Do you have a bucket list, and if so, what types of things are on it?
Maybe to…
…take a trip overseas?
…retire early?
…go on a missions trip?
…run a marathon?
Personally, I’ve never thought much about a bucket list, so the only thing that comes to mind would be to do a missions trip for a week or so. If it involved loving babies at an orphanage, that would be even better! On two different K-Love Christian Music cruises a few years ago, God partially fulfilled that item with the opportunity to assist on one-day mission trips.
Providing food for people in Belize-2019
Providing shoes for youngsters in Cozumel, Mexico-2020
What if we view it as God, rather than us, having a bucket list for our lives?
What if we consider some of the opportunities that come along for us as being on God’s bucket list, even though they were never on ours?
I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ –Isaiah 46:10 (NIV)
God is telling the people of Babylon and Israel that His purpose and plan to save and redeem them will prevail even when things look hopeless. God’s perfect will reigns.
Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps. –Jeremiah 10:23 (NIV)
This verse is part of the prophet Jeremiah’s prayer to God. Jeremiah knows that God directs people’s steps and that our lives are ultimately God’s.
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. –Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)
Isn’t it comforting to know that God’s purpose prevails in our lives? His purpose for us may be different than the plans we make, but God knows what is best for us.
Photo courtesy of Nancy Wisgerhof under Creative Commons License (CC BY-ND 2.0)
When I think about the last few years in my life, in retrospect, I see different events, things I never dreamed of, as God’s bucket list for me. One event would be the privilege of taking a Holy Land pilgrimage almost a year ago. It was never anything I ever envisioned experiencing, but through the circumstances of joining a new church a few years earlier, God provided a pastor who was hosting a trip to the Holy Land. As soon as I heard of it, I knew it was a bucket list item I wanted to pursue. Due to the pandemic, the trip was postponed a year, but I remain so grateful that it worked out perfectly in God’s timing. It was THE trip of a lifetime that I will always treasure. A huge bonus was that there were no lines at the sites, as we were the first tour group back in Israel after the pandemic.
Little did I know at the time of the pilgrimage that God would lead me to have a section in my third devotional, God’s Compassion Illuminated, dedicated to sharing my pilgrimage experience that was published that same year! I see God’s compassion in sending Jesus, in human form, to earth in the Holy Land as compassion at its finest. Because of God’s great compassion for us, He sent Jesus to earth to save us from our sin.
Standing in Capernaum where Jesus gave the Bread of Life Discourse
Flashback to 2014, when, because of hearing the Christian band Third Day, I joined social media, which God then used to put inspiring Christian bloggers in my path. That led me to begin writing weekly on a website about God in the ordinary. Readers mentioned the possibility of putting some of the reflections into book form, something that was never on my bucket list. God putting a stranger, an author and speaker from Texas, in my path in June 2019 was the impetus He used to orchestrate the publication of my first 90-Day Devotional in October of 2020. One book has turned into God’s prompting for three in three years, a Trinity of books for His glory.
Be encouraged to…
…view and live life through the lens of God’s bucket list.
…see how God orchestrates the execution of His will for you.
…know God’s bucket list is most important.
Can you look back on various events in your life and see God's bucket list for your life versus your bucket list? Please feel free to comment in the section below to share your experiences.
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. –Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)
I’ve always thought it was a little weird that I didn’t have a bucket list and everyone else seemed to. I still don’t. But maybe it’s because everything is on God’s bucket list for me rather than mine for me! Interesting perspective I’ve never thought of Christine!
Hello, Jen~ Thank you for faithfully reading and sharing. I do believe you may be correct with that thought, and I think it is a good goal trying to live our lives that way! It was insightful when one day it hit me to see how God brought these opportunities to me when I had no plan for it, which led to these thoughts. I’m glad you shared and gained a new perspective too. God bless!
I don’t have a bucket list either! But I will say, I would much rather have God’s bucket list for me.
Everything we have and everything we are comes from our God! Iam truly Grateful, Thankful and Blessed for all of it.
Thank You again Christine for reminding us that Gods bucket list is most important!!
Be Blessed my friend.!
Hello, Lorie~ I appreciate your taking time to share. Yes, you are so right that all we have and are comes from God! I, too, am so grateful for Him and how He orchestrates our lives. May His bucket list for you continue to be fulfilled through you, my friend! Grateful for the gift you are in my life. God bless you and your family.
I’ve never been a bucket list person either. Partly I guess because I’m not a good planner, and if I had items on a bucket list, I’d have to go about making them happen! 🙂 I love the idea of God taking care of that for me and making my “bucket list”! 🙂 Thanks for that thought Christine!
Greetings, Barb~ That is a good point about “non planners” might tend to not have a bucket list. I hadn’t thought about that. I think it does bring us comfort when we think of it as God taking care of our bucket lists. This was the perfect share for me to read today. 🙂 Thanks and God bless~
Hey, Christine…..I’m jumping on board with the rest of the folks who aren’t “bucket list” people either! I, too, love the idea of God coming up with the “bucket list” items rather than coming up with a list of my own. You know all too well, personally, that my providing childcare in the past was ENTIRELY orchestrated by God. He started putting children in my life and I just followed His lead. Being childless with no experience raising children, providing childcare was a HUGE leap of Faith for me and took me w-a-y out of my comfort zone! BUT, those were some of the most rewarding years of my life and represent a personal “growth period” for which I am most grateful! Yup, Blessed & Thankful, too, for all that ‘you’ share, Christine! Keep on being Awesome You!! 🙂
Hello, Lynn~ Thank you so much for faithfully reading and your sharing! What fond, fond memories I have of your babysitting days. It is a God’s bucket list for you for which I am forever grateful! The kids got to experience so many wonderful adventures and the great love you shared with them, as well as us! Thank you for reminding me of the great blessing God provided for our family through you~ Continued love and gratitude for all you’ve done through the years! Love you~