Tag: Compassion

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Do You Love Me?

,Love is a verbDo you love me? That was the question Jesus asked Peter.

John 21:15-17, “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’
‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’
Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’
Again, Jesus said, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’
He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’
Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’
The third time he said to him, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’
Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’”

We often talk about our “favorite” Bible verses or choose a “verse of the day,” but the Bible is much more than just inspirational quotes. It’s a collection of love letters—some written by specific people to certain recipients and some anonymous—all pointing to God’s deep affection for us and how we should respond with affection for Him.

God’s Love for Us

Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us—not because we deserved it, but because His compassion is so great that He wants us with Him forever. Our salvation is a priceless gift that we could never earn or repay. There’s nothing we can do to make God love us more, and nothing we can do to make Him love us less.

Our Love for God

So, how do we show our love for God?

God gives us the ingredients for our daily bread, but he expects us to do the baking!  – Chip Ingram

It’s not enough just to say we love Him or even to pray for others. We must show our love through how we live—by obeying God’s Word and ensuring our actions reflect our faith. Without actions that demonstrate our love, we can fool ourselves into thinking we believe in something we don’t truly believe.

James 2:18-20, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe in one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?”

It isn’t about working in a soup kitchen or going on mission trips, it is about the daily display of compassion, patience, and understanding. It is about living your life as God would have you live it. Glorifying yourself through grand gestures so people think you are a good person isn’t it.

This self-deception is dangerous.

Titus 1:16, “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”

This is a danger we might not even see until it’s too late.

A Warning

God warns us clearly: We must demonstrate our faith and trust in Christ through good deeds. However, good deeds alone, without love for Christ, are meaningless. Our faith should inspire us to care for others, but doing so without loving Christ is also empty of meaning.

We must recognize God as the source of our love and life, giving thanks to Him in all we do.

Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

You can’t be saved just by caring for others — anyone can do that. But you need to demonstrate that you are saved by caring for others.

1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

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Silence is Rarely Silent

Sound of SilenceThe Sound of Silence

Silence is rarely silent. Often, it is louder than the surrounding voices. When we sit back and allow contrary and even destructive voices to drown out the voices of compassion, our silence becomes a statement. It reflects who we are and who we choose to be: apathetic.

Zechariah 7:9: “Show kindness and compassion to one another.”

When we turn away from someone in need and ignore those struggling to survive or be recognized, our inaction resonates louder than words. It suggests that their lives are less significant than ours. We proclaim that our chaotic, confusing, and busy existence is more valuable than compassion or grace, as if their stories matter less than ours.

“Sometimes loneliness makes the loudest noise.” ― Aaron Ben-Ze’ev

The Sound of Apathy

Silence is rarely silent. Not offering a kind word or an act of compassion often does more harm than harsh words. It leaves the other person feeling invisible and without value. Some argue that anger is better than apathy because at least anger still involves feeling. Apathy, however, is a void; it’s the absence of love, empathy, and connection.

Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

The powerful aspect of compassion is that it transforms us. When we choose to see others and enter their lives, we begin to perceive a richer, more understanding world. We come alive by helping others feel alive. That’s not a burden—it’s a gift. Silence eats away at the core of who God made us. It degrades the essence of who we are, created in His image.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” – Leo Buscaglia.

The Sound of God’s Whisper

Silence drowns out the whisper of God’s love calling us to action. God doesn’t force us to care; He doesn’t demand action. He gently whispers through love, inviting us to respond not out of obligation but out of gratitude. Loving others isn’t a requirement for earning God’s love—it’s a result of receiving it.

Proverbs 11:17. “Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.”

Yes, life is demanding. We have schedules to keep, responsibilities to manage, and our wounds to heal. But the challenge isn’t whether we’ll face obstacles; it’s whether we’ll rise above them. Whether we’ll choose the path of love, even when it’s inconvenient. Life will offer you the rationalization needed to move on in silence. But is that God’s nature? God never chose silence when we were in need. He gave His son that we may live. And if we want to reflect His heart, neither can we.

