A Series of Fortunate Events

We watched an unusual and funny movie about a week ago based on a book by Lemony Snicket entitled "A Series of Unfortunate Events." In it Jim Carrey plays a very strange character named Count Olaf (plus several other peculiar cameo roles; basically Count Olaf in multiple disguises). It's kind of a weird movie, but pretty funny. I'm not a huge fan of Carrey, but he's really brilliant in his performance for this movie. Simply amazing! Anyway, the main characters of the book/movie (the three Baudelaire children) seem to have one unfortunate event after another happen to them (largely thanks to the evil nemesis, Count Olaf).

As I was thinking about what to write on this blog during my breakfast this morning and while reading a great book by Richard Stearns entitled The Hole in Our Gospel (given to me by some very dear friends), the thought occurred to me that I should write about a series of fortunate events. I'm incredibly blessed! I've literally had one fortunate event after another happen to me most of my life - all glory to God for His abundant grace!

God has been attempting to radically change my heart the past three plus years concerning my part in meeting the needs of others. He's been continually showing me a lot of need, and then prompting me to see all of the ways He has blessed me so that I can help meet those needs. It's no longer enough to say "I'm incredibly blessed!" What am I doing with those blessings? Let me describe a series of fortunate events that God is using to give my heart a complete makeover.

It was a knock on our front door from some neighbors we didn't know very well, asking for our help with their pets while they were on vacation. It was watching as our daughter voluntarily ministered to these neighbors after they returned from their vacation. It was what I learned from my wife as she also ministered to these neighbors during the year our daughter lived in Belfast, Northern Ireland (and continues to do so even today). It was my experience of becoming dangerously complacent in life with an attitude of "entitlement" for more, even when absolutely all of my needs had already been met. It was learning at our church about building bridges of compassion to others in our community and then actually doing it through ShareFest and other opportunities the past couple of years. It was starting a new Life Group at our church and being confronted with needs much different than my own, not to mention ones I had sadly closed my eyes to for many years. It was spending a lot of time and money getting actively involved in other people's lives, thanking God for each opportunity to do so and make sacrifices where necessary. It was reading more about the incredible needs around the world and being challenged to do more to assist in missions and outreach. It was hearing about our church's Ethiopia project and feeling more compelled to get involved in what God is doing around the world. It was reading about how difficult it is to survive in Africa due to a lack of life's basics - water, food, shelter, clothing, etc. It was having Scripture speak to me about doing things for "the least of these" at every turn of the page.

I could go on and on about my series of fortunate events. But, suffice it to say that I thank God for all He's teaching me and allowing me to experience while He changes my heart.

How about you? Aren't you incredibly blessed, too? What are YOU doing with those blessings?