The Joy Factor

Have you ever met someone who is always positive... Who always seems to have "it" together? It seems that nothing gets him or her down even when circumstances would seemingly justify a bad mood. Maybe you know someone who is always calm and level-headed and you wonder, "How does he or she do it...is there no sense of urgency?" Some situations call for a bit of emotion - don't they?

On the other hand, maybe you know someone who always has something to complain about... who always seems to look for a reason to be upset. It seems that nothing makes him or her happy. It seems he or she is always under attack by someone or something. How does he or she always seem to read negatively into every situation? How does one person have so many things going wrong at one time? Something has to be positive somewhere, right?



Always is an extreme term and we all know that no human being truly experiences any emotion of circumstance all the time. So how is it that he or she has the appearance of being so?

Honestly, as we approach each day, we make a choice as to how we will carry ourselves and how we will view what happens around us and to us. You maybe asking, "So, you are saying a person chooses to be grumpy and negative....or happy and joyful?" The answer is a resounding, "YES."

Fred Bittner in his blog titled, Bible Verses About Joy: 25 Scriptures, says, "Joy is not an emotion that can be forced, fabricated, or faked. There are times when joy eludes us. This is normal and we need to understand that there are times when we will not feel joyful."

Yet, it is important to recognize that our ability to experience joy is not at the mercy of our circumstances. We can experience joy in all situations.  In James 1:2-3 NIV, we are told, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." So, how do we choose to be joyful over choosing to be grumpy, mean-spirited, or just plain negative? Is it possible to emulate a joyful spirit at all times? If so, what steps do we take?

We can experience joy when...

We are secure in our relationship with Jesus. When others allow their emotions to be determined based upon what they see, hear, or experience that day, we can consciously  choose to be like David in Psalm 4:6-8 MSG when he says, "Why is everyone hungry for more? “More, more,” they say. “More, more.” I have God’s more-than-enough, more joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees. At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep, for you, God, have put my life back together." If we place our trust in Jesus alone, no matter what situation we find ourselves in, we are safe in Him. We can rest in the assurance that the Holy Spirit is with us every minute of every day and that alone can give us joy in the bleakest of circumstances.

The Apostle Paul supports this in Romans 8:18 ESV when he says, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." When we know what is to come, there is no losing, not even in death. What a great realization.

We have a certainty of purpose for our life. We view our lives and our work to be that of a mission and not of a series of happenstance incidents.  Psalm 16:11 NIV says, "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." When we look at our lives and jobs as mission fields, we will find joy knowing that He is allowing us to use our God-given gifts and talents. We will see the opportunities that He has placed before us and know that He has equipped us with the tools necessary to complete the mission successfully.

We spend our life praising God for who He is and what He has already done. When we praise God, we place our focus on something that is far bigger than what is happening at the present moment. With the focus taken away from ourselves or our current circumstances, we are able to share King David's mindset as he says in Psalm 21:5-7 NIV, "Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High, he will not be shaken." Here David compares the victories and personal glory the Lord had given him to the joy he experiences in God's presence. His focus was on God alone and he was able to experience pure joy as a result. Likewise, when our focus is heavenward, our eyes are opened to the work that God is doing around us. In a way, we are able to see a bigger picture and appreciate the beauty in the way that everything works for the glory of His kingdom. Psalm 92:4-5 MSG says, "You made me so happy, God, I saw your work and I shouted for joy. How magnificent your work, God! How profound your thoughts! Dullards never notice what you do; fools never do get it." Imagine how much joy we will experience when we can clearly see the work that is being done around us daily even when the situation or circumstance is not necessarily pleasant.

Though joy is not a switch that can be flipped on and off, we, as Christians, can focus our thought-life on heavenly things. We learn to experience joy despite our circumstances as we rest in the Way, The Truth, and The Life, Jesus Christ, instead of ourselves. By doing so, we stand apart as calm, confident, peaceful, and joyful. What choice are you going to make today?


Almighty Father,


We pray for our relationship with you to grow and mature. Help us to slow down and spend time studying Your Word, worshiping You, and reflecting Your character instead of focusing on the minutia of daily living. Let us understand that the more we know You, and sense Your presence, the more confident and secure we become. Help us accept challenges and hiccups that come our way as part of our work in fulfilling our Godly purpose. When we do so, we will embrace every step with a peace and joy that will surpass understanding. Turn our eyes toward Your true magnificence and the amazing works You have done. Help us to see You in everyday things, so that our joy can be contagious and others will be curious about You. It is in the strong name of Jesus we pray...Amen.