Galatians 6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

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The Church in Aisle Five: How the Marketplace Becomes Your Ministry

The Legacy you leaveThe church in aisle five: how the marketplace becomes your ministry. For many individuals who do not attend church—whether due to disbelief, disinterest, or disillusionment—the only Christian witness they may encounter isn’t a pastor behind a pulpit but a businessperson behind a counter.

They may never sit through a sermon, open a Bible, or step foot in a sanctuary. But they will, at some point, buy a cup of coffee, get a haircut, or ask for help at a hardware store. In those moments, the person across from them—ringing up the order, sweeping the floor, or fixing a mistake—might be the closest thing to “church” they ever experience.

For the Christian businessperson, that makes the marketplace their ministry.

If you’re going to live, leave a legacy. Make a mark on the world that can’t be erased. – Maya Angelou

A Life That Echoes

Most of us want our lives to matter. We long to leave behind more than just a name—we want to leave something meaningful. For me, that “something” isn’t fame or success, but an echo of grace or wisdom that outlives me—something so rich in truth and compassion that it gets passed on, told, and retold. We should not strive to leave a legacy FOR people but leave a legacy IN people.

Sean Rowe captures this beautifully in his song “To Leave Something Behind”:

“I’m not trying to change your mind, ’cause I was born to leave something behind.”

Every interaction in the marketplace is an opportunity for that echo—an opportunity to live out grace, patience, mercy, truth spoken gently, and love without strings attached.

It might seem like a kind word to a weary mother, eye contact and presence with a grieving man who struggles to express his pain, or grace for a customer who erupts in frustration. These seemingly small moments may hold more power than a thousand sermons.

The Ministry Outside of Religion

People in pain seldom inquire about theology or doctrine. Most quietly ask, “Is there a love big enough to meet me in this hurt?”

And you, as a follower of Christ in business, might be the one God has placed in their path.

2 Corinthians 5:20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us”

Sometimes, that appeal doesn’t sound like a sermon—it feels like warmth, kindness, and safety. Your office, your store, your place of business—it becomes an oasis in a chaotic world—a moment of hope for someone who has long stopped looking for it.

Ministry From the Heart

Polina Gelman, a member of the WWII Soviet bomber squadron known as the “Night Witches once said: “That which is done from the call of the heart is always better than that which is done out of obligation.”

How much more true is this when Christ forms that heart?

Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”.

You don’t need to preach to reflect Jesus. You need to live in such a way that someone walks out of your shop or office thinking: I felt seen, I felt safe, and I felt, somehow… loved.

That experience could be the beginning of their faith. That kindness might be your legacy. That moment could mark the start of your echo.

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world.”

Even in aisle five.

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You Were Chosen to Bear Fruit That Lasts

You were chosen to bear fruit that lasts. Your existence is not temporal; it is eternal.  Your actions are not of someone who passes through, but of someone who is sent.

John 15:16 says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit—and that your fruit should remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” — John Piper, Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist.

Let me tell you a story.

It was late fall. I remember because it was already dark as I stepped off the MARTA train and started walking toward my destination. The air had that unmistakable chill, not the clean, biting cold of the north, but the damp Georgia kind that creeps under your coat and settles in your bones.

I was late to meet a friend I hadn’t seen in a while. My head was down, shoulders hunched against the wind, when I caught the faint shape of a man standing across the courtyard. Just a shadow. But then, a voice inside me—quiet, yet impossible to ignore—said, “Stop.”

So I stopped.

The man wore a trench coat, but it looked more for appearance than warmth. He stood there, glancing left and right like he didn’t know what to do next. I thought, I’m late, and began to move on.

I Couldn’t Walk Away

Then came another whisper: “To the least of these…”

Matthew 25:40, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

It wasn’t a command. Not even a plea. Just a gentle reminder—truth spoken in stillness. That’s how God often speaks. He doesn’t shout. He doesn’t push. He invites.

For the first time, I honestly looked at the man. His face told the story his words never would. Pain, loss, and disappointment. His Eyes were far older than his age. I knew that if I engaged, I would step into his burden. And I also knew, once I saw him—really saw him—I couldn’t walk away.

