Fran works as a project manager for a marketing company, and she is responsible to secure new clients and then manage their projects to completion. Today we find Fran finishing a conversation with one of her clients. "Yes, Marge, I will do my very best to have that ready by tomorrow. Uh-huh, yes, I understand. Okay, Marge, I'll talk to you tomorrow.” Fran hangs up the phone and begins talking to herself, forgetting for a moment that Jesus, of course, hears everything she says or thinks. "I don't believe that woman. She is going to drive me nuts! Nothing we do is good enough for her. She makes last minute changes and then expects me to work miracles. And she is so rude. I really can't stand her!" Quietly she can sense the Spirit of God whispering to her: "Did you ever think that I love her as much as I love you?" The thought startles her. "Well, yeah sure I knew that,” she thinks out loud. “You love everybody, Lord. But she's a really nasty, demanding person. I'm sorry; I just don't like her." As these thoughts continue, her mind goes back to a recent sermon she heard where her pastor said that there were people Jesus didn’t like, but he loved everybody. He had said that you don’t have to like everybody, but our commandment is to show God’s love to everybody. "I thought you have to like someone, then you can love them,” Fran says to herself, “but I guess that’s not the way it is with God. The problem is, I just don’t know how to do it. There's just no way I can love Marge. She's obnoxious!” "Do you want to love her?" again that quiet voice of Jesus catches her up short. "Do I really want to love her? Tell you the truth—not really," Fran admits. “I guess that's where my problem lies, isn't it Lord? But how can I even want to love someone like her?" Fran exclaims. As she sits and thinks about that, Jesus says to her, “You can want to love her simply because you want to please me. I can help you love her. Why don’t you begin by praying for Marge every day?” “Pray for Marge every day?” Fran repeats. “Really—will that make a difference?” Jesus says, “It will make a difference in you, and that’s what is important.” So, Fran determines to pray for Marge as Jesus has challenged her. Now she begins to do the work she promised Marge tomorrow, working diligently to get it perfect, because Marge is very demanding. The next morning Fran is driving to work and praying for a lot of people, as she often does, and Marge comes to mind. "I'd like to pray that lightning will strike her," Fran says with a grin, knowing she halfway means it. But she attempts to pray for her, "Dear Lord, please help Marge to see how obnoxious she is and change the way she treats me.” Her prayer bounces off the car ceiling; she knows it's the wrong prayer. "Pray that Marge will change?” Jesus says to her. “That’s not exactly how you should pray for her, Fran.” “But Lord, she should change. Her behavior is awful," Fran defends herself. Her spirit is uneasy. Somehow, she has to get beyond this selfish kind of praying, even though Marge is difficult. She can’t change Marge; she can only change herself. "Well, what should I pray?" Fran finally asks. And then she thought of something she heard on the radio—praying that she could see Marge the way God sees her. Praying for a new frame for Marge, a new way to see her, by putting her in a different frame. "Put her in a different frame,” Fran thinks. “I guess I can do that, but she really is obnoxious.” As she drives along, she thinks about that further. “I guess I’ve had her in the obnoxious frame too long. Maybe I should pray for a new frame for Marge—a new way to look at her.” So, even though she feels a little foolish and not totally sincere, in obedience Fran starts her prayer again: "Dear Lord, please help me to see Marge the way you do. And please give me a new frame to put her in. There's got to be something good about her, Lord.

Presented by Lauren Stibgen What relationship allows you to experience biblical grace? How do you give grace in relationships you have? How we show up and extend grace to others, especially at work, reflects how we experience grace from God. Remember, his power is made perfect in our weakness, so as we look at our relationships today, I am reminded of how weak I can be when it comes to showing others grace. I experience grace through the perfect relationship I have through my salvation in Jesus! If you lead people and even if you work on a team, every day can be an opportunity to reflect grace. If you missed our talk about anxiety, you may have missed the statistic that 25% of people report work as their number one stressor, and many of those stresses include their performance at work and even their relationships. Time and time again in Scripture we see Jesus model grace through serving others, love, and forgiveness. God’s number one goal is relationship with him, and he uses you and me and our reflection of Christ’s love to be fishers of men. He calls us to go forth and make disciples of all nations. We cannot do this if we are full of pride, judgement, and focused on ourselves. How do you serve, show love, and humility at work? Jesus served his disciples and showed great humility by washing their feet. He showed love by continually teaching them patiently. Jesus was others focused. One of my favorite examples of grace and love is between Peter and Jesus. Jesus knew Peter would deny him three times before his death. We see this in Luke 22. Peter denied his relationship with Jesus. We get a glimpse of how Peter felt when he “wept bitterly” when he realized he had denied Christ. Fast forward to Jesus and Peter walking along the shore after the resurrection, and Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. A reflection of the denial but asking for his love. His rebuke was gentle and grace filled, leading to the command for Peter to feed his sheep. Now, how can you show grace in your relationships at work? Is it by extending grace-filled words? Perhaps a compliment for something as simple as a well-written email or a comment made in a meeting. Is it by showing someone support for an idea they have? As a manager, you can truly show grace by highlighting the work of the people who report to you. Can you extend grace by giving someone honest feedback instead of choosing to gossip? Sometimes, it is best to say something to a person rather than about them. Maybe it is bringing a colleague a cup of coffee or inviting them to lunch. Is someone down? Are they facing a trial? Offer to pray. Relationships are of the utmost importance to God. He relies on us and our relationships to bring people into relationship with him.

Presented by Lauren Stibgen Do you get overwhelmed by worry? With the busyness many of us experience balancing work, family, and other commitments we can be prone to worry and anxiety. One definition of worry is an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation. Learning more about what God says about our anxiety, can help us rely more on his grace when we are feeling that overwhelming sense of worry. Common worries at work include: Missing a deadline. Worrying about being unliked by a colleague. Feeling imposter syndrome: you don’t really know what you are doing. Sounding “stupid” in a meeting for speaking up. Making a mistake. Twenty-five percent of people say work is the number one stressor in their life. These worries can be compounded by issues outside of work like parenting children, health, your marriage, or financial problems. While God calls us to work with excellence, working with all our hearts as for the Lord and not for human masters (Colossians 3:23), he also cautions us about worrying. And he calls us to look to him. Unemployment was running out and Sue still had not found a new job. Her husband was out of work as well. The bills weren’t stopping and anxiety was mounting. A surprising performance review: All the goals Amy had set with her boss were met and exceeded. Her mid-year pulse check was meeting expectations. Now, at year end she was suddenly rating needs improvement. Confusion and worry grew. What do these women have in common? Work created worry, which was compounded by other issues. They also had something else in common: a belief in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. While this didn’t take the worry away, their faith provided a means of grace during their trials. In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us to not be anxious about our life, reminding us that being anxious will not add a single hour to our span of life. Further, he calls us to look at how God provides in nature to remind us God loves and lavishes us much more than the birds or the grass of the field. We must first seek his kingdom and all of these things (food, clothing, our body) will be added to us. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). These women were in prayer and in community with other women who were encouraging them. They were experiencing the grace of God through others who cared for their concerns and provided them comfort. Do you need to experience the grace of God in your anxiety? I would encourage you to seek the Lord in prayer and find a community to pray for you and encourage you.

Presented by Lauren Stibgen The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit (Proverbs 15:4). How should we have grace with our words? I find there are two ways we use our words negatively, especially when it comes to work. The first is self-talk, and the second is gossip. Neither extends grace, and both are rooted in sin apart from Christ. There are leading movements that promise to help us with positive self-talk. The words we use for ourselves can often be as harmful as the words we speak to and about others. I have found the words working women often use for themselves are borne of discouragement or on the opposite end of the spectrum, pride. Discouragement says “I am not enough, I will never get the promotion, or I won’t find a job.” Pride says, “I am better than, or she can’t.” Gossip and slander are pervasive in the workplace. More often than not, we find it is easier to remark about what isn’t going right or what someone isn’t doing than it is to celebrate someone’s success. Research shows 75-95% of gossip contains a morsel of truth. 96% of employees admit to engaging in gossip at work. A study about gossip shows more than 40 minutes per week are spent solely in gossip, and, yes, women are worse than men with close to 80% of women admitting to engaging in gossip. Noted consequences of gossip at work are lack of trust, jealousy, alienation, hurt feelings, and low morale. Being Christian doesn’t exclude us from this 96%. Remember, grace covers a multitude of sins, and maybe like me, you want to be better with your words both to yourself and about others. Ephesians 4:29 tells us to have no corrupting talk come from our mouths, but only such is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Grace. What if we spent those 40 minutes building others up? If you work a typical week, that is eight minutes a day. Focused energy on speaking those morsels of truth to a person rather than about a person. Maybe you don’t gossip but spend time in negative self-talk. Spend those eight minutes with life giving affirmations about what Christ says of you. The tongue has the power of life and death. Repeatedly, the bible highlights how powerful our tongue is. In fact, in James 3:6, the tongue is described as a fire, and a world of evil among the parts of the body setting the whole course of one’s life on fire. No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil. Words can give grace. Heavenly father, set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3).

Presented by Lauren Stibgen Well, it is one month into the new year, and like me, I am sure you have resolved to accomplish something in this new year. Surprisingly, only 38% of the population commits to a resolution. The most popular resolutions are in the areas of physical and mental health, followed by finances and social relationships. All these resolutions can be God-honoring, but the truth is sometimes our plans are not God’s plans. Proverbs 16:9 reminds me in their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. There are New and Old Testament examples of God impacting man’s plans. If we look at Paul’s journeys, we find while he often resolved to take his mission to a certain location, his efforts were frustrated. Whether house arrest or an unexpected shipwreck on Malta, Paul was forced to rely on God’s will for his missions. In the Old Testament, we saw both Moses and David never reaching their desired achievements. Moses was offered a glimpse of the promised land but never reached it. And David set forth to build a temple for the Lord, but God had other plans to use someone else in both stories to fulfill his plans. These are examples of huge goals. Maybe yours are just as big, or they are smaller, more incremental improvements you want to make. Resolutions can bring forth the temptation to rely on myself, rather than rely on God’s grace. Yesterday, we reflected on how God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. I want to challenge you to look to God to find grace in your time of need. Hebrews 4:16 exhorts us to approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. How can you seek the Lord in your resolutions? Knowing that you can’t do it alone, I would encourage you to pray about your resolutions and seek scripture that can encourage you when you feel like your resolutions are falling by the wayside. Ask God to show you his will for what you have resolved. Is this his plan for you? God will supply every need of yours to his riches and glory of Christ Jesus. His plans for you are for your good. Is it health you are seeking? Restored relationships? Better stewardship with your finances? Ask God for his grace as you approach his word with confidence. Lord, help our listeners today to be encouraged by your promises for their good, and give them mercy and grace in their time of need. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).

Presented by Lauren Stibgen This notion of giving oneself grace spans well beyond any biblical consideration of what grace truly means. Our society tells us repeatedly to excuse our failings by resting in self-grace when we fail to meet our own expectations or the expectations of others. The truth is true grace is only experienced and extended by God. By grace we have been saved by faith alone. Grace is unmerited favor from God, and we cannot give that to ourselves. The only way we can apply grace to ourselves is to walk in the grace of God. In 2 Peter 3:18, we are exhorted to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus says, my grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul remarks he can boast more gladly about his weakness so that Christ’s power can rest on him. Jesus covers us in grace. He alone is sufficient. By acknowledging we are sinners and saved by grace alone, we can focus on the example we have in Jesus. We cannot grow in our faith by looking at ourselves. It is in the fullness of this realization—grace comes through faith and Jesus is all sufficient—that we can show grace both to ourselves and others. When we truly stop and think about the need for grace, it is rooted in our sin. And we cannot ever forgive ourselves. Only Jesus can cover our sins. Sin has no dominion over us since we are not under the law but under grace. Romans 6:14 reminds us we are under grace—free favor—and that is what we experience through Jesus Christ alone. We have just started a new year. Oftentimes, we consider this time of renewal where we have set new expectations on ourselves, on our relationships, or even our work. A new fresh calendar. Maybe you are off to a great start, but maybe like Paul, you need to reflect and boast gladly in your weakness and inability to do it all alone. We cannot overcome our sin nature alone. We need Jesus. In every expectation set for ourselves or every moment we fail—which for me feels like daily. We must remember we must bring all of this to Jesus to experience grace. Not only do we experience grace but in acknowledging our weakness, Christ’s power rests on us. Grace=free favor=Jesus Christ=the power of Christ over my life.

Presented by Lauren Stibgen Maybe you are a planner and a list maker. Or maybe you just let the days fly by with work, kids, social plans, and other things that fill your time to the point of depletion and exhaustion. Busy days can sometimes fly by, but we often don’t feel like we have accomplished much. We just finished a season, which to me, feels like the busiest time of the year that culminated with Christmas and the start of a new year. For me, this season was dizzying. Work was budgets, performance reviews, and year-end preparations. Home was preparing for the holidays, unexpected surgery for my daughter, and so many social commitments I don’t even want to recount them. Oh yes, and social events for my children and work parties. Add this to trying to maintain my own health and preparing to talk to you about experiencing grace through the sabbath. Don’t laugh. You are probably wondering if I observed the Sabbath rest in this season, or if I experience Sabbath rest at all. Seasons don’t matter. The reason I bring up the end of the year is only because it is fresh in our minds. Honestly, if I break down the weeks and months, there’s always something. A special project, a birthday, travel, board meetings, kids sports or other activities, and more social events. And the cycle repeats. What is even worse—we have social media to remind us of things we may be missing out on. News that needs our attention. Dings and pings to respond to. Email on our phones that comes along with us. There is a lot that drowns out God’s grace and his intention for us to experience this on the Sabbath. The truth is I haven’t always been great at observing the Sabbath, but that all changed when I was forced to stop, like all of us were, during the pandemic. When life started back to “normal” it felt good and bad all at the same time. Soon the pace was right back to where it was, and my seven days were booked and busy. The return to normal forced me to look closely at the Sabbath. God created rest. In Genesis 2:3 we first see the Sabbath. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. In Exodus, the Sabbath became a commandment. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy (Exodus 20:8). The Hebrew word for Sabbath literally means “to cease.” If I never cease or take time away from the normal flow, how can I ever experience God? How can I hear him? I will bring us back again to the notion that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. If we never allow ourselves to be vulnerable in faith, we will never know his goodness and be able to say, “God, I trust you to maintain control while I put all my focus on you.” Striving and not ceasing keeps the focus on me and what I can do, not on how God moves in my life. In Isaiah 58:11 we are beautifully reminded of how God provides for us. The Scripture says, The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. How will I ever experience this guidance, satisfaction, strength, and watering that never fails if I don’t show my weakness and rest and reset? In the New Testament book of Hebrews, we see this repeated in chapter 4:9-10. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. We rest just like God rested. Throughout the Bible, those who were closest to the Lord practiced rest. The prophets, King David, and even Jesus and the disciples rested. I often turn to Psalm 23:1-3, 5. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

I’ve been examining how we can do a better job connecting with people. First Peter 4:9 exhorts us to offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. How do we show hospitality to one another? Well, there are myriads of ways to do that, but it means you will have to see yourself as the host or hostess rather than the guest. Someone who shows hospitality takes on the responsibility to make others comfortable, to serve their needs, to initiate a welcoming environment, to make the first move. That could be in any situation—at home, at work, at church, while shopping or traveling, etc. Show hospitality to others. Sometimes it simply means taking time to recognize someone and greet them, calling them by name if possible. Sometimes it means interrupting your own plans to help someone out. It could mean inviting people to your home for a meal or taking time to listen to someone’s problem. It will require a servant attitude, a willingness to put others first, and truly connect with them. Peter says we are to show hospitality without grumbling. That tells me showing hospitality is not always easy to do. Putting others first requires an attitude that has to come from God’s power in us, not from our own selves. It’s possible to be hospitable with the wrong spirit—with a grumbling spirit. If you’re serious about connecting with others and fulfilling this hospitality challenge, you’ll need to pray about it. Pray God will give you both the desire and the power to want to connect with others, to expend the energy, time, and resources that will be required to put others first and die to your own selfish desires. Here’s the good news: When you learn to do this, you reap wonderful benefits. You discover dying to yourself brings new life, as Jesus promised. When we get ourselves out of the way and make it a daily practice to put others first, we move into that abundant life Jesus came to give us. It’s one of the paradoxes of the Christian life—that if we want to be the greatest, we must be a servant. By God’s grace and for his glory, that can become a reality in our lives.

Do you approach your relationships as a host or a guest? The attitude that helps is to think of yourself as the host or hostess rather than the guest. Or, in more biblical terms, as one who serves rather than one who is served. Think about your daily interactions with other people—at work, at home, or church, wherever. Are you a host or a guest? For example, do you initiate the phone call that needs to be made or do you wait for the other person to call? When you’re in a group, do you introduce yourself to someone new or wait for them to introduce themselves first? When someone seems puzzled or confused, do you offer to help? Maybe you’re thinking you can’t be the host or hostess because you’re shy or introverted. I want to encourage you to give it a try. It may take you out of your comfort zone temporarily, but once you take that first step to “host” your relationships, you’ll see that it really isn’t that scary, and before long you will be comfortable doing it. It will surprise you to see the positive reactions you receive, and you’ll feel very good about connecting with others in more meaningful ways. One of the reasons we hesitate to take the role of host or hostess in relationships is because we fear what others will think of us. I find when I am more concerned about how I will appear to others than I am about trying to connect with them, it’s because I am far too self-focused. I have to stop and remind myself it’s not all about me. I can assure you if you reach out to others in an attempt to connect in a better, more loving way, you will rarely make a fool of yourself. And what if you do? Does the world stop revolving? Does God stop loving you? We just have to get over our intense self-absorption. Another obstacle to connecting with others is our pride. How often do you hesitate to initiate a connection with someone new because you feel they should make the first move? If you find yourself thinking, “They should come to me,” it could be the indication of a proud attitude. Or maybe some of us hesitate to connect with others because it just takes too much effort. True, it does take effort and time, but the fruit of that effort is very rewarding. I hope you’ll consider your responsibility to be a host or hostess with the people in your life, rather than playing the role of the guest. It makes life so much richer and fulfills our God-given responsibility to do unto others as we would want them to do to us.

I’ve been challenging you to think of yourself as a host or hostess on your job and elsewhere, in order to connect with people better. To initiate conversations, volunteer help, keep your antenna up for anyone who needs a word of encouragement. This is how we show Christ’s love in a world that is starving for kindness and compassion. I remember someone giving a message challenging us to “leave it better than you found it.” Just imagine how much nicer our worlds would be if we all practiced that regularly—leaving everything better than we found it. Let’s take that principle and apply it to our relationships. What if our goal was to make certain every relationship we have of any significant length—like fifteen minutes or more—was to leave that person better than we found him or her? To do something for that person would add value to their lives. It might be a word of advice that we take time to share, or a listening ear, or a book we could recommend, or an invitation to lunch. You know, people don’t remember so much what we do or how well we do it, but they do remember how we made them feel. Have you ever thought about how you make other people feel? I’m sure you’ve thought about how other people make you feel. But reverse that and ask yourself, “How do I make other people feel?” Some people make us feel insignificant. Others intimidate us. Some people make us feel like failures. No doubt you can think of people in your life who give you those kinds of negative feelings. They may not intend to give off those vibes, but something in their manner or the way they treat you gives you that impression. Stop and ask yourself: Do I do that to others? I have learned I can send negative messages to others because of my tendency to be very project oriented and very focused on getting a job done. In the process, if I’m not careful, I can miss opportunities to recognize people along the way and send them an unintended message that they aren’t important to me. I’m working hard to change those bad habits, but I have to be very intentional about it and remember to catch myself and connect with all those people. What kind of messages do you send to others? Do they sense you are a caring person; do you exude an attitude of acceptance and warmth? Obviously, I’m aware we can’t please everyone, and people can choose to misinterpret us unfairly. But we also have a responsibility, as Paul wrote to the Corinthians, to take pains to do what is right, not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of men (2 Corinthians 8:21).

I’m examining how we can improve our ability to connect with others. I challenged you to see yourself as the host or hostess, the one who is responsible to make others feel comfortable, who takes the initiative to meet their needs and help in any way possible. For some of you, that means moving outside your comfort zone, I’m sure, but it is a way to show love and caring for people around you, which is our calling as believers in Christ. Another important connection skill is to consider everyone significant, and to take the time to learn their names and call them by name. In your jobs and in your life, you will meet many people. Remember they are all significant to God, and therefore, they should be to you as well. Don’t overlook people. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you can do is smile and say hello. Often people in service jobs wear nametags: waiters, waitresses, cleaning people, doormen. Make it a practice to look for nametags and then call people by name. And if they don’t have a nametag, take the time to ask, “What is your name?” In a world that is often cold and uncaring, something as simple as calling a person by name can bring warmth and a touch of love into that relationship, brief as it may be. Some years ago, we began distributing magnetic nametags to all members and attenders at our church. What a difference that has made in helping us to connect with others at the church. People I’ve seen for years I now can connect with their name. It is truly amazing to see how much better we connect with each other simply because of those nametags—we can call each other by name. If you determine to have a mindset that you are the host or hostess, and it is your job to find common ground with others and make them feel at ease, you will discover you talk less about yourself and focus more on others. Paul wrote to the Philippians we should count others more significant than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). How do you do that? Well, you have to be very intentional about it and pray God will give you both the desire and the power to do it. It won’t always be easy. You’ll find with some people you have very little in common, but instead of giving up, look for that one thing that could open up a conversation and help you to connect.

One question I am often asked is, “What is the main issue people in the workplace are struggling with today?” I’ve been in this ministry for many years, so I’ve had enough time to observe common issues and note changes in the workplace. But I can tell you one issue remains at the top of most everyone’s list, and that is how to deal successfully with people! People! It’s people! In some form or another, our relationships—on the job and everywhere else—cause us more frustration, create more conflict, and eat up more of our time than anything else. Of course, relationships also can bring great joy and satisfaction, too. I want to address this relationship challenge by talking about how we connect successfully with others. You will notice there are some people who seem to have no difficulty forming friendships, generating loyalty, creating community, and getting along with people, while others are woefully lacking in these skills. What makes one person better at connecting with people than others? And if this ability to connect with people does not come naturally to us, is it possible to develop those skills and improve in those areas? Scripture exhorts us to count others more significant than ourselves (Philippians 2:3), and to exhibit the characteristics of a truly loving attitude toward others. We need to find practical and effective ways to develop these godly characteristics of connecting easily and quickly with other people, whether they are co-workers, managers, employees, or just friends and acquaintances. One of the first things we have to do to connect with others is to make people feel comfortable in our presence. And we can learn to do that by thinking of ourselves as “hosts” in any situation. A good host takes the initiative to make others feel comfortable. Most people view themselves as “guests” in life, expecting others to take the initiative and make the first move. But if you will just reverse that tendency and think of yourself as the host or hostess, you will become more proactive in initiating conversations, offering to help others, and discovering you are beginning to connect with people much more easily. I challenge you to be the “host” as you go to work; see yourself as the person who will initiate connections, who will have your antenna up to be aware of others around you and be willing to get out of your comfort zone and make the first move. It is such a simple idea, but I can promise you it will make a difference in how you connect with others.

How many times have we heard our pop culture say, “You’re perfect just as you are” or “God just wants you to be happy”? This week Mary Lowman and Alisa Childers help us navigate false ideas and Alisa shares from her book Live Your Truth and Other Lies. Join us as we discover how to stand against false beliefs as followers of Christ.

In his marvelous book, Knowing God, J. I. Packer says many church people "pay lip-service to the idea of grace, but there they stop. Their conception of grace is not so much debased as non-existent” (p. 116-117). I’ve been examining what it means to live a grace-full life, to truly understand God’s grace to us, which equips us to dispense grace to others. I find I must be intentional about living a grace-full life. I have to think about it, pray about it, and make choices each day that lead me to be a grace-full person. We’ve looked at the ABCs of graceful living this week: A – Abound in generosity, in good works. B – Live a bitter-less life. We must pull up those weeds of bitterness as soon as they start to grow, because bitterness chokes grace out of our lives. C - Learn to be content. Contentment is a trademark of a grace-full life. This is a good description of grace-full living, though not exhaustive. But where do we get this grace? We can’t find it in ourselves; we can’t obtain it through good works or trying harder. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). We find grace at the throne of God, which is a throne of grace. God is enthroned in grace. And the incredibly good news is we can approach the throne of grace with confidence. We can be absolutely confident we will be accepted there if we go in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. And we can be absolutely confident grace will be given to help us. Maybe, like me, you are not a terribly graceful person, but would you like to be a grace-full person—full of God’s grace, which you can give to others? It is available to anyone who will be intentional about living in the ABCs of God’s grace and making regular visits to the throne of grace.

We’re examining the ABCs of grace-full living and what it looks like to be a truly graceful person. As we have seen, A is abundant living, B is bitterless living, and today we look at C. C- Contented Grace-full living is contented living. The dictionary says that a contented person is one who is satisfied with what they are and what they have; they want nothing more or anything else. Does that describe you? I have to tell you there are far too many days it does not describe me. I see a new house being built, and I think how nice it would be to have it. I peruse those catalogs that flood my mailbox, and I can convince myself I can’t live without something I saw in the catalog. And we can lose our contentment by wishing we were a different person, with a different life, in a different place, having different gifts and abilities. Ever go there? Living a discontented life will suck the grace of God right out of you. It will cause you to be restless, self-focused, resentful, envious. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5). This is something we must become intentional about doing. We have to work at it, if you please. We have to pray it into our lives. It doesn’t just happen. The enemy of your soul will trip you up with discontent if you give him the opportunity. He knows a discontented Christian is not going to dispense grace. He whispers those lies to you, convincing you your life cannot be complete or full or good unless you have something or someone that you don’t now have. But we can learn contentment. The Apostle Paul wrote: I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want (Philippians 4:12). Contented living is freedom—and it is grace-full living.

What does it mean to live a life that is full of God’s grace—a truly grace-full life? We’re looking at the ABCs of graceful living, and yesterday we saw A is abundant living. The abundance Jesus came to give us is abundant joy and peace, and that should overflow into abundant good works. B- Bitterless Grace-full living is living without bitterness. Consider this passage from Hebrews: See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many (Hebrews 12:15). Allowing bitter roots to grow in your heart will cause you to miss the grace-full life. There are many bitter roots that can become ingrained in the garden of our hearts. Consider these: The bitter root of rejection It’s very easy to allow the pain of rejection to take root in your heart and bloom into bitterness. The bitter root of unfulfilled dreams Unfulfilled dreams create a fertile ground for bitter roots. The bitter root of loss What have you lost lately? Your job? Your pride? Has death robbed you of a loved one? Or divorce? Loss makes us vulnerable to bitterness. This verse teaches us several things about bitter roots: First, they grow. You can't hold onto one little bitter twig. It won't stay that size. It always grows. Second, they cause trouble. Any little bitterness will cause you trouble. A great many of the emotional and mental breakdowns we see today have their beginnings in bitterness that was never dealt with. Third, they defile many. Bitterness spills over to everyone around you. As parents we can transfer that bitter spirit to our children; as managers and employees we can transfer it to our co-workers. It is a poison that affects everyone it touches. If you’re struggling with some bitterness today, I pray you will ask God to help you dig up those bitter roots so you can enjoy the grace-full life Jesus came to give you.

