Randy Carlson - The Power of One Thing: How to Intentionally Change Your Life

Praise for Dr. Randy Carlsons Intentional Living Radio Show

The term intentional living has made a huge difference in my life. I think the whole mind-set that you start your day with Im intending to live this way; Im intending to say the right things, watch the right programs, do the right things makes a huge difference.

I have been wanting to live an intentional life, but I didnt know where to start. The Lord helped me start in the area of my finances, which Ive been kind of lax at. So I started sitting down and going through each area that Im paying out every single month (going through my insurance, making changes to my phone, making Internet changes), and so far, I have been able to save $780. I havent finished yet, but I just wanted to thank you for your help in keeping my focus on being intentional.

I called quite a few months back and was on the verge of a divorce. You told me to take the higher road and be intentional with my faith and relationship. Then if my husband chose to leave, I would know I did what Christ said. Now our marriage is growing stronger every day.... Thanks for your ministry!

I tried to quit smoking several times until I realized what I was lacking it was exactly what Ive been hearing on your show, about being intentional. I am three months nonsmoking as of today.

Since listening to your radio [program], my entire life has changed. I have a different opinion and a different attitude toward how I run and manage my life. I think the intentional living part for me is that Im finding ways to give back to my community, making that an intentional part of what I do every day.

I am so thankful for this program. It really helps me stay accountable and live an intentional life. I know that I have my slipups, but I try to do one thing a day and take it from there.

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The Power of One Thing: How to Intentionally Change Your Life

Copyright 2009 by Dr. Randy Carlson. All rights reserved.

Cover photo taken by Stephen Vosloo and Dan Farrell, copyright by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Author photo copyright 2005 by Lance Fairchild Photography. All rights reserved.

Designed by Beth Sparkman

Barbara Kois collaborated in the writing of this book.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version,NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked The Message are taken from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NKJV is a trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data to come

Carlson, Randy, date.

The power of one thing : how to intentionally change your life / Randy Carlson.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p.).

ISBN 978-0-8423-8222-9 (sc)

1. Success Religious aspects Christianity. 2. Goal (Psychology) Religious aspects Christianity. I. Title.

BV4598.3.C37 2009

248.86 dc22 2009022887

Build: 2015-10-05 14:40:13

To Donna, Evan, Kelly, Andrea, Derek, and Kylie you motivate me to live an intentional life in Christ

At Intentional Living, our ministry is to help you live today the way you were intended to become in Christ tomorrow. For the foundation of this unique worldview, we look to Jesus. As Ephesians 5:10 says, Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it (The Message).

Our driving passion is to travel with you on your life journey, offering the practical, biblical support you need to navigate successfully. With Intentional Living, you can:

• listen to our nationally-syndicated radio program,
• join us on The Intentional Journey,
• learn about our marriage conferences,
• read articles that describe living intentionally in the five essential areas of life, and
• go deeper with our topical books, DVDs, and small group studies.

You can find hope for a better life in Christ with Intentional Living. Visit TheIntentionalLife.com for more information and resources.

To download a free group discussion guide for this book, visit www.bookclubhub.net.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Power of One Thing is the result of my personal passion to help people experience the freedom and peace Ive witnessed in those who have decided to live an intentional life in Christ.

This entire project evolved because of the dedication and hard work of a team of people who joined me in the passion to communicate the message in the power of one thing. First, I want to thank Barb Kois for her dedication in pulling together all my teachings on this topic, and then assisting me in shaping them into the book you hold in your hands. She spent untold hours helping to craft the final manuscript. I also want to express my appreciation to the entire Tyndale House team for catching the vision for what the power of one thing can do in a persons life and then joining me in this project. Jan Long Harris, Sharon Leavitt, Kim Miller, Sarah Atkinson, Yolanda Sidney, along with many others at Tyndale, have patiently assisted in turning an idea into reality one word at a time.

I also want to extend much appreciation to my Intentional Living ministry team for their support and encouragement while I worked on this book. Much thanks is extended to Dawn Heitger, Steven Davis, and Shanna Gregor for providing their editorial feedback and encouragement.

Im grateful to my radio listeners for providing the motivation for this book. Ive witnessed in them the power of one thing at work. Each story in this book is a composite of what Ive heard from all these dedicated listeners over the last several years. In any case where an actual story was used, we took care to protect the identity of the people who gave permission for their stories to be told.

Finally, this book would never have been possible without the loving support and encouragement of my wife, Donna. Her willingness to allow me to take time away from home in order to work on this project, not to mention her willingness to read and provide feedback on the manuscript, has been invaluable. My love for her never fades!