Tag: mentality

Be Grateful 

Carl Pollard

If you lack gratitude, you will never be satisfied, and you will always blame others for your misfortune. You’ll end up only seeing the negative in everything. A pessimist can hardly wait for the future so he can look back with regret. Did you know that cats can’t taste the flavor of sweetness? It’s like their tongues are color blind to sugar. No wonder cats are so grumpy all the time! They can taste sour, bitter, and saltiness, but not sweetness.

Truth is, we are a lot like cats in our own lives. Blessings come but we don’t see the sweet; all we can taste is the bitter salty things that happen to us. We need to open our eyes to the truth that gratitude isn’t merely a polite response to God’s blessings; it’s a catalyst that transforms our very existence. In a world often filled with grumbling and dissatisfaction, we are called to embrace gratitude as a way to point people to Christ.

Here three important reasons to show gratitude in all things. 

Gratitude Replaces Grumbling

In Philippians 2:14-15, we are reminded, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault.” Grumbling is a thief that robs us of joy and peace, turning our hearts bitter. But gratitude, is the antidote. When we consciously choose to focus on our blessings, we begin to see God’s hand at work in our lives. Think about the Israelites in the wilderness. Despite the miracles they witnessed, they often grumbled against God. Yet, when they showed gratitude, they remembered His faithfulness, and it changed their perspective. As children of God, we need to make gratitude a part of who we are. At our very core we are saved by the blood of Christ, given access to grace and peace, and have an eternity in our future. What’s not to be grateful for? The more you show gratitude, the less bitter you will be. 

Gratitude Restores Gladness 

Psalm 100:4 tells us to “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” 

There is a divine connection between gratitude and gladness. When we express our thankfulness, we open the door to joy. 

Gratitude shifts our focus from our problems to the blessings surrounding us, renewing our strength. When we cultivate a heart of gratitude, we invite joy into our lives, transforming our burdens into blessings.

Turning our trials into wisdom. Our sorrow to gladness. With the story of the ten lepers, Luke emphasizes the rarity of a thankful spirit. Notice Jesus’ final words In Luke 17:15: “One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. And Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give God praise?'” Only one had taken the time to thank the person who had made his recovery possible. Don’t be stingy in your gratitude. Not only does God expect it from the ones He has saved, it’s good for us mentally and physically. 

Gratitude Renews Growth

A ship was wrecked, and the only survivor washed up on a small, uninhabited island. 

He was exhausted. He cried out to God to save him. Every day he scanned the horizon, searching for help. Finally, he managed to build a rough hut and put his few possessions in that hut. One day, coming home from hunting for food, he was stung with grief to see his little hut in flames and a cloud of smoke. The worst had happened. But early the next day, a ship drew in and rescued him. He asked the crew, “How did you know I was here?” They replied, “We saw your smoke signal.” Be grateful because maybe the difficulty you are experiencing now is a smoke signal that will lead to a greater blessing. James tells us to count it all joy when we encounter trials. 

Gratitude renews growth. We become stagnate and discouraged never grateful for the blessings we already have. Colossians 3:15 encourages us to “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Gratitude isn’t just a feeling; it is an action that propels us forward in our spiritual lives. When we acknowledge and thank God for His provisions, we position ourselves for growth. Gratitude opens our eyes to new opportunities, strengthens our faith, and deepens our relationship with our Creator. 

Just as the seeds in a garden grow when nourished, our spiritual health grows in an atmosphere of thankfulness. Be diligent in gratitude so that your faith can grow. 

The Quality That Makes Us Excited For Hard Times

Wednesday’s Column: Third’s Words

Gary III

Gary Pollard

Joy is something we’re supposed to have when we go through trials (Jas. 1.3). It’s χαρά, which means, “to experience gladness.” It describes a forward-thinking mentality that says, “Right now isn’t great, but I can learn from this and grow.” Our joy comes from anticipating the ultimate growth we experience from conquering trials! And if those trials take my life, that joy is in anticipation of heaven. 

Joy is something experienced in heaven and in the presence of angels when someone repents (Luke 15.7, 10). It is compared to the excitement one feels when regaining something valuable that had been lost. Joy is more than just contentment;  it contains also an element of excitement. 

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5.22). It is contrasted with outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, etc. A part of living the Christian life, denying our primal desires, and not being boastful is having joy. Sometimes we find ourselves focusing on what we give up to live faithful lives, but we forget that Christianity provides for, encourages, and promotes excitement and joy! 

So what are we supposed to be excited for? Paul even had joy in the face of suffering (Phil. 2.17). Joy and happiness are not necessarily the same thing. We can have joy or gladness or excitement concerning the life that waits for a Christian while living in the sometimes harsh realities of a fallen world. 