What's Your Message?

Every action, word, and gesture we make sends a message. When going about your daily work how do you respond? What is your general approach? What is your "go to" stance? What is the message you are sending?

Most, if not all of us, who have a personal relationship with Jesus want to believe our witness is a good one. We want it to be the type that points others to Jesus and lights up the darkness of our daily human relationships, tasks, and struggles. Yet, some of us, if we are really honest with ourselves, may actually turn others away from Jesus by our message when we are faced with challenges and trials.

Ask yourself the following questions:
What is my initial response to change?
What is my response to disappointment or loss?
What is my response when I do not get my way?
What is my response when something goes wrong?
What is my response to bad news?

We get the opportunity many times a day to represent Jesus by our responses to these questions and many more.

1 Peter 2:12 NLT says, "Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world."

But what does it mean to "live properly" and to act with "honorable behavior"?

The Message version of the same verse says this, "Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives."

By comparing the two translations, we are clearly told to live and respond differently than those living "in the world". We should not be comfortable giving a typically accepted worldly response. With that said, let's name some typical responses, according to the world, to the aforementioned questions.

...Becoming angry, blaming others, judging others, demeaning others, panicking, worrying, resisting, pouting, starting rumors or gossiping, or maybe, just maybe, you even respond with the silent treatment...

More than likely we have all responded with one of the above worldly responses in a weak and vulnerable moment. As representatives of Jesus, when our responses are worldly, we can and must make it right by choosing to recognize those responses, adjust, and even apologize when necessary. Our aim should be to hold our responses captive until we can be sure they are pure, right, and true. So how can we do this? What steps can we take to avoid giving a hypocritical message to those around us, especially those who know we have a relationship with Jesus Christ?



First, we are to remain calm as we rest in God's promises. We are not to rely on ourselves for anything. God promises us that the Holy Spirit will always help us. We are assured of this in John 14:16-17 NIV as we are told, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you." So, we must trust that we will be given the right words via the Holy Spirit. In Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG we are told, "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track." As well, Proverbs 19:11 MSG states that, "Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget." Take a minute or two for the Holy Spirit to work in you in those situations when you might be tempted to respond quickly with actions or words that would hinder your witness.

Second, we are to embrace an attitude of serving others instead of ourselves. We are to humble ourselves and put others before us at all times. Matthew 25:40 CEV tells us, "The king will answer, “Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.” As well, Proverbs 11: 24-25 MSG says, "The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped." Philippians 2:2-5 NIV says, "then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus." This might not come easy to all of us, but as Christians we are called to put it into practice daily. If we can turn that practice into a natural response, we are promised joy in return.

Lastly, we are to do everything under the umbrella of love. As followers of Christ, we are commanded to love one another. In John 13:34-35 we are told, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” We are warned of the message we send if we act in selfish ways in 1 John 4:19-21. It says, "We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother." To further reinforce this message we are told of the healing power of love and prayer and how it leads others to Jesus, Himself in 1 Peter 4:7-11 MSG. It says, "Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!" It is ultimately through our love of others, that they will see Christ in us. Even when it isn't easy, remember to take up your cross, follow Christ, and above all the things of this world (being right; having material things; getting your way; or earning credit), love those that surround you each day.

Almighty Father in Heaven,

Oh, how we need you. We are so weak and wrong when we rely on ourselves. Even if we can do what is right for a while, if we continue on our own, our human nature will eventually show through in a poor response. Help us to die to ourselves each day. Help us to choose to rest in You and give over all control to You. Please have your Son, Jesus, grow in each of us until we are perfected in Him. Fill us with the strong power of the Holy Spirit so that our actions, words, and gestures lead others to see Jesus Christ in us. Make our message an amazing witness for your truth. It is in the strong name of Jesus we pray...Amen.

Discipline Part II: When Discipline Gets Up Close and Personal

Have you ever been shocked to find yourself on the receiving end of some discipline or correction? Maybe the following thoughts have crossed your mind, "Whoa! What happened? How did I get here? This is not the normal me. How embarrassing!" Or maybe you even saw it coming and were waiting for the consequences that were sure to follow. Either way, receiving discipline or correction is not typically something we look forward to.

