Recently, I was embarrassed. Every time I encountered this person, they seemed to have something wrong in their life. They were always struggling financially. There was always a health issue with them or someone they loved. It seemed that compared to them, I was enjoying the benefits of a richly blessed life.
I wrote down this question. How do I handle people who appear to be less richly blessed than I am?

After careful thought and consideration, I came to two conclusions.

First, I should count my blessings. I need to realize that all the beautiful things I have in my life are the result of God’s blessing, and I should thank him for even the little things that I often overlook.

Second, I need to resist pride. It is easy to think that the way I am experiencing life is the result of my intellect and choices when, in reality, they are a gift from God. I am no better or worse of a person than anyone else.

One challenge in my life is to be genuinely happy for other people when their lives do not go as well as mine. I need to see other people as companions and not competition. Finding joy in my blessings should be my default reaction, not superiority, for all God has given me.

Sometime soon, someone will tell you a story about a challenging experience they recently had. At that moment, you and I both have a choice. Will I follow the way of Jesus or feel pity for them for not being as wonderful of a person as I am?

Recently, I was unhappy. Every time I encountered this person, they seemed to be boasting about the events of their life. They always caught more or bigger fish. Their vacation this year was going to be better than mine. I could go on and on. They were enjoying the benefits of a richly blessed life.

I wrote down this question. How do I handle people who appear to be more richly blessed than I am?

Paul tells the Christians in the Church in Rome, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15 – NIV 2011)

My conviction is that it is easy to mourn with those who mourn. Seeing someone’s life fall apart, struggle through loss, or endure a difficult season pulls at the heartstrings. If someone else is crying, my empathy kicks in, and suddenly I am sad too.

When things go well for other people, often better than my life, rejoicing with them is hard. Usually, I feel angry that I wasn’t treated the same way. Is God even fair? This can lead to comparison, jealousy, resentment, and frustration.

One challenge in my life is to be genuinely happy for other people when their lives go better than expected. I need to see other people as companions and not competition. Finding joy in the success of others should be my default reaction, not anger.

Sometime soon, someone will tell you a story about a wonderful experience they recently had. At that moment, you and I both have a choice. Will I follow the way of Jesus and rejoice with them or not?

As we slide into the week of Thanksgiving, many of us will be entertaining guests. This season reminded me of a line I heard a teacher say at a conference a couple of years ago (I believe it was Beth DeFazio).

“Hospitality is making people feel at home when you wish they were at home.”

Like precious metals drawn from the earth, believers in Jesus undergo a transformation. Just as gold or silver must be refined, placed in a crucible, and heated repeatedly until all impurities rise to the surface and are removed, so too are Christians refined throughout their journey of faith.

The Master Refiner uses life’s challenges and trials as His purifying fire. Each experience serves a purpose – to gradually remove imperfections and reveal something of greater worth beneath. Through hardships, joys, failures, and triumphs, God works to cleanse the heart and soul of all that diminishes its value.

This divine refinement is a lifelong process. None of us has achieved perfection, yet each season brings new opportunities for growth and purification. Every challenge faced and every lesson learned brings us closer to reflecting the pure character that God envisions.

Though we may not yet shine with our full potential, we can take heart in how far we’ve come. Like precious metal emerging purer from the fire, we are being steadily refined into something beautiful.

Are the people closest to you developing a more robust faith by knowing you?

Do they see your example as one of commitment to Jesus?

Is there evidence in your life of being transformed by the power of the gospel for them to witness?

Are those around you increasing their love of God and other people?

What is your influence producing?

Know this – either you are influencing them to draw closer to God in faith, or you are not. Carefully evaluate the spiritual lives of the people closest to you, and you will see a reflection of yourself.

While typing my blogs for this week, my phone rang. While I didn’t recognize the number, I did know the location and thought of several people who might be calling. I answered, and the voice on the other end said they were calling from my Alma Mater.

