I have a routine of writing out a new weekly “To Do List” on Monday morning. It usually contains at least eight projects for the coming week, with extended breakdowns of each activity. For instance, I put “Write Blogs” on my list, and then I list each day of the week so that I can cross them off as they are completed. In total, it takes over half a page of a legal pad to remind me of all the projects for the week ahead.

When I am finished composing my weekly work list, I have the same routine. I say out loud to myself, “Here we go, bit by bit and piece by piece.” This mantra is often repeated every morning until the end of the week. “Here we go, bit by bit and piece by piece” has been repeated by me almost daily for over 24 years. 

This habit is my reminder that I cannot do everything at once, but if I start somewhere, I can eventually do everything. If I can consistently cross things off my list one at a time, I will finish all the work by the end of my week. 

I believe that whatever you want to accomplish in life, even your spiritual life, can be achieved in the same way. Write down your goals and dreams in as much detail as possible. Spell out the steps it will take to finish each task. Then take it on, “bit by bit and piece by piece.” 

The way to complete any significant endeavor is to break it down into small parts and then do one of them at a time, no matter what type of work.

Each week, our office administrator hands me the worship bulletin, and I carefully proofread it using a red pen to mark up any changes, mistakes, or additions that need to be made. She now jokingly refers to it as “my judgy red pen.”

What she doesn’t realize is that I don’t use the red pen primarily on her work but on my own. I have a set of red pens specifically for the purpose of editing my own work. Every week, I print out my sermon while it’s still in development, and then I take that red pen and thoroughly mark up the text. I cross out unnecessary material, write questions in the margins, and make notes about what needs to be added or changed.

It’s easy to be a critic of other people, using our keen eyes and red pens to pick them apart. But it’s far more challenging to turn that same level of judgment and scrutiny inward onto our lives.

One key to improving any area of your life, even your spiritual life, is a willingness to take out your metaphorical red pen and critically examine yourself. What needs to be removed from your life? What questions should you be asking yourself? What might need to be added or changed?

The truth is, the most crucial use of that “judgy red pen” should be in our lives. Spiritual growth often requires the courage to dissect our thoughts, actions, and priorities with the same precision that we so readily apply to others.

People like to hide their issues, but they love to talk about other people’s shortcomings. Many of them enjoy telling their pastor.

“Did you see what she posted on Facebook?”

“Have you heard him talk to his coworkers?”

“Did you hear what they did last weekend at that party?”

“Have you noticed that they …”

As a believer, I am called to live for God alone. But I must also be aware of the example I am leaving for others. Some people are forming their ideas about God and Christians based on what they see in you.

No one expects you to be perfect. No one. There is a difference between struggling with sin and living in sin. People notice your actions and whether they align with your faith.

Through the years, numerous believers have told me, “They are trying to be an example to others.” My response is usually, “What kind of example is that?” Because there are both positive and negative ones, and you need to be clear on what kind you are truly leaving.

I am unsure what I did to it, but my left thumb has caused me severe pain lately. It first started experiencing discomfort in 2020 during Covid. At the time, I was not able to get to the doctor easily, and I figured it would get better. Unfortunately, it did not. With every passing month, the pain has increased incrementally.

When it first started hurting, I thought, “Who cares? It is only my left thumb, and I barely use it.”

What I have discovered is how much I use that single finger. Several times a day, I grab something, and the pain shoots up my arm. If it is not aching, I find I am not able to grip anything tightly. Again and Again, I struggle because of that sore thumb.

Frequently, we do not know the importance of something until it is unable to function correctly. This is true of the human body and the body of Christ.

Whenever someone is missing from their role in the Church, everyone suffers, even if they think their service is unimportant. The people who cook for events, clean each week, greet everyone who attends, help with communion, keep the coffee tables ready, and a hundred other small things are all significant.

The body needs every part to fulfill its role and function properly – so does the Church. There are no unimportant parts.

Sometimes, even work for the Lord can be laborious and repetitive. What is worse is that this labor can seem unprofitable when it is complete.

As part of a Christian community, you work in the children’s area every week, and no child ever seems to change. You spend hours working with teenagers and trying to teach them about faith, but none of them seem to care. Repeatedly, you pour yourself out in some ministry, and there are limited results.

You would think that serving the Lord would always be fun and rewarding. After every gathering, people would walk away with a sense of satisfaction that something powerful had happened. Yet, the comment I hear the most is, “I am not sure I am doing any good.”