Unfortunately, we can surprise ourselves at times with our own behavior. It can be all too easy to get caught up in the ways of the world and allow ourselves to become entwined with the bad thoughts Satan puts in our minds. We then can find ourselves perpetuating negative thinking or contributing in negative ways to our environment. We must remember that we are all sinners by nature and can easily give in to the temptation of sin if we are not fortifying ourselves many times a day. God expects us to obey the authorities in our lives...our bosses, parents, supervisors, coaches, teachers, our government, etc. Proverbs 1:2-3 NLT tells us, "Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair." The most important thing we have to remember is that we should not dwell on the slip or focus on the discipline itself, but we should instead respond in an appropriate way that is honoring to God. Our response should represent our Christian walk to those around us. The message we send by our response can either help others to gain a better understanding of what a Christian is or it can turn them away with the idea that Christians are hypocrites. So how do we do this? How do we accept discipline in such a way that Christ can be seen and honored in the midst?



First, we should graciously acknowledge our mistake. Proverbs 10:17 says, "People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray." We are encouraged to embrace each experience as a learning opportunity. Proverbs 12:1 NLT says, "To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction." Proverbs 13:1 tells us, "A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline; a mocker refuses to listen to correction." When we openly admit that we were in the wrong, we are giving God an opportunity to demonstrate His power of forgiveness and grace. We are also laying our pride aside and humbling ourselves as we are called to do in James 4:10 NIV, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”


Next, we need seek to understanding, figuring out where and when our thinking went wrong. Hebrews 12: 11 NLT says, "No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way." We know that God lovingly disciplines His children as evidenced by Hebrews 12:6-10 MSG that says, "Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children." Once we understand our mistake, we can work on correcting the issue and not falling into the same trap when temptation appears again.

Lastly, we should use our experience to teach others. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 MSG encourages us to do just that by saying, "All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too." For if we can help others through our mistakes, we become purposeful in our learning and make the error a valuable experience.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Help us to receive discipline, coaching, and training as it is intended. Help us to not personalize our mistakes and take correction as an affront, but to accept it as meaningful feedback. Guide us as we experience this uncomfortable training so that we can graciously and humbly use it to point others to You with our response. It is in Jesus' all powerful name we pray...Amen.

Discipline Part I: When Love Gets Tough

Leading others is difficult. Whether it be your family, a group of friends, a team at work, a classroom of students, or any other committee of people you have the good fortune to guide. Leading has highs and lows, rewards and heartbreaks, times of celebration and times of work...hard work...even times of providing discipline.

There it is. Yes, providing discipline is a part of leading. It is a very unpleasant part of leadership but, it is necessary and a vital part of the learning process for those we lead. Some say that to discipline those who deviate from the path of the team, family, or organization contradicts God's nature or Christ's nature. But the opposite is true. Christ is love; but Christ is also righteous. He acts not only with love, but also with integrity and justice. As Christians, we are called to discipline.

Hebrews 12:5-11 MSG advises us about our acceptance of God's discipline, "So don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God."



In Proverbs 3:11 MSG, "But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this."

So, why must we provide discipline? What is its purpose?

To motivate individuals within our team to change their behavior. In Leviticus 26:14-16 God, through his guidance of the Israelites, warns us what would happen if we refuse to obey Him, "But if you refuse to obey me and won’t observe my commandments, despising my decrees and holding my laws in contempt by your disobedience, making a shambles of my covenant, I’ll step in and pour on the trouble: debilitating disease, high fevers, blindness, your life leaking out bit by bit." While we do not have the authority to administer diseases and physical ailments, we can administer progressive consequences that range from verbal and written warnings, docking pay, removing privileges, limiting playing time, assigning additional work, all the way to suspensions and eventual termination of employment or removal from the team or group.

To make others within the team aware of poor choices, deter them from making or repeating those choices, or to eliminate the harmful influence that might lead others to poor decision-making. Deuteronomy 13:11 says, "Every man, woman, and child in Israel will hear what’s been done and be in awe. No one will dare to do an evil thing like this again." While we do not get pleasure from disciplining, there is value in others within the group learning from the mistakes being made. Disciplining warns others that such conduct is unacceptable and has serious consequences. Negative consequences certainly deter most from partaking in the bad behavior of others.