So I asked quietly, “Can I help you?”

That’s all it took. A small gesture, but to him, it meant everything. I gave him what I had, and it was enough. He straightened his back, shook my hand, and nodded a quiet thanks. But his eyes—those eyes—spoke volumes: relief, surrender, maybe even hope.

As I turned to leave, something pulled at me again. I looked back and said, “You know, God loves you. That’s why I’m here right now.”

And he smiled. “Yes, sir, I truly know that.”

“Small acts, when done with great love, can change the world.” – Inspired by Mother Teresa,

You Were Chosen for Moments Like These

God is not only the Author of great missions and lifelong callings—what we sometimes call BHAGs (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals)—but also the quiet, divine interruptions. The ones that whisper instead of roar. The ones that change you, if you let them.

Isaiah 6:8, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”

Sometimes he plants a seed, tends it over time, and gently shapes us for something big. But other times, He says, “Look. Right there. That one.” And when we look, it takes our breath away.

Those moments are memorial stones. I keep them in my heart like reminders—evidence that God invited me into His plan, not because He needed me, but because He loves me.

He chose me. He chooses you. To bear fruit—lasting fruit.

Answer the call. Be the one who stops, who listens, who speaks life into the hurting. I can’t fully explain how it will change you, only that it will. Forever.

Be that Person.

Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

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I want to be an Avenging Angel.

Living Well is the best RevengeI do; I want to be an avenging angel, raining down brimstone and fire on all that is evil in the world; I want God to empower me to wreak havoc on all that is wrong. I want to be invincible and omni-powerful;  I want to walk into the private enclaves of the rich and powerful and demand retribution. How cathartic would that be? How validating and hopeful would the world seem to me? Me, reigning over the unjust and the unworthy. But who would want to rain down brimstone on me?

“There are two great days in a person’s life – the day we are born, and the day we discover why.” – William Barclay

Romans 12:19, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”

God’s Intent

But that is not God’s intent. One of the hardest lessons for me to learn is that salvation, not retribution, makes the world livable. When people come to understand God’s love, they become the type of people we want in our world. It is not the elimination of evil but the conversion of evil that makes all that Christ has taught us work.

Proverbs 20:22, “Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and He will save you.”

That’s difficult for me. I want revenge; I want evil to suffer. Like Jonah, I don’t want the people of Nineveh’s salvation but their elimination. I want them punished because they have caused so much harm to others. It is hard for me to comprehend God’s compassion. Why does He want them in His kingdom after what they have done?

Proverbs 24:29, “Do not say, “Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”

Wouldn’t that be great to travel the world visiting the despicable, the vicious, the depraved, the unscrupulous, the hateful, and the godless people to present them with their eternal separation from Christ? To stand back and watch when they realize their actions culminated in destruction.

God’s True Intent

“The only way to overcome our enemy is by loving him.”. Dietrich Bonhoeffer in The Cost of Discipleship

That is not Godly. God will allow the Godless to reap their rewards, but only after giving them every opportunity to repent. My prayer should not be for retribution but salvation. I should dedicate my life to attracting those who do not know God to God. Boy, that is a big ask.

1 Peter 3:9, “not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.”

Like Jonah, I need to accept that what Christ did for me is precisely what He will do for others. I should want Him to extend the grace He gave me to others. It is not us against the world. It is the world against God, and those who choose God will prevail.

Matthew 5:38-45, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, also turn the other to him. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him also have your coat.”

It would be nice to be God’s avenging Angel, to vanquish evil. But that is in Revelations, not today. That is God’s domain. We must save those who do not see the light, not condemn them. That’s the hard part. God wants us to love, not hate.

“To return evil for good is devilish; to return good for good is human; to return good for evil is divine.” – John Stott in The Message of the Sermon on the Mount

1 Thessalonians 5:15, “See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.”

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Blessed are the Persecuted

Blessed are the PerscutedMatthew 5:10, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

I’ve always thought the caveat to this is the statement “because of their righteousness.” If we go around with a holier-than-thou attitude, we probably deserve to be slapped around. I know a good number of Christians who want to start a holy war to feel persecuted. I don’t mean a literal war, but a skirmish with non-believers, a little dust-up. Then, they can proudly proclaim that they are defending the faith.

