Who are the people who have been a blessing in your life?  Are they family members, co-workers or childhood friends?  Have you found the strong sense of community God designed into His church?  This one thing I know: I could not succeed without other people.

Have you ever had an “Aha!” moment?  I have too, when I suddenly put two and two together and grasp an obvious principle or truth.  But I have also had “Oh no!” moments.  “Oh no!” moments are those sudden realizations of seasons in my life when I was seriously immature and others patiently endured my flaws.  I am not suggesting I don’t still have flaws, but when I look back on my life and ministry I am so thankful others encouraged me and helped me grow when I was younger.  I could have been surrounded by “know-it-alls” who drove me to defeat.  But instead, I had cheerleaders who were determined to make me successful by all means.

God has also brought people into my life when my spirit was broken and I thought I had nowhere to turn.  He has blessed me with an amazing wife, children, extended family and loving in-laws.  People have taught me, coached me and supported me.  I have been forgiven, uplifted and prayed over.  Not everyone God has used to bless me has been a believer, but most of my life I have journeyed with other brothers and sisters in Christ.  The bond we have created through good and bad has sustained me and enriched my life beyond measure.  I understand the heart of the Apostle Paul who wrote, “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:16).