Pursue the Intentional Life: "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12)

The Jean Fleming I have come to know, now in her seventies, is not old. A vitality radiates from her countenance and posture. She always greets me with an exuberant "Hey!" With alert eyes and listening heart, Jean seems to catch everything -- the hidden meaning in my words, the unspoken emotions in my spirit. Winsome, attentive, and energetic, she attracts people to Christ. She thinks strategically about ministry concerns with youthful fervor. If Jean were a tree, she would be "full of sap and very green" (Psalm 92:14, NASB).If a woman like this writes a book originating in the questions: "What kind of old woman am I becoming?" and "Lord, how do You want me to think about the rest of my life?" then I am certainly going to read it.Pursue the Intentional Life has future as well as immediate practical impact. Though you'll find phrases like "old woman" and "ending wisely" and "fiftieth year in Christ" in the following pages, this book is not specifically for "old people." Pursue the Intentional Life is for you who want to see the big picture of your life and God's purposes. It is for you who don't want to revert to default or live a haphazard life on cruise-control. It is for you who seek to live meaningfully and intentionally in the present while preparing well for the future. This book could be for the middle-aged parent facing transition or crisis, the elderly considering his last days, or the twentysomething excited about a full life ahead.Essentially a private journal made public, each chapter lets us listen in on Jean's conversations with herself and with God. Though Jean is a gifted teacher, here she doesn't teach so much as invite. "Welcome," the front cover conveys. "Come in and see what the Lord is showing me."(This review is an excerpt of the foreword I wrote. See "Look Inside" sample for the entire foreword. --Monica Sharman)

Amazing book! While there are aspects of this book that may speak to someone a little older than me, (I'm 50), I found it to be full of truths that are for me to implement NOW, so that when I AM "old", I will be who and what I want to be.I have underlined and circled and drawn arrows and stars all over the pages. Returned to many chapters repeatedly and am recommending to many others. I love Jeans easy to read style, her poetic use of words and vivid images that help me connect to the deep beauty she shares.She asks lots of questions of herself throughout this book, and it helps me pose the same ones to myself.At the beginning of the book, she asks, "What kind of old woman will I become? How will I live the rest of my life?"I have been very challenged by these and agree with an earlier statement she makes, "It is never too soon to prepare for the rest of our lives. The truth is that everyone, regardless of age, is already setting patterns for the shape of his or her life."Very encouraging, challenging, thought provoking and Biblical. This would be a great book for starting the New Year and helping you to redefine goals and values, etc...I highly recommend this book!

Well written and thought provoking. Perfect for this season and those to come.

A friend of mine gave me this book. It is easy to read, wonderfully encouraging but urging us on to use our time wisely. Very excellent! The author decided to let us know how she is wanting her last years to count for the Lord -- and she really gets it! The chapters are short and readable. Very helpful! Excellent!

This is a wonderful book for helping you think about how you want to live your remaining years here on earth and leave a lasting impression for Christ. I feel that Jean is speaking my own heart's thoughts and putting them into words in a way that I wish I had the ability to do myself. This is a great book. Years ago when I was raising my children I read and re-read Jean's book " A Mother's Heart", it was my go to book on child rearing and feeling my worth as a mother in the every day chores of home life. This new book will be my book to read and cherish as I finish up my race here on this planet.

Jean Fleming shares a sweet and tender account of her walk with the Lord and the questions she ponders about life. Her rich use of scripture as well as other texts allow the reader to dig deeply into her thinking and begin to ask their own questions. I was pleased by the easy readability of the book. Her writing flows. It's as if she opens a window to her soul and allows us to peer in. I am grateful. The book is not just for an older audience, but is easily adapted to women of any age.

This was an excellent read. I discovered so much in every chapter. A great help in dealing with life's situations and transitions. Really enjoyed the following chapters: Chapter 12 The Ministry of Countenance and Spirit: Glorifying God and Blessing Others; Chapter 22 - Wise Reframing: Keeping My Core in Life's Transitions; chapter 25 - Embracing The Cross: Preparing To Drink My Cup; and Chapter 31 Preparing For Death: Stocking The Ammunition Box. Wonderfully helpful and relevant book.

I enjoyed reading Jean's accumulated wisdom from her years of walking with Jesus. Navigating life and living it purposefully is challenging when we are prone to self-centeredness. Knowing that it is a fight to the finish to live it well, the wisdom found in this book will be an encouraging companion to refer to again and again.It has encouraged me to keep the goal in sight, the reward of God's "Well done good and faithful servant!". The author has wonderful nuggets of truth to help us keep on keeping on in taking the high-road.Transparent, thought-provoking, and encouraging.

Jean shares such wonderful deep wisdom in such a beautiful way, to encourage us to really 'wake up' and think about the important things in life - keeping an eternal perspective while living this one life well. This book came at a significant time in my life and has taught me so much, it's certainly one of the most influential Christian books I have ever read. It's incredibly challenging, it tackles subjects like hardship, suffering and death head on yet with tenderness and grace, and in such a way as to catapult us into God's love and eternal purposes. I'm writing this review nearly 3 years after purchasing and reading the book, for the first time, and can look back and see how it has influenced me, and how God has used this wisdom to grow my faith in ways I could not have imagined. I return to it often for more reminders and encouragement. I'm very thankful for this treasure.

A book to inspire us to live our lives well as Christian women. Jean Fleming not only reflects on her well lived life but purposefully sets out to encourage a younger generation of women with her insights, honesty and love of life. This book is of great worth for those who aspire to make their lives matter, whatever age or stage of life they are in.

love this book. it teaches soo much about how to live intentionally and for a purpose. one of my favorite parts was about everyone having a cup.... read and you'll know more