This week I’ve been working on my annual goals.

When I received my cancer diagnosis in June, I assumed it would derail everything I had planned for this year—and in many ways, it did. Over half of our plans changed or had to be set aside altogether. But as I worked through my annual review, I was surprised by how many goals we did achieve—both personally and professionally.

Becky and I are grateful…and honestly, a little amazed.

The goals we set mattered to us. They weren’t just about being productive—they were meant to help us keep growing closer to God, to one another, to our family, to our congregation, and to our community. Our goals included growth in learning, health, and ministry.

We didn’t accomplish all of them. But the ones we did accomplish were significant. They improved our lives, strengthened our faith in God, increased our confidence, and even boosted our productivity.

For me, a goal is something I haven’t accomplished before. Many of my goals are habit goals—new practices that require consistency and discipline. Adding a new habit always pushes me into a discomfort zone until it becomes part of my daily routine. I don’t set goals around habits I already have. There’s no need. All goals, in my opinion, should stretch you and need God’s help to achieve.

Some goals are achievement goals—things you’ve never done before and can’t achieve by routine alone. That part of my goal-setting for 2025 suffered the most. Still, I stayed focused on doing what I was capable of doing.

This year included two surgeries and three different hospital stays. I continued to write, but I had to ask Becky to read over and edit what I wrote during that time. Some of it needed to sit until we could review it later. (Pain medication can make me a little too chatty—even in writing. My filter definitely suffers! 😂)

The Bible reminds us that wisdom includes knowing where we are going and growing in life. “The prudent understand where they are going, but fools deceive themselves.” Proverbs 14:8

This year we’re setting goals in several areas: our marriage and family, ministry, stewardship, health, and personal growth. Ultimately, our goals flow from faith in God and from His call to share the Good News—His invitation to a rich and satisfying life.

We sum it up with a simple mission statement:

“We celebrate God’s love by inviting others into a rich and satisfying life in Christ.”

Because of recovery, we started late on our goal planning for 2026. But one advantage of being confined to home is that I’ve had more time to pray, think, and dream. Becky and I have had more space to talk—about the year behind us and the year ahead. It’s been fun. The pressure I usually feel to get all our goal-setting done during Christmas vacation is gone. We’re not overthinking it. We’re enjoying the process.

One of the reasons I wrote this tonight, is we have seen how powerful life goals can be in helping people grow. Through the years I have had the privilege of helping others discover their goals for life—spiritually, personally, relational, and very practically. Those kinds of goals bring clarity, direction, and hope. 

It is wonderful when you see someone move from surviving to thriving. Life is never perfect, but it can be purposeful. When your life goals are grounded in God’s Word, and you surrender to His guidance, they become more than self-improvement. They become transformational. 

Jesus said your life could be, “rich and satisfying.” “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:10

I would love to help you set your life goals for a rich and satisfying life. Message me and I will share a very simple worksheet to help you make some purposeful goals this year.

Peace!