The song, Amazing Grace, is sung all over the world by people who have no understanding of its message of salvation through Jesus. But the idea of grace appeals to everyone. What does it mean for you and me in our world today to live grace-full lives? What does that look like? I’d like to give you the ABCs of grace-full living. Here is “A”: A- Abundant Jesus said: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” Jesus wasn’t talking about being full of money, or earthly success, or freedom from problems. He was talking about a life that is grace-full! In 2 Corinthians 9:8 we read: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. When the grace of God fills us, then it must flow out to others in the form of good works. What good works? The good works that you were created to do. Ephesians 2:10 says: We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Here are a few examples of how we dispense grace to others: Someone is sick; you minister to their needs. Someone is rejoicing over good news; you rejoice with them. Someone has a broken heart. You cry with them, listen to them, console them. Someone is wandering away from God. You confront them in love, admonish them, help them to come back into fellowship. Someone is lost in sin, without Christ. You share the gospel in every way you can, lovingly planting seeds of truth in their life. Someone needs financial help. You give out of love and concern. You teach the Word of God in a small group; you organize prayer for your company; you begin a Bible study at work or at home; you invite others to hear the Word of God. These are just a few ways that we overflow with grace to others, abounding in good works. I can testify to you from personal experience that grace-full living is knowing God is using you in the lives of others. There is nothing more fulfilling than that.

I have to admit I am not a graceful person. In my first year of college, during Christmas break, my mother lined me up for private lessons with a woman who coached me on how to be graceful. Now, for my mother to spend money on such lessons was an indication of how much help I needed! I was not then—still am not to this day—graceful. This woman tried hard to make me more graceful, but unfortunately, I am like a bull in a china shop. If it can be bumped into, I bump into it. If it is fragile, I break it. If it can be tripped over, I trip over it. I’ve come to the conclusion if you’re not naturally a graceful person, there’s just not a whole lot you can do about it. I’m happy to report to you that though I may never be graceful, I can be grace-full—full of grace. That is not contingent on my agility or nimbleness or any physical attributes. It is, instead, contingent on my openness to the grace of God and my willingness to let it fill my life. In writing of our Savior, John says, The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Jesus was full of grace. As believers in Jesus Christ, you and I are in the process of being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory. We are to be filled with his Spirit, and therefore, we have the incredible opportunity to be filled with grace. Like Jesus, we can be full of grace. When asked what was the one thing about Christianity that sets it apart from all other religions, C. S. Lewis responded, “Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.” No other religion offers God’s love and redemption coming to us free of charge, as a gift, no strings attached, no performance required, no standards to meet. Only Christianity dares to make God’s love unconditional. That’s because Christianity has the only qualified Savior, Jesus Christ. This week I want to encourage you to become very intentional about becoming a woman—or a man—who is grace-full, full of God’s grace. It must become more than a cliché, more than words we say or songs we sing. God’s grace needs to permeate every corner of our being so that we are living examples of his grace.

Join Mary Lowman and Alisa Childers as they converse about how historic Christianity can stand up to all our doubts and criticism. Among other things, Alisa is the author of the best-selling book Another Gospel? In their conversation, they talk about her book, progressive Christianity, and how to strengthen our own faith in our ever-changing world. I know you’ll be encouraged and challenged, so please join us.

How can you start living in grace? First and foremost, you have to give up! Yes, give up: Trying to earn God’s grace. You can’t! It’s a gift! Trying to make up for your past. It’s behind you! God remembers it against you no more. Trying to shift the blame—on your parents, on your siblings, on your mate, on your circumstances—whoever or whatever. Forgive whoever needs forgiving and let go of the bitterness and anger that is eating you alive. Sitting on the sidelines. Whatever fear is immobilizing you, believe God’s grace is sufficient to enable you to do the good works he put you here to do. Any known addiction in your life—anything that is keeping you in bondage. Give up and then give in! Give in: To God’s love for you. You are the one he loves. Nothing can separate you from his love. It’s unconditional—unlike any other love you’ve known. To God’s plan for you. Believe he has good works for you to do and tell God you want to do them. Tell God you’re tired of everything always being about you, and you want your life to be all about God. To God’s grace! Start immersing yourself in the grace of God. Search scripture about God’s grace and pray those scriptures into your life. To the joy of your salvation. If you’re sure you have been born from above, ask God to restore your joy as you learn to bask in his grace. To the abundant life Jesus died to give you. Stop settling for just getting by. Ask God to overflow your heart and mind with the truth of his grace to you, and then go for it. I want to leave you with a picture of you covered with grace! Grace follows you everywhere! Grace fills your heart! Grace comes out of your mouth. Grace gets you through the tough times. You have met grace, and you are growing in the knowledge and understanding of grace: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen (2 Peter 3:18). You’ve met Grace! Get to know her better and better every day. Pray Grace into your life. Rebuke the enemy who will try to dump guilt and anger and shame and bitterness on you. Say hello to Grace all through your day. Fix your mind on Jesus, the one who is full of grace.

If you have indeed become a child of God through God’s saving grace, then the next question is, are you living your life in the reality of God’s grace? And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8). How much grace can abound toward you? All! How sufficient can you be? All! How many areas of your life can you have this all-sufficient grace? All! How many good works can you then do? An abundance! An abundance of what? Grace! For what? Every good work. God pours out all grace on you so you can be sufficient in all the things he puts in your life and therefore you will do many good works—an abundance of good works. God put you here to do good works: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). You have to meet Grace before you do the good works. Otherwise, you will keep trying to do the good works on your own, to win God’s favor or feel good about yourself or check off the boxes so you can say, “Look, I did it.” God gives you grace upon grace—all grace, for everything, an abundance—and then you have the privilege and joy of doing the good works, being the person God created you to be, knowing the fulfillment is yours as a child of the king. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me (1 Corinthians 15:10). You do the good works God intended you to do because you’ve met grace, and that grace was not in vain! You work hard to do the good works because God’s grace is with you. Have you been missing some of God’s grace? Why? Can you put a finger on it? If so, what do you do to turn around and start living in grace?

If you are not truly aware of grace in your life minute by minute, day by day, maybe it’s because your experience of grace is warped. For example, could it be: Do you see grace through your relationship with your parents or other authority figures? Maybe they set high expectations for you, and you never received their approval. Or perhaps you received very little attention; or one parent deserted you. As a result of one of more of these factors, your experience of “grace” fell very short of what it should have been. Do you see grace through your past? You think you don’t measure up; you’re not smart or gifted. You’ve messed up too much, failed God too often. As a result, you have lots of guilt. Perhaps you’ve become cynical, feeling hopeless about any possibility of things changing. If you’ve been looking at grace through the wrong lens, one of these or some other one, God’s grace has probably always seemed distant for you or it’s a mystery to you. And this probably reveals itself in one of several ways: You are always in performance mode, trying to secure God’s and others’ approval by being good, excelling in everything. Always trying to show yourself and others you’re okay, but it’s never enough. You have given up trying to find the grace you need, so you just sit on the sidelines and admire others, all the time blaming yourself. In fear of failure, you never step out on faith to do the good works God has called you to do. You haven’t met grace yet—not totally, not completely. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace (Galatians 5:4).

Grace is your ticket to heaven, and grace is sufficient for your every need on your journey there. But this is just the beginning. We read: Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given (John 1:16). Jesus is full of grace: The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Is there a limit to his grace? None, never! And from his grace, you, as his child, have received grace upon grace. Unending grace. Immeasurable grace. The question I want to put to you is: Are you living in the fullness of the grace of Jesus? Is God’s grace—amazing grace—a conscious part of your everyday life? Having been born again through grace, have you missed the abundant grace upon grace for your life? Or maybe, like me, you live in it some days and some days you don’t. God is able and willing to give you grace upon grace. Grace to do every good work he has planned for you to do. Grace to endure whatever circumstances come your way. Grace to love like Jesus loves; to care like Jesus cares; to serve like Jesus served; to forgive like Jesus forgave. All grace is God’s gift to you. He is able to do that, provided you don’t miss it. Provided you don’t “fall short of his grace.” See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many (Hebrews 12:15). “See to it” says the writer to the Hebrews. Get to know grace better. See to it you don’t miss out on God’s abundant, amazing grace he gives to you—grace upon grace for every day and every situation in your life.

I want to introduce you to Grace. You may have met her before; I’m sure you have. But maybe you just haven’t gotten to know her too well yet. She is amazing grace. What makes her so amazing? First and most importantly, grace is your ticket to heaven. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). Your good works won’t get you there. The fact you’re better than lots of other people doesn’t count. If and when you place your trust in Jesus Christ, confess your sins, and believe in your heart he is the way—and the only way—to know God, then God gives you a ticket. It’s a one-way ticket that guarantees you will spend eternity with him in heaven, and that ticket is grace. You can’t buy this ticket; it’s free, and it’s the only way you can get there. Secondly, grace is sufficient for every need you will have while on your way to Heaven. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). The Apostle Paul is referring here to a “thorn in his flesh,” he called it. Three times he prayed for God to take it away—make his life easier, make him more effective in serving Jesus. Take away this thorn, Lord! It seemed like the obvious solution to his problem. Instead, God said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you.” My grace is all you need. My power comes through perfectly in your weakness. What have you prayed for God to fix—to make right, to solve—and he hasn’t done it yet? Maybe he will—in his own timing—or maybe not. But this much I can guarantee you, if you are born from above through faith in Jesus Christ, God’s amazing grace will be enough for you. God’s power will come through in ways you can’t even imagine. When you admit you are weak and helpless, grace comes through.

Presented by Lisa Bishop As we get started in talking about grace, I want to take you back to a hot summer day in the mid-80’s as I was entering my mid-teen years. I still get flashbacks from my spiral permed hair that blew away all height restrictions with the backcombing and amount of Aqua Net hairspray I used, but I digress. On this particular summer day, I was in the driveway of my childhood home, excited to wash my dad’s 1979 Oldsmobile. Now I know that may sound weird, actually enjoying washing a car, but for a little bit of backstory, my dad loved cars. Growing up, I would see him take meticulous care of them by washing and waxing them on a pretty regular basis. A clean car made my dad really happy. So, I was eager to get out my bucket of soapy water and pull out the long green garden hose to make the boxy, brown, five-seater, top-of-the-line car shine. I didn’t have my driver’s license yet and had never driven, let alone been behind the wheel of a car. So, my dad pulled the car out of the garage and parked it in the driveway for me to wash while he did some gardening in the backyard. There I was, lathering up my dad’s Oldsmobile, rinsing it off, and using old bath towels to dry it until it glimmered. I was so proud and even happier to know this was something that would mean a lot to my dad. To impress my dad a bit more, I thought it would be cool if I not only washed the car, but I parked it all by myself in the garage. Now mind you, on the other side of the garage was my dad’s prized possession, a 1969 Firebird convertible. Gold, with a white top, in mint condition, and perfectly polished. You can see where this story is heading. I got behind the wheel of this brown boat of a car, aiming to park it in the garage when instead, I nervously drove it into the left side of the garage door. In a panic, my foot hit the gas, and I swerved to the right. I had managed not only to dent the right side of the car, but also to side swipe my dad’s precious convertible. I know you are probably wondering, “What were you thinking?” Well evidently, I was not thinking clearly. At that point, I was completely freaked out and scared to death to tell my dad what had happened. I was worried he would be really mad at me. In my hysteria, I found my mom. When—in the midst of hyperventilating—I told her what had happened, she said, “Don’t worry! Everything will be just fine.” And we proceeded to walk to the backyard together to tell my dad. When I told him what happened I will never forget what he said. “I love you, Lisa. It’s just a car. We can get it fixed. You are more important to me than a car.” In that moment I expected to get what I deserved—a tongue lashing for my carelessness and a life sentence to my bedroom. But that’s not what I received at all. Instead, I was the recipient of something powerful. The powerful and impactful gift of grace. The grace my dad extended to me that day did something to my mind and heart that forever left an impression. It taught me, amongst many things, to value people over possessions. My dad’s selfless act was based on his character. He saw how fearful and upset I was, and he chose to respond with mercy and kindness rather than erupt and be rash with his words. When he could have punished me, instead he lavished me with love. The concept of grace can be hard to grasp but it was made tangible on that hot summer day in 1984. Ephesians 1:3-8 tells us about the grace that has been given to us in Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood,

presented by Lisa Bishop When was the last time you received a letter in the mail? I’m not talking about a letter from the city outlining your parking violation or a dreaded collection notice. I’m talking about a heart-felt, handwritten letter from a friend or loved one. It’s so rare these days to get anything but junk mail, isn’t it? Over the past month I’ve been reading the New Testament. As I was reading the Apostle Paul’s letters, I noticed he opens each letter with some form of the following greeting. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you ever stopped to think about what Paul means when he addresses the recipients of his letters with those words? It must be important since Paul used grace and peace as common greetings. He is reminding all who are in Christ Jesus we are recipients of free, undeserved, and unearned mercy from God through Jesus. Along with God’s kindness and compassion, peace is also ours in Christ and is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Paul is reminding us of who God is, and as we receive grace and peace, we are to release grace and peace to everyone around us. We can often blow past Paul’s poignantly penned greeting and miss its meaning. David Guzik, an author and Bible commentator, says this about Paul’s words. “...Grace means, among other things, that God's attitude towards us is gracious, it's filled with favor. You see, when God sees us, …he sees beauty in us because we're in Jesus. To put it plainly, standing in grace means that God doesn't only love us, He likes us. It can be difficult for us to understand that God likes us, that he's well pleased with us in Jesus. We often suffer under the thought that God barely tolerates us because we're unworthy, or that, most of the time, God is irritated with us. You see, we're so familiar with our own sins and shortcomings we are easily convinced that God is always half-angry with us, and he's always disappointed in us because we're unworthy. “Brothers and sisters,…your position before God is a standing of favor,…not one of unworthiness or irritation or mere toleration…Your standing in grace is only because of God's freely given favor in Jesus Christ.”[1] Don’t you just love that reminder? As we wrap up our week together, receive this blessing. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. And as you have received God’s grace, go and be grace in the workplace. [1] Guzik, D. (2018, January 12). Part 3 - What Does Living in Grace Look Like? by David Guzik. Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/GettingGrace/GettingGrace/Part-3-What-Does-Living-in-Grace-Look-Like.cfm

presented by Lisa Bishop If you were to take inventory of your words over the past 48 hours, would you describe them as grace-filled? We are given instructions to: Never let ugly or hateful words come from your mouth, but instead let your words become beautiful gifts that encourage others; do this by speaking words of grace to help them (Ephesians 4:29). Other versions say, let no unwholesome words come from your mouth, which means words that are rotten, corrupted, of poor quality are worthless. That is a strong warning, and one we can be prone to bypass, especially when we get caught up in office dynamics. One of the most impactful ways to show God’s grace in your workplace is by filtering your words through the Holy Spirit before they fly out of your mouth. When people around you are grumbling and complaining about their work or their boss, talking poorly behind a coworker’s back, or speaking in a crude or insensitive way, you’ve got a secret weapon, and that weapon is grace. And when I say weapon, I do not mean it in the harmful sense but in the powerful godly sense. The words should flow from your mouth and cultivate a healthy workplace culture. You may think you do not have much influence to impact a culture, but you do. Your words will either sow beauty that builds up and encourages, or they will be careless and tear down, discourage, and disparage others. Words that lack any sense of grace destroy harmony and collaboration. Are your words beautiful gifts or atomic bombs? Do they bolster connection or are they like a termite slowly eating away at the structure of your relationships? You’ve heard the phrase, “Think before you speak.” Before words roll off your tongue, put them through the THINK filter. Are your words: T—Tested? (meaning put through the test of grace) H—Helpful? I—Inspiring? N—Necessary? K—Kind? If someone were to hear your words or eavesdrop on your conversation, would they get a proper representation of Jesus? Would they hear words of grace falling from your lips? Let’s commit together to THINK before we speak and let our words be a gift of grace to those who hear them.

presented by Lisa Bishop I am examining ways to be grace in the workplace and learning about an aspect of grace—humility. To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 18:9-14). Have you ever uttered the words of the Pharisee, “God, I thank you I am not like other people. I thank you I am not like my coworker! She’s so loud. He’s so lazy. She is so incompetent.” I have, and if you’re honest, you have too, even if you have whispered them silently to yourself. Because of our sin nature, we are prone to fall into the temptation of a self-elevating view that looks down on other people. We boast of the reasons we are better than others and we neglect our own shortcomings. Or worse, we put insufficiencies on a spectrum, and it just so happens our own faults are minimized while others’ faults are often put on blast. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). When you humble yourself, first before God, you get oodles of grace. When it comes to being justified before God, we see the Pharisee listing the reasons he deserved God’s favor, but no amount of self-effort will earn you the grace of God. God cannot be bought or manipulated. That is good news because you and I will fall short, and Jesus fills the gap! The next time you are tempted to think more highly of yourself and less of others, remember you are loved. Thank God for his grace and humble yourself.

presented by Lisa Bishop Are you a fool? Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult (Proverbs 12:16). If you have ever found yourself in a situation where your reputation was on the line or your competence was called into question based on something a coworker said about you, Proverbs provides solid wisdom on how to respond. It’s easy to react with retaliation or revenge when you are wronged, but Proverbs reminds us to respond to others with grace. Rather than being hot-headed and reactive, or maybe even silently vindictive, take a deep breath and hold back any rash words. Instead of responding harshly, or in a manner you may regret, keep a calm spirit. When you are prudent, you are careful and wise, exercising good judgment in handling the injury done to you. When you act prudently, you create less trouble for yourself and in turn gain more credit and a good reputation from others. Now, I am not saying you need to roll over and be walked on as false information is spoken about you, but when you exert wisdom and respond gracefully, you are a witness to the grace of Jesus. It reminds me of Paul’s instructions: Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone (Colossians 4:5-6). When you are insulted, your response is a witness to Jesus Christ. And when you don’t react in a way people typically behave when maligned and instead you act with kindness and courtesy, you create an opening for conversation that can lead to sharing your faith. You are able to give an answer, a reason for your spirit-led response. The next time you are bad-mouthed, ground yourself in the Holy Spirit and ask him to cover your comeback with grace. Respond in the Spirit and ask, “What would grace do?”

presented by Lisa Bishop I am examining an important characteristic of God we can often find difficult to emulate. Grace. And specifically, we’ll be unpacking ways to be grace in the workplace. Notice how I said “be” grace. Grace ultimately flows from your identity, and when you are truly living from your identity in Jesus, grace will inform how you act, speak, and live. Just as an aspect of God’s character is grace, you and I are called to imitate Jesus and be grace to others. We see grace as a constant theme in the Bible. In the Old Testament we hear the very words of God as he declares his character: The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin (Exodus 34:6-7). The word translated gracious means merciful in Hebrew. In the New Testament, grace translated from the Greek word charis, means favor, blessing, or kindness. The most powerful demonstration of grace is God choosing to bless us in Jesus rather than penalize us when we sin and fall short of his glory. You have probably heard of grace defined as unmerited favor. Meaning, regardless of your behavior, God chooses to love you. I am so grateful for God’s grace, aren’t you? Who is someone in your workplace you find hard to extend grace to? A coworker you find it difficult to love and show kindness toward? We often find it most challenging to act in a gracious manner with people who have different opinions than us or act in ways we find off-putting. But as an ambassador of Christ, you are called to love and be good-natured toward everyone, to live from grace because you have been given grace. When you live from a place of grace, fully known and fully loved, even with all your flaws, you will be more inclined to have a posture of grace with others. The next time a coworker does something that gets on your nerves or says something that gets under your skin, rather than reacting in the flesh, ask yourself, “How will I be grace in the workplace?”

When I think back over my life, there are many things I would like to change. I would like to make better choices and decisions, make smarter moves, manage my money better, use my time more wisely—oh, there are many things I could have done so much better. But mostly, when I think back over my life, I would like to avoid the sins of my past, the times when I wandered far away from God, the things I did in disobedience to him. I would like to erase those things I did which brought dishonor to his name; those times when I was a poor witness for Jesus Christ and a poor representative of the Kingdom of God. But, of course, there is nothing to be gained by brooding over the past. Yesterday is gone; tomorrow is only a promise. The only thing you and I have is today. So, if we don’t want to have any more regrets to look back on in the future, then we must set our minds and hearts to begin today anew. How do we do that? Well, the first thing and the most important thing is to make certain that you’ve been made a new creation in Christ. That’s where all new beginnings have their start, and without that transformation inside of us, any new beginnings we will attempt will be short-lived and futile. The Bible says that when you become a new creation in Christ Jesus, the old has gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). It’s the most wonderful new beginning anyone can ever have. It’s that moment when you pass from death to life—when you are no longer under God’s condemnation because your sins are forgiven, and your eternal destiny is assured. Maybe you have not yet had that new beginning. If I could sit down and talk with you personally, could you tell me of the time when you recognized your sinful condition, realized you could do nothing about it yourself, and came to God through Christ in humility to ask for forgiveness of all your past sins? Do you know that you’ve been born again, because Jesus told us that we must be born again in order to be a part of his Kingdom? You see, many people today have the wrong idea of what it means to be a Christian. They think it means trying to be a good person, doing good deeds, going to church, being baptized, doing more good things than bad things, and so forth. They are trying to earn their way to heaven by doing good things and being a good person. But here’s the truth, as the Bible tells us. None of us is righteous in ourselves, and not one of us can be good enough to meet God’s requirements for holiness. Therefore, on our own merit we cannot become a new person; we cannot have this new beginning. That sounds pretty helpless and hopeless, until you realize what Jesus Christ has done for you in order to rectify your dilemma. He came as the perfect Son of God, died in order to pay the penalty for your sin, and rose again from the dead, in order to purchase for you and me eternal life. God’s righteous requirements have been met in Jesus, and we are given the opportunity to accept his payment for our sins. The Bible says that “God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus took your place and mine as a sacrifice for our sins, so that we could have his righteousness and therefore be acceptable to God. But this free gift of righteousness has to be accepted and believed. Have you ever done that? If not, then that’s the new beginning that you need today. Nothing else matters as much as making certain that you’ve had this new beginning in Christ, because this determines where you will spend all of eternity—in heaven or in hell. If you have not yet accepted Jesus as the Savior and Lord of your life, you can do that right now. There’s no reason to wait. Just pray right where you are, right now, that God will forgive you of all your sins and give you the righteousness of Jesus Christ. We’ll be glad to send you more information from God’s Word about this new beginning in Christ ...

What does it mean to practice The Ministry of Presence? God is showing me more and more how to practice being there for people. For example, often when I am praying for someone or thinking about them, a thought will come into my mind about what I could do to be there for that person. I’ve learned that when those kinds of ideas come into my mind, it’s most likely placed there by the Holy Spirit, and therefore I should pay attention. So, many times I pause right then and write a note or make a call or add something to my to-do list to remind me to do something for that person that will simply let them know I’m thinking about them, and I care. I have a friend who is struggling with a health issue. Obviously, I can’t do anything to help her resolve that issue, but I can let her know that I’m thinking about her and praying for her. Just to say that to someone, whether in person, on the phone, or by written word, is an example of practicing the ministry of presence. Inviting someone to your home for no reason except to let them be with you is an example of practicing the ministry of presence. This past Thanksgiving two people who didn’t have close-by family were with us at my daughter’s home, sharing that meal with us, and it was an expression of care and concern to them, though we never spoke those words. Their invitation to be with us was the ministry extended to them that day, and it was a delight to have them with us. I told you about my friends who are extending this ministry to homeless people around their home in Chicago. I don’t think I’ll ever forget what one of them said to my friend, Justin. The homeless man said that in spite of the fact that he was always told he was worthless, he now knew that wasn’t true. If he were worthless, my friend would not hang out with him. The ministry of presence is hanging out with someone, even if it might be inconvenient or push you out of your comfort zone. Who is it in your life that would love for you to “hang out” with them? Are you willing to answer the call of Jesus to show his love through the ministry of your presence?

I’ve recently been introduced to this new terminology—the ministry of presence—but actually it’s not a new ministry at all. It’s exactly what Jesus has commissioned us to do, all of us who are Christ-followers, to be present in the lives of others. Simply to be there. Everyone in the body of Christ is qualified for this ministry. You do not have to be brilliant, persuasive, articulate, or experienced. You do not have to be anything but available to be a wonderful tool in the hand of God. In fact, often the ministry of presence is a ministry without words. You know, sometimes we use the Bible as though it were a band-aid. We stick a favorite verse on others who are suffering, and feel we’ve really helped them. But just as physical injuries take time to heal, emotional injuries do as well. True, when people are suffering, they need the truth of Scripture to help them heal, but sometimes they just need it demonstrated in your actions rather than in your words. Your presence can communicate what your words will never be able to say. And keep in mind, when you’re with someone who is hurting, you don’t need to have answers. Often, I say to someone in pain, “I cannot explain this. I don’t know why this has happened.” That’s not terribly profound, but it’s often just simply the truth. So, when someone is really struggling with why something hurtful has happened to them, trying to come up with an explanation usually just makes them feel worse. Just be there; just give them the ministry of your presence without answers. Someone has said that you and I cannot eliminate someone’s grief or sorrow, but we can share it and that will lighten their load. True believers, mature Christians grieve. Jesus did, and we will, too. We can’t stop it with words, but we can lighten it by our presence. Are you available today for the ministry of presence? I believe if you are, God will give you an opportunity today to simply be there for someone.

I want to ask you a question: Where would you be today if you didn’t have people in your life who are simply there for you? I can tell you that God has blessed me with some dear people throughout my life who have always been there for me. People who cry with me and laugh with me, who share my burdens and my joys. Their presence in my life has made an incredible difference. I can’t imagine where I’d be without them. That’s what I’m talking about this week—the ministry of presence. The incredible value there is in simply being there for others. When we become Christ-followers, we are commissioned by Jesus to serve others. After he washed the disciples’ feet at the Last Supper, Jesus said that he had given them an example of how they were to serve each other. The ministry of presence is about being a servant—putting others’ needs ahead of your own. Jesus calls us to come alongside others and become a part of their lives. As Christians, we fulfill the law of Jesus by being present with people. It means we will serve people even when it might make us uncomfortable. It means we stand with people in the midst of their anxiety and fear, in their difficult times. I’m truly challenging you and myself this week to take this ministry seriously. To actually ask God to show us what person in our lives needs our presence—simply needs us to be there for them. For example, let’s say you work with a person who is going through something emotionally difficult—maybe a divorce or a recent death in their family. I find that when people are in these kinds of traumatic situations, they simply want a listening ear. Could you invite that person to lunch or coffee and simply listen? Not on company time, of course, but at a time and in a place that is appropriate, to be truly present with them, giving them your undivided attention. Or could it be that there is someone very close to you—a mate or daughter or sibling—who needs to know that you’re not too busy to spend time with them? I think sometimes we can fail to see that those nearest to us need our presence—our total attention to them and whatever issues they’re facing. You may have decided that you don’t have certain gifts or abilities, and you devalue the contribution you can make in the lives of others. I’m here to tell you today that if you are a Christ-follower, you are totally capable and qualified to have the ministry of presence. It’s just a matter of becoming intentional about doing it.

Do you know what the ministry of presence is? This is a ministry every Christ-follower should take seriously, and every one of us is qualified and equipped for this ministry. Galatians 6:2 describes it this way: Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. That is an important part of this ministry of presence—simply being there for others, carrying their burdens, sharing their sorrows, as well as increasing their joys by our presence. This is the fulfillment of the law of Christ, the teaching of Jesus. This is the new commandment Jesus has given us, and it should be a hallmark of our lives as Christ-followers. So, what I want to ask you today is: What person in your life right now could use your presence? What person needs to know that someone cares and hasn’t forgotten them? Stop right now, if you can, and let God’s Spirit reveal that person to you. Perhaps a name popped right into your mind; if not, ask God to reveal that person to you. It may be someone very close to you, a relative or close friend; or it may be someone you just met. Or could it be a stranger you haven’t met but who is somehow in your life—the beggar on the street or your next-door neighbor? Recently God has made it clear to me that I need to do a better job of staying in touch regularly with some dear single women who have gone as missionaries to foreign countries. I’ve visited many of them, and I know how lonely and tough their lives can be. I know that they need the ministry of presence. They don’t necessarily need to read my books or listen to my talks; they simply need to know that I have not forgotten them, and I can be present in their lives by way of the internet. The ministry of presence is not hard to do. You don’t need a degree from a Bible school to do it; you don’t need to be able to quote Scripture or teach a Bible study lesson to be qualified. You simply need to make a commitment to be present in a person’s life; just be there for them, and by your presence you will communicate God’s love. That’s what people need more than anything else.

