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What's on Your Bucket List?

 

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"A bucket list is an invitation to dream bigger."
~Annette White, blogger & author of Bucket List Adventures


1. See the Northern Lights

2. Skydive

3.  Get a tattoo

4.  Go on a cruise

5.  Swim with dolphins

6.  Get married

7.  Go scuba diving

8.  Buy a house

9. Go sky diving

10.  Run a marathon



You guessed it - top 10 bucket list items.  April 24th is National Bucket List Day.  What's on your list?   The mentality of "what we do defines who we are" can catch each of us.  

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Many of these items seem to require a need for adventure, which I don't really have.  I guess it's personality differences?  My idea of things to do before I die would be to write a book, eat my way across France, Ireland and Italy (all planned & not in hostels), have something to do with helping start an orphanage, own a professional hockey team, and have a really great garden that also has poppies.  And baby goats.

Maybe boring to many.  But I do have one more-

Lead people to Christ.  What is more exciting than being part of changing where someone is going to spend their eternity?  What holds more adrenalin than watching someone realize that they are valued and loved, forgiven and redeemed?

God gave us all the good things in this world to enjoy.  His creativity with countries and their cultures are vibrant with fascinating differences.  He filled our skies & land with colors and nature beyond imagination, in every season.  He gave us others to share life, laugh & cry alongside, and imagine the 'what ifs' with.  


He is our good, good God.  And He is good all the time.  With all confidence, we can know He has a good plan for us all.  Because He gave us Jesus. 

When I find myself feeling bored, or just having a lack of zeal in general for life, I find that I am looking at a bucket list that relies on things I am doing, instead of what God is doing around me.  Usually it means my prayer life isn't really happening.  


Want to get out of your doldrums - start praying for people around you.  Remember the prayer of Jabez?

"He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that You would bless me and expand my territory!  Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!'  And God granted him his request."   1 Chron 4:10


As we dream big and expand our mental territory to include thoughts of those around us, including our family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, government leaders, our world - we are asking God to let us be a part of His work.  He is working and it's exciting!  That is the blessing.

Asking Him to keep us from trouble is a healthy pattern-


"But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." 1 John 1:9


Knowing and trusting that God's plans for us are good should mold our responses:

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."  Jer 29:11

"Behold, God is my salvation.  I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2





The feeling you have when you are experiencing something on your bucket list?  That's what your heart will feel when you are part of what God is doing...

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped.  My heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him." Psalm 28:7

I think I would rather trust in God than in my parachute while I'm skydiving.  Just saying.

✙ Dear Heavenly Father, as Your Son modeled for us in prayer, hallowed be Thy name. Better is one day in Your court than a thousand elsewhere!  Our hearts shout for joy as we praise You.  Thank You for the good, good things You give us moment by moment.  We know they are there, because of Your promises-open our eyes to them Lord.  Help the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be acceptable to You and bless others.  Amen.




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  1. AnonymousApril 24, 2024 at 7:55 PM

    Absolutely loved this! I've been reminded a lot recently that I have two wonderful boys that God has gifted to me and I have the joy of sharing the goodness of God with them every day. There is no greater joy than being able to go and make disciples!

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