“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,” 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Recently I heard someone say, “It really grates on me when so few people are grateful.”

I couldn’t help but contrast those two words … grate and grateful. One represents a source of irritation and the other a source of humble thankfulness.

We are often confronted with people or situations that just grate on a leader’s nerves. However, it is not only the complaints; it is also their lack of thankfulness. Yes, it comes with the territory.

If you’re not careful, it will get the best of you. In fact, the very same spirit will overcome your attitude, words, and actions. You will reflect a mirror image of ungratefulness. It won’t be a pretty picture.

“And what I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’” Mark 13:37

It happens in just a moment.

A mild, fall day highlighted with bright rays of sunshine is suddenly thrust into blizzard conditions. Without warning, a remote chance of drizzle turns into a snowy, wind whipped whiteout.

The same is true in life. One minute everything is going smoothly. The next minute everything is chaotic. Yesterday your life couldn’t get much better. Toady, you can’t imagine it getting much worse. Last week’s long range planning is abruptly interrupted by this week’s unforeseen crash.

“Cast (pray) your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will not allow the righteous to be shaken,” Psalm 55:22.

It is miserable to try and fix something when you are upside down. Ask any mechanic and he will say, “When your head is upside down in an engine compartment, everything just seems backwards.”

It is the same with Kingdom work. When problems raise their ugly heads, they seemingly turn your whole ministry upside down. They leave your head spinning. Everything appears to be going backwards. It is miserable.

That’s why mechanics love hoists. When possible, lifting up a car or an engine enables them to see things straight on. Though there is still work to be done, now everything is in its proper perspective.

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people,” Proverbs 14:34.

I was asked the question recently, “Pastor do you think you should get so political?”

The question came because of a statement and a yard sign. The statement addressed the issue of weighing the moral stands candidate take before joining their bandwagon. The sign was a “Vote Yes for Life”.

My answer was short, “If speaking the truth in love is political, yes, I do.”

It was followed by my questions, “Do you think a pastor should remain silent? Other than before Pilate, did Jesus? Did he confront the culture?”

And Joseph said, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about the present result,” Genesis 50:20.

Wow or Ouch! It is perplexing how the same thing can produce two opposite reactions.

The identical conditions that produce a spectacular, sparkling, scenic wonder of a frost-coated landscape can create the excruciating, deadly bite of nerve-damaged skin.

Leaders often face a similar reality. A challenge or difficulty can produce an opportunity to display God’s beauty or it can bring the stinging bite of discouragement.

It’s all about whether or not you are covered.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever,” Hebrews 13:8.

The canvass of fall’s colorful beauty is breath taking, but even its beauty calls out, “Change is coming.” From the changing of the seasons to the change in your pocket, life is full of changes.

No matter how much you don’t like winter, if you live up ‘North’, it’s coming. Like the march of time, there are several changes we cannot avoid, but we can be prepared.

Leaders need to help prepare their followers for inevitable changes. Trials of sorrow, suffering, death, and persecution will impact everyone. There is no better preparation a leader can offer than the counsel of God’s Word.

“Then Samson called to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord God, please remember me just this time … So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life,” Judges 6:28a, 30b.

It is tough to see your team ousted from the playoffs.

An entire season filled with ups and downs, exciting to see them win and depressing to see them lose. However, when it comes to that final, eliminating out, it is deflating.

It is so hard to accept that it is all over. Especially when one of your relatives laughingly says, “Hey, how about those ‘Twinkies’? There’s always next year, maybe next century?”

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets,” Matthew 7:12.

Grandma Lettie was a gem. She sparkled in the eye of God and in my eyes. She also made good donuts, but that’s another story.

She appreciated people and people appreciated her. Her appreciation was expressed both by her words and her actions. That makes for a good example. One you can’t help but want to copy.

She loved her church and the pastors that served the flock. She prayed for them, she listened to them, she served with them, and she served them. She cared about their families. She loved them. She spoke highly of them. Grandma appreciated them.

“And He Himself is the propitiation (payment) for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world,” 1 John 2:2.

Wow! What a rollercoaster ride America has been on.

Now I know many of you like riding on rollercoasters. God bless ya. As for me, I’m completely satisfied where God put my stomach. To me, it doesn’t make much sense to put it in my throat!

The rollercoaster ride our Stock Market has been on has put America’s stomach in its throat. It has been revealing. And the blame game is going into extra innings. No doubt there needs to be some serious assessing. However, when you are struggling to keep your head or pocket book above water, rescuing is a priority.