Not long ago I was introduced to a new term: the ministry of presence. A young couple in our church had begun a ministry to the homeless people they encounter on the streets of Chicago around where they live. It began simply by reaching out to one or two, talking to them, inviting them to church, providing Sunday lunch for them, and it grew to over 60 homeless people they served every weekend. I love their story because it’s such a clear example of what Jesus would do. Jesus would see the needs on his doorstep, as Justin and Tara did, and he would start helping them in any way he could. In telling us their story, Justin said that he has come to understand what The Ministry of Presence means. He made it a habit to invite one of his homeless friends to run errands with him, when possible, which he did one day. As they made rounds that day, the homeless man said to him, “All my life I’ve been told I am worthless and no good, but I don’t believe that anymore.” Justin asked him why, and he said, “Because if I was worthless, you wouldn’t hang out with me.” Justin’s willingness to simply be with this man gave him a new understanding of his worth as a person. Justin went on to say that what homeless people need more than anything else is not money or food, but it is a relationship—someone to simply be with them and care about them. You know, that’s true of most of us, isn’t it? You and I need other people in our lives just to validate our worth. Can you imagine how you would feel if you believed that other people did not want to be with you? The ministry of presence is real—and it’s just what Jesus would do—what he did do when he was on earth. Think of the many stories in the Gospels where Jesus was just “hanging out” with people—some of whom were considered undesirable. There was Zacchaeus and Mary Magdalene and the woman who anointed him with oil, to mention just a few. This is one ministry you can embrace—the ministry of presence. You and I can simply choose to be present in the lives of people who need to know they are loved by us and by God. You don’t have to preach or teach or solve their problems; you just need to be there for them and then see what God will do through you.

For forty years now God has given me the unbelievable opportunity to talk to you by radio and encourage you to believe that God's Word is relevant to every need of your life. Quite frankly, no one is more surprised than I am to discover that our programs are now broadcast on over 400 stations and outlets across the nation and internationally. I never ever would have guessed that God could or would allow me such privileges. You see, I really blew it big time. After being raised in a wonderful Christian home and accepting Jesus into my life at an early age, after a Christian education and good churches all my life, after much Bible teaching and knowledge, I chose to put God on the back seat of my life and do my own thing, as we say. And for ten long years I walked away from my commitment to the Lord and lived a life that brought no glory to God and damaged my testimony for Jesus. So, as you listen to me, it should remind you that we serve the God of second chances. Sometimes I think maybe that's one major reason God has chosen to bless me with this ministry—to demonstrate that he is this gracious God of second chances. I am living proof that your life can be meaningful, exciting, and fulfilling, even though I made a thorough mess for a long time. God has miraculously salvaged me. I want to encourage you to know that you serve the God of second chances. The Bible gives many stories of people who, like me, needed a second chance and God gave it to them. Let’s take a look at some of these people who were living in God's plan "B" for their lives, for I believe it will teach us anew never to underestimate the power of the God we serve and what he is able to do with any mess we can make, and never to give up on anyone else. No one is beyond the power of the grace of God. Remember Rahab? Most any time her name is mentioned, her infamous title accompanies it: Rahab the Harlot! Well, we really should never refer to her with that title any longer because God gave her a second chance and brought her out of that sinful life and used her mightily. You'll find her story in Joshua 2. Rahab went the way of a lot of women of her day. She had to earn a living and she chose the world's oldest profession. We aren't told too many details of her early life, but we know she lived this life of sin for many years. But through a series of events, she bargained for her life with the two spies from the people of God, hid them in her home in exchange for protection for her family, and survived the slaughter and destruction of her country. Well, that's a good enough story as it is, but it doesn't end there. She marries one of those Israelites and becomes a foremother in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Her name is listed in Hebrews 11 as a great woman of faith. What a comeback! From a notorious harlot to the grandmother—many times removed—of Jesus Christ. Maybe you have a past of which you are ashamed. Could it be that for many years you lived a life of sin and you feel dirty and tainted as a result? If so, I want you to think about Rahab today and remember that God gives second chances to people with sordid pasts. You see, the enemy will try to hinder you and handicap you because of your past. He would have preferred that you never find forgiveness for that sin, but since you've done that already, at least he hopes to keep you mired in guilt and rotten memories. But dear friend, if you've asked God to forgive you, that past is behind you, he remembers it no more, and he wants you to go forward, free from guilt, with a new slate and a second chance. He's the God of second chances; he's just as willing to give you a second chance as he was with Rahab—and with me. Let God take the guilt of your past, put it under his precious blood, and set you free to see what he can do with you. It's never too late, and nothing is too hard for the Lord. One of my favorite people in the Bible is Peter. You know why?

You know, everybody needs encouragement and help at times, don't they? As I read 2 Corinthians 7, I realized that even the great Apostle Paul had his bad times when he needed other people. We read in verse 5 that Paul says: For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. Doesn't that describe the way you feel at times? Conflicts without, fears within? But this is the spiritual giant, Paul, and it surprises us to realize he would have these same feelings. Well, we really need to remember that positions of prominence do not isolate anyone from being human. Paul was tired and fearful. He needed help. Where did his help come from? He goes on to say, "But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus.” He needed a friend at his side to comfort him, and so, Titus came along. We could say to Paul, "But wasn't it enough to have the Lord there?” And Paul would respond, "The Lord was there in the person of Titus. He comforted me by sending Titus." Yes indeed, that's how the body of Christ should function. God wants to use us in each other's lives as messengers of comfort and encouragement, to pick each other up at those weary and frightened moments of our lives. God has given us each other for that purpose. Paul goes on to say that he was comforted by the good report Titus brought to him of the concern for his welfare by his friends in Corinth. Paul needed to know that they cared, that they hadn't forgotten him, that they still loved him. How often do we miss these opportunities to be God's comfort in the lives of others? How often do we need to be by a friend's side when they're experiencing dark days? Or send a message to them—by email, on the phone—just to say, I care. Hallmark Cards has coined the phrase, "When you care enough to send the very best.” When we as Christians care enough about each other, we can send our very best, which is the comfort of God pouring through us to those who need it. Is there someone in your life today that needs a Titus? Ask God to show you and allow him to use you as his agent of comfort and encouragement.

We are examining the people who tend to bring out the worst in us. One reason God allows those people in our lives is to help us see our hidden errors for the purpose of changing us. But the other side of this coin is to ask ourselves if we bring out the worst in others. That is not the kind of person I want to be, how about you? I want to be someone who brings out the best in others. Now, think about it, does your presence in a situation tend to soothe matters, or do you often just make things worse? Jesus tells us we should be peacemakers, bringing peace into the small wars that go on between people every day. Do you do that? For instance, if there's an argument on your job between two other people, do you try to make peace in a helpful way? Often, we can bring out the best in others by giving deserved compliments or recognition, focusing on the positive in them rather than the negative. So often others will improve their performance or their attitude if someone just gives them a little recognition or praise. You can bring out the best in others by commending them when you can. In Proverbs 15, we see that a cheerful look brings joy to the heart. You can bring out the best in others by something as simple as a smile. You can help them cope better or feel better by the look on your face. Proverbs 12:18 says reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. And Proverbs 15:1 tells us that a gentle answer turns away wrath. It's easy to see that the words you speak can either bring out the worst or best in people. If you respond to someone with sharp and uncaring words, in a rushed or hasty manner, it can easily cause them to respond back to you in a poor way. But by choosing your words carefully, it's amazing how you can change that other person and bring out the best in them. When you're dealing with someone who is angry or upset, your goal should be to bring out the best in that person, to help him or her calm down. You can do that by being empathetic and sympathetic: "I'm so sorry you've had a problem.” Or "I can certainly understand how you feel.” You can help to calm someone down by controlling the tone of your voice, keeping it calm and kind. You can bring out the best in this angry person sometimes by simply listening and caring about the problem. Those are little things that bring out the best in people. Don't you think we could impact our world for Jesus Christ if we more and more became people who bring out the best in others? Ask God to make you that kind of Christian.

Have you ever said something like, "She just brings out the worst in me!"? It really is true certain people and certain circumstances seem to bring out the worst in us. Did you ever think that there might be a reason for that? In Psalm 19:12, David wrote: Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Then he goes on to pray in verse 13: Keep your servant also from willful sins... We see David was dealing with two types of sin and error in his life: Ones hidden to him that he could not even see, and ones that were willful. Of course, David's not the only one who has these two areas of sin in his life; we all do. We all understand the need to deal with the errors that are blatant; the ones we know about. But what about those hidden errors? Many times, these are things in our lives which never are changed because we just don't see them. "Who can discern his errors?" David asks. In other words, it's not easy to see them for yourself. So, what does God do for us? He sends people into our lives that bring out the worst in us. Here's a person in your life that causes you to be angry every time that person is in your presence. It seems like you say something hateful or unkind to him or her all the time. The truth is no one is in your life by accident, and those people who bring out the worst in you are there to show you those hidden errors, so you are no longer blind to them. Think about it: Who are the people that bring out the worst in you? Or perhaps it's a certain type of person that brings out the worst in you. Can you identify some of those people or types? Inept and dense people bring out the worst in me. I tend to have very judgmental attitudes toward them. When I analyze that, I realize it's the sin of pride, thinking I'm better than someone else. Wow, those hidden errors! Underneath them we'll discover all kinds of wrong attitudes that need to be changed. One of my regular prayers is to ask God to show me my hidden errors. It's a good prayer, so I encourage you to pray the same. And then every time you're around someone who brings out the worst in you, stop and realize God is answering your prayer and showing you your hidden errors, so that you can become more Christ-like.

I know that at this time of year many people are especially lonely. Psalm 68:6 says, "God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.” I have found this verse to be exactly true in my life. As I have allowed God to make a home for me and to accept his presence as sufficient in my life, I have been set free from the awful heaviness of loneliness. That verse says only the rebellious dwell in a parched land. When we refuse to allow God to be our cure for loneliness, when we continue to try to do it our way and fill the empty void with people and activities, we'll continue to find loneliness our companion. Your feelings of loneliness may be because you are still rebelling against God's answers. You don't like the idea of learning to let him fill up your empty time and change your lonely feelings. As long as you continue to rebel, you will continue to live in that parched land of loneliness. There’s no doubt God created us for fellowship and companionship, and we need people in our lives, too. When Jesus was facing crucifixion, he took his three closest companions with him while he prayed. He needed God’s presence, and he needed their presence and support. The Apostle Paul spoke of his need to be with his companions and his encouragers. If you are lonely because you don’t have a good friend or friends or they’re not nearby, I would remind you that you have to reach out to others and be a friend in order to have friends. Ask yourself what you could do for someone else to be their friend and to meet their need, instead of waiting for someone to be your friend. We reap what we sow—that’s a biblical principle. If you want friendships, sow friendships; become a friend to others. Loneliness can be very crippling, and it is at epidemic levels these days, but you can take positive steps—by God’s grace—to overcome those depressing feelings of loneliness. Of course, the most important step to take is to spend time developing your relationship with Jesus through Bible study and prayer. He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother, and believe me, he is capable of filling that lonely space inside of you.

Merry Christmas! Perhaps you’re gathering with family to open gifts and eat great food, or maybe it’s a quiet day for you. However, you are celebrating today, the team here at The Christian Working Woman is here to wish you a blessed day. We just want to send you words of joy, reminding us of the miracle we are celebrating today. I’ll begin with this passage from Mary’s Magnificat, the amazing words she spoke as she visited her cousin Elizabeth. Here she is, a very young woman who will bear the Son of God, and she said: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name (Luke 1:46-49). Here’s a familiar passage from the prophet Isaiah: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:5-7). And the Apostle Paul said this: Who, [Jesus Christ] being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:6-11). Remember—you are deeply loved by the Savior of the world who came to sacrifice himself for our sake. Let me close with this reminder that what we are truly celebrating today is that Jesus is our salvation: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Merry Christmas!

Did you realize that celebrating the birth of our Savior as we do began in the fourth century. There is no requirement in Scripture to celebrate Christmas, and yet it is one of the largest—if not the largest—holiday celebration for most people. Well, we’re going to talk about why we celebrate Christmas. The entire staff of The Christian Working Woman is with me now.

I am examining what it means to enjoy your forgiveness—to live in the incredible truth that when you confess and forsake your sins, God freely forgives and furthermore, he remembers them against you no more. They are removed from you as far as the East is from the West—and of course, the East and West can never meet. In 1 John 2:12, we read: I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. Your forgiven sins have been forgiven for the honor of Jesus’ name. This is all done for God’s glory. Living in the joy of your forgiveness, testifying that God has forgiven you, enjoying your forgiveness is what God wants for his children—those who are born from above through faith in Jesus Christ. I want to close with a quote from an article I read by Luke Roland: The truth is, Christianity as a religion really has only one participant and that is Jesus. We are not participants, but recipients. We receive, and we receive the most amazing gift we could ever receive, which is forgiveness. This is why I believe it is important for us right now to understand our justification and to take our forgiveness very seriously, so we are not tossed around by a new false doctrine. And that false doctrine is forgiveness is something you have to earn or work for. You have to pay for your sins, your mistakes, your wrong choices. And then of course, you can never enjoy your forgiveness, because you can never pay for it or earn it. So, it’s a catch 22. But Jesus has come to set you free from that bondage. As Galatians 5:1 tells us: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. My prayer today is you will begin now to enjoy your forgiveness and keep learning to do that. You do that by bringing every thought into captivity—those thoughts of guilt and regret—grabbing them and replacing them with the truth that you are forgiven. Truth sets you free.

Think about this: We know from Scripture the joy of the Lord is our strength. If someone or something takes your strength away, what happens? Well, not much. Not long ago I went through a medical procedure that took my strength. I had to pretty much do nothing for a few days because my strength was gone. No doubt you have experienced the reality that without strength, you pretty much can’t do anything, right? What do you think the enemy wants to steal from you? He knows when your spiritual strength is missing, you lose your ability to get things done for Jesus. You lose your joyful countenance, your joyful attitude—those things that testify to others about your faith. Therefore, if he can, he is going to steal your joy, because that is the source of your spiritual strength. And how does he do that? Well, he has many ways of shooting that arrow that steals your joy. Honestly, it is one of his most effective weapons and one of his most subtle ones, because we often don’t see he is behind our loss of joy. We don’t recognize that flaming arrow he shoots at us. And when you are living in regret, under a cloud of guilt from sins that have been confessed and forgiven, your joy is greatly diminished—stolen. And that debilitates you; it cripples you; it puts you on the sidelines; saps your spiritual strength and pretty soon you just want to quit. You feel unworthy and unlovable, and you’ve lost the joy of your salvation. The enemy is watching all this and patting himself on the back because that flaming arrow he shot got you, stole your joy, and kept you from enjoying God’s forgiveness. So, if that describes where you are lately, I’m hoping your take-away today will be that you will, with God’s help, begin to enjoy your forgiveness. You will start to understand the enemy’s tactics to keep you in regret and realize it dishonors the one who has purchased your forgiveness, Jesus Christ. He has given you the gift of forgiveness, just as he said he would, but you are not living in the joy and the peace and the strength that is your birthright as a child of God.

I’m examining the forgiveness God gives us—forgiveness that is full and complete. Unlike most humans, he never holds our past sins over our heads, reminding us again and again of how badly we failed. People tend to do that, but not God. I’m looking at God’s forgiveness—the fact that he remembers our sins against us no more. But many times we just don’t and won’t let go of it. Have you been wallowing around in the regrets of your past sins? True, you may be living with some of the consequences, but there’s no reason for you to let confessed sin hang over your head like a dark cloud. When that happens, you are not enjoying your forgiveness. It’s as though you’ve forgotten God has forgiven you, or you think he still intends to punish you for it. Perhaps you are just so sorry it happened that you can’t put it behind you. God is not honored in that way, is he? Maybe you’re wondering what it means to enjoy your forgiveness. Well, consider this. We know salvation is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8–9 says: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. So, when you receive a gift, how does it make you feel? It’s free—you didn’t have to work for it or pay for it or earn it. You couldn’t if you tried. It’s a gift. If I gave you a gift and you didn’t enjoy it, how would that make me feel? I would be disappointed, right? I mean, when I choose to give someone a gift, the greatest joy for me is seeing that they like it, they want it, and they are enjoying it. God gives us the gift of forgiveness—without charge—even though we don’t deserve it, and he loves to see us enjoy our gift of forgiveness. It certainly does not please God when you don’t let go of your regrets from the past. God wants you to enjoy his forgiveness and be thankful for it and go forward in your walk with him. Living under the cloud of your past sins steals your joy, robs you of peace, and makes you less effective in Kingdom work—less capable of doing the good works he planned for you to do. Are you enjoying your forgiveness? That’s the question, and I hope you will give it much thought and determine by God’s grace to refuse to let the enemy keep you under a cloud of regret from confessed sins that have been forgiven.

Are you enjoying your forgiveness? When the enemy of our soul can’t keep us from confessing our sins to our forgiving God, he’ll try to keep us from enjoying the truth that when God forgives us, he remembers it against us no more. But of course, in order to do that, you have to confess whatever sin is in your life, forsake it, and ask God to forgive you. And the good news is he is always willing to forgive us. 1 John 1:9 makes that very clear. It says, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. I believe a Christian who is refusing to confess known sin and keeps hanging on—even if it seems small and not important—is more miserable than a person who is not a follower of Jesus Christ and indulging in the same sin. It’s the Holy Spirit within us that becomes very uncomfortable—or offended or grieved—when we harbor unconfessed sin. The first thing is to make sure you have confessed your sin, turned from it, and you know God has forgiven you. Make sure of that. But maybe you’re thinking that you have done that, and yet, you keep asking God again and again to forgive you for what he has already forgiven. Does that describe you? If so, I would remind you God has chosen to remember your sins no more once they are forgiven and forsaken. Therefore, who are you to keep bringing them up, living in regret, and refusing to enjoy the forgiveness you have received? I understand God is probably the only one who can truly erase his memory if he chooses to. You and I in these earthly bodies with our sin natures, we just don’t have that miraculous power to totally forget. I get that. But we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, so it is possible to enjoy your forgiveness instead of letting your past hang over you like a dark cloud, robbing you of peace and joy.

Do you find it difficult to believe God has truly forgiven you? I think there are just too many people who carry around guilt even after they’ve asked God to forgive them. They still live in the “if onlys” of life and imagine what their lives would have been “if only” they had not made a wrong choice. I want us to look on the other side of forgiveness today—when we have personally been forgiven and yet we don’t seem to enjoy that forgiveness. This thought came to me in one of my daily prayer zoom meetings which we’ve been having with the women in my church since COVID shut us down. This dear woman asked God to forgive her because she knew she was forgiven by him, yet she wasn’t enjoying her forgiveness. I immediately thought of many people I know who would fall into that category—including myself at times. I remember a time many years ago now, when I had come back to full fellowship with the Lord after a long period of chasing my dreams and living my life my way. I was truly sorry for my wayward ways and had confessed them. I knew that God had forgiven me, but one day as I was praying, some of those past sins just came flooding back into my mind. I was once again ashamed and embarrassed and so regretful that I had allowed those sins into my life. I started asking God once again for forgiveness, specifically confessing them. And honestly, the voice of God’s Spirit to me that day was almost audible, as I heard him say, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Isaiah 43:25 says: I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Have you ever tried to erase something from your memory? We all have things we would like to forget, but we just can’t totally erase things from our memories—at least not the things we’d like to erase. Have you discovered that the things you’d like to forget are the things that hang around your mind, and at the same time you forget lots of good things that you should remember? It’s a common human problem; we remember what we should forget and forget what we should remember. And who do you think aids and abets us in that process? The enemy of our soul, Satan himself. If he can keep us mired in the regrets from yesterday, in the guilt we insist on carrying with us even though God has forgiven us, then he steals our joy, robs our peace, and keeps us in bondage to the past. So, that’s why I want to encourage you to enjoy your forgiveness.

Presented by Lisa Bishop I read a story of forgiveness about a woman whose husband was kidnapped and tortured. In her words she was in a “living hell” as the captors demanded ransom money she did not have and sent her photos of her husband enduring unspeakable evil at the hands of the men who captured him. For 30 long weeks her husband experienced cruel and unusual punishment. As I read her story, I could feel the anguish in my own soul for all of the pain and loss she and her husband endured. Forgiveness was a journey for her, but she realized she was harming herself by holding onto hatred and over time got to a place where she felt empathy, forgave the men, and released herself from her self-contained prison of unforgiveness. I cannot even imagine going through something so nightmarish and yet this is what she said. Now I remind myself daily to apply forgiveness to my everyday life while driving, while in the grocery store, and at home with my family. Every time I feel myself going into anger or judgment, I instead choose empathy and forgiveness. I get better at it every day. This woman’s story is an extreme example and most of us may not experience what she endured. But the fact that she could get to a place of forgiveness is an example for you and me. Jesus is our ultimate example of extending forgiveness. Our Christian faith requires us to forgive so we must work at it and be willing. At some point in our lives we all will experience feelings of unforgiveness. Anger, resentment, bitterness, or perhaps even hatred towards another person. Maybe in this very moment there are people in your life that you are refusing to forgive or maybe you have tried to let go of hurt or hard feelings but you find yourself having a really difficult time. First off, you are not alone. Forgiveness is something we have all struggled with at one time or another, and while forgiveness is a fundamental of the Christian faith, sometimes it is easier said than done. I am not an expert on forgiveness, in fact I have had to overcome my own obstacles to forgive when I have been hurt. For years I worked to forgive someone that I experienced as very toxic. While I did not want to hold onto my ill feelings towards the person, it was challenging. I prayed, I read the Word asking God to help me. I even hired a coach to help me work through my feelings of anger and bitterness. It took some really hard work over time. You may have experienced things in your life that seem unforgivable; tremendous loss and tragedy caused at the hands of another person. More common are the day-to-day rubs, miscommunication or insensitivities we have toward each other that can fester into unforgiveness. Whether a minor offense or major violation, forgiveness can feel like a hard pill to swallow. But it’s the crux of the Gospel message. Romans 5:8: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” And Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” These are only two of the 125+ references to forgiveness in the Bible. Forgiveness is a big deal to God and it is meant to be a daily practice for followers of Jesus. Living a lifestyle of forgiveness is what you and I are called to. Letting go of hurts and surrendering them to Jesus is non-negotiable. But let’s face it, relationships can be messy at times. Our marriages, friendships, family, and work relationships are vulnerable to the venom of unforgiveness if we are not mindful. Speaking of venom, if you were bit by a snake (I hope that never happens to you), what would you do first? Stomp on the snake and yell at it, or would you try to suck the venom out of you? My guess is your first action would be to get rid of the poison in your body. Unforgiveness is like poison flowing through your veins and the best thing to do is to eliminate it.

(presented by Lisa Bishop) Do you find it hard to admit when you are wrong? This week we have been talking about forgiveness, and today, I want to talk about playing your part in restoring and strengthening relationships through the power of an apology. If we are honest, we can be prone to refusing to humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness for our misgivings. We have a tendency not to see our faults but to be quick to point out the transgressions of others. But as a follower of Jesus, we are called as 1 Peter 5:5-6 says, Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. When you come clean and confess your shortcomings, you humble yourself before God. Confession is not only the right thing to do, it is the righteous thing to do. Whether you gossiped about a coworker, lost your temper with a teammate, or neglected to follow-through on a commitment to a friend or family member, take responsibility for your failure. As a first step, heed the words of 1 John 1:8-10. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. Confess your sin to God, and then come clean with the person you hurt or offended. Take responsibility for your error. And when you do, be specific about what you are asking to be forgiven for. For example, with a co-worker you might say, “I was wrong when I talked over you in the meeting. Will you forgive me?” Or when talking to a loved one, “I was impatient and overreacted. That is not how I want to be. Our relationship is important to me, will you forgive me?” The key to apologizing is to be sincere and to make sure your admission is heartfelt, knowing that when you behave poorly it grieves the heart of God in addition to driving a wedge in relationships. While a sincere apology will not guarantee that you will be given grace, a genuine request for forgiveness can be the start of a renewed relationship. Rather than settling for a fractured friendship, be humble, move toward reconciliation, and do your part to repair the damage and restore connection.

(presented by Lisa Bishop) Did you know forgiveness is referenced more than 125 times in the Bible? If forgiveness is so important to God, then why do we struggle with it? Why can it be so hard to bury the hatchet and pardon people, to forgive them for an error or offense? I think one reason is pride. We think too highly of ourselves and hold others to a higher standard than we are willing to hold ourselves to. We forget that just as others fall short, we all fall short of the glory of God with our mishaps. Proverbs 16:18 says, Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. I’m sorry to say pride and my attitude of arrogance have blinded me at times and led me to believe I am better than others. With thoughts of “I cannot believe they did that,” leading to judgment and a feeling of superiority; when I know darn well that I am less than perfect, too. A key to forgiveness is allowing other people to be imperfect and make mistakes. Make allowance for other people’s faults just as you would want them to do for you. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, ...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Throw off every weight that hinders you. It’s like being in a boat and you just cannot seem to get anywhere until you intentionally pull up the anchor. Unforgiveness is an anchor and when left unchecked it is heavy and it hinders. Pride impedes our relationship with God and others. Pride can cause you to hold people’s shortcomings over them. And in some ways, I think unforgiveness can be an attempt to control another person. We think if we withhold forgiveness we can inflict hurt and pain—and while that may be true—the one who really suffers is you.’ I once heard it said, “Our response to offense determines our future.” Make it your goal to be quick to forgive just as God in Christ Jesus has forgiven you. Don’t let your future be governed by the bondage of unforgiveness. You are not alone on your journey of forgiveness. I know some of us have experienced pretty horrific things in life and I am always amazed when I hear stories of forgiveness from those who have experienced great loss at the hands of others. It’s only by the power of Jesus that we can fully forgive, and forgiveness is an act of faith.

(presented by Lisa Bishop) Are you grieving the Holy Spirit? Did you know that unforgiveness grieves the Holy Spirit? Ephesians 4:29-33 tells us, Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” To grieve means “to cause to feel sorrow, pain, unhappiness, or distress.” As the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit has a personality and the ability to feel emotions. Sometimes we can forget God is a personal God. We disregard the fact that Jesus is relational and the Holy Spirit feels. The Holy Spirit grieves when we sin and behave in ways unbecoming of a follower of Jesus. When we hold onto bitterness and anger and have malice in our hearts through unforgiveness, we hamper our relationship with God. When you do not forgive you forgo the full power of the Holy Spirit working through you. But remember when you struggle to forgive, the Holy Spirit is right there to help you. In John 14:15-16, Jesus says, If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. You have the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, ready to help you 24/7/365. Forgiving others is possible and it flows from your fellowship with God. When you abide in Jesus you become like him. You think, feel, speak, and act like him. When you spend time in his word, the Holy Spirit speaks to you through scripture. You grow in sensitivity to hear God’s voice and he matures you, softens you, and sanctifies you. So, give up grieving God through unforgiveness and grow in forgiving as God in Christ forgave you. Forgiveness is hard work. But the more you do it, the easier it will get! And I am growing right alongside you.

