Actually, it is the word for the month. It is a theme that seems to keep coming up for me.

As a parent with a son turning 13 next month, the need to be intentional as I try to teach him values, the importance of character and faith, and so many other things that he needs to learn drives home the importance of being intentional as a parent.

As a husband, knowing others who are struggling in their marriage, and having my family just return from a short vacation that I could not join them on, reminds me that I must be intentional in truly loving my wife.

As a friend, hearing that a friend is struggling, and cannot find meaning in life, or a reason to continue, makes it clear that I must be intentional in loving my friends, and in pointing them to the only true source of meaning and value.

As part of a small, young church, we have recently been discussing the need to be intentional in many areas, including inviting others to visit our church, in making sure that our events are accessible, inviting, welcoming, and worth attending. As we plan for the future, we must be intentional. This is very similar in practice to the current buzzword in church: “missional.”

Even in my vocation, I must be intentional. Intentional in getting projects done, and intentional in sending bills and managing the business.

More on each of these in the coming days.