In this life, Christians can have joy because of a profound sense of purpose, having meaning in a confusing world, healing after tragedy, and something to always look forward to. 

It may not be our first response to be excited about hard times, but if we develop a mindset that looks to the rewards and positives of difficulty (growth, endurance, empathy, perspective, heaven), we will have joy and excitement. 

Carl and Chip

“No One Supported Me, But All Deserted Me”

Neal Pollard

These are some of the last words written by one of the greatest men who ever lived. He wrote them while in prison, waiting to die for his faith. He has just spoken of people he trusted who had deserted him. He is lacking even the bare essentials. A man, knowing how difficult his life was, had done additional great harm to him. No wonder he would open this window into his suffering soul and let us all look inside. Despite all this, he was not bitter.

Have you ever felt mistreated, even felt like people were actively against you? Or perhaps felt like people you count on abandoned or neglected you when you needed them? Maybe you have suffered for your faith. It is tempting to become bitter, even to lash out against the church and God.  Paul is a great example of how to think when you feel unsupported and deserted by those you count on. After making that statement in 2 Timothy 4:16, he says some other things that can help us when we feel, at least in a small way, the way Paul felt. 

  • Focus On The Lord. He could see how the Lord had helped through his darkest hours in the past (17). But, as importantly, he had confidence that the Lord would help him through future trials (18). Despite his unfair treatment, he could still say, “To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” When people hurt and disappoint you, look higher!
  • Find Your Higher Purpose. Incredibly, Paul could sift through these sorrows and see God at work to accomplish His will. He’s suffering, but he can see a greater good. He says that he endured these hurts “…so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear.” Can you look for what God, who doesn’t cause suffering, can do to bring good even out of those times? We’re prone to feel sorry for ourselves when God may be showing us and others His power through these situations to save souls and help lives. 
  • Forgive.  Paul doesn’t hold a grudge. Concerning those who let him down and even hurt him, he could say, “May it not be counted against them” (16). Doesn’t that sound like a Savior who asked God to forgive His tormentors? What a mindset! We can nurse perceived offenses, but how much better to be magnanimous toward those who we feel failed us in our hour of trial?

If you’ve never felt unsupported and deserted, you probably will at some future time. The temptation will be great to let it become a spiritual problem for you. Why not remember Paul’s response when he was in his deepest valley? It’s the way up to the spiritual mountaintop. 

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I Just Can’t Share Their Bitterness

Neal Pollard

I write this as someone who has spent his entire life in a preacher’s home. I grew up a preacher’s kid, whose dad was fired twice (once for baptizing a black woman and later for standing against the “New Hermeneutic”). I have been a full-time preacher for nearly thirty years myself. Now, my sons are devoting their lives full-time to preaching. To an extent, our family’s lives have revolved around preaching. Have there been hurts, disappointments, and occasions of mistreatment? Certainly. Of course, plumbers, lawyers, accountants, engineers, and builders will tell you the same. But, we work with Christians, who should know better? That’s true, but they are still humans constantly struggling with the battle of self. 

My dad has always spoken of the value and blessing of the church, even when dealing with personal hurts. He loves the Lord and His church. As we grew up in the home, he taught us to have a high esteem for the precious bride of Christ. In college, I had one teacher who especially counseled us to look at the church–and the people who make it up–with hopeful, optimistic eyes. We generally find what we are looking for. If we are looking for injustices, offenses, and disappointments, we’ll see an endless supply of it whether we’re looking at elders, deacons, long-time members, or new or weak Christians. If we can view the foibles of others with patience, compassion, and empathy, we are likely to help each other grow and transform. We will definitely steer away from an “us versus them” mentality.

If you are in full-time ministry for any length of time, you will have some stories to tell. Some will be full of joy and excitement. Share these generously. They will encourage and edify. Some will be unbelievable, but not in a good way. Use wisdom and discretion about how, who and if you tell those. What are we hoping to accomplish by such sharing?

Preaching is not lucrative business. It’s not paradise on earth. It’s not easy and not everyone can (or should) do it. But, it’s the greatest work in the world! It constantly impacts eternity in seen and unseen ways, in a way that perhaps nothing else can match. There will be some lumps and bumps. Ask Paul (2 Cor. 11:23ff). But, listen to Paul, too. In prison, he wrote of rejoicing about preaching despite its various pitfalls (Phil. 1:14-24). Some seem bitter about how they have been treated in preaching, and I hope they can work through it. But, I love this life so much, and I just can’t share their bitterness!

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Our staff introducing themselves to the 2019 Future Preachers Training Campers