It’s really easy to make plans and forget about the end game. I often get caught up in the excitement that I forget what it is that I’m working towards and why I started in the first place. This can be true for goals, New Year’s resolutions, or even an event you’re planning. When I first started my job at Lifeway, I was given a printed copy of our values and mission, and I posted them near my computer. It became the filter that everything ran through before I put it into action. If I had a crazy idea, I ran it through that filter. If it didn’t fit our values and mission, I set it aside and moved on. If it did fit, I took a next step.
The book of Acts is one of my favorites because I love the local church, and this is where it started! It was a huge time of turning the page for the disciples, and we get to bear witness to their journey through the pages of scripture. They were able to accomplish what Jesus laid out is because they kept the end in mind. Jesus’ last words to them were these in Matthew 28:18-20, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The disciples now had a place to put their focus because they knew the end game. They knew what Jesus had set before them and they ran really hard after it, day after day. If you’ve set some goals for yourself this year, what’s your end goal? I spend a chunk of last year writing a book that will release in just a few weeks. Before I started writing, I remember being asked the question, “Once this book is out, what do you hope people will say to you about it?” Once I answered that question, I had something to work towards. It forced me to keep my priorities in the right place, and gave me a laser focus on what my end game was.
As you look at the landscape of Girls Ministry, do you have an end in mind? I hope you do! If not, maybe this is the year to put some energy towards where you’re trying to go. It’s really easy to just look at the next few months or even the next year and plan out a calendar and strategy, but not to pull your head up and think long-term both for you, your church, and your girls. If you’re struggling to figure out how to make this happen, I would love to connect with you. Just send me an email or connect with me online at @marymargaretc. I’m grateful for how God is using each of you – whatever your role is! If you haven’t subscribed to the blog yet, make sure you do so that you don’t miss a post.