When the Bible refers to “saints” it is clearly a reference to all Christian believers. There is no use of the word in scripture that suggests a specific person or group of people set apart within the faith community. The early church however, chose to use the word as a way of identifying those whose lives reflected the life of Christ and the best of Christian teaching. It was a way to lift up good examples of the faith so that people could know what Christian faithfulness looked like.

There is a lot of debate about how the church should embrace the theology of saints in our day, but the idea of looking for great examples of the faith is certainly a good one. As I continue to think about ways to better organize my life and make time for everything that matters, I am drawn to those people in my life whose lives demonstrate virtues, values and actions that I can replicate to make my life better.

I think of my grandfather who clearly understood that all of life was lived in connection to Jesus Christ and that even the most mundane acts could be expressions of faith. I think of a former parishioner who served as a missionary for many years and whose life reflected a profound ability to trust God even when circumstances seemed insurmountable and resources unavailable. I think of my wife who patiently offers her best in all of the details of life letting her family know they are loved by the attention to the multitude of “little things,” all the while, sharing the love and joy of her faith.

These and so many others including, my mother, family, teachers, colleagues, friends and countless other people in my life, are sources of inspiration for my Christian faith and examples for ways to face difficult challenges. They are “saints” for me, who point the way to successfully navigating the waters of life in the light of Jesus Christ. But, I am not the only one with such saints. All of us have people who, as gifts of God, bless our lives. They illustrate by practice, what God teaches us through the Word and the Spirit.

Who are your saints? What do they teach you about successful Christian living? How can their example strengthen you when you are week and direct you when you are lost? Take time to appreciate these gifts of God in your life and learn from them the lessons they have learned from God.

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What struck me most in her note, was her word of thanks for the bag of marshmallows we left with her family. It brought back great memories of the last day with our new friends and of the entire trip.

We brought a few things from our country that would be difficult, if not impossible, to find in Brazil to share with host families and churches. Things like maple syrup, peanut butter, and marshmallows. It was wonderful to share a part of our culture and say, “thank you,” for the hospitality. The marshmallows were a tremendous hit and the smiles they brought were wonderful. I did not realize the impact they made until yesterday.

Since then, I’ve been thinking about gifts and how we bless others. All too easily we judge gifts by size or cost. We say things like, “It’s the thought that counts,” but typically, we are hoping for more than a thought. The excesses of our holidays, even our daily lives, reveal our attachment to things and their value. I wondered how many people I knew who would be blessed by a 99 cent bag of marshmallows. I wonder if I would remember such a gift two years after I received it. The truth is, my house is full of far more expensive gifts that I’ve already forgotten.

That simple Facebook not really challenges me. It keeps asking me about my priorities and about what truly has meaning. I am wondering how many simple, yet wonderful, blessings I miss every day – gifts from friends, from strangers, even from God. I wonder if the gifts I give are special because of their cost or the value of the love in which they are given.

I know Lent is quickly approaching, and I believe God gave me my focus for this season in the words of a young Brazilian woman. Maybe it is time for the virtue of simplicity to take deeper root in my life as I receive and share the joy of simple things. Maybe all of us could benefit by taking our eyes off of the things we have and share, and looking more deeply at reason we share them in first place.

I look forward to this Lenten journey. Maybe God will inspire you to join me.

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Last night, we picked up our son from his mission work to bring him home for the weekend. He is celebrating a significant birthday and wanted to be with us for the celebration. What a blessing that is. We love to see him and we are so thankful that he wants to share his special day with us.

One of the traditions we have when we bring him home, is to enjoy a meal out and then stop by our favorite coffee house to enjoy a treat and our friends. Last night was no different. No sooner was the meal over and he asked if we were going to grab some coffee before we went home. Being a coffee lover and a fan of family tradition, I was glad to oblige.

After saying hello to a couple of friends we went to place our order. Everyone knew what they wanted, except for me. I just couldn’t decide what sounded good. The scene was slightly humorous as I visit frequently enough to be a fixture, but there I stood looking at the menu hoping that something would call to me.

One of our favorite baristas was working. She laughed at my dilemma and asked if I would like her to make something up for me. “My own special drink,” I thought, “that would be awesome.” I had a big smile on my face and in my heart – another blessing.

Everyone’s drink came to the counter, while I waited for my surprise. When it arrived, it was another blessing. It looked like this:

It felt great to be in a place where, “everyone knows your name.” It was a small thing, but it touched my heart. It was a tiny, but meaningful expression of appreciation. Even now, my heart is glad.

It was nice to be known and blessed by the staff, but it was also a reminder that I am known and blessed by God. It is God, who has knit me together in my mother’s womb, who calls me by name, and who loves me with an unfailing love. It is God, who sees all of my life and desires to live in relationship with me. It is God, who is willing to give the Greatest Gift of his Son, Jesus, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit so that we can truly share life together. And, what God has done for me, he has done for everyone.