To preserve the integrity, honor, and respect of the organization among those who belong to it and those who view it from the outside. Exodus 32:25 NIV demonstrates that this is not a new challenge, as when Moses returned from conversing with God on Mt. Sinai, he found the Israelites had defied God. It says, "Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies." No one wants their organization or family to become a joke and not be taken seriously. Instead, we want there to be no question when it comes to what we stand for and what it is that is our purpose.

Dear Father,

Not a one of us enjoys disciplining others, but we accept it as part of leadership. We pray that all of us could join in common beliefs and purpose and obey the laws, rules, policies, and regulations of our organizations. Please help us to not only follow the rules, but to communicate them clearly to those among us. We pray that when we have to discipline our friends, coworkers, children, students, and teammates, that we do so with the right heart. Help us to convey the purpose of the discipline so that optimum learning takes place. Please help us to be strong and not become weak and begin to tolerate bad behavior that hurts our organization or its purpose. It is in the strong name of Jesus we pray... Amen.

Grace Part III: From Salvation to Daily Living - Now What and How?

Have you ever said to yourself, "Have I actually been saved? I said the prayer of invitation, but I don't feel different yet." Have you thought to yourself, "Why do I not feel the presence of God?" Whether we are new followers of Christ or those who have been raised in the church, we all face the daily challenge of building, nurturing, and maturing in our relationship with Christ.



We must remember that by His grace, God gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit as soon as we became believers. Ephesians 1:13-14 NLT says, "And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him." Why does this gift of the Holy Spirit matter? Simply put, our human minds are not capable of understanding all heavenly things. Many of us struggle to believe without physical proof - seeing is believing, right? The Holy Spirit functions as the interpreter for our minds and souls by helping us to understand, to see, to communicate to, and to sense the very presence of God around us, and it gives us the courage to share what we learn and know to be true.

There are several steps we can take to grow our relationship with Christ that allow us to experience God's presence each day and confidently know we are one of His children for eternity.

First, we must take full advantage of the power that comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Luke 11:11-13 NIV tell us, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” In the Promise Bible, Dr. Douglas J. Rumford explains this verse by stating, "Though the Holy Spirit lives within us after we ask and believe, we pray expectantly that God will release more and more of the Spirit's power in our lives. In a way, the Holy Spirit is like the potential power of a dammed up reservoir of water - only when it flows through the turbines will it generate the power we need."

1 Corinthians 2:9-13 NIV, says, “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— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. We can call upon the Spirit to help us understand the truth of God." Not only can we understand the truth of God but we can also rely on the Spirit to broaden our intellect and the wisdom that we gain will not be from our own human understanding but from a deeper spiritual understanding that can only come from the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:26-27 NLT, explains that the Holy Spirit communicates to God on our behalf when we do not have the words on our own. It says, "And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will."

Second, we must spend time in a meaningful relationship with Christ each day in order to experience God's presence. This can be done through prayer, journaling, song, actual conversation, daily bible reading, or any combination of the aforementioned methods of worship. God patiently waits for us and desires a personal relationship with each of us. Ephesians NLT 3:12 tells us,"Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of his glad welcome." Moreover, in Colossians 1:21-23 MSG, the apostle Paul tells us, "You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don’t walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message." Any relationship requires nurturing in order to strengthen the bond that exists. A friendship has a deeper bond than that of an acquaintance and an acquaintance has a deeper bond than that of a stranger. Our relationship with God is no different. The more time we spend building the relationship, the deeper the bond will be.

Finally, in combination with our quality time spent with Christ we must work to strengthen our faith in Christ by listening to the message of the Good News. We do this by reading the word, attending corporate church services, and spending time with other believers in dialogue surrounding the study of His word. Hebrews 10:22-25 MSG says, “So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.” Romans 10:17 NIV says, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." We as Christians need one another as we journey together in communion with Christ. Our faith can only grow when we not only challenge ourselves by maintaining a heart of worship but equally challenge one another to stay grounded and accountable for the God we represent. Rumford adds, "Faith is grounded in God's word. It is not simple a matter of positive thinking or the creation of human effort. Faith is divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit working through the word of God. Our faith grows as we read the stories of God's work across the centuries and we received the truth of his instruction."