(presented by Lisa Bishop) Are you giving the enemy permission to disrupt your peace? I want to examine a way you may be giving Satan a wide-open invitation to harass you and mess with your internal harmony. Unforgiveness. I know the topic of forgiveness is a familiar one, but the real question is this, “Is the practice of forgiveness a part of your life?” As a follower of Christ, it is one thing to know you are called to forgive, but do you actually practice what the Bible preaches? Ephesians 4:26-27 says, In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. When you give the devil a foothold, it means you are giving the enemy an opportunity. Anger is a byproduct of holding onto unforgiveness, and if you do not forgive, anger will get a hold of you. The devil will use it as an opportunity to influence your life, to control or manipulate you. Anger and unforgiveness are powerful and destructive emotions when we let them run wild and do not run to the cross. I’ll never forget a conference I went to several years ago. The speaker was talking about anxiety and depression and the link to unforgiveness. The bottom line is that unforgiveness can meddle with your mental health. When someone you care about hurts you, you can hold on to anger and resentment—or embrace forgiveness and move forward. Making the intentional decision to let go of resentment and bitterness has been proven to decrease stress and anxiety, lessen symptoms of depression, improve heart health, lower blood pressure, strengthen your immune system, and improve your mental health. Forgiveness is a prerequisite for a healthy life and flourishing relationships, and it is also a command from God. Your father knows best! God knows the impact of unforgiveness, and he wants you to experience the fullness of life in Jesus. So don’t give the devil a foothold. Now, forgiveness doesn't mean excusing the harm done to you. But working on forgiveness will lessen its grip on you. Remember, we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. Ask God to help you release your offender so you can be set free from the weight of holding on to hurt. I have heard unforgiveness referred to as the bait of Satan. Give your feelings to God and ask him to replace them with understanding, empathy, and compassion for the person. Make a practice of forgiveness. Keep short accounts and don’t take the bait.

(presented by Lisa Bishop) Is your life a witness of forgiveness? When someone lies about you, a friend or family member betrays you, or a coworker speaks harsh or dismissive words, do you extend grace and work to forgive, or are you prone to hold onto a grudge? 1 John 2:9-10 says, Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. These verses are speaking specifically to and about our relationship with fellow believers. But the call to love and live in the light of Jesus applies to every relationship and interaction we have. The Apostle John is teaching that you cannot say you love Jesus and live in his power when you are harboring hatred. You may be saying, “I don’t hate anyone.” Hate is a strong word, but let’s not get hung up on that because John is juxtaposing hate with the ultimate command to love. Anything other than love, even the slightest dislike for someone can have us walking in darkness. Along with hatred, comes some form of unforgiveness, which is a stumbling block. You cannot walk in the light and hate at the same time, and hate has a way of ruling our lives. The power of the Gospel rests on the forgiveness you and I received by the atoning blood of Jesus. He shed his blood for people who slapped him, spit at him, mocked him, yelled cruel words. These were people who threatened his life and ultimately hung him on a cross. When you forgive others, your life becomes a witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When you forgive, your life become a witness to the forgiveness and saving grace of Jesus. In his final days on earth, in the very throws of being betrayed and hunted down by his enemies, Jesus leaves his disciples with these words. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another (John 13:34-35). As the saying goes, “Actions speak louder than words.” How we treat each other speaks louder than the Christian doctrines we teach. Let your life be an overflow to the supernatural love of God. Let your life be a witness of forgiveness.

If you’re finding it hard to find just the right gift for someone you know, I’ve got a suggestion for the best possible gift. You can afford it and yet it is priceless. The gift I’m talking about is the gift of forgiveness. Here’s a story that illustrates this as told by John William Smith. The Christmas of 1949 we didn’t have a tree. My dad had as much pride as anybody, I suppose, so he wouldn’t just say that we couldn’t afford one. When I mentioned it, my mother said that we weren’t going to have one this year, that we couldn’t afford one, and even if we could – it was stupid to clutter up your house with a dead tree. I wanted a tree badly though, and I thought – in my naïve way – that if we had one, everybody would feel better. Taking matters into my own hands, about three days before Christmas, I was out collecting for my paper route. It was fairly late – long after dark – it was snowing and very cold. I went to the apartment building to try to catch a customer who hadn’t paid me for nearly two months – she owed me seven dollars. Much to my surprise, she was home. She invited me in and not only did she pay me, she gave me a dollar tip! It was a windfall for me – I now had eight whole dollars. What happened next was totally unplanned. On the way home, I walked past a Christmas tree lot and the idea hit me. The selection wasn’t very good because it was so close to the holiday, but there was this one real nice tree. It had been a very expensive tree and no one had bought it; now it was so close to Christmas that the man was afraid no one would. He wanted ten dollars for it, but when I – in my gullible innocence – told him I only had eight, he said he might sell it for that. I really didn’t want to spend the whole eight dollars on the tree, but it was so pretty that I finally agreed. I dragged it all the way home – about a mile, I think – and I tried hard not to damage it or break off any limbs. The snow helped to cushion it, and it was still in pretty good shape when I got home. You can’t imagine how proud and excited I was. I propped it up against the railing on our front porch and went in. My heart was bursting as I announced that I had a surprise. I got Mom and Dad to come to the front door and then I switched on the porch light. Surprise!! "Where did you get that tree?" my mother exclaimed. But it wasn’t the kind of exclamation that indicates pleasure. "I bought it up on Main Street. Isn’t it just the most perfect tree you ever saw?" I said, trying to maintain my enthusiasm. "Where did you get the money?" Her tone was accusing, and it began to dawn on me that this wasn’t going to turn out as I had planned. "From my paper route." I explained about the customer who had paid me. "And you spent the whole eight dollars on this tree?" she exclaimed. She went into a tirade about how stupid it was to spend my money on a dumb tree that would be thrown out and burned in a few days. She told me how irresponsible I was and how I was just like my dad with all those foolish, romantic, noble notions about fairy tales and happy endings and that it was about time I grew up and learned some sense about the realities of life and how to take care of money and spend it on things that were needed and not on silly things. She said that I was going to end up in the poor house because I believe in stupid things like Christmas trees, things that didn’t amount to anything. I just stood there. My mother had never talked to me like that before and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I felt awful and I began to cry. Finally, she reached out and snapped off the porch light. "Leave it there," she said. "Leave that tree there till it rots, so every time we see it, we’ll all be reminded of how stupid the men in this family are.” Then she stormed up the stairs to her bedroom and we didn’t see her until the next day. Dad and I brought the tree in and we made a stand for it.

Are you a compassionate person? Jesus was. We read in Matthew 9:36 that: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” We're told that Jesus is touched with the feelings of our weaknesses because he was in all points tempted like we are (Hebrews 4:15). That continually comforts me, as I go to Jesus with my problems, knowing that he's walked this path before me, and he knows how I feel. That's how we become compassionate people—by putting ourselves in other people's shoes and feeling what they feel. I remember a sermon where the minister challenged us to ask God to break our hearts with the things that broke his heart. Jesus’ heart was broken when he saw harassed and helpless people, people who were without any purpose in life, people who had no compass for life, no meaning in life. Do you have any of those people working around you? They may be people who irritate you a great deal and even cause you considerable trouble. But if you looked beyond their behavior and truly saw their condition, like Jesus did, you might be able to have compassion on them. I’ve found that as soon as I can feel compassion for someone, as soon as I walk in their shoes even for a few minutes, my entire attitude changes. I respond very differently to someone for whom I feel compassion. I do things for someone for whom I have compassion that I wouldn’t do otherwise. And in the process, I reduce my own stress immensely as I take the focus off myself and put it on the other person. Maybe those harassed and helpless people are in your life for a reason. Perhaps they need your compassion today. Don’t you think it would be a good idea to ask God to help you recognize the people in your life who need some compassion today?

I’m offering some workday meditations this week. Short thoughts based on God’s Word, to encourage you and challenge you to keep on living out your faith where you work. Proverbs 24:17 tells us: “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice.” There was a time in my career when I worked for a very difficult man. I spent many unhappy days in that job because of the way he treated me and others. After about a year God revealed to me that I had great malice in my heart toward him. I certainly had never thought of myself as a malicious person, but there it was all over my heart: dirty, ugly malice. I wanted bad things to happen to him. I dreamed about him making some gigantic mistake and being fired. I wished and hoped he would get his “comeuppance.” That is malice. Years later after we had both left that company, I heard of some stumbles he had made. I guess you could say he got what was coming to him. What goes around comes around, and all that. But, by God’s grace, I had gotten rid of that malice toward him, and I was very saddened to hear that things were not going well for him. It brought no satisfaction or joy to learn that he had stumbled. We should never gloat over someone else’s misfortune, even if they brought it on themselves. First Corinthians 13 reminds us that love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Dig deep in your heart today and see if there is any malice hiding there. If so, get it cleaned out fast and let God’s love fill your heart instead. Just ask the Lord to reveal to you any attitude of malice or gloating and to keep you from rejoicing in evil, but rather give you a concerned heart for anyone who has stumbled.

Have you ever been “passed over” for a promotion or raise that you knew you deserved? If that has ever happened to you, I don’t have to tell you how discouraging it can be not to get credit for your contributions at work. And yet, these things happen all the time. We live and work in a world that is neither fair nor kind. That’s because the world is full of people who have a sin problem, including us! And that sin problem creates injustice of all sorts. Injustice is one of my toughest hurdles. I always want to fight when I think my rights or someone else’s rights are being violated. As you can imagine, this tendency has gotten me into some hot water and created not a few problems in my work life. Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free” (Ephesians 6:7-8). I have to remind myself that if I serve wholeheartedly as unto the Lord, the recognitions and rewards will come in due time. As Christians, we pick up our paychecks at our place of work, but our real job is to please the Lord and work for him. Our reward is waiting for us in heaven—but we can reap the benefits now, too. Just imagine how your stress level will drop as thoughts of vengeance and discontent are replaced with calm satisfaction over a job well done, and knowing that Jesus is pleased with you! So, my challenge to us all is to remember all day long that we report to Jesus, and he will reward his “good and faithful servants.”

I’m sharing some excerpts from a 30-day devotional I wrote a few years ago. Our scripture for today is Isaiah 35:3-4: “Encourage the exhausted and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart, "Take courage, fear not"” (Isaiah 35:3-4). Have you noticed that discouragement seems to be at epidemic levels? Most working environments are flooded with discouragement, and many times our homes are full of discouraging words. As Christians, being an encourager is not an option, it's a directive. Christians should be people who strengthen the feeble and exhausted with encouraging words. Can you think of someone in the feeble and/or exhausted category right now? Maybe it’s a co-worker or your manager. They may put on a face that says, "I have it all together and I don't need anyone.” But don't let that fool you. Just like you and me, they need to hear encouraging words, words of hope and cheer—and they need to hear them from you. We also need to encourage people who have failed. Barnabas was that kind of an encourager. When Mark had failed and the Apostle Paul didn't want to give him another chance, Barnabas insisted on allowing Mark to travel with them. So, when they could not agree, Paul went one way with Silas, and Barnabas and Mark went another way. Later on Paul asks Timothy to get Mark and bring him for "Mark is useful to me for service," he said. You don't have to fill in too many blanks to see what happened. Barnabas had taken Mark, taught him, encouraged him, and Mark had become a profitable servant of Jesus Christ. Obviously, Paul recognized this, too, and I imagine Paul learned a valuable lesson from Barnabas. It is really important to encourage people at times of failure. If you know someone who is struggling with failure, encourage them. They need to know that all is not lost, and they can go from where they are. My challenge to you is to encourage at least one feeble and exhausted person today.

I’m going to share some Workplace Meditations from a thirty-day devotional I wrote a few years ago. I think they’ll give you encouragement—and something to ponder each day. I want to talk about the power of “I’m sorry.” A good friend of mine told me that the biggest difference between her and her co-workers who are not Christians is that she apologizes a lot more than they do! She struggles with things in her life, just like you and I do. But she is willing to say, "I'm sorry," and I'm convinced her apologies are witnesses to the power of Jesus. Have you recently lost your temper with a co-worker, told a lie to your manager, or deceived a customer in some way? If so, your conscience probably hasn't stopped bothering you, and that’s good. When our own sin doesn’t bother us, we are in a very dangerous position. A prickling conscience is one way God prompts you to take advantage of his offer to forgive you and purify you; all you have to do is confess. Maybe you’re wondering how you could ever be a witness for Jesus since you know you've failed and others know you've failed and what's more, you may fail again. But everybody struggles with failure, and those who are not Christians have no good way to deal with the guilt that often accompanies failure. One of the best ways to witness is to own up to our own failures, make restitution where necessary, and share that God is a forgiving and restoring God. I can remember when God used a specific failure on my part to help a struggling Christian co-worker understand that God would forgive and restore him when he failed. I really blew it in front of him, and I didn't want to go back in that office. But God clearly told me to go back and be very honest about my failure, which is what I did. Obviously, it would have been better not to fail, but isn’t it great that God uses even our shortcomings? Don’t let some failure or fear of failure keep you from being a bold witness for Jesus. Remember, he can turn your ashes into beauty, if you will let him.

Have you been in a bookstore lately? If so, no doubt you’ve noticed that more and more the store is devoted to gifts and cards and less and less to books. Why is that? I suppose there are lots of reasons, but the facts are, reading books is becoming a lost art! Certainly, the internet and electronic media have contributed to this, and our ever-shortening attention spans as well. But reading a good book is one of the best gifts you can give yourself and others. I’m going to suggest a few classics that I highly recommend you read. I truly believe every Christian would benefit from reading these books. First, I want to recommend a book by C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity. As the title suggests, Dr. Lewis’s purpose was to present Christianity in its most basic form and explain why he had come from an atheistic belief to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. He was a wonderful, deep thinker and was called the most original Christian writer of the last century. Let me quote from the chapter entitled “What Christians Believe”: “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about (Jesus): ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.” That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with a patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” (Page 55-56) What an ingenious and brilliant summary of who Jesus claimed to be and indeed who he is. And this book is full of this kind of beautifully written truth and doctrine. If you haven’t read it yet, you can easily find a copy or download it. If you have read it, it’s well worth re-reading. Again, the name is Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis. He wrote many other wonderful books but started with this one. It should be on every Christian’s must-read list. Another book I consider a classic is Knowing God by J. I. Packer. I’ve read this book three or four times, and I tell you, it has definitely helped me get to know God better. Dr. Packer is a theological professor, but don’t worry—it is written in easy-to-understand and yet very rich words. Let me quote one of my favorite paragraphs—and it was difficult to choose only one, because virtually every page in my book is marked and highlighted: “There is unspeakable comfort—the sort of comfort that energizes, be it said, not enervates—in knowing that God is constantly taking knowledge of me in love and watching over me for my good. There is tremendous relief in knowing that His love to me is utterly realistic, based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about me, so that no discovery now can disillusion him about me, in the way I am so often disillusioned about myself, and quench His determination to bless me. There is, certainly, great cause for humility in the thought that He sees all the twisted things about me that my fellowmen do not see (and am I glad!), and that He sees more corruption in me than that which I see in myself (which, in all conscience, is enough). There is, however, equally great incentive to worship and love God in the thought that, for some unfathomable reason, He wants me as His friend and desires to be my friend and has given His Son to die for me in order to realize this purpose.” (P. 37) Dear friends, this is a book you need to read—more than once. Again, its title is Knowing God by J. I. Packer. The third book I want to recommend is a tiny book—you can easily read it in one...

Did you ever look around you on your job and see how many of your coworkers are just trudging through their job, hating every minute of it, griping and complaining about it all the time? That’s not an unusual scenario. As a Christian, you have a marvelous advantage over those you work with who don’t yet know Jesus as Savior. Do you know what that advantage is? It is the power of prayer. Advantage: Your job can be transformed into a ministry. The Bible teaches us that we can do everything we do to the glory of Jesus Christ. So, even those mundane, perhaps boring elements of your job, those things that don’t appear to have any eternal significance, can be transformed into meaningful activity through prayer. Here’s how that works. You begin praying about every aspect of your job and every person you deal with in your job. You ask God to bring glory to himself through your performance on your job. As you face each individual day, you pray for the agenda for that day, praying that you will be a good ambassador for Jesus Christ throughout the whole day. You ask God to use your words, your body language, the quality of your work effort, your attitude, and all your interactions with people as lights in a dark world. When you start praying like that on a daily basis, you will discover that God begins to use you in ways you can’t even imagine. People will ask you the most incredible questions that give you opportunities to share your faith. Others in need of comfort will talk to you, as you listen and show compassion. You’ll discover that mundane activity turns into meaningful conversations or quiet prayer meetings with you and the Lord. Then instead of dreading that job, or wishing you didn’t have to work there, you’ll begin to realize that God has a higher purpose for putting you there, and instead of just going to work every day, you’re going to a place of service, a ministry in the midst of the marketplace. Now, that makes it much easier to go to work each day. And it all begins with daily, on-going prayer on the job. It’s an advantage beyond belief. Don’t let it pass you by! I have written and published a Prayer Journal, and you may find that helpful in developing a deeper prayer life.

I’ve been pointing out some of our incredible advantages as believers in the workplace because we have the privilege of prayer. Here’s another one. Advantage: You can be positive in a negative world. While everyone else around you is griping and complaining all the time, you can remain positive and joyful because each day you can pray for God to control your thoughts. Every time you start to think or say something in negative mode, to complain about the company or the boss or a coworker, stop in the middle of that thought or sentence and turn it into a prayer. Instead of wallowing in the self-pity and negativity of the moment, you have the advantage of staying positive and joyful regardless of the circumstances. Advantage: You can be peaceful instead of stressed-out. Paul wrote to the Philippians: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). Because we have this invitation to present every anxious situation to God in prayer, we don’t have to be stressed out even when others are falling apart around us. Isn’t that an incredible benefit? Are you taking advantage of giving over all your anxiety to the Lord? I hope you’re not trying to carry that burden yourself. Jesus is ready to take your heavy burden and give you a light one, as soon as you present your situation to God in prayer. And when you do, the stress of the situation goes away. People pay tons of money to try to get rid of stress, and we have the secret weapon ready to be used at any time—prayer! It’s little wonder that our enemy does everything possible to keep us from praying very much, because he is fully aware of the great advantage we have through prayer. The power of heaven is unleashed in our world through prayer. The blessings of God are showered on us through prayer. The wisdom and guidance we need so often to make good decisions can be found in prayer. The comfort and assurance that keep us going come through prayer. It’s our secret weapon and our great advantage. What a shame when we don’t use it like we should.

What is your greatest advantage as a Christian in the workplace? You may be scratching your head, trying to think if you have an advantage. I want to assure you that you do, and that advantage is prayer. Advantage: You can deal with difficult people much better. Most of our frustrations are caused by people—right? So, what do you do when you’re dealing with a difficult coworker or boss or customer? Well, because we have the power of prayer as believers, we have an amazing advantage when it comes to dealing with people, even difficult ones. First, you want to pray for all the people in your work world regularly. Ask God to help you see those people the way he sees them. Call them by name and specifically pray for each of them as much as possible. Then, ask for wisdom on how to deal with the difficult relationships. Got a boss that seems impossible? Have you ever asked God to show you how to handle that boss? Or do you just gripe and complain about the boss? That won’t do any good, but prayer changes people! Whether it changes you or your boss or both, you’ll find it much easier to deal with a difficult boss when you devote daily prayer to that person. “A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will appease it” (Proverbs 16:14). A king represents those in authority over us, and when you have a difficult boss, one who gives messages of death, if you are wise, you can appease that boss. How can you be wise? “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). You can have the advantage of godly wisdom in knowing how to deal with difficult people. God’s wisdom is better than an advanced degree is business! I’ve been praying James 1:5 for years, recognizing my great need for wisdom in all areas. It began to dawn on me not long ago that I had made some pretty wise decisions, which didn’t really seem like me at all. Then I thought, “Well, of course; you’ve been asking God for wisdom, and he has answered your prayer.” It’s a great advantage to be able to pray for God’s wisdom.

Sometimes we Christians like to see ourselves as disadvantaged in our workday worlds. We can get a bit paranoid about being picked on or isolated or laughed at. But the truth is, as believers we have an immense advantage over non-believers in our work worlds, because we have a secret weapon: prayer. Our days go better when we start with prayer. Here’s another important benefit prayer affords us. Advantage: You have a way to deal with crises. All day long as a believer you can send up prayer to the Lord, silently and quickly. So, when anything unusual arises, when any problem surfaces or something is not going the way it should, you have this ever-present resource for help and guidance. This is one of your greatest benefits as a believer. When you face a crisis or some great need, you can pray right then and there, and God will guide you and comfort you and rescue you. Have you tried it on the job? Did you think God’s arm was too short to save you in a job-related problem? Never! When you don’t know the answer to a predicament, pray. When you’re faced with a task that seems too large, pray. When you can’t figure out what you should or should not do, pray. When it looks like things are going down the tubes, pray. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). The Lord is waiting to hear from you and deliver you out of your trouble. Now, I want to make it clear that prayer is not a magic wand we wave to demand God’s help. Prayer is not a method for persuading God to do what we want him to do. Prayer is the way we get in line with what God wants to do in any given situation. It is the way God changes us. It is the way we relinquish our worries and cares and allow God to be God in our lives.

I have really great news for those who are out there in the workplace every day. If you’re a disciple of Jesus Christ, if you belong to the Family of God, you have an incredible advantage in the workplace. You have a tool to use that guarantees you a leg-up in every situation you face. You have a weapon to fight with that is totally effective against any problem you encounter. Here’s your secret weapon, your great advantage: It is prayer! Have you been taking advantage of prayer on your job? I find that many believers don’t really pray about their jobs or on their jobs. Do you? I want to point out just some of the advantages you enjoy when you pray about your job. Advantage: Your day goes better with prayer. Since your day is won or lost in the morning hours, when you pray before your day begins, you have a great advantage all day long.  “. . . in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6). So, before your day begins, if you will acknowledge the Lord and seek his guidance for every detail of that day, your path will be straight, no matter what happens. Those who don’t know the Lord have to try to take care of everything in their own strength. They have to worry about the unknown and the uncontrollable. But for us who know Jesus as Savior, he carries all those burdens for us, so we have an immense advantage. Do you start your workdays with prayer? If not, you’re depriving yourself of many benefits. I encourage you to begin this discipline right away. Think through the day ahead. Pray for the people you will be working with and for. Ask God for wisdom in dealing with them, praying for their individual needs as you know them. Think about the schedule you have for the day, your workload. Ask God for strength to get it all done and help in setting appropriate priorities. Pray that your words will be carefully chosen; that you will speak the truth in love. If you will cover your day in detail with prayer, you will see miracles, big and small. It gives you a marvelous advantage!

You may have noticed the term "first fruits" as you read the Bible. The dictionary definition of "first fruits" tells us that it is the first products or results of anything. It embodies the idea of "cream of the crop," "putting your best foot forward," "giving it your best shot.” In the Old Testament Moses used the term first fruits when he was establishing the laws relating to sacrifices. God gave the law through Moses to guide the children of Israel, and they were to live by these laws very carefully. When Jesus the Messiah came, he fulfilled the law, and we no longer are required to practice those rituals and sacrificial offerings, which foreshadowed Jesus Christ. However, we can learn a great deal from those laws and use them as guiding principles in our own lives. And this principle of bringing the first fruits is certainly one that is applicable to us. In Exodus 23 Moses was giving instructions about the three annual festivals which were to be observed each year, and one of those was the Feast of Harvest. This was a festival to celebrate their crops, very similar, I would think, to the original meaning of our Thanksgiving Day celebration. For this Feast of Harvest, Moses clearly instructed the people to bring the first fruits of their crops, the best of the fruits of their soil. In other words, leftovers were definitely out. They must bring to God their best and keep for themselves what was left over. Now, you and I don't bring crops to the Lord—at least not many of us do. I can tell you that on my trips to Kenya, I have often been in church meetings where people brought their crops as an offering. But most of us don’t bring crops to God as a thank offering. So, what are the things we bring to God as a thank offering, to give to him for use in his service? The first thing that comes to mind is time. What would it mean to us to bring the first fruits of our time? Well, I think that it means, in part, to start each day by giving God those early moments, those first moments. The Psalmist wrote: "Satisfy me in the morning with your unfailing love, that I may sing for joy and be glad all day long" (Psalm 90:14). And again, "In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation"(Psalm 5:3). I have those two verses written on the first page of my prayer journal, to remind me of how important it is to spend those first fruit hours with the Lord. In my Bible study entitled "A Guide on Getting to Know God," I suggest a challenge to give God the first hour of your day. At a time in my life when I desperately needed help to make it through the day, God taught me this principle, which has made a huge difference in my life. That habit of bringing to God the first hour of my day has been life-changing for me. Tell me, what is your first hour like each day? Wait 'til the last minute to put your feet on the floor, and then rush and dash to get to work on time? The way you start your day sets the pattern for how that day will go, for what you will think about during the day. It is true that your day is won or lost in the morning hours. I want to strongly encourage you to be willing to give God the first fruits of your day, that first bright hour. Now, I can hear some of you saying to me, "But, Mary, I need my sleep!” And that's absolutely right; you do. So, maybe you have to get to bed a little earlier, huh? Or maybe you're thinking, "An hour is too much. I can't spare an hour.” Well, there's no law that says it has to be an hour, but you can't rush in and out of God's presence with your shopping list, like the local supermarket, and expect that to make any difference in your life. That's not giving God first fruits; when we rush in and out it's another form of leftovers for God. It's been my experience that an hour is a good starting place but if that seems too much, then start with half an hour. If you don't have an hour for God,

I hope you had a thankful day yesterday. Actually, I hope you have a thankful day every day. You know why? Because thankfulness is powerful! I've been encouraging you to practice overflowing with thanksgiving, and yesterday I gave you four helpful hints on how to do that. But did you ever think about the power that is released when you become a thankful person? Let me tell you some of the great things that will happen: People will like you much better. Thankful people are nice to be around. Your relationships will improve. You'll have more friends. Your energy level will go up. It's true, because when you're thankful, you unleash a lot of good energy that is often wasted on complaining and negativism. You will do more work in less time. And that's going to make you a better employee, which will make your boss happy! I won't go so far as to say you'll get a raise, but then again—who knows? Your stress will go down. I'm not making this up, folks. When you are being thankful, you are thinking about the good things in your life, and that keeps you from focusing on the negative things. It's like a release valve on a pressure cooker—you will see your stress go down. Your face will be prettier—or more handsome, whichever you prefer! Think about it: when you are thankful, you're not worried or fretting, and those things cause lines in our faces and age us! You'll look younger! Your posture will improve. When you're thankful, you stand up straighter. When you're negative, your shoulders tend to stoop and your back curves. There's power in thankfulness. You have much to gain. But way above and beyond all of these, here's the most important reason to be thankful: You will honor and glorify Jesus Christ as he deserves. When you overflow with thankfulness, you tell the world what Jesus has done for you, and you are a good ambassador for him. Not to mention, it pleases him to see your thankful heart. Let's start a campaign to overflow with thankfulness. What a way to live.

This Thanksgiving holiday is a good time to remind us that we are to overflow with thanksgiving, as we read in Colossians 2. There is great power available to us when we are truly thankful people. But how do we make thankfulness a way of life for us? Here are some practical ways to learn to practice thanksgiving. Do the thankful alphabet. Start with A and go through Z, naming something starting with each letter for which you are thankful. You can have some fun with this; it's a great game to play in the car with your kids and you'll be teaching them to practice thankfulness. Make every Tuesday a Thankful Tuesday or each Thursday a Thankful Thursday. You can share this with your family or your co-workers and have some fun with it, but it will teach the joy of practicing thankfulness. Sing songs of thanksgiving. This week we'll all probably sing some of those traditional Thanksgiving hymns at our churches, like "We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing" and "Come, ye thankful people, come.” But how about all the other weeks of the year? You could sing "Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart.” How about "Count Your Blessings"? The Bible says to sing and make music in your heart to the Lord. Go for it. Begin every prayer time with thanksgiving. Probably the most famous Psalm—Psalm 100—tells us to enter the gates of the Lord with thanksgiving and enter his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Whenever you enter into the presence of God, always enter with thanksgiving. Make the first words out of your mouth words of thankfulness. I have found that this changes my prayer time. If I begin with all my needs and requests, I am self-focused. If I begin with thanksgiving—reciting some of the many things I have to be thankful for—I am God-focused. What a difference that makes in my time spent with God, and that in turn makes a difference in my day. I begin to truly overflow with thankfulness.