Every blessing is a reminder of the love of God. May you count your blessings along with me and remember that God loves you. Be blessed as you celebrate the awesome blessing of God.

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Each year multitudes of people may commitments to themselves, to others and even to God. Their New Year’s resolutions seem fixed in their minds and possibly in their hearts. The intentions are good, but the follow-through is not. Somewhere between the affirmation and the action something gets lost, and they return to the way things were before… comfortable and familiar.

This year, I want to challenge you to something different. I want to encourage you to use these days to diligently seek God for His vision for your life. What is it that God wants you to do or become? Then I want to encourage you to take some steps to make that a reality in your life. It will take more than a wish. It will take a proactive choice and a commitment to see that choice through.

One of the first steps you can take to making God’s vision a reality in your life is to consider your crowd. “My crowd?” you ask. Yes, you know, the crowd you permit to surround you and influence you. If you are going to give that vision life then you must ask yourself if you are surrounding yourself with people who will help get you to where you are going. Is your crowd supportive of your passion for God? Are they willing to challenge you when you try to stop pressing forward or if you choose a contrary path?

So often, we pay little attention to the impact of others on our lives and we miss their ability to inspire us, and sometimes discourage us. People naturally gravitate toward people who are like them. Have you ever noticed how it seems that the complainers all cluster together, each one fueling the others’ concerns. The negativity grows and the entire group becomes ever more entrenched in those destructive patterns.

The good news is that it works both ways. Surrounding yourself with positive people, those who have great faith and keep pressing on to win the prize, will begin to have an effect on you. The more you are with them, the more you too will begin to embrace an attitude of possibility and promise. Even a negative person can become a person of great vision if they allow God to work in their lives and surround themselves with positive people.

I am not suggesting that you abandon your friends or your family, but rather, that you allow yourself to soak in the attitude and spirit of people of great faith so that you can achieve God’s purpose in your life and so that you can be a positive influence in your other relationships.

Fulfilling your resolutions will require more that just the right crowd, but with the Spirit’s help, it is a powerful first step toward making God’s vision a reality in and through you.

Be blessed as you seek God and His kingdom in this new year.

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Yesterday, while shopping at a local store, I had the opportunity to visit with a couple of friends. We were busy sharing laughs and a few stories, when one of my friends asked the simple question, “How is everything going?”

Caught up in the flow of conversation, I responded quickly by affirming things were good and sharing a few short anecdotes about how busy things were as I approached Thanksgiving and the beginning of Advent. I went on to talk about the paperwork I was facing and the all-day meeting that was upcoming. My friend smiled, told me how sorry he was about the fullness of my schedule and offered to keep me in prayer.

It was not until several hours later that I paused long enough for God to get my attention. Ever so gently I was reminded that my friend, and those who were around us, were also living lives with full schedules. I was so caught up in the challenges of my schedule that I never thought to consider the impact of my words on those around me.

I’ve preached, spoken and written about positive attitudes and the importance of not sharing a critical or complaining spirit, and here I was faced to see that I was doing the very thing I did not want to do. I was stunned at how easily I took a normal challenge of life and made it a challenge I then passed on to others when I could have used that same time to speak words of grace that would build them up.

God lovingly reminded me that my calling was not to bemoan my challenges, but to equip and encourage others on their way. The Bible tells us that we will, “give an accounting of every idle word,” and while I do not see that text as evoking guilt and fear, it is a sobering reality that I am responsible for the seeds I sow in the lives of others.

I do not know where you are in your own journey, but I do pray that together, we can learn from what God is teaching me, that we can take greater responsibility for what we say, how we say it, and the impact we make for God in everything we do.

Life is busy, but God is great and good. Let us encourage one another even now.

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We had a wonderful time which was only multiplied by a Steeler win. Shouting at the same plays, cheering for the same players and enjoying some familiar foods made the time very special. The decorations were black and gold and Terrible Towels were all around. It was a perfect afternoon and in moments I felt like I was back in my hometown. Even now, I still feel a little homesick in the most positive way.

As I’ve thought about the time we shared and how great it feels to connect with friends, roots and a significant part of my identity, I thought about the many ways that I connect with my deeper identity as a Christian. Moments spent with other members of the family of God, focused on the goals of the kingdom and encouraging one another make for deep connections with the One in whom our faith is grounded. Sometimes it is the rituals, the familiar words and the holy places that help to remind us of our citizenship in heaven.

It feels great to know that there is still a great deal of my hometown still in me and that there are people to share the experience with. It is amazing that there is a part of heaven and the presence of the Holy Spirit in me and other members of the family of God to share the experience with.

I thank God for friends, family and sense of place, both here and in eternity. It is a blessing to allow the symbols of home to lead us to a deeper experience of our identity, our connection to others, and our place with God.

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