Witness Complex

Charles Spurgeon said: “There seems to be no need to defend a lion. All one has to do is to let it loose, and the lion will defend itself.”  (“Christ and His Co-Workers,” March 7, 1886)

Acts 1:8, where Jesus tells His followers, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses…”

You will be my witnesses; that is an important differentiator. We are to live blameless lives that reflect the compassion and love of Christ. Earlier, I said that the Beatitudes were not a collection of people but different aspects of the same person. We are to be poor in spirit, mourning the status of the human condition, humble, hungry for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, and a peacemaker. If, in doing all of these things, we are persecuted, then we can legitimately say it is holy persecution, not just the natural outcome of pious behavior.

Why is our witness or testimony so compelling? First, many people claim to know the scripture, even when they don’t. Only a fool argues with a fool. But our testimony is unique to us. No one is an expert on Christ’s actions in our lives but ourselves. No one can debate or cast doubt on what we have experienced. We are the ultimate source of who we are, what we have done and seen, and what God has done for and through us. They can debate scripture, but they cannot question the story of our lives.

C.S. Lewis once said, “I do not want to reduce the riches of our experience to a few propositions, nor do I want to substitute theology for God Himself.” (Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer)

Persecution Complex

I was on a mission trip to a Muslim country a few years ago. One of the new participants had brought a few Bibles and Christian Literature with him to distribute in the market. He knew it was illegal. His stated goal was to be persecuted by the local Muslims. We tried to explain to him that if he did this, not only would he be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, but the government would close the Christian schools and the University because of him. He didn’t care. He assailed us for being cowards by not standing up for the Gospel in the market.

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV) – “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”

We did convince him to at least think of his wife and child, even if he could not think of the local Christians who would be subjected to persecution for his sake, not Christ’s. That was an extreme case of shortsightedness, but it brought the point home to me.

We are to be living testimony to the goodness of Christ, even to the point of persecution. We confront and confuse evil through kindness, compassion, and love, not passive-aggressive arguments.

Revelation 12:11 – “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”

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Blessed are they who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

Blessed are those who hunger and thirstMatthew 5:6, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.”

Many of us were raised in the church believing that if we follow the proper practices, associate with the right people, participate in Bible study, and attend church, we will gain God’s favor. While salvation is a gift, it comes with a cost. We are taught you cannot be passive and expect God to love you; some form of transaction must occur. Nothing in life is truly free, not even salvation.

The Wrong Hunger and Thirst

Deuteronomy 8:6, “Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.”

We are led to believe every sin and every transgression is an indictment against our worth to God. Hungering and thirsting after righteousness isn’t about doing the right things but about aching on the inside for a worldwide revival. To hunger and thirst is to feel the vacuum left by worldly desires and want it filled with God’s love.

John 6:35, “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

If you don’t feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God. It is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because you have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Your soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great. – John Piper

Hunger and Thirsty for the Lost

One of my biggest daily challenges is seeing the injustice in the world and maintaining my sanity. I become emotionally hijacked every time I read the news. The number of people who deal with injustice and foundational needs is staggering, as is the world’s wealth. Why do we still have these problems? Why do certain people gravitate to a position of power just to use it to gain more power? When is enough, enough?

“The greatest disease in the West today is not tuberculosis or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but love is the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness. Many in the world are dying for a piece of bread, but there are many more dying for a little love.” – Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light.

Psalm 43:1,” Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause against an unfaithful nation. Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked.”

Because I love God and want to please Him, I try to live according to His will. I will fail again and again, but I will keep on trying—not because it is a pathway to salvation, but because I want to please Him. My hunger and thirst are not about gaining His love but about spreading His love throughout the world.

Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Be Satisfied

I need to yearn for the salvation of others, To be desperate for the unsaved, and to lament the plight of the underserved and downtrodden. My prayers should be numerous. I pray for a world where God reigns with love, compassion, and grace. I pray that authorities and governments listen to God’s voice and respond appropriately. Let us pray for the impossible and rejoice in what God accomplishes.

John 4:13-14, “Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

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An Opinion is only a State of Mind.

Christians making ChristiansAn opinion is only a state of mind; it does not predict the future. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines opinion as “a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter.” We too often give too much credence to someone’s opinion, including our own. Many of the disagreements I hear are formed when opinions differ.

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” — Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning.

Christian Opinion

As a Christian, I think it is time to walk back our opinions. We often take too strong a stand on our emotional state about a subject. The genesis of our opinions is not our knowledge of the future, but environmental elements of our past. We form opinions because of past experiences, cultural, or social influences, media information, peer pressure, group dynamics, personal and emotional bias, education, and personal interest. There are probably many other reasons, but none of these reasons is knowledge of the future.

Colossians 4:6 – “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

Having a strong opinion about a matter does nothing to make a difference. Making a difference comes from active involvement in relieving the condition you oppose or improving a condition in which you feel a deficit. Telling everyone you meet your opinion only stirs up controversy. Controversy gives birth to anxiety, which fosters conflict.

2 Timothy 2:23-24 – “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil.”

Influencers

We live in a dysfunctional world full of misinformation and half-truths. Millions of people write online articles to create conflict by influencing public opinion. They do this out of greed, not as a public service. The more diversion they can create, the more site traffic they create, the more advertising income they receive. These are not people interested in improving the world. Their goal is to create income with passionate speeches and convoluted logic.

Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

“Tolerance isn’t about not having beliefs. It’s about how your beliefs lead you to treat people who disagree with you.” – Tim Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (2008)

There are legitimate influencers with a true passion for their cause. Some of their causes are misguided and based on sketchy logic, but they are heartfelt. Some influencers take great pains to find the truth and communicate it with an objective view, but it is rare. We are all influenced by the abovementioned reasons; no one is above unconscious influence.

Our Position

Proverbs 18:2 – “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.”

“One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time.”- John Piper, A Godward Life: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life (1997)

Our position as Christians is to rise above the ordinary. We can’t stop having opinions—God-given emotions overflow into opinions—but we can watch how we communicate them; consciously acknowledging that they are emotions, not facts. Changing the future by arguing a position is counterintuitive. We change the future by doing, not talking.

James 1:19 – “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”

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One Person Can Make a Difference.

No Act of Kindness is Wasted
No Act of Kindness is Wasted

One Person can make a difference. I know many of us don’t believe it can be us. We believe we have an impact on our families and friends, but that is not a real difference in the world. It seems like one more drop of water in the ocean, one more grain of sand on the beach.

Matthew 17:20, “He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

The Star Thrower

The 1969 essay by Loren Eiseley entitled “The Star Thrower” described a man who didn’t look at the totality of his effort but the importance of making an effort. A concluding statement says, “ Only then have I allowed myself to think. He is not alone any longer. After us, there will be others.” What gives me hope is not that I would change the world, but maybe, through my actions, there may be others who can and will.

There are people like Micheal J. Fox who have raised billions for Parkinson’s research. Jane Kristen Marczewski (Nightbirde) used her short-lived fame from AGT to proclaim that we all have a loving God, even in bad times. These are contemporaries who used their circumstances to change the world. They exposed people to needs and provided hope. But most of us don’t have that stage. Our sphere of influence is small; our accomplishments are mundane.

After Us Will Be Others

Eiseley’s “After Us, There Will Be Others” should be our rallying cry. Helping one person a day, week, or month might catalyze world change. Even in our suffering, we can provide hope. There is not even one of us that will not leave a legacy. The question is, what will that legacy be? God has given us everything to stimulate the “Butterfly Effect” for eternity. We can set in motion the dominoes that create change for generations to come. It is our actions that save a life for eternity. It is not the totality of our effort but the importance of making an effort. We don’t know what God has in store.