Being thankful is not our natural condition. We have to choose to be thankful and we have to remember to be thankful and we have to work at being thankful. Many times, I have gone to Africa to conduct meetings there, and every year as I returned home, I was reminded of how much I have and how easy my life is compared to my friends in Africa. I would tell myself that I would never complain about anything again, but you know, after a few weeks if I wasn’t careful, I would fall back into my bad habits of complaining. If I want to be a truly thankful person—and I do—then I have to put disciplines in my life that will cause me to give thanks for everything and in everything. Here’s one suggestion that helps me to be a thankful person: Turn every complaint into a praise. When you start to complain about something, even if that complaint has already escaped your lips and you’ve just heard yourself utter those negative words, go back and replace them with words of thanksgiving. For example, You complained about the weather—it’s raining again, and you’ve had three days of rain, and you’re tired of the rain. As soon as you hear those words of complaint, replace them with thankful words: You know, this rain is good. I’m thinking of some places in Africa that are in a three-year drought. They would love to have this rain. Thank you, Lord, for this rain. Whether your complaint is just a thought in your mind or words you’ve expressed out loud, you need to replace those complaining words with words of thanksgiving. Of course, it’s better if you can catch yourself before you think or say those negative words, but even if you have already said them, I encourage you to teach yourself to replace them with thankfulness. You see, the power of thanksgiving is something we have to teach ourselves; it’s a gift we give ourselves, and we do this by becoming aware of every non-thankful thing we think and say and forcing ourselves to replace them with thankfulness. And the more you do that, the more it becomes a good habit which you just naturally do.

Would you like to have some power? I can tell you how to have more power in your life, because there is power in being thankful! And all of us can learn to be thankful. In writing to the new believers in Colosse, Paul said: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6-7). Thankfulness is powerful because it transforms our thinking, it keeps us from complaining, and it makes us joyful. Thankfulness unleashes God’s power in our lives; it is the foundation of joy, and the joy of the Lord is our strength. Without joy we are weak. What wipes out our joy? Complaining, feeling sorry for ourselves, focusing on the negative aspects of our lives. But thankfulness replaces all these negatives and restores our joy, which makes us strong and powerful. Paul said we should overflow with thankfulness. And to the Ephesians he wrote: “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). When you and I are thankful for everything, we affirm the sovereignty of God in our lives. When you can be thankful for everything—the good and the bad—it means that you believe God is in control, even when bad things happen to you. That kind of thankfulness—giving thanks for everything—is so powerful. It means that the enemy of your soul cannot defeat you, no matter what happens, because you are going to give a sacrifice of thanksgiving even in the tough places. In addition, when you are thankful, you affirm that you know and believe that God cares for you. Did you know that one of the greatest challenges to your faith is to believe that God doesn’t care? Satan wants you to believe that God doesn’t really care about you because then you will lose your joy and be defeated. Being thankful affirms that you believe God cares for you, which he does.

We will no doubt enjoy the traditions that usually accompany this Thanksgiving holiday—great food, time with family and friends, watching football games—but will we give any thought at all to being thankful? Did you ever realize that there is great power in thankfulness? Interestingly, there has been a great deal of research into the science of gratitude, and much time and money has been spent to find out what difference it makes in the life of a person who is intentionally thankful. And these studies have discovered that a thankful person is twenty-five percent happier than a non-thankful person! When I read about these studies, I thought: Why didn’t they ask me? I could have told them that. Or better still: Why didn’t they just go to the Word of God? Time and again it tells us about the power of thankfulness. In the Old Testament the people of Israel were instructed to bring thank offerings, sacrifices that were presented to God, to give thanks for his goodness. “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High” (Psalm 50:14). Now, a sacrifice meant they had to bring something they owned to the altar of God and offer it as a thank offering. Why do you think God instituted the thank offering? Because the people of Israel—like us—were very prone to grumble and complain and they needed to be reminded that they should be thankful people. The power of thankfulness is the power to change our attitude, to change our thought patterns, to change our focus—and that changes us. You see, thankfulness cannot coexist with griping and complaining. You just can’t complain and give thanks at the same time. So, thankfulness drives out the negative thinking and causes us to be focused on the blessings of our lives. But like the people of Israel, we need lots of reminders to be thankful people. So, I’m going to remind us all that if we truly are thankful people, not only will we be happier, but more importantly, we’ll be pleasing to the Lord. For today, would you give a thank offering right now? Just say—out loud if possible—one thing you are thankful for.

Mary Lowman and Lauren Stibgen talk about having a heart to serve other female Christian executives. Lauren discusses her journey as a working woman, challenges she has faced, the importance of coming into the office with a servant’s mentality, and how her primary vocation is ultimately to glorify God at work. She also shares how she prays and praises with other women at work and how it makes a difference.

(presented by Lauren Stibgen) As I sit here, I must admit I have the Sunday Scaries. Those thoughts leading into a new work week, wondering how Monday will launch. Even if you don’t work a traditional Monday-Friday, I am sure you know the feeling. Even if you find yourself in a season where you are between jobs, stress can steal your peace. The stress we experience as working women is arguably only sometimes about work. Some of us are the main breadwinner, perhaps facing single motherhood, illness of a spouse or loved one, needs for childcare, needs to care for an aging parent, or even mounting household issues. The truth is, we carry all this around, on top of the to do list we face waking up to another Monday. Jesus knew what we faced in the world. He even acknowledges this in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you. Not as the world gives, do I give to you.” Not as the world—if our Lord Jesus is telling us the world will not bring peace, we should not expect it but for in seeking him. The good news is that Jesus tells us to come to him and rest (Matthew 11:28). I have found that one of the best ways to do that is through prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Scripture shows us that some many of those closest to the Lord cried out to him in distress. David cries out to the Lord, Job in his distress is in constant prayer, and perhaps our greatest example of crying out to the Lord is Jesus himself. When the mighty didn’t have peace, they cried to the Lord for comfort.

(presented by Lauren Stibgen) Some days, I just feel alone. Living out your faith at work can sometimes seem difficult, especially if you don’t have someone to share it with. One of the ways I have found that I can live out my faith at work, is to pray for the lost. “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:37-38). It occurs to me that one of the reasons I often feel alone at work is because I look at my “labor” or “work” incorrectly. As we can see in this verse from Matthew, the laborers are few. Few. As I consider my true work, it really isn’t about what I am doing at my desk. I am called to work hard at everything to bring glory to the Lord, but my focus should be on the harvest. Knowing I am one of the few in labor for His kingdom, I also need to be in prayer for how others see me at work. How am I fulfilling the greatest commandment to love the Lord my God with all of my heart, soul and mind, and to love my neighbor as myself? I need to start with thinking of my superiors, colleagues, and subordinates as my neighbors. The word love sounds deep for some workplaces, but I want to challenge you that one of the ways you can love at work, without anyone knowing is to pray for those around you. Maybe you start praying for someone in need in secret, but eventually ask if you can pray for them. Simply knowing you are praying can give someone comfort—even if they don’t have faith like you do. And don’t worry about offending someone. I have found that they will let you know if they don’t want prayer…yes, I have had someone tell me NOT to pray. Praying for others is one way to show others the love of Christ, but we can also pray for how we reflect Christ and attract others. 2 Corinthians 4:6 tells us that light shall shine out of darkness…give light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” Pray for your words. This may seem simple, but gossip and unkindness find their way into the workplace quickly. You can pray that “no corrupting talk comes from your mouth, but only what is good for building up” (Ephesians 4:29). Pray for your excellence. Often, we wake up and don’t know how we will show up to work. Maybe it is a project we don’t love, or a deadline that is causing stress. Pray for God to send someone to you—to send you the lost. I have made this prayer a constant, and God has shown up in a bold way. More than one woman has hopped on a prayer call, and remarked, that they joined not knowing why, or having found the call by happenstance. Jesus tells us that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety-nice righteous persons who need repentance (Luke 15:7). More joy in heaven. Now this is something to pray for! Heavenly Father, give us hearts to seek the lost at work, and to reflect your glorious light that others know your glory in Christ Jesus!

(presented by Lauren Stibgen) Bold. Hungry. Looking for the next promotion. Achievement. How does the Lord call us to work? Is the title so important? Today we will explore how humility in prayer can help us shape ourselves into a humble worker for the Lord. Angry. Confused. The new woman that was hired was occupying the office and promotion she deserved. She resigned over a title and was determined to achieve this at another company until God wove humility into her heart as a result of prayer. Comparison robs us of humility, and often our drive for achievement places comparison smack in our face. Consider God’s word in Luke 18 about the two men who go up to the temple to pray. One, a Pharisee, “stood by himself” and compared himself to “other people” and spoke of his deeds to the Lord. The tax collector, on the other hand, “stood at a distance” with a lowly posture and asked God for mercy”. We learn that “all those that exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Humility itself is a foundation for prayer. It opens our heart to be clear of our position of reverence with the Almighty God. Your humble posture is opening your heart to allow God to change you. The beautiful part about being humble, is the expectation that we can have that God promises to exalt us and give us riches and honor of life. The promise is consistent throughout God’s word. In addition to the verses above in Luke, James 4:10 states, “Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.” Proverbs, 22:4 “The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor of life.” The exaltation may not be the title you expect, or the promotion you want, but we know He is working for our good. Remember, God can do far more abundantly than all we ask or think in the power of Jesus Christ our Lord (Ephesians 4:29). How can you humble yourself in prayer with the Lord? Is your posture keeping you from the beautiful expectation of exaltation, riches and honor?

(presented by Lauren Stibgen) Do words get in the way? Is there a right way to pray? One of the things I have found from praying for others and with others is that there are many people who don’t know where to start when it comes to prayer. The good news is God has provided wonderful encouragement throughout the scriptures that can guide us. So many acronyms are offered to help us “model” our words to the Lord. A dose of praise and reverence, some repentance, and often a request. But does it all need to flow together and be in the same pattern each time? It almost seems like a recipe. Recently I was joined by a friend and her husband for dinner. We enjoyed the meal, and a few weeks later, she asked me for my recipe because they had enjoyed the meal. I had to stop and think—I had no formal recipe for how I made this dish. Sometimes I weave a few different ideas together from what I find to make my own version. Like a recipe, prayer can be your own version. Sometimes when I simply don’t know what to pray for, I am encouraged that in Romans 8:26-27 I know that the Spirit helps us in our weakness. When we don’t know how to pray as we ought, the Spirit will intercede for us with groanings too deep for words. God doesn’t expect our prayers to be the same. He knows that the world will be bringing us different joys and different trials. Be encouraged that God wants ALL your requests (Philippians 4:7). One of the ways I have challenged myself in prayer is to better understand the names of God in the bible. It has opened my prayer life. God is a compassionate God. He is a God with care and kindness. In Exodus 34:6, the Lord passes in front of Moses proclaiming, “the Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” God is also my Helper. In both the Psalms and Hebrews 13:6 we see that “the Lord is my helper; I will not fear”. Thinking of God’s compassion and as my helper shapes my prayers differently. I know God sees my weakness and has mercy on me, and I can pray for his help during the day. Sometimes, I simply ask God to carry my burden. “Lord, can you carry this for me? I need your help.” In Matthew 6:8, I am reminded, He already knows what I need, and I don’t need to be specific. But I also know that God is Elohim—Mighty Creator. He is in all things, and I go to him with exceeding humility.

(presented by Lauren Stibgen) What do prayer and work have in common? For many years I separated my faith life from my work life. God was held for Sundays or my off hours, and prayer seemed like a bedtime activity. That was until I was convicted about prayer after completing a bible study on Elijah. Elijah only had what the Lord provided him. In just the few chapters of 1 Kings 17-19, we see how Elijah draws near to the Lord and must rely upon Him solely. We first see Elijah cry out to the Lord in a bold prayer for the life of the widow’s son. His prayer is answered. “The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived.” (1 Kings 17:22). His second bold prayer comes in Chapter 18 verses 36-37. In his repeating plea, “Answer me, O Lord, answer me…” we see that Elijah implores God to show that he is the Lord God by consuming a soaking wet offering with fire. In the book of James verse 5:17-18 we note that Elijah “was a man with a nature like ours”, and that he “prayed fervently”. How could changing my outlook on prayer change my work? I realized that Elijah’s “work” was from the Lord, and that mine was too. Prayer needed to be part of my work. On a red eye flight back to Chicago I scheduled my first prayer meeting for working women: Wednesday, lunch hour. It sounded good—mid week—get me through. I knew that I needed to pray for others and wanted others to pray for me. Would anyone show up? I prayed on that flight that, even if one woman came in need of prayer, that my heart would be filled with joy. Not just one, but four women joined, and we prayed. We prayed for opportunities, for difficult conversations and for feelings of hurt and rejection. For the last year, these midweek calls have become a part of my work, as I pray for the many needs and recount the answers to prayer and God’s goodness. “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:18). We will continue to look at different ways to pray for your work, and how it will transform you, and bring you closer to God.

Some years ago, someone sent me this story, which illustrates this truth—that God won’t let you go. Let me share it with you. On a hot summer day in Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. He jumped into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His father working in the yard saw what was happening, and in utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son. The little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father would not let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard the screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And on his arms were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved. The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too, because my Dad wouldn't let go." You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past as well as present troubles. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep pain or regret. But some wounds are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of our struggle, he's been there holding on to us, God just won't let you go, no matter what you're going through. Think of Joseph. Through no doubt some childish bragging to his brothers, they decided to get rid of him, and sold him into slavery in Egypt. Joseph had done no great evil; he didn't deserve to be so terribly mistreated, but there he was, a slave and a prisoner in Egypt. But God never let go of Joseph, because Joseph never forsook his faith in Jehovah God. And he was used by God to deliver many people, including his own family, from starvation. I wonder how many times, as he sat in that prison, he just wanted to give up. It looked hopeless, but God didn't let go. We have many wonderful illustrations in the Bible of how God didn't let go, even when his people foolishly waded into dangerous and sinful situations, sometimes out of ignorance, sometimes out of disobedience. Think of Elijah. You remember the story found in 1 Kings 18, where Elijah challenged all the prophets of Baal, with great courage, and their pagan gods could not deliver them. Elijah triumphed over all that evil, proving that Jehovah God was the only true god. It was an incredible victory. But the very next day, brave Elijah becomes a coward, fearful of one woman, Jezebel, who had threatened to kill him. And he starts running out of fear for his life. Elijah no doubt would have been diagnosed by doctors today as having a deep depression, even as being deluded, as he ran for his life. But God didn't let go, and with great patience and kindness, he nurtured him back to strength, taught kindness, he nurtured him back to strength, taught him some wonderful lessons, and brought him out of that deep funk an even better man of God—refined like gold. Are you there today? Has your faith failed you: are you full of fear? Are you in that kind of deep depression where everything looks hopeless, you feel feel worthless, and you're sure that life is coming to an end—at least life with any meaning? I can understand how the upside-down whole world we’re in today could cause you to be frightened and depressed.  But I want to encourage you today to know that God won't let go of you.

Our friend Fran has been struggling with discouragement this week. You've been there, too, haven't you? Jesus has shown her several steps to take that will help defeat discouragement, including sharing her complains with him instead of with others, offering a sacrifice of praise, staying away from discouraging people, and just plain working hard. Now one of Fran's coworkers comes over to talk to her about a billing problem. Just as she is leaving, Fran feels an urge to ask her, "Sue, is everything okay? You look kinda down." "Huh—oh do I? I'm sorry, it's nothing..." she starts to leave. "If you need to talk, I'm a good listener," Fran encourages her to open up. "Oh, you don't want to hear my troubles, Fran," Sue says. But Fran insists that she does. So, Sue tells her about her problems with her husband. "I'm pretty sure he's got some affair going, Fran. He's never home; he makes up all these crazy excuses; and he never touches me anymore. He hardly speaks to me. I expect him to walk out on me and the kids any day now." "Sue, are you sure you're not just letting your imagination run wild on you?" Fran asks. "No, that's what I thought for awhile, but a friend saw him in a bar a couple of times with this woman from his office. I think he's having the typical mid-life crisis, and he's going to dump me and the kids for some young bimbo," Sue says drearily. Fran talks with her a few more minutes, and then says, "Why don't you come over to my house tonight, and we can talk some more." Without realizing what she's done, Fran has reached out to someone else whose problem is much bigger than hers. Sue seems so appreciative. "Fran, I really didn't mean to dump on you, but I sure could use a friend." "You've got one, Sue. I'll see you tonight." After Sue leaves Fran spends a couple of minutes praying for her. Then she thinks to herself: “What happened to my discouragement?" "You know, Lord,” she says to Jesus, "I almost forgot about the things that were bugging me. I mean, my problems look pretty small compared to Sue's." She remembers a verse from Proverbs 11: "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed" (Proverbs 11:25). Again, Fran realizes, Jesus knows what he's talking about. And again, she acknowledges what a difference it makes to have Jesus by her side all the time. When she simply obeys him, he can take those discouraging feelings away and give her again the joy of her salvation. He's by your side, too, if you know him as your Savior. Why don't you practice his presence more every day?

Feeling discouraged? Our friend Fran is having some discouraging times. Jesus showed her how offering a sacrifice of praise—praising God with her mouth even though she didn't feel like it—would help her defeat discouragement. As she began to do that, it helped. Do you have to live or work with people who are discouragers? If you're around discouragers a lot, they can really discourage you. This is one eye-opening lesson Fran has to learn. Today she is working hard trying to catch up. The last couple of days, as she was fighting discouragement, she really wasn't motivated to work very hard, so now she's paying the price. But she notices that hard work helps her forget the discouragement. In the midst of her busy day, another coworker interrupts her. "Hey, Fran," Bill says, "did you hear the latest rumor? The company's up for sale and we'll probably be swallowed up by some giant holding company who'll let half the people go." "Oh, Bill, you're always coming up with rumors that aren't true and just getting everybody upset," Fran says, trying to dismiss him. But Bill is not easily dismissed. "I was right about the layoffs last year, wasn't I?" Fran has to admit he got that one right. "And I'm right about this, too, Fran. Believe me, I've got good sources." And on and on Bill goes about all the horrors that await them because of this potential buyout. The more he talks, the more discouraged Fran feels. By the time he leaves, she's ready to give up again. "I've got to learn to ignore Bill," she says to herself. “He’s a very discouraging person who never has anything positive to say.” Again, Fran talks to herself: "You just can't afford to let discouraging people bring you down. Remember when Jairus asked Jesus to come heal his daughter, and his friends met them half-way to say never mind, she was dead already. Jesus told Jairus to ignore what they said and just believe. So, there are times when you must learn to ignore the discouraging people who tell you everything's bad," Fran reminds herself. This was something they talked about recently in her Bible study group, and the Spirit of God brought it to her mind just now. Are there some discouraging people around you? Avoid them; ignore them; tune them out. Certainly, we should never behave in rude ways, but we must protect our minds from the discouragement that others would heap upon us. That's an important step in defeating discouragement.

Fran is struggling with discouragement. I imagine you've been there at times yourself, so listen in to see how Jesus helps her learn to defeat discouragement. Last night Fran had unloaded all her problems on her friend, Louise, and Jesus reminded her it was a great deal better to tell him, rather than discourage others by complaining to them. After all, Jesus can handle it, and he can help. This morning, however, that discouraging feeling still lingers as she gets herself and the kids ready to leave the house. "Come on, kids," she says wearily, "you're both dragging your feet today. We're going to be late." "Lord, I just can't beat that discouraging feeling,” she tells Jesus as she drives to work. “Problems just don't go away that easily," she says. She feels guilty for feeling discouraged, but what can she do? She is discouraged. At that moment a song comes into her mind: “We give a sacrifice of praise. . ." She hums a few lines. “A sacrifice of praise. . . hmm. I guess I should praise the Lord,” she admits to herself. “But I don’t feel like praising God right now." As soon as she says it, she knows how wrong she is. "I don't feel like it," she says to the Lord, "but that's what it means to give a sacrifice of praise—praising when you don't want to. It requires a sacrifice of my emotions." "Praise God," Fran mumbles to herself. She remembers her alphabet method, and halfheartedly, feeling like a hypocrite, she begins: "I praise you because you are A: Almighty; I praise you because you are B: Benevolent; I praise you because you are C: Caring; I praise you because you are D my Defense." And on she goes through the alphabet, praising God while driving down the road, forcing herself to offer a sacrifice of praise. As she pulls into the parking lot, she begins to feel a lighter spirit. Things don't look quite so bad. She has made some inroads toward defeating the discouragement that was making her so miserable. Are you discouraged today? Try a sacrifice of praise. It really does make a difference. The Psalmist said, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God" (Psalm 42:5).  

How do you handle discouragement? Our friend, Fran, is facing some discouraging times right now, and Jesus is trying to help her see how she can defeat that discouragement in her life. The kids are finally in bed and Fran is having a conversation with Jesus about being discouraged. As she thinks about this further, she recognizes that discouragement is also one of the devil’s most effective weapons against believers. “I see lots of believers who never seem to have victory over discouragement, Lord," she continues her conversation with Jesus, “and I wonder why not? When does discouragement become sinful?” She thinks about all the bad things that have happened to her lately, and the discouraging feelings start to come over her again. “You know, Lord, it’s only human to be discouraged when all these things happen, which are beyond my control. I mean, I didn’t cause any of them and I don’t seem to be able to change any of them.” As Fran thinks about all this, the phone rings and it's her friend, Louise. "Oh, Louise, I'm just so discouraged," she says to her. "Did you hear I lost that account I've been working on; after all that work they went to the competition." She pauses. "Oh, sure, there are more fish in the sea, but tell me where," she replies to Louise in a rather sarcastic tone. "And besides that, Drew is having problems at school," she says. "And I got my second notice of an overdue bill from the dentist today. I don't have the money to pay that bill this month. And to top it off, Debbie called to say she wouldn't be able to help me with children's church this year. I don't know, Louise, nothing's going right for me." She spends a few more minutes complaining to Louise, then hangs up. "Well, you sure unloaded on her," she hears that inner voice saying to her. "Well, that's what friends are for, right?" Fran replies. "I've got to tell somebody." But as soon as she says it, her heart is convicted. “Why did I unload on Louise like that? She called to have a nice conversation with me—in fact, I don’t really know why she called. I didn’t give her a chance to say. I just dumped my discouragement on her and probably succeeded in discouraging her, too.” Fran feels so badly about the way she complained to Louise. “Lord,” she says, “you are my wonderful counselor, my friend, and I should go to you with my discouragement, not to poor Louise." She remembers the passage from Psalm 142, which says, "I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble" (Psalm 142:2). If you're discouraged today, tell Jesus; nobody else, just Jesus. He can handle it, and he can help.

I continue our story of Fran and Jesus on the Job. I began these stories several years ago to help us learn to practice the presence of Jesus in our lives, no matter where we are or what we're doing. Fran communicates with Jesus throughout her day, and I hope her story will encourage you to be more aware of his presence in your life. "Drew, I said, it's time to go to bed right now, and I don't want to hear any more whining from you," Fran says to her son as she wearily tries to get him in bed. At the end of a hard day, the last thing she wants is an argument with her son. Finally, the house is quiet, and she flops down in a chair. "Oh, that I had wings like a dove; I would fly away and be at rest," she quotes out loud from a Psalm, with a sarcastic tone of voice. As she often does, Fran talks to the Lord about how she feels. She has learned that since he knows everything she’s thinking and feeling, she might as well get it out in the open and talk to him about it. "Lord,” she says, “I guess I’m a little discouraged, and I don’t really even know why. I guess it’s just me; it’s probably nothing,” and she tries to dismiss the topic. But the Spirit of the Lord keeps probing her mind: "What’s causing these feelings of discouragement? Was it something that happened today?" "Today—yesterday—tomorrow," Fran says with exasperation. "It's just life in general. I lost that account yesterday; they went with a competitive firm. Drew is having some trouble at school—goofing off, his teacher says. I still haven't paid the dentist bill from last month. My friend at church says she can't help me with the children's church this year, like she promised she would. And well, I'm just tired of all the responsibility. I'm tired of being mother and father and career woman and...." She thinks about that awhile, then says to the Lord, "I guess I’m just discouraged; can you understand that?” She begins to think about Jesus while he was here on earth, and she remembers that often he would seem to be a bit exasperated and—yes—maybe even discouraged with his disciples. "I guess being discouraged is not necessarily a sin," she concludes. “In fact, you warned us, Lord that in this world we would have tribulations and discouragements. But you also said that we can overcome the world." Quietly Fran prays, “Lord, teach me how to overcome my own discouragements, which are pretty small compared to others, I know. But they seem big to me right now. Please help me, Lord.”

In part one, Fran had started her week off very poorly. Fran is a single mom, having been widowed at a very early age when her husband was killed in an accident. She is raising her two school-age children alone and at the same time holding down a busy job in marketing. In telling these stories, you’ll notice that Jesus speaks to Fran. Now, we know that Jesus does not speak to us in audible words, as in these stories, but I use this to illustrate that Jesus is with us at all times because his Spirit dwells with every truly born-again person, and he does speak to us through his Word and his Spirit. So, when you hear dialog spoken by Jesus, be assured it is all true to principles in Scripture, and it is used to help us learn how to practice the presence of Jesus in our everyday lives. On this particular Monday morning, Fran felt very unmotivated and started her day late. Then she had heated words with her children in getting them off. As Jesus rode with her to the job, she was very uncomfortable having him there because his presence convicted her of her harsh tongue. And then Jesus asked her about her argument with her mother the previous evening. Fran's mother was unhappy because Fran was beginning to date a man who was not a believer. Fran had accused her of meddling and hung up rather abruptly. Then upon arriving at work, she had very harsh words with a co-worker who phoned to say he couldn't make a deadline. And this was a co-worker she had been talking with lately and sharing her faith in Jesus. After all this, Fran breaks into tears, shuts her office door, and admits she has blown it. She asks Jesus to please forgive her. And of course, he does. She shakes her head. "You always forgive me so readily, and it seems I have to ask for forgiveness a lot. I've hurt you; I know I have. I really am sorry. Please forgive me." "No need to ask again; you're forgiven," Jesus replies. "But it might be helpful to trace the root cause of all these angry outbursts and ask yourself how it happened. Can you remember when they began?" "They began a couple of weeks ago, I think, about the time I started seeing...” The truth comes out slowly and painfully for Fran. "I knew it wasn't a good idea for me to date Bob. He's not a Christian; I know that, and yet he's very sophisticated and successful. I guess I was just flattered by his attention, and it felt good to be treated so nicely," Fran explains. "But you knew in your spirit that I was not pleased with this relationship, is that right, Fran?" Jesus probes further. "Yes, I knew. But I tried to ignore it; stay busy; rationalize it away. That's why I was so angry at mother; she forced me to face it," Fran explains to Jesus. "Disobedience is so insidious, Fran. It affects everything else, like a cancer that spreads lightning fast. Do you see what this one area of disobedience has done, even in two short weeks? Your fellowship with me has been broken, and you've hurt quite a few people as well.” Jesus spells it out for her. "Yeah, I know," Fran says. "The thing is, although I was doing what I wanted to do, I was pretty miserable on the inside. I was determined to do it, but it didn't really bring me any happiness or great thrill like I thought it would.” "Well," Jesus replies, "that's because you have an enemy who is a great liar, and he will always lead you to believe that doing it your way will make you happy and doing it my way will make you miserable. He handed you one of his most common lies, and you fell for it. Lots of people have. It's okay; you're forgiven," Jesus reassures her. "I know you forgive me, but how do I undo all this damage I've done to others?" Fran asks with alarm. "I've really blown it. I mean, the way I talked to Al just now—and just last week I was sharing something about the Lord with him. He'll never listen to me again. I've ruined my testimony," Fran panics as she thinks about it. "Well,

I wonder if you’ve counted your blessings lately. That old hymn of the church reminds us to count our blessings, name them one by one, count our blessings and see what God has done! You know, in a world that is full of trouble, it’s easy to overlook our blessings. I’ve been encouraging you to become a give-away blesser—someone who blesses others freely and frequently, because you have been so greatly blessed by God. As the saying goes, we are blessed to be a blessing.    We have created a lovely set of 31 cards with give-away blessings on them, scripture verses, that can be given to someone to bless them, to encourage them, to lighten their load. You can find these cards on our website. All you have to do is print them and give them away. Dr. Robert Cook has gone on to be with the Lord, but for years he would end his radio broadcast each day by saying, “Walk with the King today and be a blessing." That’s what we all need to do—be a blessing to others.  One of these give-away blessing cards says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see,” from Hebrews 11. At times our faith can waver, can it not? I know mine does. What a blessing it would be to give this card to someone who is struggling to believe that God has heard their prayer, that God is concerned about their need, that God hasn’t forgotten them. You could bless someone with this give-away blessing.   Another one of these 31 cards has a portion of 1 Corinthians 13: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. . . Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Wouldn’t it be a blessing to give this card to someone who has loved you with this kind of love. It could be a good friend, a mate, a parent—whoever God puts on your heart. You could say, “Thanks so much for loving me like this.”    Well, I’ve tried to give you some ideas of how you could become a blessing, as an act of gratitude to God for all your blessings. And you know, when we start looking for ways to bless others, it just comes right back to us. We reap what we sow, and you will be blessed beyond belief as you determine to become a better blesser! 