Our Father in Heaven,

We so desire to experience your presence each day, to confidently know we are saved and counted among your children. We pray that we learn to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our learning and to translate for us as we read, study and hear the word of God. Help us to trust in the Holy Spirit to intervene on our behalf, when we have no words and don't know what to say or pray. Help us to grow closer to you in a meaningful, personal relationship and increase our faith so that we might know you better. It is in the amazing name of Jesus, we pray...Amen.

Grace Part II: Who Needs a Savior Anyway?

Justification (as Google defines it):

1.the action of showing something to be right or reasonable.

good reason for something that exists or has been done.plural noun: justifications "there is no justification for an increase in charges" synonyms: grounds, reason, basis, rationale, premise, rationalization,vindication,explanation; More defense, argument, apologia, apology, case "there's no justification for their rudeness"

2.Theology the action of declaring or making righteous in the sight of God.

Isn't it odd that justification is both the one thing that keeps us from a meaningful relationship with God AND the one thing that makes us right with God?

We've all had conversations with someone or even ourselves where we rationalize or justify an action, comment, thought, attitude, or habit that we know is not right. We have talked ourselves into believing that our sin is justified. Could it be possible we may even know someone who truly believes he or she has never sinned? With the ways of the world so focused on satisfying self and immediate gratification, it is not surprising that one could think this way.

Romans 3:10 NLT states,“No one is righteous—not even one. So, how do we open the door to this conversation without it turning into an awkward condemnation? How do we help them and ourselves to see that we are all in need of a savior over and over again?

First, name the problem by sharing personal stories of your own struggles with sin and what you are doing about it. Help them to see that even followers of Jesus fall victim to sin and continually need a Savior. Sin is not just the bad things we do, but it is an inherent part of who we are. We should paint the picture that any person in the middle of difficult circumstances, when left to his or her own devices, is likely to sin. We can't help it. But, we as Christians know better and have tools and options to assist us when we find ourselves in the midst of those circumstances. We can use things such as prayer, other Christians, and more, but sometimes we choose not to use them and instead choose to take the path of least resistance - sin. By our own admittance of personal sin, we put a face and a reality to sin which allows those who don't know Jesus recognize it.

Jeremiah 17:9 MSG says, “The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out."

Second, name the solution by sharing how we are made right in God's sight as we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. Jesus justified us to God. Emphasize that we are all saved in the same way no matter who we are or what we have done. Romans 3:21-24 MSG tells us that God has set things right. It says, "But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ." It is by grace that we are made clean.

Finally, share how to accept God's offer for justification through Jesus Christ. Acts 3:19 NLV says, "Now turn from your sins and turn to God, so you can be cleansed of your sins." To know Jesus Christ personally and to have our sins forgiven, we must first admit that we are sinners who are separated from God. We must believe that we cannot save ourselves and there is no rationalizing our sin. Our only hope is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to earth to die for our sins. But, we cannot stop there. We also need to confess our sins and turn away from them. We must ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. He will then help us to change, over time, from the inside out.

For some, maybe even many, having the courage to share these three points will be a scary endeavor. Push yourself to follow up with a note or an email to ask if he or she wants to hear more. We may even have the opportunity to pray with our friend. Listen to God's leading and be sensitive to their body language keeping in mind that some people will need more time than others to see the truth.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for being a forgiving God. Thank you for loving us enough to send your Son to die for our sins. Thank you for this gift, the grace, You show in the person of Jesus. Help us to seek you every day at every turn instead of "trying" to lean on our own thinking. We recognize that our nature is to take the easy way out and let our emotions run our decision making. We know in our hearts and minds that Jesus is the only way to righteousness. Give us the courage to share the truth with our friends who don't know you in a way that it will be received. It is in the strong name of Jesus our Lord and Savior, we pray...Amen.

Grace Part I: Witnessing to Spock or Sheldon

Do you know a co-worker or family member who has a hard time accepting the good news of salvation by faith? Have you tried to subtly share your story only to find yourself seemingly speaking a foreign language? Our hearts ache when those who we care about and work with struggle to find peace. They ache even more so when they question us as we try to help them find the answers they seek. Many of our logical friends who share qualities with the character Spock from "Star Trek" or are similar to Sheldon of the "Big Bang Theory", have "tried" to make sense of religion, only to become more frustrated and more confident that religion is all a hoax. It's only purpose to keep society in line and to help those who need it to feel good about themselves. Some have even called the bible a nice little story. Interestingly enough, they still know that something is missing. What is it that is being missed in how we share the good news? How can the powerful,living Word of God be silent to some, yet it is a comfort and guide for others? We can continue to question, but the real message we have to convince them of is that "it" is about a relationship and not about religion. It is about a friendship with a person unseen.



