As the vibrant "BER Months" unfold, navigate the season's joyful chaos by aligning your time and resources with a deeper spiritual purpose.



Okay, if you know anything about me at all, you will know that I love this time of the year; in fact, I love everything about it. From the colors to the candy to the endless social gatherings, and yes, even the oversaturated use of the pumpkin flavor.

When I was growing up in Orlando, Florida, my mom would say that we were in the “BER Months,” which for her meant that we were to remember to use our time and resources well as we end the year.

As we round out the busiest time of the year, it’s easy to forget that our resources belong to God as Christ followers. During the hustle and bustle, God is clear that we are to remember to put Him first in all that we do. In the book of Matthew, Jesus is clear that we are to seek Him first in all that we do.

In seeking Him first, one of the best things that we should do is make sure that the events that we are a part of in the BER season are the ones that He wants us to be a part of and not get sidetracked, which is easy to do with the activities and emotions of the next four months. When we put Him first in seeking his approval of what we should and shouldn’t be a part of, that's when walking with Him gets fun. We tend to show up at places and events that God has lined up for us.

During the BER season, with all the emotions and excitement that will be in the air as Christ followers, please remember that for many, this season can be tough. During this season, calls into the suicide hotline tend to go up, and for some, this season brings anxiety and depression. One of the things that we do as a family is create a list of the people in our lives who have lost loved ones and check in on them, and if we can invite them along to some of the celebrations that happen during the BER months. I can’t even begin to tell you the stories that my wife and I hear from loved ones and friends who have felt valued because we have done this.

In seeking God’s pleasure and approval in this season, please remember that you don’t have to buy everything that you see or touch. Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing Anthony O’Neal about his new book, "Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck."

In Anthony’s new book, which is a must-read, I was challenged to write out our family's financial vision. In fact, I’m still writing that vision out and asking God during this season to give me His plan. During the BER season, I would like you to take on Anthony’s challenge and think through these four steps. One per month.

September: What will my life look like when I achieve my financial goals?

October: What will I need to have accomplished three years from now?

November: What will I need to accomplish two years from now?

December: What major steps will I need to have taken one year from now to get the process started?

One of the things that I have come to understand is that during the BER months, we have to pace ourselves, which is why I think it’s wise to take each of these questions one step at a time.

For many years of my life, I’ve focused primarily on Matthew 6:33, not on the verse that follows, which is just as wise and needed in our culture.

Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. This passage has freed me as a child of God. During the BER season, it’s best to take each day as one in which God has already gone before us, laying out and directing what he has designed for us. My prayer for each of you is to live out, embrace and engage in what God wants for you to do in seeking His kingdom during the BER months.

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