Have you been blessed by God? I would hope that all of us would quickly agree that God has blessed us richly. When God called Abram to leave his country and go to the land he would show him, he said, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”    As believers in Jesus Christ, we are blessed to be a blessing. Not just to enjoy God’s blessings to us, but to be able to pass a blessing on to others. Have you ever intentionally determined that you wanted to be that kind of Christian who blesses others? You know, if you don’t find a practical way to be a blessing, or you don’t remind yourself to bless others, you can go through your days just self-focused and self-centered, and never blessing anyone else.  So, I’ve been encouraging you to give away blessings. In fact, we’ve prepared a set of 31 lovely cards, each with a scriptural blessing on it, to help you become more intentional about giving away blessings. Those are now on our website here.    Here’s a good blessing to give someone.   “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).   We all lose hope from time to time. No doubt you know someone who is losing hope right now; they’ve lost their job, or lost their home, or some other problem just won’t go away, and they’re ready to give up. Suppose you gave them this card with this give-away blessing and let them know you are praying that God will fill their hearts with hope and they won’t give up. I know you would be a blessing to that person.    If you know someone who is a little confused about what they are supposed to do, or feels inconsequential with low self-esteem, you might want to give them this card from Ephesians 2:10, which says, “We are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." This is one of my favorite verses, for it says that every child of God is here with a distinct and specific purpose, designed by God. Giving a person this card with words of encouragement from you could make a huge difference in their attitude.   If you’d like to do a better job of blessing others, then go to our website and print this set of 31 cards with give-away blessings on them. You won’t regret it. 

Can you think of a time when someone lifted your spirits and made your day by a small act of kindness? When that happens, you are blessed! Well, I’m suggesting that as Christians we need to be blessing others. And to help us get in the habit of giving away blessings, we have designed a set of 31 lovely cards—a whole month of blessings with a short Bible verse, which you can give away to someone, as God leads you. They’re on our website now for you to print and give away.    For example, if someone has worked really hard and completed a difficult task, you could give the card which says, “Well done, good and faithful servant. . . Come and share your master’s happiness!” from Matthew 25. Along with the card you could give words of blessing, as you compliment that person on work well done. It could be a coworker or a child who just improved his grades at school or a mate who completed a tough assignment. Don’t you think that would be a blessing to them?  You know, there’s always people in our churches who are the servant people—the ones who are doing the “dirty work,” the behind-the-scenes work, and are so very faithful. They don’t get a lot of recognition. Suppose you gave that person the card, which says, “Serve one another in love,” while thanking them for their life of service. I can only imagine how blessed they would be, just to know their service is noticed and appreciated.   There could be an occasion where your word of blessing could be a challenge to a person, at just the right moment, given in the right spirit. Take this give-away card, which says, “Forgive as the Lord forgave you." This little card, given with words of encouragement and understanding, empathizing with the difficulty of forgiveness but helping them remember that they will find freedom through forgiveness—well, it could really be a blessing to them, don’t you think?    There are so many people in my life who have blessed me and continue to do so. I just don’t know how I would carry on without them. We need each other. And we can be a blessing to others. So, be a blessing today. You’ll find this set of 31 cards to help you develop this gift of giving away blessings here. 

We often say “Bless you” when someone sneezes. But wouldn’t it be a lot more meaningful if we did more than just utter a cliché and instead, we became intentional about giving away blessings? That’s what I’m encouraging you to do, and to help you get in the habit, we’ve designed a set of 31 lovely cards, each with a verse of Scripture, which you can use to give away a blessing, and you’ll find those here.    For example, you might give someone this blessing, from Song of Songs, which says, “Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come." In fact, for an extra measure, you could give the card with a flower, and simply say, “I thought you might like a reminder of God’s beautiful creation. Flowers really can put a song in your heart, don’t you think?" Even if that person is not yet a believer in Jesus Christ, they would so appreciate a blessing like that. It’s small, but it says, “I thought of you; I care about you; I bless you." It’s a give-away blessing!    Another one of these cards has the verse from Romans 8, which says, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." That would be a wonderful blessing to give to a fellow-believer, perhaps your pastor or someone on your church staff who is going through some tough times. They might really appreciate just a reminder that God is working for their good.  I wonder if you know someone who is really worried right now? Maybe they’re waiting on some test results from the doctor, or they think they might get laid off from their job. It could be a blessing to give them this card which says, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."   You may have a family member who needs encouragement, your mother or father or sibling. Sometimes we overlook those closest to us, and they need blessings too. Another card says, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful,” from Hebrews 10. That could be such a sweet give-away blessing for the right person at the right time.    If you really want to become someone who blesses others, these give-away blessings will help you develop that spiritual discipline. This set of 31 cards is here, free for you to print and give away. I hope you’ll do that. 

How often do you give away a blessing? We have lots of examples in the Bible of blessing and being blessed. There are many verses in the Psalms which talk about how God blesses us:   “For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield” (Psalm 5:12).  And there are passages where we bless the Lord:    “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Psalm 103:1).   But did you know that we can bless others by some act or word of kindness or encouragement? I want to talk about give-away blessings, to encourage us all to become very intentional about giving a blessing to others, in word or deed. In fact, we have designed a set of 31 lovely cards, a month’s worth of blessings you can give away. They’re linked here for you to access and use. Each card has a verse on it, and that word from God could be a great blessing to the right person at the right moment.    For example, one card says, “Carry each other’s burdens." You could give that card to someone who is carrying a heavy burden of some sort. And as you hand it to that person, you could simply say, “I know you’ve got a heavy burden on your heart right now. I just want you to know that I’m carrying it with you; I’m praying for you, and I care." That simple give-away blessing could make a world of difference to that person.   Or you might want to encourage a good friend of yours, a friend who has stood with you through happy times and sad times, a friend you cherish and appreciate. The give-away blessing you could choose for that friend says, “A friend loves at all times,” from Proverbs 17. It would give you an opportunity to thank your friend for all the times she has loved you and helped you.    Would you like to get in the habit of giving away blessings? What a wonderful way to become encouragers and to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ, where you work, where you live—anywhere that God directs you to give away a blessing. If that is something you’d like to do, and you will indeed give away these cards as God directs, then you’ll find these cards with give-away blessings here. Easy to print and give to others. 

Jesus often taught with parables—stories that illustrated his message. It's a very effective teaching method, and so this on-going story of Fran will hopefully help us see a biblical truth more clearly. Also, we need to learn how to practice the presence of Jesus on a daily basis. We know that the Spirit of God is with us continually when we're born from above, but too many Christians don’t seem to be truly aware of his presence and the power available to them because he is right there beside us. I hope these stories help us learn to practice the presence of Jesus all the time. We know that Jesus doesn’t speak to us in audible words, but his Spirit within us can definitely give us clear guidance, which is always based on the truth of Scripture. So, the words of Jesus which I’ve written in this dramatic setting are all true to Scripture. Fran has had quite a few struggles on her job, but each time God has made a way and helped her do the right thing. This Monday morning, as she wakes to face another day, Fran is totally unmotivated. Nothing in her wants to get up and get going. So, she waits until the last minute, then gets up in a rush. Getting her two kids ready to go to school turns out to be a bigger chore than usual and she ends up raising her voice and arguing with them as she hurries them to get going. It's not a good start for her week. As she maneuvers through the bumper-to-bumper commute, she remembers that Jesus is there beside her, going to work with her again. "Good morning," he says cheerily. "Morning," Fran replies, hoping there won't be any conversation. She's not in the mood. "Not a great Monday start, huh Fran?" Jesus asks. She forces a smile but still keeps quiet. She had intended, as usual, to spend some quiet time with Jesus early in her day, but she missed it today. Well, that happens sometimes, and Jesus will just have to understand. Fran thinks to herself. "You seem a little angry this morning, Fran," Jesus comments. "Do you know why?" "No. I'm not angry; just tired. Guess I'm not in the mood to talk much," she answers. "Could it be the argument you had on the phone last night with your mother? There were some pretty strong words between you.” Jesus keeps pushing Fran to talk to him. Now she is visibly angry. The last thing she wants to think about is the fight she had with her mother last night. But she tries to cover up her feelings and says, "Well, we just don't see eye-to-eye on everything and sometimes Mom tries to tell me what to do. I'm a grown woman and I don't like to be told what to do," and even as she says the words, she's knows how bad they sound. "Do you think you treated her with respect, since she is your mother?" Jesus probes. Fran doesn't like it when Jesus starts asking these kinds of questions. She squirms a little as she weaves in and out through traffic, trying to be preoccupied with her driving and ignore Jesus. But he won't let her do that. "I'm sure you don't always agree, but were those harsh words necessary, Fran?" "Okay, okay, Jesus. I'll call her today and apologize. It's my fault; it's always my fault!" Fran responds in frustration. "I don't think an apology will do much good with that attitude, Fran," Jesus replies, as they turn into the parking lot at the office. Fran is relieved they are there because she really doesn't want to talk about this anymore. She said she'd apologize; what more does Jesus want? As they walk into the office, Fran finds a notice on her desk that a prospect has cancelled an appointment with her today. "Oh, good grief," Fran exclaims. "I've waited two weeks for this appointment, got everything ready, and now he cancels.” She slams her attaché on her desk and turns to take off her coat. "Oh, I'm sorry, Lord, I forgot...” her voice trails off. "You forgot I was here? That's okay, Fran. But I am here, even when you forget," Jesus says to her calmly. Fran feels very ashamed, but what can she say?

Would you have ever guessed that a man from the Old Testament could offer us a godly role model for Christians in the marketplace today? Daniel is that man. If you haven’t read the book of Daniel lately, I encourage you to do so, because there’s so much there to encourage you in your life today. As you read his story, you will see that: Daniel’s greatest testimony was his work habits and dedication to doing his job right. “Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom” (Daniel 6:3). This caused much jealousy among the satraps, so they set out to find something against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. “They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent” (Daniel 6:4b). What a testimony! Neither corrupt nor negligent. I never really think of myself as corrupt, do you? Yet let’s take a look at what comes under the heading of corrupt: guilty of dishonest practices like cheating on the expense account, using company assets for your own benefit, disloyal to your employer, giving reports that exaggerate the good and overlook the bad, to name a few. And even if we pass the corrupt test, here comes “never negligent.” You mean, never neglecting to do what you’re supposed to do? Never failing to give it all you’ve got? Never failing to fulfill promises and follow-up as required? Never overlooking the stuff you hate to do and leaving it undone? Never? I’m guilty! I wouldn’t want my work habits to be as closely scrutinized as Daniel’s were. With all those satraps looking for something to hang him with, they could find nothing. Do you see why Daniel gives us such a great role model of a Christian working in the secular workplace?

Let me ask you, do you thoroughly like and enjoy everyone you work with and for? I hope so; that would be ideal. But it’s often true that you have certain coworkers who aren’t so easy to like. Daniel had some very difficult coworkers too, people who were out to do him harm. People who were very jealous of him and wanted to bring him down. But in spite of their attitudes, Daniel kept his attitude right: Daniel had a compassionate heart for his “co-workers.” When Nebuchadnezzar was ready to kill the wise men of Babylon because they could not interpret his dream, Daniel went to Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, and interceded for these men. “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” he asked. Now, these men meant nothing to him personally, but he had a compassionate heart, and he knew it was wrong to execute them. So, he went to his trusted fellow-Israelites, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, and urged them to pray for these men. God then revealed the meaning of the dream to Daniel and the next day he asked Arioch not to kill the wise men, but instead to take him to Nebuchadnezzar because he could interpret the dream (Daniel 2). Talk about sticking your neck out! Daniel was a man of great courage as well as great compassion. He cared about these men, even though they were not fellow-Israelites and indeed were astrologers and sorcerers and enchanters—men who were doing things directly opposed to God’s principles. It’s not easy to have compassion for people sometimes, is it? Especially those who are antagonistic toward us, or who have no clue about true spirituality. Those whose lifestyles are sinful and against all you know to be right. But as God placed Daniel in the midst of these kind of people, so he does us as well, and he does it so we can show God’s love and compassion to people who have no clue what it’s all about.

Do you sometimes feel very out-of-place in your work environment? Because we live and work in a fallen world, we are often painfully reminded that as disciples of Jesus Christ, we just don’t fit in socially and culturally. Daniel had that same experience, as he was taken to a foreign land. But there in the midst of a totally secular and pagan culture, he stayed true to his biblical principles and did not allow the culture around him to drag him down to its level. Daniel was deeply influenced by a letter the prophet Jeremiah sent to the exiles. In Daniel 9:2 we read: “In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.” That letter, being prophetic in nature, was the Word of God. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters. . . Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29:4-7). Notice that Daniel and his close friends were to serve the Lord right there in Babylon, while they were in exile. They were to prosper and work and be involved in the society around them. I believe God intends for his children to be involved in the pagan culture around us—to work in that culture and be a light in that culture and even be successful in that culture. But we’re never to compromise and adopt the sinful ways of the culture. In the world but not of the world—that is our challenge. Daniel and his three close friends were able to do it very well. And you’ll note that Daniel knew the Word of God as delivered by the Prophet Jeremiah. Undoubtedly that was one of the main reasons he could make it in that culture, because he knew and believed the Word of God. We have it a bit easier because we have the whole written Word of God, and when we make that an integral part of our lives, it fortifies us to be strong for the Lord and stand true to his principles, as Daniel did.

Did you ever think that an Old Testament saint could be a great role-model for you as a Christian in the marketplace today? I can assure you that Daniel is that man. We’re looking at workplace principles from the life of Daniel. Consider this: Daniel was taken completely out of his comfort zone, away from familiar people and surroundings, into a different culture altogether. When you go to work each day, you are likely to be leaving your comfort zone and entering a different kind of world—maybe a pagan world. The pagan gods may be a bit different today, but they are there: The god of materialism and success The god of “I have my own truth” The god of sexual pleasure The god of any kind of pleasure The god of “it’s all about me” Our challenge is to remain true to the Lord even though we may work in Satan’s territory. Daniel—and his three faithful friends—were fully immersed in a pagan culture. They worked hard and succeeded in that society. But they did not accommodate their lifestyles or beliefs to the pagan world around them.   Their approach was obedient involvement. They stayed involved in the world, while at the same time remaining obedient to God and his principles. Have you ever felt like a foreigner in your working world? Well, that’s because you are, if you’re a Christ-follower. This world is not your home. Peter wrote that we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood a holy nation, a people belonging to God. He goes on to remind us that we are aliens and strangers in this world (1 Peter 2:9). But Jesus has you there—in that pagan culture—for a purpose. And when you keep a joyful spirit, it is one of the most powerful weapons you have, both to fight off the enemy, to sustain you—because the joy of the Lord is our strength—and to testify to those around you that you have a good reason to be joyful.

As Christians in the marketplace, we face a continual challenge of walking that fine line between pursuing our careers and seeking success and being a strong witness for Christ where we work. Integrating our work and our faith is not the easiest thing to do, is it? The choices are not always black and white; the decisions are not always clear. And while we may not have gone to a foreign country and culture as a missionary, there are times when it sure feels like we’re outsiders, foreigners in a culture that is opposed to Christian principles. The story of Daniel offers us some very important principles for workplace Christians. Let me point out some of the issues that Daniel faced which are not that far from the ones we encounter. Daniel was forced into a job he never chose nor ever wanted. Daniel’s story begins on a very bleak note. He was taken as a captive—a slave—to another country. He had no choice. But even when evil seemed to be in control, God was working out his purposes. And through it all, Daniel kept a positive outlook. Do you ever feel that you’ve been placed in a position you never aspired to? Have you ever felt trapped in your job or your company? When you find yourself in that kind of predicament, it’s very easy for your attitude to go south very quickly. Even if you’re in a job of your choosing, there are days when you still feel trapped—when you have dreams of running away, catching the next flight out to a far-away place! But it is exactly in these times that the real depth of your faith shows through. Staying positive and joyful in a place where you may not want to be is a sign of a Spirit-controlled life, and it is a strong testimony for the Lord. Daniel had God-given talents and skills, which he had honed. He was a good steward of his gifts and opportunities. God had endowed Daniel with a very bright and quick mind, and Daniel had taken that gift and made the most of it, even in a hostile environment. Paul wrote to Timothy, “For this reason, I remind you to fan into a flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timonthy 1:6). Have you fanned into a flame the gifts and talents God has placed in you? It’s easy to just settle with getting by. But I’m often convicted that God expects me to take my gifts and make them better. You and I will be accountable for the stewardship of our talents and skills. Daniel learned how to live his faith in a secular culture. His culture could not have been further from the truth or be more corrupt. Yet he remained true. How did he do it?

Presented by Lisa Bishop When you think about God, what three adjectives come to mind? Would you use the word “kind” to describe God? The kindness of God is an expression of his love that heals wounds, reconciles relationships, and brings hope to the hopeless. God’s kindness transforms lives and as his followers, we have the privilege and responsibility to dispense kindness to people at work, at home, in our schools and communities, to everyone around us. Kindness is not always my default, but as followers of Jesus, kindness is not a suggestion; we are called to show the glory and kindness of God through our words, actions, and behaviors. Have you jumped on the Wordle bandwagon yet? Ok - that question is not a serious one, but if you don’t know what Wordle is, it's a web-based word game where players have six attempts to guess a five-letter word. Several of my family members have been playing and we have created a text chain to share our results each day. Sometimes if someone gets really lucky they can guess the five-letter word in 2 tries, other times it can take 4, 5, or 6 guesses. And if you fail to guess the word in 6 tries you essentially lose the game. It’s quite nerve wracking if I do say so myself, especially when you get to the 5th try and your Wordle fate hangs in the balance. Will I guess the word in 6 tries or fall off the Wordle cliff in defeat? The stakes are higher when playing with other people who are all vying for who can guess the word in the fewest attempts. So what does Wordle have to do with the kindness of God? Unlike Wordle, God is not six tries and you’re out. No matter how many times you fail, falter or flub, the lovingkindness of God lavishes all who love and follow Jesus. So if you have ever felt like you have gotten on God’s last nerve or “this time he is really going to come down hard on you,” it simply isn’t true. While you may at times feel like God is a punitive God, he’s not. This false belief is something I wrestle with. I can still find it hard to grasp that God is not mad at me when I screw up. Or that he is not going to hold my ungodly words or actions over my head as leverage to get me to do better. Now don’t get me wrong; there is a consequence to sin. When we act in ways that are unbecoming of a follower of Jesus and when others sin, there are ramifications. The kindness of God is not a blank check for sin, it does not condone sin or give license to indulge in or overlook it. Romans 2:4 says: Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? God’s goodness is meant to lead you and me to repentance; a change of heart and a turning away from self to making an about face towards God. And this is not God penalizing you; it’s actually very loving of God because he knows that when you and I live in holiness and according to his perfect will, that is where true freedom and joy is found. Sometimes we confuse the impact of our actions and the aftermath of poor choices with punishment from God. When we experience pain, frustration, failure, disappointment, and disillusionment in life, we often default to blaming God. When things do not go the way we want, we can sometimes neglect to see our part in misgivings. Hear me when I say that not everything bad or undesirable that happens in your life is a result of your poor actions and decisions. The reality is we live in a corrupt world and our actions and the sinful actions of others have an impact. What I am suggesting is that we often have a wrong view of God. We think that he is unloving, harsh, punitive, and unkind, waiting to whack us when we veer off track. But the Bible tells us something different about the character of God. It is super important that you and I have a correct view of God because what we believe about God will determine how we live. Your understanding of God’s nature and his disposit...

(presented by Lisa Bishop) We have been exploring the importance of kindness and I want to throw down a kindness challenge.  Before I do let’s take a look at what Titus 3:4-5 tells us about kindness:  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.  I want to take a look at those verses because they point out something very important when it comes to the kindness you and I are given by God. The kindness and love that Jesus demonstrates toward us is not something we deserved. His kindness is not based on our merit but on his mercy. In other words, you and I did not earn God’s kindness, it was freely given, not based on conditions.   How often do you extend kindness to someone only if they “deserve it.” When a coworker is off-putting or a person is annoying, in our flesh we are not bent toward kindness. Our tendency is avoidance, irritation, or the cold shoulder. Some form of withholding patience and gentleness. I know that can be my tendency when someone is not acting the way I think that they should. But Jesus demonstrates a higher way, and he loves and extends kindness without strings attached. Jesus’ kindness is not based on your behavior, it's based on his favor for you, the generous and charitable heart of God. And you and I are to reflect his generosity to others. So here are a few ideas to get you started exercising your kindness muscles.   Write words of encouragement to a co-worker or friend.  When someone has an opposing opinion, listen respectfully.  Buy a co-worker lunch and if you’re working remotely, have their favorite meal delivered.  Send a thank you note to someone who has made an impact on your life.  Hold your tongue when someone frustrates you and instead of reacting harshly, be patient and loving.  Let that car merge in front of you (I know. This one will take extra kindness).  Consider intentionally practicing kindness each day for the next 30 days. Kindness is no small thing. When practiced, it yields fruit both in your life and the lives of those around you. 

(presented by Lisa Bishop) When you are treated unkindly, how do you respond?  Think about it, when was the last time you were mistreated, or hurtful words were flung at you? A co-worker throws you under the bus, a family member shuns you because of your faith, or a friend cancels you because of your political views. Do you maintain your composure or lash back with your words or actions? It can be tempting to fight fire with fire. In a world where people seem to be more stressed out and on edge than ever before it doesn’t take much to set people off and in turn react in retaliation with even the slightest of offense.  In the gospel of Luke, we see Jesus being called out and condemned by the Pharisees and teachers of the religious law. They were “filled with fury” because Jesus was healing on the Sabbath and they “discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus” (Luke 6:11). They were plotting his demise and devising ways to destroy him. It’s a pretty intense situation. Jesus knows the thoughts and intentions of those who were against him and yet this is what he says to his followers. Luke 6:27-28  “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”  Luke 6:31-36  Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that…… But love your enemies, do good to them….. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the most high because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.  Now you and I most likely do not have enemies that are trying to take us down like Jesus experienced. But we are called to follow his example and take on his demeanor when we are faced with mistreatment. God shows love towards his enemies and is kind to those who are evil. That is a tall order and only possible through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit at work in you. Treating others the way we would want to be treated is a divine characteristic. The next time you are wronged, don’t retaliate. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you respond with kindness and mercy. 

(presented by Lisa Bishop) Have you ever had an unkind word spoken to you? What feeling did it evoke? Harsh words uttered toward me have left me with a feeling of shame, embarrassment, fear, and self-doubt. How about you?  On the flipside, when have you spoken an unkind word or made an unkind gesture? To a friend, a spouse, a co-worker; or even a stranger? I say when because the reality is we all have less than shining moments when impatience, anger, frustration, or arrogance has gotten the best of us and lured us into behaviors unbecoming of a follower of Jesus. We know we are called to be kind, and yet insensitive, thoughtless, and inconsiderate words and actions can seep out of us. In a fast-paced world where stress and division can be prevalent, how do we cultivate kindness in our lives? Ephesians 4:30-32 beautifully captures the essence of kindness:  “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”   These verses remind us of our calling as followers of Jesus and how we are to live set apart, pointing people to Jesus by pursuing kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. Kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and can be a simple yet profound act of treating others with empathy and respect. And we can grieve the Holy Spirit when we act in unkind ways. The Greek word translated as “grieve” means “to cause to feel sorrow, pain, unhappiness, or distress.” The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is a person, not an it. He is God. He has a personality and the ability to feel emotions and we grieve the Holy Spirit when we hold grudges or withhold forgiveness. When we speak careless words to one another, instead of uplifting and encouraging words.   On my flight home from Utah a few days ago I caught a glimpse of a woman’s t-shirt. It said, “I’m doing the best I can.” Now I don’t know her story, but those words reminded me that we never know what people are dealing with. Behind smiles at the office and selfies on social media there is often a lot of pain and heartache. Let’s remember to be tenderhearted, kind, and loving toward others. 

(presented by Lisa Bishop) How do you respond to correction?   Think about a time when someone called you out for ungodly behavior. An impatient or reactive response, fudging something at work, wavering in your faithfulness in your marriage, or telling a white lie. Whether in the workplace, at home, or in your small group, what was your reaction when your behavior was confronted?  We all experience times when we speak, act, and live in ways that are not in alignment with how we are called to be as a follower of Jesus. Ways that are harmful to ourselves, to our relationships, and to our witness. The key is, are you open to correction, or do you respond with defensiveness, denial, or deflection when someone points out a shortcoming? In Psalm 141:5, King David prays,  “Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it.”  David, a king, asked for correction and called it kindness. And when he says it is oil on his head he is saying that being confronted with the truth and having his flaws exposed is soothing medicine! What an attitude of humility. How often do we see people protecting themselves from correction, yet King David intentionally invites trustworthy men to shine a light on anything in his life that was not pleasing to God.   Do you invite that type of correction in your life?  To grow in your role as a co-worker, leader, friend, parent, or spouse; to progress and mature spiritually, you need a few faithful friends who are willing to point out when your life does not reflect who you are in Jesus.   When your words or actions do not align with those of a spirit-filled follower of Christ, rebukes from the righteous, offered in love, are one of the keys to holiness and living a faithful and fruitful life. Now this is not license for reckless criticism. As a mentor of mine once said, “We call out with the intention of calling someone up.” The attitude of heart is one of deep desire for a person to live from their true identity in Jesus. Who are the two to three trustworthy, spiritually mature (not perfect), men and women in your life you can invite to shine a light and help you continue to grow into the image you bear in Christ?  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be open, eager, and grateful to accept, acknowledge, and learn from their correction. 

(presented by Lisa Bishop) How are you investing your time? There are so many things that clamor for your time and attention these days and the question to ask yourself is this, “Is what I am investing my time in producing a profitable return?” If you were to take an assessment of the past week or even the past 24-48 hours, how have you spent those precious moments? I was on a girls’ getaway weekend not too long ago and we were confessing the time we spent on social media. An intended 20 minutes can easily turn into a mindless two hours, with very little return. And dare I say rather than making fruitful deposits, much of our media intake actually makes significant withdrawals; mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The reality is every minute of every day that passes is irretrievably gone. And whether you are wasting your time on Instagram reels or worrying about the future, it’s time you cannot get back. That’s why time is the most valuable commodity of all, even more precious than money. Is where you are investing your time yielding a high return? God promises a great return when you study his ways and his thoughts and invest time in his Word. In Isaiah 55:8-11 we read, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” It is impossible to spend time reading the Bible and not benefit. God’s Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and will nourish you, grow you, make your life flourish, and be fruitful. So, wherever you are in life and whatever challenges you may be facing, God promises that the time you invest in immersing yourself in his Word is worth it.