My mind went to the same place it always does; I bet they are going to ask for money. As if the voice was reading my mind, he said, “Don’t worry, I am not calling to ask for anything.”

He went on to say he was with the Alumni Association, and they were reaching out to see how I was doing and if I needed special prayers for anything. I have to be honest; I was taken aback. No one ever gets in touch with me “just because.” There is always a plea for something.

Not this time. The young voice was very kind, asked a few questions, and assured me that he would say a prayer for me, and then he hung up.

That one insignificant call was a blessing to me today. It always feels good to know that other people care and are praying for you. However, it was also a challenge: Who do I need to call now to keep spreading the blessing? How about you?

It is the time of year here in the Midwest when I spend several hours a day sitting in a tree stand waiting for a deer. Honestly, I love this time of year for so many reasons. I am able to spend numerous hours outside in the fresh air. I enjoy watching the wildlife behave as though I were not there. I love the sights, sounds, and smells of fall that come with each day in the woods.

The biggest thing I enjoy most during this season is time to think. Every time I head out, I take a book or Kindle, a notebook, my phone, and a charger. I can sit there and read or listen to a podcast and take the time to process my thoughts. Time slows down, and for a few hours, I am not busy rushing to the next thing.

As my time winds down each day, I take out a notebook and write down all my ideas, thoughts, insights, questions, and observations. Then, at the end of the season, I will sift through the notes to see if there is anything usable.

I believe everyone needs to build into their calendar some time to think. Perhaps God wants you to open your eyes to a new concept, ministry, or direction in your life, and you will not slow down long enough to hear him.

Quiet reflection is a gift to the soul and I am blessed to spend time outside doing it this time of year. Let me ask you, when was the last opportunity you had to sit down and think, especially about the things of God?  

One difficulty in teaching the Bible is that every person has a part they specifically do not want to hear about. The Bible gives the truth about your thoughts and actions but also the motive behind them. This includes addressing things from greed to gossip, lust to love, and anger to apathy.

Not liking the information you read in the Bible does not make it less accurate.

Some will find arguments against its instruction, and others will agree with their conclusions. But that does not make it correct.

If the clear teaching of scripture prohibits certain behaviors and the attitudes behind them, then they are wrong, no matter how you feel about it.

I am struggling to know how to do ministry these days. Where I live in the Midwest, things were fairly normal until 2020 and Covid. Pastors on the East and West coasts had been describing what was happening in their Church communities, and it had not hit my Church until then.

The massive shift is that people attend worship 1-2 times a month. It used to be that people were here 3-4 times a month, and an absence was the exception, not the rule. Now, people come once or twice, and it will take a month to six weeks before I see them again.

This change has led me to many questions that I am still not sure how to answer:

1. How do you preach a sermon series to people who might only be here for one sermon in it?
2. How do you disciple people who are not here regularly to learn, connect, and serve?
3. How do I care for people when they attend 12-15 times a year and few are connected to them?
4. How do I help people live like Jesus when they are so busy with other things?
5. How do I get people to know their Bible in this culture?

As I dream and ask God to direct me into 2025 and beyond, these questions are plaguing my soul. I have no idea how to minister in this world. I am struggling to assist people in following Jesus, growing in faith, and becoming spiritually mature.

The world has changed while the Church remains on the same mission of making more and better disciples. Lately, I have more questions than answers, and I pray that God will direct me and other Church leaders in ways that will help us do his work effectively.

We are 14 days away from the celebration of Thanksgiving here in the United States.

One project I would challenge you to do during this time is to become a more thankful person. Would you be willing to spend a few minutes each night at dinner or before bed and list at least five things you are grateful for?

This does not have to be a huge event. Simply say in a prayer, “Thanks God for giving me today …” Then fill in the blank with at least five things. Some days, coming up with five might be challenging, but most days, I bet you can come up with six to ten items.

We spend a great deal of energy getting into the “spirit of Christmas,” perhaps it is equally important to get into the spirit of Thanksgiving.