What If God Wrote Your Bucket List?: 52 Things You Don't Want to Miss

by Jay Payleitner, Josh McDowell (Foreword)

Go bungee jumping. Tango. See the Eiffel Tower. Swim with sharks.

Bucket lists can get pretty crazy! But what if God wanted you to think even further outside the box? To pattern your life after the one who said some pretty crazy things himself: "Love your enemies." "Store up treasures in heaven." "Seek first his kingdom and righteousness."

If you checked every item off your bucket list, would your life be complete? In these pages you'll find 52 items to help you revamp your must-do list... Run with scissors. Bounce off brick walls. Celebrate quirks. Banish grudges. Dodge counterfeit happiness. Peek into dark corners.Get fired. Enlist invisible reinforcements. Get nose-to-nose with an alligator.

As you check off God's bucket list, you may find yourself doing things you never thought possible. Jay Payleitner helps you get your priorities straight with the most important relationship in your life--you and God.

Genres: Christian, Faith, Nonfiction, Self Help, Christianity, Spirituality, Christian Living

194 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2015

About the author

Jay Payleitner spent a decade in major market advertising. Learning how people think and doing some fun work. Including creating TV spots for Midway Airlines, Kroger, and Corona Beer. And heading up the creative team that named "SunChips."

But God called him into Christian media. And he became an almost-too-busy freelance producer. For more than a decade, Jay scripted and produced Josh McDowell Radio, Today's Father, Jesus Freaks Radio with TobyMac and Michael Tait, Project Angel Tree with Chuck Colson, and thousands of hours of radio that aired across the country and beyond.

Jay is a long-time affiliate with the National Center for Fathering and nationally-known motivational speaker for Iron Sharpens Iron, marriage conferences, men's retreats, women's events, writers' conferences, and weekend services.

Jay has sold more than half million books including the bestselling 52 Things Kids Need from a Dad and What If God Wrote Your Bucket List? His latest -- and perhaps most important release -- is The Jesus Dare.

This June, Waterbrook/Multnomah is releasing the surprising book, The Prayer of Agur.

Jay's books have been translated into French, German, Spanish, Italian, Afrikaans, Indonesian, Slovenian, Polish, and Russian.

He has been a guest multiple times on The Harvest Show, 100 Huntley Street, Moody Radio, Building Relationships with Gary Chapman, Cornerstone TV, and Focus on the Family.

Jay and his high school sweetheart, Rita, live in the Chicago area where they’ve raised five great kids, loved on ten foster babies, and are cherishing grandparenthood.

Reviews

[Karen Wingate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jay Payleitner cautions his readers to get ready for a bucket list like one we've never seen before and he is so right. Each of these 52 goals will surprise you and inspire you to be more than you've ever dreamed. I love the movie, "Bucket List," but the author of "What If God Wrote Your Bucket List" quickly reminds me that deep down, I really do want more in life than visiting all the national parks or trying lobster. He reminds me of the eternal perspective, how God wants me to live my life well. This is by far one of the best non-fiction books I've read. It's written in a simple style. The chapters are short. But the thoughts are deep enough, I wanted to savor each chapter. It's a book I know I'll want to read again. I loved it so much, I bought a copy for my accountability partner and we challenged each other with several of the chapters. I know I've been challenged to reflect on what I want out of the rest of life and more importantly, to care about what God wants out of the rest of my earthly life.

[Juanita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Harvest House book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

51un0YRXIlL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_What If God Wrote Your Bucket List?: 52 Things You Don’t Want to Miss
by Jay Payleitner

What If God Wrote Your Bucket List? is a collection of 52 items which a reader could place on a to-do list, as to perform before they die. These items are not the common items one might find, but they are ones that deal with oneself, others, and their relationship with God. Many items are ones a person may not think of and others are ones a person would expect on this type of list. This list is designed to improve your quality of life and your relationship with God.

I found What If God Wrote Your Bucket List? to be a little difficult to absorb, regarding the flow of each chapter and its association to being an item on a bucket list and the item’s details. Since it was not so easy for me to absorb the material, due to the style of writing flow, some points were harder for me to grasp (if I could grasp them at all along with their association to the list).

However, there were a lot of great list items presented. Such as items about false prophets, grudges, and giving back to God… Some of them even intrigued me enough to want to try them out in my own life.

Scripture verses were used within the text to support the points and life examples, which were used within the text to broaden the understanding of the list item. The chapters were short reads, consisting of 2-4 pages.

For someone who finds the flow of the content easy to grasp and absorb, this would be a good read. For me it was not that simple.