Even Jesus himself faced this same challenge as he spoke to Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader, in John 3:10-12 MSG, Jesus said, “You’re a respected teacher of Israel and you don’t know these basics? Listen carefully. I’m speaking sober truth to you. I speak only of what I know by experience; I give witness only to what I have seen with my own eyes. There is nothing secondhand here, no hearsay. Yet instead of facing the evidence and accepting it, you procrastinate with questions. If I tell you things that are plain as the hand before your face and you don’t believe me, what use is there in telling you of things you can’t see, the things of God?"

So how do we simplify and bring to life the amazing relationship available to others through Jesus Christ? One of the keys to helping our logical friends make sense of it all lies in getting them to first believe that they, alone, cannot satisfy the feeling of need or the longing for something more, indefinitely. Self-sufficiency will do them no good in this arena. They must comprehend the concept of grace. Our practical friends want to know how to apply our words in their lives. It needs to make sense to them. Many of them are used to having achieved success by following a series of steps, being dedicated, and working very hard. Grace is a foreign concept for them.

Google defines grace, in Christian belief, as the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings. What does this mean? How can we translate this into everyday words for our friends and relate it to something they can understand right now?

First, they have to know that there is nothing they can do to "get" grace. It is simply God’s favor that is unearned, undeserved and not repayable. They need to stop trying, stop the madness of working hard to earn it; and just stop. Ephesians 2:7-10 MSG, states, "Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing." God's grace is a special gift. The fact that we can do nothing of our own effort to earn grace or lose grace is a source of comfort and hope. It is a gift that God gave us through His son, Jesus.

Second, they have to understand that every strategy they have ever used before to complete something well, frankly, will not work for filling this particular void. Practical people can be hard-headed, creatures of habit. Taking this leap of faith by accepting God's grace is unnatural, scary, and feels totally out of control. It's like jumping out of an airplane and enjoying the freefall portion of the jump. Titus 3:4-7 CEV says, "God our Savior showed us how good and kind he is. He saved us because of his mercy, and not because of any good things that we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning. God sent Jesus Christ our Savior to give us his Spirit. Jesus treated us much better than we deserve. He made us acceptable to God and gave us the hope of eternal life."

Third, they must know that the rules of religion are man's and not God's. Many who were not raised in the church do not have a true understanding of the purpose of the Old Testament laws. Their purpose was to show us how totally incapable we are, as humans, to keep them. They were supposed to point us to the person of Jesus Christ as our Savior. Unfortunately many of today's churches still perpetuate this thinking by placing emphasis on rules and guidelines or do's and don'ts. Instead of planting seeds and harvesting them for the Kingdom, they drive people away by making themselves and others look like hypocrites. No one can perfectly keep the laws of the Old Testament except Jesus, himself. So, incredulously, even many churches and congregations miss the point and therefore miss the mark! Romans 3:20-24 NLT tells us that Christ took our punishment. It says, "For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins."

Finally, God does not expect perfection. In fact, he expects us to fall short. Often, we have trouble accepting this because we operate under a system of conditions in most of our interactions with others, i.e. if he does this...I will do this....If she does that....I will not do this.  God expects that we admit our shortcomings and attempt to do something about it by asking for forgiveness and legitimately striving to not make the same mistake again. But, once forgiveness is accepted the slate is wiped clean in His eyes. Psalm 32:5 says, Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. He already knows the sins of our past and future. There is nothing we can do that will surprise God. Yet, he still loves and accepts us with all our imperfections. There is no sin so great that we cannot come back to God.

Dear Almighty Father,

The four points above are crosswise with our current world culture and are hard for us to accept as reality. Help us to take the leap of faith by accepting your grace and go one step further by putting grace into words for all to understand. Help us take the "religion" out of it for those we work with and put the focus on the real relationship with your Son, Jesus Christ. It is in the Holy Name of Jesus, we pray...Amen.