The more I thought about unexpected acts of kindness, the more encouraged I was to realize that we as Christ-followers have the great privilege of living out the hope we have in Jesus, in a world that often seems hopelessly angry and hateful and unkind. While we face the reality of what’s happening, it’s important that we not just bemoan it and continue to focus on all that is wrong. Instead, because of Jesus, we have hope—and we can share that hope with the people in our worlds. It is reported that the great evangelist of the 20th Century, D. L. Moody said, “The world has yet to see what God can do through a man who is totally yielded to him.”  And I believe your world and mine has yet to see what God can do through believers, individuals, like you and me, who are willing to be God’s light in this dark world. And it begins by making it our goal to be kind and gracious in every aspect, every relationship that God brings out way. We know that part of the fruit of the Spirit, given in Galatians 5, is kindness. And in Colossians 3:12 we read, Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Kindness should be our trademark as ambassadors for Christ. That’s where it must begin. We can be kind—we will want to be kind—when we allow God’s Spirit to clothe us with this fruit; to make us more like Jesus. So, part one is prayer—and a daily commitment to be God’s representative in our worlds. What does your world include? Of course, it begins at home, and you know, sometimes that’s the most difficult place to wear kindness, have you noticed? Yes, we love our families, those closest to us, but they can be the first ones to step on our toes and push our buttons. And no doubt, it works the other way around as well—we step on their toes. So, let’s begin at home by being careful to speak words of kindness to our mates, our children, our parents—those we love most. Sometimes that just means a change in the tone of your voice. Proverbs 16:21 says: The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction. Another version puts it this way: “sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.” I have been noticing lately how words of kindness and affirmation, with encouraging tones in the voice, bring a very different response. It just works! God’s word is totally relevant to the relationships in your home. So, give it a real try—speak kind and gracious and encouraging words to those people in your house and/or your family. Then, look for opportunities to show kindness where there is often strife or lack of harmony and unity—perhaps where you work. Maybe like becoming more intentional about showing kindness, doing little things, things easy to do, like smiling more. Yes, I’m serious. Smiling makes a difference, and it takes virtually no effort or time and it cost nothing. Proverbs says that a happy heart makes the face cheerful, so keep your heart cheerful and let your face reflect it (Proverbs 15:13). Another small thing that can make a difference is simply complimenting someone when you can do so sincerely. I always say if you think something nice about someone, then say it if you can. “I like your outfit.” “You did a great job.” “You were a great help; thank you.” The simplest things can make a difference. It’s amazing how powerful words can be—they have the power of life and death. And Proverbs 16 reminds us that Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. A few gracious words in a tense or trying situation can truly be a healing element that changes the tone. You may be thinking that these things don’t sound like anything much, nothing that could really change anything or anyone. But I challenge you to give it a serious try—focus on the small things you can do throughout your day to make your workplace kinder. It can be contagious; pray about it and give it a try. And you know,

I wonder if you’ve ever contemplated just how totally sufficient Jesus is because he is your way, your truth and your life? I’ve been pointing out some of the names of Jesus that we find in Scripture and encouraging you to claim those names for your own needs. I’ve talked about how Jesus is your Advocate, Jesus is God with you, Jesus is your Wonderful Counselor and your Prince of Peace—just some of the many titles and authority given to Jesus. But when Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6), what he was saying is that everything you will ever need is found in him. He is your way, your path to God and eternal life. Jesus was again telling his disciples to “Follow me.” Peter later wrote: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). He declared that he is the Truth—therefore, he is trustworthy. He can never lie to you or deceive you, and you can totally trust everything he has said and every direction he has given you. He is the Truth that can set you free from your sin, free from fear, free from bondage. And Jesus is your life. Jesus was telling his disciples about his impending death, and then he claimed to be the source of all life. He said he would lay down his life for the sheep, and then that he would rise from the dead to life again. He gave the promise that “because I live, you also will live.” So, wherever you are today—in whatever predicament you find yourself, your need is met in Jesus. Claim his names: He is the way, the truth and the life. Run to Jesus; call on Jesus; trust Jesus. Everything is always all about Jesus. So, claim his name, his authority, as your own. That is your privilege if you are truly born from above.

Peace is a commodity in short supply these days—wouldn’t you agree? While we hear a lot of talk about peace, we recognize that there is precious little of it in our world and in our lives. How about you? Are you a little short on peace right now? Have you been spending too much time in worry mode? Has fear seized your mind and heart, keeping you awake at night? I’m talking about the names of Jesus—the titles and authority he has been given by the Father. Names that show his power and his authority. And one of those names is Prince of Peace, which we read in Isaiah 9. A prince is someone who is a leader and has influence and authority. Therefore, the Prince of Peace can bestow peace on a person or situation. If you have become a believer in Jesus Christ, then you have access to the Prince of Peace. That means that there is no need for you to be held captive by worry or fear, because you can claim the name of Jesus—the Prince of Peace—and he will give you peace. Ephesians 2:14 says that Jesus himself is our peace. Jesus said that the peace he gives us is not just temporary peace like you might find in the world. Jesus said it’s peace that only he can give, and Paul wrote to the church in Philippi that “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). So, why are you living in worry and fear? Do you see how useless and unnecessary it is for you as a child of God because you can claim the name of Jesus, your Prince of Peace. And you do that by faith. You believe that Jesus is your peace, and you claim that peace as your own. You don’t have to feel it; you just have to believe that Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and he has peace for you. I would suggest that when you find yourself engulfed by worry or fear, you simply start repeating what the Bible says is true, that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is your peace. Resist the enemy who wants to keep you mired in doubt and worry. Run him off—out of your mind—by repeating the truth that Jesus is your peace, and then repeat that as often as you need to throughout the day. This is how you claim the name of Jesus.

I’m talking about the names—or titles—of Jesus that we can claim for whatever need we’re facing. For example, did you know that Jesus is your heavenly Advocate? First John 2:1 says: “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” An advocate is someone who supports you, who pleads on your behalf. What an incredible truth that as believers in Jesus Christ, we can claim this name of Jesus, that he is our Advocate with the Father. Scripture tells us that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God’s throne and he is there to intercede for you, to plead on your behalf. That means that you have the privilege of going right to God’s throne in prayer, and Jesus is there to plead your case. The Bible tells us that Satan is accusing us night and day before the Father (Revelation 12:10). Do you get the picture here? Satan is accusing you, but Jesus is at the right hand of God advocating for you. It’s like a scene from a courtroom, but the verdict is already determined. Satan can accuse all he wants, but he can’t win, because we have an Advocate, Jesus Christ. Could it be that you are now facing some failure on your part—something you did or said or failed to do that you know was wrong, was sinful? You know that you have disobeyed God in some way and your conscience is really bothering you. But what do you do? You go to your Advocate, to Jesus in prayer and you claim his name—his authority—as your Advocate to plead your case to the Father for forgiveness. Just believe what the Bible says—you have an advocate with the Father when you sin, and Jesus, your Advocate, has all authority given to him in heaven and in earth. So, do you think he will win your case for you? You can be totally confident that if you confess your sin, your Heavenly Father will forgive you because you come to him through Jesus, your Advocate. So, claim the name today of Jesus, your Advocate, and know the freedom that comes through forgiveness and cleansing.

What are you facing today that has you puzzled? Our lives are full of decision points, forks in the road where the choice we make will have some significant impact in our lives. How do you make good decisions? How can you be sure that you’re choosing the right path? Well, for those of us who have placed our trust in Jesus as our Savior, we have access to him and the power of his name. And one of the most wonderful names given to Jesus is found in Isaiah 9:6, which says “he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” In that one verse we have four of the incredible names given to our Lord, and at the top of the list is Wonderful Counselor. What is the role of a counselor? It is to give guidance and trustworthy advice, right? So, as you’re facing some important decisions today, have you gone for counsel to Jesus, or are you just trying to figure it out on your own? His name is Wonderful Counselor—the best Counselor. Have you claimed the name of Jesus for the guidance that you need? I well remember some years ago when I was facing a dilemma in my life, one that looked potentially dire and where the wrong decision could be catastrophic. I knew I needed good advice, so what did I do? I called my best friend, who just wasn’t available to me at that moment. I kept trying to reach her but to no avail, and I actually became irritated at her for not being there when I needed her. And as I paced the floor in frustration, trying to reach my friend, so clearly the Lord reminded me that Jesus is my Wonderful Counselor. He is the one I needed to turn to first and fast, because his guidance is perfect. So, I stopped and claimed the name of Jesus—Wonderful Counselor—and took the whole situation to him in prayer. He calmed my spirit and assured me that he would guide my steps through this situation and I could trust him. After all, he’s not like any other counselor—those who can be mistaken; instead he is my wonderful, perfect Counselor. I want to encourage you today, as you’re facing some decision point, some difficult situation, to first seek counsel from Jesus. Claim his name of Wonderful Counselor and call on him for the guidance you need. He’s always available, as a Christian you have instant access to his presence—no waiting around—and he is indeed a Wonderful Counselor in whom you can totally trust. Claim that name for yourself today.

The Bible makes it clear that the name of Jesus is to be honored and respected above all other names. In Philippians 2:9 we read: Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The President of the United States is called President, Leader of the Free World, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Head of a Political Party—and other titles that are given to him because he was elected President. Those titles represent his authority in various areas. Similarly, but in a much more important way, Jesus has been given names by God the Father that represent his authority, and as Christ-followers, we have access to the power of his name. So, this week I want to focus on five of the many names in the Bible that describe Jesus and I want to encourage you as a Christ-follower to claim his name for whatever need you are facing—to “claim the name.” In Isaiah 7:14 we read that the Messiah will be called Immanuel, which means “God with us.” This is a name of Jesus you can claim. This means that in the midst of whatever you’re facing, you stop and claim the truth that Jesus is “God with you.” You are not alone. He will never leave you or forsake you. It means that in the middle of your pity party, when you are feeling sorry for yourself because you’re facing something all alone and you feel as though nobody cares, you can claim the name of Immanuel and know that God is with you. For those times when you feel forsaken or abandoned, when all your friends seem to have vanished, when the person closest to you doesn’t seem to understand what you’re going through, learn to tap into the power in the name of Jesus Immanuel—God with you. It’s true, but you must claim it for yourself—claim the name of Jesus Immanuel today and be encouraged because God is with you.

You know, when I get to heaven one of the first people I want to talk with is the Apostle Paul, because I want to ask him if he was serious about some of those verses he wrote. In particular, the one which says, "Be anxious for nothing" (Philippians 4:6), and this one we're looking at today, "Be kind to everyone.” That verse is found in 2 Timothy 2:24, which says, And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. As they would say in the old west, that's a "mighty tall order," don't you agree? If we're kind to everyone, that would include strangers, people who irritate us, people who don't do what they're supposed to do, people who are slow, people who don't appreciate any kindness we show them and never return it, people who don't deserve our kindness. You know, it's no great thing to be kind to people who you like, who are kind in return. Even the hardest heart can usually do that. Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? (Matthew 5:46). But be kind to EVERYONE? Is that possible? I remember an occasion where a fellow believer was most unkind to a certain person. The reason was simply because she didn't like certain types of people because of prejudices from childhood and from some unpleasant experiences of her own. So, when this person walked in the door, she truly was unkind to her. However, moments later when another person came in, more to her liking, she was very gracious and kind to her. It bothered me a great deal to see this happening within the Body of Christ; and yet you and I know it happens very frequently. We're kind to those who suit us, but often unkind to those who, for whatever reason, we don't feel inclined to be kind to. It wasn't many days after this that I found myself doing the same kind of thing. I was checking into a hotel and the clerk was not efficient. She was taking far too long and was very nonchalant about everything and it irritated me. After all, I thought, I'm the customer here. She's inconveniencing me. Why can't she just do her job and get me checked in without all this unnecessary delay? And as I stood there, though I did not say anything inappropriate, the look on my face, the tone of my voice, and my whole body language sent the message loud and clear, and it was not a kind message. I could sense that she was aware of my unkind attitude. As I walked away, the Holy Spirit let me have it. Why couldn't I have been kind to her? All it required of me was a different look, a few nice words, and I could have shown her some kindness. But just because she didn't perform the way I thought she should and I was inconvenienced one slight bit, I was unkind. As is so often the case, I was irritated because my rights were violated, my schedule was very slightly interrupted, my plans were minimally delayed. Then I realized that perhaps the people I find it most difficult to be kind to are strangers, people I don't know and with whom I have very brief interactions. Sometimes it's simply because my mind is so preoccupied with other things, and I just don't take time to be kind. Sometimes it's because I don't like what they're doing. But whatever the causes, there are no legitimate excuses. The servant of the Lord must be kind to everyone. I was reading in Mark 6 where Jesus was trying to get away with his disciples to a solitary place to rest. As it was, they couldn't even find time to eat because so many people were coming and going. So, they got in the boat to escape the crowds, but that didn't work. The crowd followed them, and when the boat landed, they were there already, waiting for them. When Jesus saw them, we read that he "had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things" (Mark 6:34). I thought, “Lord, you're amazing. You were exhausted,

What Kingdom Equity are you wasting? Kingdom Equity includes the good things—our gifts and abilities and skills and knowledge—as well as the hard things, the heartaches, the failures. What part of your past—or your present—have you put in the category of “Not good” or “Not fair” or “Shameful” and therefore tried to hide it from others as well as yourself? Or you’ve let it sit there so long that bitter roots are growing in your heart and those bitter roots are causing trouble and defiling you and others. Or you’ve allowed yourself to live in the lie that God can’t really use you like he uses other people because of your past. The thing about this kind of Kingdom Equity—the kind that is filled with sorrow and heartaches and failure—is that it’s very difficult to see how God can use it when we’re in the middle of it. It’s usually only in hindsight that we can say, as Joseph did, “God meant it to me for good.” So that means that when we’re in the middle, we have to walk by faith and not by sight. We have to decide if we’re really going to trust God or not—against our feelings and our emotions. Some time ago I was suddenly faced with a situation that was potentially very harmful. And that situation was not resolved for almost an entire year. More than any other time in my life, my trust in God was tested. I had doubts; I certainly had fears; I wanted to run away and forget it all. My faith was tested. I wish I had come through better than I did; there were days that I did not have the victory. But in the end, by God’s grace, I came through as gold refined in the fire. I now have much more sympathy and empathy with those who are in the midst of a struggle than I ever had before. It’s Kingdom Equity that God allowed in my life, to be used for his glory. When we allow God to use all his Kingdom Equity in us, it brings meaning to every aspect of our lives. Nothing is wasted, and we find that the pains and hurts of our lives can be used for good, as well as all that experience you’ve gained in your working world, the talents you developed when you were young, the skills you’ve added through your life. It’s all Kingdom Equity, and God is looking for a return on his investment in you.

What is it in your life that is your greatest sorrow or regret? Did you know that even those things God has allowed in your life, and they can be used for good? I’m talking about Kingdom Equity--what God invests in us and how he wants a return on his investments. Please understand I am not saying that God is the author of all these difficult things; God never condones sin or evil and it is never from God. But our God is so great that he never wastes anything in our lives, even our sorrows or our sins or abuse we’ve suffered, or our failures. We are so prone to say, “God is good” when something favorable has happened to us. A friend just got a job after a few months of unemployment. We say, “God is good.” A baby is born without any problems; we say, “God is good.” A journey is traveled without any accidents; we say, “God is good.” We got money back from our income tax, and we declare, “God is good.” We got a report back from the doctor and the lump is benign, and we shout, “God is good.” Are those signs of God’s goodness? Absolutely. But what about the hard times and the disappointments and the bad news? Are we just as quick to affirm that God is good—all the time? When Job’s wife suggested that he curse God and die, he said, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10) Whatever has happened to you, is happening to you, or will happen to you can become instruments that God can use in your life. I’ve often told how I wandered for ten years away from God and his plan for my life. That wasn’t what God wanted for me; it was my own sinful choices. But I can tell you that I’m better able to help and encourage others because I know what it’s like to live with the consequences of my sinful choices. That means I have understanding and empathy for others that I probably would not have had without those ten years of disobedience. God doesn’t waste anything in our lives. He uses everything that has happened to us as a means to display his glory. All of that junk, the stuff you would have eliminated from your life story if you had written it—all of it can become instruments of God’s grace to others.

We don’t usually think of the difficult things in our lives as investments, do we? Can it be true that the hard things you’ve gone through, the difficulties you’ve encountered, the heartaches you’ve known—even your sins and failures—can be seen as God’s investment in you? How can that be Kingdom Equity? Well, the truth is that it is often these hard things that drive us to know God, that keep us humble, that show us our total inadequacy and force us to depend on God. God is never the author of evil, but he has this marvelous way of turning what someone meant to us for harm into something that he uses for good, as he did with Joseph. And they include things such as: Your childhood experience. If you were deprived of what you needed as a child—love or protection or security or safety—any of those basics and instead you endured some suffering—that is Kingdom Equity. Your health issues. Maybe you’ve faced some real health fears—that is Kingdom Equity. Your financial hardships. You’ve lost a job, and you’ve faced month-ends without enough money to pay your bills—that is Kingdom Equity. Broken relationships. That marriage that fell apart, or that friend or family member who is estranged or distant from you—again, Kingdom Equity. Disappointments in people. That adult child who has left the church and the truths you taught him or her about God. That friend who betrayed you. That boss who fired you—more Kingdom Equity. Significant losses. That parent who died—or mate or child or close friend—Kingdom Equity. Sins from your past. Yes, even those things of which you are ashamed, those times when you chose to live in sin and stray far from God—Kingdom Equity. All of these are Kingdom Equity that God wants to use for good in your life. That means that none of these things are meaningless. God doesn’t waste anything—not even sorrows and heartaches.

What are you doing with your Kingdom Equity? Kingdom Equity is what God has invested in you to use for his glory. It comes in two forms, the first of which is: Kingdom Equity of Gifts and Abilities God invests equity in us through our gifts, our talents, our skills, the things we’ve learned, our education, our years of simply living life! For example, a great deal of my experience in the business world was to make presentations. That experience was planned by God to teach me how to make a presentation and think on my feet, which was part of the good works he planned in advance for me to do. I have a friend who has begun a ministry to widows in Africa, teaching them how to make things that they could sell to support their families. They have to use treadle sewing machines that work without electricity and guess how she learned to sew as a young girl. On a Singer treadle machine. So, she can teach them how to sew on a treadle machine. That’s Kingdom Equity that God is now using. What about the skills you’ve acquired through your life. How are you using that Kingdom Equity for God? He didn’t invest that experience, that talent, that gift in you just for your enjoyment. He expects a return on his investment. Paul wrote to Timothy: “For this reason I remind you to fan into a flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6). Fan into a flame the gifts God has invested in you. Improve them, enlarge them, expand them. Get better at doing what you do. I look back on the 39 years I’ve had this radio ministry and I see how God has given me abilities and skills that I never dreamed were in me. That’s because he promises that if we use what he has invested in us, he will invest more in us. The parable of the talents teaches us this principle. God has invested in all his children and he’s looking for a return on his investment. Are you using what he has invested in you to bring glory to him?

Do you know what Kingdom Equity is? A friend of mine introduced me to this term not long ago, and it has really caught my attention. I’m sure you know what equity is. For example, if you bought a house, you invested money in that house, and the amount you invested is your equity in it. And as we make investments, we are doing so with the hope that our investment will grow in value, and we will receive a profit from our investment. Well, God has invested Kingdom Equity in all his children because our purpose here on this earth is to bring glory to God by doing the good things he prepared in advance for us to do: Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. If you are born from above, God has predetermined your list of good works he wants you to do, and he knows what resources and talents and gifts and experiences you will need to do those good works. So, from the beginning of your days he has been investing in you what you will need to do those good works. This Kingdom Equity comes in two different forms: The gifts and abilities and talents and opportunities and education and experiences you have been given that will be needed to do Kingdom work. The difficulties and hardships and troubles and failures you go through that teach you to trust and know God like nothing else can do. Whether you are aware of it or not, God has been making investments in you and he expects a return on his investment. He expects you to multiply your resources, your gifts, and to use them for his glory. So, the question for today is: Have you overlooked those investments God has made in you? Or have you wasted them on yourself instead of on the Kingdom? It is Kingdom Equity, and you will give an account to God as to your stewardship of the investments God has put in you.

I want to read this very familiar passage, to refresh our memories of the importance of love as set forth in these 13 verses of 1 Corinthians 13. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have no love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love This definition and description of love is quite the opposite of what we think of as love today. But this is God’s kind of love, and it is the kind of love we should have for God and for others. Some dear friends once asked me, "How can we pray for you?", and my ready reply was, "Just pray that I'll love Jesus more and more and have a heart to love others.” If those things are in place in my life, everything else follows. If not, nothing I do has any importance or meaning. Paul said I could speak with the voice of an angel, but it wouldn't mean anything without a loving heart. Paul also said that love is the fulfilling of the law. This was a radical statement in his day because all of his fellow Jews were focused on fulfilling the Ten Commandments and the 110 other commandments which they had manufactured out of them. Can you imagine how difficult that must have been, just to remember all of them? And now Paul brings this revolutionary principle: "If you do one thing, you will do these 110 things without even thinking about them. If you love, you will unconsciously fulfill the whole law." If we focus on ONE thing—being filled with love for Jesus and love for others—all other spiritual virtues automatically follow. Yet so often we reverse the process. I think of a woman who is in many ways very godly. She prays all the time; she studies her Bible constantly; she is at every church service; she keeps herself separate from harmful activities of any type; her life is exemplary in many ways. Yet, when she is with people, almost every time she causes others to be uncomfortable and hurts feelings because of her words, which sound unloving and self-righteous. Oh, we need to pray and read our Bibles and keep our lives separate from worldly actions, but those things should follow love, not precede it. Without being focused on love, we may do a lot of things that look good, but they'll never impress God, because he says without love, it amounts to nothing in his sight. Paul begins that 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians by contrasting love with several things. First, with eloquence. I would truly love to be a great speaker. I'd love to be one of those people who can mesmerize an audience with their incredible ability to communicate. But Paul reminds me that even if I could speak with the tongue of an angel, it would be a big zero without love. Then he contrasts love with the gifts of prophecy and the ability to understand great mysteries and knowledge.

Throughout the thirty-nine plus years I have been broadcasting, my deepest desire and prayer has been that I could somehow inspire Christians in the marketplace to see their jobs as their calling—as the place God has them to be a light in a dark world. I know that many of you have that attitude and I’ve heard so many of your stories of how God is using you to make a difference where you work. Over time, asking what difference you can make while you’re at work can become a habitual question—a way of life. It becomes automatic, so that instead of having a defeatist attitude, you look at every situation from the perspective of what you can do to make a difference. But it won’t just happen. We each have to be intentional about it on a daily basis, and we need to be motivated by love of God and love of people—the two things Jesus told us we need to do, love God and love people. This kind of attitude comes through prayer and the power of God’s Spirit residing in us. But the incredibly good news is, as disciples of Jesus Christ we have both the motivation and the power to make a difference. And it just so happens that when we work as unto the Lord, it also reduces our stress, brings us joy and fulfillment, and makes our daily lives meaningful and worthwhile. It’s a win-win way to live. You just can’t go wrong living the way God designed you to live. Colossians 3:23-24: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Are you making a difference where you work? You and I should be making positive differences where we work, don’t you think? I’m talking about extra-mile efforts that truly help the organization function better in some way or another. Does your organization have any kind of volunteer program where employees can be a part of some good charitable project? Many companies are more attuned to that these days, but if yours isn’t, why couldn’t you suggest or start something? I find that people really want to help others, but they just don’t know how to get involved. Offer a suggestion, and they’ll usually want to help. For example, you could have a food drive for a homeless shelter or a food bank. Or you could suggest visiting a nursing home once a month just to cheer up the residents. The Boy Scouts have a motto that says, “Leave it better than you found it.” Just suppose all of us had that attitude toward our everyday work. From cleaning up messes and keeping the place looking nice, to improving the quality of your work effort and coming up with ways to do a better job, if we each intentionally tried to leave our workplace each day better than we found it, how much nicer would our jobs be? How much easier would it be to come to work each day? I know that not everyone will share your enthusiasm for making a difference where you work, and furthermore, not everyone will appreciate your efforts. But that should not matter especially if you are a disciple of Jesus Christ. You have the privilege and the responsibility of doing everything you do as under the Lord. Ephesians 6:7-8: Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. Our calling as Christ-followers is to make a difference in every situation—because we are working for Jesus. I want to do that and I’m sure you do too.

What could you do to help your organization save money? Now, if you’re not personally in charge of the finances of your organization, you may not think about ways to save money. But believe me, everyone needs to do a better job of cutting unnecessary expenses. From something as small as turning off lights when you don’t need them, to conserving paper, to reducing phone bills or travel expenses, it makes a difference when everyone watches the bottom line. All too often employees have an attitude of taking advantage of the company and getting some financial benefit for themselves. Just imagine how unique it would be to have an employee who simply does what she or he can do to eliminate unnecessary expenses, finds less expensive ways to do things, or more economical sources. It would make a difference. Are there some ways you could help your fellow coworkers who may be dealing with some negative situations? Some extra-mile effort might make a big difference—something like pitching in to help them meet a deadline or showing them some new skills or easier ways to do things. I know that I frequently need help with my computer. I use it constantly yet I have very poor understanding of how it works! So, when someone takes the time to dig me out of one of my technical problems, it is much appreciated! So, eliminating negatives is a great way to make a difference where you work. Then adding something positive is equally important. Don’t underestimate the impact that small things make—things like remembering birthdays or anniversaries, finding ways to have small celebrations. Recently someone sent out a reminder that our church receptionist was celebrating twenty-five years of service to the church. What fun it was to celebrate her and give her a little gift to say how much we appreciate her. Making a difference at work should be a hallmark of a Christian, but we have to be intentional about it. So I hope you’ll give it some thought.

I’m challenging you—and myself—to begin each workday asking what you can do to make a positive difference where you work. There are any number of ways you can do this: in the way you work, in the quality of your work effort, and of course, in your interactions with the people you work with and for. Let’s think of some practical ways you could make a difference, no matter where you work. You can make a difference by adding something positive or eliminating something negative. The first and most important way you make a difference is by your very demeanor. Do you show up at work in negative mode, complaining too often, criticizing too much? That’s a negative that can be eliminated. So, first, you can show up each day in positive mode, with a smile on your face, greeting people in a friendly way, and keeping your words out of negative territory. And that applies, even if you’re working from home. You still have to show up, right? And the mood you are in shows up in your emails or on Zoom or Microsoft Teams – or however you connect with co-workers. Attitudes generally surface and complaining and griping attitudes come through rather clearly. I think many times we are more negative than we realize. So, here’s a suggestion: Determine for just one day that you will not say anything negative all day long. Set that as your goal—to get through one entire day without being negative. Pray about it at the beginning of your day and ask God to help you remember not to say anything negative all day. If you do that, you may be surprised to see how many times you begin a negative comment, and you have to stop in the middle of your sentence. Then go the extra mile and determine what you can do to put something positive in your day at work. More smiles, encouraging emails, respectful responses, sincere compliments—there are so many ways to make a positive difference. You just have to remember to do it.