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a slow start with stories that don't make sense to a younger man to me not getting the theme of the book. However, as soon as you get to know how this works and enjoy the book and the author having fun with the selfhelp genre, it gets really good. I've throughly enjoyed it.

[John Pitcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check it off...

My mother, now 92, and I have read numerous books that have 52 fairly short chapters. We read a chapter a week throughout the year, usually each Saturday. We’ve only had a few that were disappointing. This book did not disappoint — it ranks at or near the top and I especially liked the last chapter.

[Tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book with an online group and co-lead with a friend. I have to say that from the comments in our group as well as my own thoughts, the title really didn't match what was in the book. I was disappointed and felt it seemed to repeat itself.

[Jeslyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clearly written in a manner that it could be used as a weekly devotional study for a year, this is a quick read as a whole as well - and worth doing so. Payleitner has a friendly, approachable style, and his use of modern vernacular scripture references makes the read even more immediately personal. I appreciated his personal examples, his challenges for the reader to examine their own life and see how they can draw closer to Christ, feel the Spirit's guidance, and look outside themself and engage with fellow men and women to help lift people up.

[Jaslyn Reinsel · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re a Christian or exploring the Christian faith, I highly recommend checking this out! It’s broken into 52 chapters that each outline something the author believes (based on scripture) God would like to see on your bucket list. He relates it to every day life and uses short chapters with quick stories to get the point across. You could read it cover to cover like I did, or you could even utilize it where you read one chapter a week for a year and focus on implementing that piece into your daily life each week. A great read for someone looking to live a more Godly life.

[Mark Youngkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides an explanation of things the reader can do to make a difference for the Kingdom of God as well as one's loved ones. I'm not familiar with Payleitner but apparently he has other "52 Things" books. So maybe the book should sound a little formulaic, but I didn't find it to be that. Good light reading with the occasional convictional thought.

[Mark Youngkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides an explanation of things the reader can do to make a difference for the Kingdom of God as well as one's loved ones. I'm not familiar with Payleitner but apparently he has other "52 Things" books. So maybe the book should sound a little formulaic, but I didn't find it to be that. Good light reading with the occasional convictional thought.

[Trish Topmiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved If God wrote your bucket list. The short chapters made it easy to read a few each day and ponder them. It was a wonderful way to look at my bucket list and changed how I want my life to be. I highly recommend it and have given it away to several friends.

[Sandee Lammers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this - as I always love making my lists. Got some things from the book.
Favorite quote from the book: Since you really can’t put more days in your life, put more life in your days.

[Randall L. Strunk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun look at God’s perspective

Somewhat tongue in cheek, the author takes you into an entertaining look at your life as God sees it. Not that it’s not contemplative, it is. He just takes you there without a lot of weight.

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started a journal and wrote down key points from each bucket list that I can complete in 52 weeks, helping to make for an amazing 2017.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

great little pick me up with lots of reminders on how to be a good Christian. Easy to read, but I will need to refer to it to remember it all.

[Dianne Mck. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw someone in the airport reading this book and immediately downloaded it to my Kindle. It always amazes me how much should be common sense actually comes from the Bible. I will read this again

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some chapters really good, some not so much. A good reminder of why we are here on this earth

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was similar to a Katherine Heigl movie for me. Cute and with some nice lessons thrown in but a little predictable. Very light read.

[Tracy Self · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the author, Jay Payleitner. His sense of humor and deep realizations are an excellent mix.

[Gloria Bradley]

Love this book.

[Rita Schunk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great food for thought. I jotted the list of 52 items in the notebook where I save quotes and verses to refer to. And my copy of this book will be added to our church library. I recommend it highly!

[Joel · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice easy read

I read the first 10 chapters. It is a nice, easy read. Then I skimmed the rest. It was OK.

[Elicha Surprise · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was hard to get in to it but has some good information that I will put on my bucket list

[Rhonda Frechette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very thought provoking! Written with humor and great advice. Highly recommend!

[Donna Labrayere Sandegren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. As a Christian, it really made me look at my bucket list in a different way

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that I will most likely review. Read it as a weekly devotional.

[Shanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the concept of the book but wasn't necessarily a fan of the bucket list ideas the author wrote about.

[Ifeoluwa Shobande · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get GOD to write your prayer list 🥰🥰😍😍😍😍.


Thank you, Jay payleitner, 😊 Josh McDowell.

[Sandy Sheaffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It’s an easy read and is very uplifting, while giving awesome advice!

[Teresa Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointed. I was looking for something deep and this book is very superficial.

[Elia Ghattas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book.