busy, but accomplishes very little...it is the un-intentional life.  In the upper right quadrant, is the ant that represents an intentional life.  This person sets godly goals, and takes daily action. "I have a goal and I act daily."  The lower left quadrant is the slug.  The slug represents someone who is complacent.  The lower right quadrant is represented by the cricket. This someone has good intentions, but doesn't follow through on them. "I care, I commit, I procrastinate."  The goal in living an intentional life is to be like the ant.
     My husband was detained and never made it to the Sunday school class and he asked me what it was about and I told him,  "we are suppose to be like ants".  I didn't offer much more than that short answer.  He later followed up on that odd answer with the teacher of the Sunday school class before or after a Sunday evening business meeting. He was able to fill in the gaps of my answer with the teacher. My answer now makes sense.
     Trust me, at times in my life I've lingered in every quadrant.  In some of the less desirable quadrants for quite some time, too. My challenge to myself and you all can take it too, is to be more like what the ant represents.  Last night, when the supper dishes were still sitting in the sink at 9 p.m. (sometimes they sit overnight, too), I decided to be an ant and get it done.  Now, let me say that getting it done is really difficult when you've been up all night with a new baby, or a sick child, and are so sleep deprived you can't remember your name. Just hanging in there for the day may be the goal rather than getting it done.That is okay. But, think about it. Just one goal like making time for a daily devotion or time in God's word can be a step in the direction of intentional living. It certainly makes a difference in my daily outlook.
      The entire series of the Sunday school class contains elements on faith, marriage and family, health, work, and finances. The whole series says that the basics of intentional living are found in scripture. For example, Proverbs 6:6-8 says, "Go to the ant, you sluggard;consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer, or ruler,  yet it stores it provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest." Thus, the desirable ant quadrant.  Who knows?  I may write on another one of the elements in a future Mentor Moms'  post.

Keep WARM!

Blessings,

Holly Broden
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