If you have ever felt this way, my only encouragement is to keep grinding it out. You never truly know what is getting through to people and how much of an impact you are having on others. Until one day, unexpectedly, a student changes their life, a participant starts following Jesus, or someone is touched in a deeply meaningful way. 

Until that day comes, keep serving, even when it feels like a grind.

Lately, I have noticed a rise in the number of speakers and ministries designed to analyze and then criticize the work of others for the Lord. What frightens me even more is that this group is rising in popularity. You can go to their website, podcast, or social media and read all the things that are wrong with some ministry or minister. Their content is usually followed by dozens, if not hundreds, of comments in agreement.

While I am a firm believer in keeping watch in the local Church for false teachers and cautious about using resources with poor theology, I am weary of these critics.

Jesus calls his followers to lift him up and not tear others down. We are to shine the light of Jesus into the world and speak the truth in every situation. Then, we allow the light to overcome the darkness and the truth to silence falsehood.

Be cautious of any speaker whose primary agenda is to dissect another ministry or leader and tell you all the things wrong with them. Our job is not to be the watchdog of faith but rather the proclaimers of the gospel. 

No one is called to be a critic, even a Christian critic.

The Scriptures rarely delve into individuals’ personal histories or analyze their mental struggles. We find no exploration of family dynamics or childhood traumas, nor any mention of personality types – not even from Jesus himself – in relation to our emotional challenges.

While understanding our tendencies and mental battles can be beneficial, biblical texts offer limited discussion on these topics.

Instead, Jesus arrives offering universal grace, sacrificing himself for humanity’s redemption.

It seems for every struggle we face, Jesus provides a solution. His life, teachings, and ultimately, his death and resurrection offer a path through our pain and suffering.

Whatever darkness plagues your soul, robbing it of peace, Jesus has the power to conquer it and restore hope. The pertinent question isn’t whether faith can address our issues, but rather: Are we ready to allow Jesus to help us conquer our inner conflicts?

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I should contact that person and …” 

You could end this in a variety of ways. Perhaps you should catch up after an extended absence. Maybe you need to offer encouragement as you noticed they seemed down lately. It could be that you were reminded how much this person had blessed your life, and you want to tell them. There could be a thousand things that pop into your mind that you could write, text, or call and say that could be a blessing.

After a lifetime as a Christian leader, I have discovered that God often places things like this in your mind because he wants you to make a positive impact. Every time I send someone a thoughtful message, they are thankful for the kindness. Often, I later find out how much that encouragement meant to them at that exact moment.

I firmly believe that following Jesus means being obedient to the instructions of scripture, but it can also mean listening to that little voice of the Holy Spirit inside of you.

Gathering with the Church in worship each week reminds me that I am not alone.

Most of the time, I serve the Lord as an individual in my interactions. I write sermons alone, I battle sin in my heart, I talk to non-believers about faith, and I live for Jesus whether anyone sees me or not. Some weeks, this is exhausting. My energy is depleted as I stand alone for good against the forces of evil. 

Then, when I think that I cannot do it for another week, I go to worship with other believers. I hear them sing their praises, I listen to them pray, they instruct me from the word, they serve me in the name of Jesus, and they show me faith while walking through personal storms.

Each week, I walk out of worship with a renewed sense of community. I am not the only one living for Jesus. I am one of hundreds of people doing their best to follow him in a world that is not conducive to faith.

Today, if you are worn out living for Jesus, I would encourage you to be at worship this Sunday for no other reason than to witness the lives of others who share your beliefs and let it encourage you.  

Also, know that when you attend and share your life with others, you are an inspiration, even when you do not know or feel it.

Everything we do has a cost. Some of the costs may be paid immediately with cash, time, or hard work. Other times, it comes in the distant future.

This is seen the most in spiritual endeavors. Things like skipping Church, missing a quiet time with the Lord, and not connecting to other believers will not have immediate consequences. You usually do not feel the impact it makes on your relationships and personal connections until you are decades down the road.  

You will rarely see that you sacrificed your relationship with your wife, children, or parents to achieve your goals for at least twenty years. You will not see how your example influenced others for twenty to thirty years. You may not know the effects of your life until you are lying on your deathbed.

One significant question to ask before any major decisions is, “What will this cost me in the long run?”

At the moment, there may be little price to pay, but know there is a cost.