1 Corinthians 2:9, “However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him.”

If you spend the rest of your life impacting just one Person for Christ, you may save millions. That Person may save two, and those two each save three. This ripple effect continues until Christ returns, potentially saving millions. One Person can make a difference.

We Each Have a Story

We each have a story. Our lives ebb and flow with the effects of a fallen world. Unfortunately for the teller but exuberant to the listener, great stories start with great tragedy. The definition of a great tragedy is different for different people. As North Americans, we do not see a tragedy like South Americans might. Many people live everyday lives that I find hard to comprehend.

Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

But all these stories must be lived and told. The overcoming must be passed down from generation to generation so that others might have hope. The overcoming, Christ’s intimate intersection with our lives, must be kept alive. When we see the tragedy as tragedy, we lose sight of God’s great plan for our lives. We come alive when we see tragedy as the genesis of a great story of salvation and redemption.

James 3:4, “Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.”

The tragedy is a tragedy, deep, dark, and depressing. But the outcome, the final scene, does not have to be. It can end as one of the greatest stories ever told, and that story can change the world.

One Person Can Make a Difference

One Person can make a difference in the life of another. God planned it that way. Have hope. Seek compassion, love, and grace from the creator of the universe, and he will give you a mighty story that will comfort listeners long after your passing.

Matthew 25:21, “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”

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Hope and Love in a Season of Grace

Proclaiming hope and love in a season of grace is one of our most critical missions as Christians. This Christmas season can be highly stressful for many people.

Luke 4:18-19: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, set free those oppressed, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Urgency

These words carry a sense of urgency and purpose, a call to action that feels especially relevant in a year marked by chaos and challenges. Amid the dysfunction, God’s voice remains clear, challenging us to proclaim His favor and glory to all who cross our paths.

“Best of all, Christmas means a spirit of love, a time when the love of God and the love of our fellow men should prevail over all hatred and bitterness, a time when our thoughts and deeds and the spirit of our lives manifest the presence of God.” – George McDougall.

This season, my plea is simple yet profound: reach out to hurting people. Extend not empty platitudes but genuine love. Quiet desperation is a silent killer, an emotion that suffocates the soul.

As we enter this season of celebration, I urge you to reach out to hurting people and offer them a lifeline. Don’t aim to cheer them up or solve their problems—love them. Many people battle quiet desperation, a stifling emotion that isolates and burdens. While we are not the ultimate solution, God can work through us to bring light to their darkness.

Fortune

For those fortunate enough to recognize God’s blessings, this season is a time to reflect with gratitude.

Psalm 100:4-5: “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good, and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”

We celebrate relationships, opportunities, and the hope of a brighter future, grounded in the knowledge that God has given us the choice to embrace hope in this moment.

But not everyone experiences this season with such gratitude. For some, the holidays are a stark reminder of what they lack. Broken relationships cast long shadows, opportunities feel distant, and the future appears uncertain. Their thoughts swirl with regret over what might have been, and their hearts grow heavy with grief. Life for them is not a glass half empty; it’s a glass that feels too small to hold anything at all.

Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

These words remind us of God’s nearness to those in despair and call us to embody His compassion by extending love and hope.

Seasons of Darkness

Having faced my seasons of darkness, I know the despair that can rob a person of hope. For some, Christmas is not a celebration but an escape—a time to forget pain rather than reflect on joy. The light others see as hope can feel like the oncoming glare of despair. For those without Christ, peace feels unattainable, and the promise of salvation seems like a distant dream. I have been there, praying for the pain to end, longing for peace that seemed out of reach. Yet, peace without Christ is an illusion, and our true destination without Him is one we dare not desire.

Matthew 25:45: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”

Celebrate

This Christmas, I urge you to invest in someone else’s life. Don’t try to fix their problems; instead, be a source of hope. Walk alongside them in their journey. Let them see God’s love through your actions and presence.

Be the one who brings light to another’s darkness, the one God rejoices over. This season, choose love, hope, and be a vessel of God’s grace to those who need it most.

May His love be poured out upon you, and may you be filled with His love this Christmas. May the true meaning of Christmas bring you great joy, peace, comfort, and many other blessings.

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