What difference are you making where you work? You may recall that in his inaugural speech, President Kennedy made this now famous statement: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.” So instead of asking: “What difference does my work make?” ask instead, “What difference can I make at work?” When you approach your everyday work with the attitude of what you can give instead of what can you get, it will make a significant difference in your effectiveness on the job. And it will make a difference in your effectiveness as a representative of Jesus Christ. Some time ago I was introduced to a website called wildaboutwork.com and found some really good thoughts there. With the permission of the author, Curt, I’m using some of his ideas this week. As Christ-followers, we must continually remind ourselves that every part of our lives is sacred. There are no secular/sacred categories for us. As I’ve often said, for a disciple of Jesus Christ, working in what we would classify as a secular organization should be as sacred as working in a church or becoming a missionary. Our calling should be as clear as any of those who we classify as being in “full time Christian service.” It’s unfortunate that this terminology is used because it simply is not biblical. Every believer is in full time Christian service—or should be. Therefore, we definitely should have a different attitude toward our work and our coworkers and our employers. And we should approach our work each day with this attitude of “what difference can I make today?” So, your first challenge is to make sure you go to work each day with the right attitude. I know that’s not always easy to do because you work in some difficult situations. But as a believer, you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength, and I suggest you start each day asking God for an attitude adjustment. I have no doubt that if you daily ask God to give you the right attitude toward your work and ask him to give you a desire to make a difference, he will do it.

Presented by Lisa Bishop We were never meant to do this life alone. We need to be supportive and receive the support of community. I was reminded of this the other day as I was walking along the lake in Chicago. It was beautiful outside. The sun was shining, there was a cool breeze and the rays of light were bouncing off the blue water. As I was taking in the scenery, I caught a glimpse of a mother duck and her ducklings. It was the cutest thing to see about 10 baby ducks bobbing up and down in the waves, furiously wiggling and flapping their little feet to keep up. At first, I noticed the ducklings were in an ununiformed cluster behind their mom, easily being tossed around by the ripples in the water. If the smallest waves came, they would easily drift away from the group. And then, I saw something fascinating. Within a few minutes the ducklings were making every effort to form a line. It reminded me of the proverbial picture of getting your ducks in a row. It took a lot of paddling, determination, and effort but low and behold, when the baby ducks finally formed a line, their journey seemed a bit smoother. It turns out that when a duckling swims on its own, it kicks up waves in its wake, using up energy that would otherwise send it surging ahead. That wave drag resists the duckling’s motion so it stays stagnant; and if they fall out of position, swimming gets even harder. But when they form a line instead of swimming alone, they experience 158 percent less wave drags which means the duckling gets a boost. Swimming in a collective and unified manner isn’t just beneficial for baby ducks, we all need the boost that “paddling together,” forming connection, brings. Because you were never meant to swim alone. You are created for companionship and connection. We know this, yet sometimes we can fall into the trap of isolation and forget that building and being in community is vital to thriving in life and faith. So, I want to talk about the discipline of community. It sounds kind of weird to think of community in those terms, but if you think about it, creating and participating in community, well, it takes hard work and it takes discipline. One way I have heard discipline defined is, “Training used to establish desired habits and expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.” When you practice discipline, you are acknowledging that something can be difficult to create, attain, and sustain. That it takes effort, intentionality, consistency, and commitment over the long haul. Building a healthy community is an investment; it takes time, it is not always easy, but in the end it’s worth it. I think these days we are more and more prone to the idea of self-sufficiency and we neglect the impact of community. We think that we can experience life alone, go through struggles alone, and even follow Jesus alone. But that is not how God designed you, it’s not how he designed me or anyone else for that matter. If you think about it, Jesus didn’t live alone. He had a close circle of three; Peter, James, and John. And we know that he also had the twelve disciples and others that were his faithful companions. They formed circles of intimacy with one another, and you and I need the same. No matter how you’re wired—whether you are an introvert, extrovert, find it easy to socialize and engage in conversation or you tend towards social anxiety—something in your soul longs for meaningful relationships with other humans. We long to know others and be known by them. We treasure friendships that allow us to truly “be ourselves.” All of us long for a deep, authentic community. It’s hard-wired in you because God created you in his image, he created you for community. And the basis of community is found in the Trinity. The Trinity shows us that God himself is community. Before God created Adam and Eve,

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) If you were to take a step back and notice some of the habits in your life, what would you see? The other day I got out of bed at my typical 6am wake-up time. For the past several years I have disciplined myself to get up early, and now I don’t even need an alarm clock. That has not always been the case! It required creating habits one day and action at a time. I’ve also made it my daily morning routine to drink a glass of water and read my Bible, and workout three or four times week for 30 minutes. Getting in some physical activity in the morning helps me tremendously not only physically but also mentally and emotionally. If I am honest sometimes the last thing I want to do is roll out of bed and pull up a HIIT video on YouTube. But in those moments, if I do what I feel like doing instead of staying the course, committed to my goals, it can be easy for me to fall off the workout wagon and lack the diligence of being disciplined. As you reflect on your life, what area might be suffering due to a lack of discipline? In other words, what habits are working for you…or not? Some habits in your life are productive and beneficial and some are downright destructive and can detour you from the person you want to be and the goals you want to achieve. For example, creating the habit of eating healthy and working out can prove to be beneficial. The habit of being reactive and easily offended or angered, not so much. Repeated actions, reactions, and choices become engrained and turn into habits whether intentional or not. When you consciously and deliberately exert discipline, you train yourself to establish desired habits that lead to desired outcomes in your life, work, and relationships. And as a follower of Jesus, you need to discipline yourself with the truth of God’s Word so that your character is molded and shaped to Jesus and your behaviors reflect his divine nature. For example, are you in the habit of extending forgiveness or do you hold onto resentment? Do you practice humility or are you prideful or boastful? Are you easily put off if someone has a differing viewpoint or opinion or do you listen and show respect for the other person? When a person does or says something that needs to be addressed, do you demonstrate courage and have direct conversations, or do you gossip about them behind their back? Ultimately as followers of Jesus, we should lead disciplined lives—set apart from the patterns of the world. Not only does your spiritual thriving count on it, but your witness does also. If you have behaviors that mimic the sinfulness of the world, your spiritual ability to reach others is lost. Instead, strive to be a signpost to Jesus and live a disciplined life. A life of holiness that shines in the darkness and stands in contrast to the behavior of the surrounding culture. As you live disciplined and set apart in your lifestyle, you will draw attention to Jesus.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) Are you living free? The other day I was sitting in my kitchen with some friends having a conversation about our teen-aged years and some of the stupid things we did. I didn’t become a follower of Jesus until I was in my 20’s so I had plenty of time to live my version of “freedom” and make choices that I would later look back on with regret. And not that you must be young to be foolish. There are plenty of unwise decisions we can make, and temptations we can fall into, even as adult followers of Jesus. We live in a world that says, “Follow your impulses.” “Do what feels good in the moment.” “Act on what is right for you.” And we call this freedom. The dictionary defines freedom as, “Being able or allowed to do, say, think, whatever you want to, without being controlled or limited.” But true freedom is not the liberty to do as you please. True freedom requires discipline. To say that there is freedom in discipline can almost sound like an oxymoron. But in his letter to the Church in Rome the Apostle Paul alludes to the impact of the lack of discipline that leads to false freedom and ultimately leads to sin. “As long as you did what you felt like doing, ignoring God, you didn’t have to bother with right thinking or right living, or right anything for that matter. But do you call that a free life? What did you get out of it? Nothing you’re proud of now. Where did it get you? A dead end” (Romans 6:20-21, MSG). The world says, “Do what you want, when you want,” and calls it freedom. Jesus looks at satisfying the flesh as sin and calls it bondage. In Galatians 5:1 Paul emphatically says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” You are a slave to whatever you let master you and influence your actions, words, and behavior. When it comes to true liberation, true freedom, it will require you to omit things in your life that do not reflect your salvation. Or said in another way, discipline yourself to get rid of unprincipled choices that gratify the flesh and do not reflect the holiness of God. Where in your life is lack of discipline crippling your freedom in Christ? What thoughts or actions are ruling you rather than being guided by God and put under the authority of Jesus? It is for freedom that Christ has set you free! Confess to God and thank him that his Holy Spirit not only guides you but empowers you to live a life of true liberty through the discipline of freedom.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) What is your state of mind? The other day I came across a picture some friends had snapped while standing under a neon sign that read, “Sunshine state of mind.” Being in Florida, otherwise known as “The Sunshine State,” I thought the sign was a clever play on words. It also got me thinking. What state is your mind in? If you take intentional time to consider where your head space is these days, what would you say? In other words, what is your mental state? What thoughts has your mind been fixing on? These are important questions to ask yourself because the thoughts you dwell on, your mindset, what you set your mind on, matters. The thoughts you allow yourself to linger on will not only impact the quality of your life but the trajectory of it too. Because where your thoughts go your life will follow. The apostle Paul talks about the importance of paying attention to the state of your mind in 2 Corinthians 10:5: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Take captive every thought. Here Paul is calling out anything that comes against the gospel of Jesus Christ, the truth of God’s Word, and he makes it clear that your thoughts are one type of stronghold that can hold you hostage. In other words, any false thinking, every thought you have that is not in alignment with the truth of who God is, who you are, how you see others, are to be obliterated and made obedient to Jesus. And, as you realign your mind to come under the authority of Christ, you encourage others to do the same. Your mind is a battleground, and you must make sure that you don’t allow Satan’s deceptions to gain a foothold. Your thoughts can become a fortress holding you captive to false thinking. Jesus wants you to submit your thoughts to him so that he rules your thoughts rather than you being ruined by the enemy! So, what is your state of mind? Are you dwelling on thoughts of defeat, unworthiness, jealousy, anger, pity, superiority? What thoughts are holding you captive and running your life that need to be held captive and made obedient to Christ? This is a friendly reminder to expose every wrong thought by the light of Scripture and in every single place you encounter wrong thinking, fight against that with the truth of God’s Word. Discipline your mind.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) In the Bible, discipline refers to moral training, instruction, and correction; and the outcome is spiritual growth, character development, and Christian maturity. Discipline is not meant to be a killjoy. Quite the opposite. As Hebrews 12:11 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.” While all of God’s Word is full of rich and practical training and instruction for our everyday lives the book of Proverbs is solely dedicated to this end. The opening verses of Proverbs say, 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. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:1-7, NLT). The bottom line in these opening verses is don’t be a fool, respect and revere the Lord, desire wisdom and discipline. The book of Proverbs is a reminder that you must be in the Word of God, meditating on biblical truths, so that you grow in wisdom and spiritual maturity. This devotional is a spiritual snack; but make sure you make time to feast on the Scriptures so that your character in Christ grows and you reap the full benefits of thriving as a beloved daughter or son of God.  And when it comes to discipline and character development, in addition to spending time hanging out in the Word, also be mindful of who you hang out with. As Proverbs 1:10 warns, “My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!” In other words, if someone's lifestyle and behaviors draw you away from Jesus, reevaluate your relationships. Studies have shown that you are the average of the five people you are with the most. Who you spend time with influences the person you eventually become. The kind of people you interact with has an impact on your thoughts, beliefs and behaviors. So be disciplined and invest time in the Word, and be vigilant with who you do life with. Choose your companions wisely.

Have you ever found yourself living in regret? Maybe you have made a poor decision or series of not so wise choices and now you are paying the price so to speak? The other day I was sitting in a coffee shop waiting to meet up with a friend when I noticed a pen sitting on the table in front of me. I could tell that it had something written on it so I picked it up, and scribed on the side were the words, “I choose the pain of discipline over the pain of regret.” I think it was a slogan for a weight loss program but as I read those words I thought, “Wow, what a great motto for life.” Whether you want to lose 30 pounds, improve your sleep habits, learn a new language or land a promotion, achieving your goals will require discipline. Choosing what you want most over what you want now.  That requires something that we all find challenging at times, delayed gratification. “I really want that donut, but I want better physical health more.” “I want to scroll on social media before bedtime but getting eight hours of sleep is more important to me.” “I want to do just enough to get by at work but my greater desire is career advancement.” What you want over the long haul will require you to kick in some self-restraint in the here and now. It will call upon you to resist short-term temptation for the longer-term satisfaction of reaching your goals. First Corinthians 10:13 is a verse I memorized years ago that is my go to reminder in times when my self-control is tested. “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT). Did you notice that? “Not “if” you are tempted but “when” you are tempted!” Being lured into less than helpful habits is a part of life, but you have the faithfulness of God to help you by the power of his Holy Spirit. A fruit of the Holy Spirit is self-control which means you have the ability to master your desires, passions, and appetite! I know it is easier said than done. And if we get a little honest, sometimes we don’t want to forgo a desire in the now because it feels good. But as a follower of Jesus, you are not to be ruled by your feelings and impulses. So, when you are lured into a behavior that you know will not be beneficial in the long run, remember, choose the pain of discipline now over the pain of regret later.

Let's look at some common areas where our work habits may need to be reinforced. Good work habits require discipline and commitment, but they produce good work, good reputations, happy managers, career advancement, and good testimonies. So, it's really important to stay on top of these things. Working with Excellence As I was teaching Genesis in my Sunday Bible study some time ago, I was very impressed with Joseph. Well, I've always been impressed with Joseph; he is definitely my kind of man. But did you ever think about how Joseph climbed the ladder in Egypt and achieved such outstanding success? It was because he was a very hard-working, very honest, very dependable person. It reminded me again of the opportunity we have on our jobs to establish strong testimonies for our Lord Jesus Christ simply by our work habits. I'm certain Joseph also talked about his faith in his God, but his words would have been empty had he not established a flawless reputation for excellence and integrity. What's it like with you on your job? Have you let some of your good work habits slip? For example, the habit of being dependably on time every day. You may feel like it doesn’t make any difference whether you’re on time or not. Maybe most people aren’t, so you use that as an excuse. And that applies whether you work on site or not. If you are working from home and if there is an established start time, it’s important to honor that start time and be ready to go on time. It's easy to let yourself off the hook when you aren't doing the right thing—finding someone or something to blame it on. But it’s really important to remind yourself that your work habits are sending messages about you every day on your job. And any of us can have a strong testimony for Jesus through our good work habits. There are no good excuses for being careless or sloppy or lazy or uncaring. Remember this verse from Colossians: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, . . . since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving (Colossians 3:23-24). That "whatever" includes even boring work. It includes work done for a difficult manager. It includes work done in difficult situations. But when we work with all our hearts for the Lord, we will receive a reward. It won't go unnoticed. Being Dependable Dependability is one of the most important assets you can have on your job—or anywhere else. And everybody can be dependable! Are you careless about those little things? Do you make sure you do what you promise, and keep others informed when something goes wrong? Have you ever scheduled someone to come do some work at your home, and they were either a no-show or arrived very late? No doubt they had some kind of an excuse for their lack of dependability, but how did that make you feel? Now, obviously there are times when it becomes impossible for us to keep a commitment we’ve made. Something beyond our control has happened. But a dependable person will make sure to communicate as quickly as possible when that does happen. A phone call, a text, an email—it’s not usually difficult to let someone know that we’re going to miss a commitment. People are usually willing to give us a break if we simply keep them informed. Even though you may be a very good worker, lack of attention to these kinds of details can cause you to have a reputation for being undependable. I've seen that happen to many people; they do good work, but they forget things too easily, don't keep track of commitments, are poorly organized and structured so that things fall between the cracks too often. It's not an attitude problem, but a problem with their work habits. I don’t want to step on any toes, so to speak, but I just want to strongly reinforce the importance of good work habits, especially for those of us who are believers. I would hope that your co-workers know about your faith in Jesus Christ; the...

The last body part to present is probably the most important. You pray: "Here's my heart, Lord. Put in my heart your love and compassion for all the people I will see today.” Do you find it difficult to like some of the people you deal with each day? All of us do, don't we? But with our hearts given to God as living sacrifices, then he is free to give us his love for people, and we'll start to discover that we care about people we never cared about before. Then close by saying, "Lord, I present my body to you as a sacrifice that will live for you today, not for me. I do this by faith and trust you for the reality.” It's important that you understand we do this by faith. There may be absolutely no feelings associated with it. But God will honor that obedience on your part and you'll be amazed to see the changes that start to happen in your life. I believe you will be much more aware when your feet are trying to take you somewhere you shouldn't go; when you’re doing something with your hands that is not Christ-honoring; when your eyes and ears are focused on things that are harmful; when your tongue is saying words it should not say, when your mind is dwelling on the wrong things; when your heart is not loving and kind toward others. I would encourage you to take the Word of God literally, and put every part of your body before the Lord as a sacrifice. If you'll sincerely do that on a regular basis, you're going to discover that you'll be learning what it means to present your body as a living sacrifice. And you'll discover how exciting and rewarding it is to see that God can and does use you in ways you never imagined.

Romans 12 tells us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God, for this is a reasonable service. We do this by remembering at the beginning of each day to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. For example, you can pray: "Lord, here are my eyes; I want to see as you see. Here are my ears; may I listen to what you would listen to.” If your eyes and ears are committed to God each day as living sacrifices, you’re going to be much more careful about what you look at and hear, don't you think? There are going to be television programs and movies you'll never watch because they are not pure and clean. There are going to be YouTube videos and some podcasts you’ll never watch or listen to because they contain immoral and unedifying material. Also, you’ll be able to see this world and other people through the eyes of Jesus, and that perspective will make incredible changes in your everyday actions and reactions. Here's another part of your body to give over to God: "Lord, I give you my tongue today. I ask you to control all the words formed by my tongue, that they be words of help and healing.” My, how powerful our words are. The Bible tells us they have the power of life or death. I want to choose my words carefully so that they are words of life and they refresh others. A tongue that is presented to God each day as a living sacrifice will be an instrument of peace, it will be non-judgmental, it will speak words of encouragement. You can also pray: "Lord, my brain is yours; I want to think your thoughts.” It is very important that you present your mind to God, asking him to control your thoughts and reasoning processes. I strongly encourage you to consider doing this regularly—presenting parts of your body individually to God each day, being reminded of what it means to be a living sacrifice. It is one of the best ways to prepare yourself for the day ahead, because it reminds you that you are not your own, you are bought with a price. And therefore, your body—every part of it—should be a living sacrifice all day long every day.

How do I apply the passage in Romans 12:1-2, where we are admonished to give our bodies as living sacrifices? How do we do that? Well, here's what I often do. At the beginning of my day. I literally go through the parts of my body and relinquish each of them to God's service for the day, like this: "Lord, here are my feet. They are yours today. May I walk as Jesus would walk, go where you want me to go.” If my feet are given to God as a living sacrifice, for sure there will be places that I won't go, because Jesus wouldn't go there. Such places as social scenes that would cause me to compromise. But that's probably the easy part. Feet that are living sacrifices will take me places I might not think of going otherwise. I'll go to people who need me, I'll be in places of worship, I'll use my feet to take me where Jesus would go so that I can minister to them as Jesus would. Then I continue to present my body as a living sacrifice: "Here are my hands, Lord. I give them to you today so that what I do with them will bring honor to you.” Hands that are given over to God will be busy servant hands, doing things for others. Once while visiting a dear godly woman, her husband commented that she was always on the clean-up crew at church, staying behind and mopping and cleaning when everyone else had left. She replied, "I do it for Jesus, so what difference does it make if I'm mopping?” Those are hands given to God as a living sacrifice. Nothing is too menial for them to do; nothing too hard; nothing beneath them. So, our hands and feet are a good place to start with as a daily living sacrifice. Wherever you are right now—wherever you're headed—would you offer your hands and feet as a living sacrifice? Tell the Lord that you want them to be in his control, not yours. You may be surprised to see what God wants to do with your hands and feet when they are living sacrifices.

You've probably heard lots of sermons on Romans 12:1-2, where we are told to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. Does that mean check into a monastery, walk on hot coals, throw ourselves to the lions? We want to get a biblical view of what it means to present your body as a living sacrifice. This sacrifice is a living one, not dead. That's encouraging. Presenting our bodies does not imply some physical death or bodily punishment. But what does it mean? Well, we read in Romans 6:19b: Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. Did you ever realize that you've been offering your body as a sacrifice all along? It's true; we all do it throughout life. For example, when you relinquish your feet to go where sin takes you, to the wrong places, your feet are slaves to impurity and wickedness. When your tongue speaks words that hurt and harm, your hands to do things that are not pleasing to God, your eyes and ears see and hear the trash of this world, that’s what it means to sacrifice parts of your body to impurity. And we’ve all done it. Some people sacrifice their bodies to meaningless and trivial things. While they might not be classified as evil, their hands and feet, eyes and ears, tongues and hearts are sacrificed to time-consuming activities that are largely insignificant. But, as a child of God, you and I have the opportunity to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to bring glory to Jesus. Instead of using your body in acts of evil and triviality, you can, if you choose to, be a part of God's eternal plan and have his power working through your body. Then your hands and eyes and feet and tongue—and all your other body parts—will be living sacrifices to God instead of to evil. And this leads to holiness in your life. Presenting your body as a living sacrifice begins to sound more like a privilege than a drudgery, doesn't it? But the question remains: How do you offer your body as a living sacrifice? I've found some practical ways of doing that on a daily basis that have made a difference in my life.

When I say the word "sacrifice," what comes to your mind? Some words I associate with "sacrifice" are relinquishing, giving away, losing. Not exactly words to warm our hearts, are they? At least, not our human hearts, which on their own are not prone to want to sacrifice anything. The first two verses of Romans 12 are about sacrifice: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2). There’s that word: sacrifice. Have you ever wondered exactly what it means to give your body as a living sacrifice? It conjures up visions of burning at the stake, being attacked by lions, and other similarly distasteful events. Then, when I think that my life is full of activity and schedules and commitments, I wonder how am I supposed to do all this and sacrifice at the same time? Well, it's good to note that it is to be a living sacrifice. This is not a sacrifice to take our lives away from us, but one that requires us to keep on living. But what does it mean to be a living sacrifice? A dictionary definition of sacrifice says: The surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher claim. I think this definition comes close to what Paul had in mind. A living sacrifice would require surrender of something we all prize—our bodies—for something that has a higher purpose—worshiping the God of all creation, who has given us this life to begin with. But the question becomes: How do we live day in and day out as a living sacrifice to God? How do we offer our bodies as living sacrifices?

Let’s take a look at some key areas where our attitudes can easily start to go downhill, and then see what the Bible has to say.  I imagine you'll be able to relate to some of these. Griping and Complaining Have you ever been around someone who loved disasters and crises? I've run into that person on a job or two of mine. They gripe about everything and everybody and seem to really enjoy spreading any bad news they can dig up. Even when there's something good happening, they'll find the fly in the ointment and do their best to spoil the good times for everyone else. You know that person can get on your nerves after a while! It’s become normal and acceptable for employees to complain and gripe about the company and the management. How often do you hear coworkers complaining about the way the company is run, the pay scale, the work environment, the benefits—you name it.  And here’s the thing: When others start complaining and griping around us, we almost feel like we have to agree with them or join in because otherwise we’re kind of weird. And of course, we as Christ-followers are just as susceptible to this griping and complaining disease as anyone else. But the difference is—or should be—that we determine by God’s grace not to be a part of that scene. There's a verse in the Bible that addresses this: Do everything without complaining or arguing (Philippians 2:14). "Everything" leaves no room for fudging because it includes your unfair wages, the difficult boss, the annoying co-worker, the way the company treats you—and even the weather! Complaining is such a waste of energy and it's stressful on you as well as everyone around you! A friend of mine works for an organization that truly fights this griping culture from the top down.  And one of their work mottos is—simply—“No whining.” It’s an attitude that is encouraged because it makes such a difference in the work product as well as the environment. Attitudes really are contagious, and you can be a part of passing on to others a good attitude, a positive one. That doesn’t mean that you don’t recognize and, when necessary, confront issues that need to change. But griping and complaining never changed anything except to make things worse. As you do your job, ask God to keep you from complaining. Stop in mid-sentence if you have to and refuse to get caught up in this complaining tendency. In fact, I have a card taped to my desk that says, “Today I will not complain about anything!” Just a helpful reminder, and if you go to our website, you’ll find this devotional there and at the end a card that you can print and use as a reminder, too. Doing your job without complaining is one of the strongest testimonies you can have for Jesus Christ. Don't Like the Job Did you know that studies show that almost half of the people in the workplace report that they really don't like their jobs? Wow, that's rather discouraging. I can just visualize those thousands and thousands of people doing jobs each day and dreading it. Reminds me of that old commercial about the man whose job was to bake donuts everyday. You remember that one: "Time to make the donuts." You could just see it in his face and hear it in his voice; he hated to make those donuts. Can people see in your face and hear in your voice that you hate your job? I well remember having a new job which looked so interesting when I accepted it but was so boring once I began working there. I did not like the job content, and as a result, I didn’t work very hard, I couldn’t wait for the days to end, and I wanted to blame others—like my manager—for the fact that I didn’t like my job. You know, if you don’t like your job and that is affecting the way you work, you need to do some soul searching and pray about that attitude. There may be good reasons you don’t like your job, but there’s no good reason to harbor a bad attitude about it. There’s nothing wrong with looking for a different job where you’ll e...

When doing the right thing causes an embarrassing situation, are you quick to chicken out? Fran and her friend, Barry, find themselves in such a dilemma. They agreed to go with some new friends, Max and Claire, to a movie, only to discover a few minutes into it that it's not the kind of thing they want to watch, even if it was rated PG-13. So Barry rather abruptly and decisively informed Max that he and Fran would meet them after the movie ended, and they headed out of the theater. Sitting next door at the coffee shop, waiting for the movie to end, Barry and Fran have an opportunity to discuss whether it was right to cause that little scene or just sit through the movie to avoid embarrassing their new friends. Barry is convinced that you never compromise your standards, and as they're finishing their coffee, they look up to see Max and Claire coming in. "Hey," Claire says, "I thought we'd find you here. We decided to leave, too." "Hi," Fran says; "I'm sorry about leaving so abruptly but. . ." "It was my decision, Claire," Barry interrupts. "And I do apologize if we embarrassed you. I just felt the movie was so far off base, that it was nothing either of us should watch." "Well, I thought it was pretty dumb myself," Max agrees. "What bugged me," Barry says, "was that they were portraying this angel in such an immoral way. I don't think Jesus would watch that movie, do you?" "No, I guess not," Max says, "I hadn't thought about that. . ." "You know, what I've finally decided is that you have to set standards and then stick to them. Often as Christians we lower our standards a little bit here and a little bit there, and all of a sudden, we're on a slippery slope downhill." And with that, a long discussion begins, giving Barry and Fran a wonderful opportunity to share and to encourage their new friends in their walk as Christians. It turned into a wonderful evening, actually. On the way home, Fran takes Barry's hand. "I was so proud to be with you tonight, Barry. You were incredible. Thank you so much for taking that stand and handling it so beautifully." "Thanks, Fran," he says, "but you weren't real sure at first, were you?" "Well, you know me, I want to avoid conflict at any cost; sometimes you just can't do that, can you?" she comments. "Not if you want to be a true disciple," Barry agrees. "And by the way, I was proud to be with you too. But then I always am.” She smiles at him. What a man! Quietly she thanks Jesus for the courage and character Barry showed.

Did you ever find yourself in the middle of a compromising situation but you didn't know how to extricate yourself? Fran and Barry are about to find themselves in such a predicament. A new couple, Max and Claire, from their singles' group at church asked them to have dinner and go to a movie with them this Saturday evening, and wanting to build bridges of friendship, they agreed. After a nice dinner, Max suggests a movie about an angel. Fran and Barry know nothing of it, but Claire assures them it's okay because it's rated PG-13. So, they get settled into the theater with their popcorn, looking forward to a lighthearted funny movie. About ten minutes into the movie, Fran begins to feel nervous. This portrayal of an angel is about as far from a biblical angel as one can get. She can tell that Barry is not comfortable with it either. After a few more minutes, Barry puts his arm around Fran and whispers in her ear, "We can't sit through this movie, Fran. This is trash—a fornicating angel. No way; we have to leave." "I agree it's a rotten movie," she whispers back, "but wouldn't it be rather embarrassing to Max and Claire for us to leave?" "I'll take care of that, Fran, don't worry," he says, and with that he whispers something to Max and then takes Fran's hand as they head out of the theater. As they get to the lobby, Fran is flushed. "What did you tell Max?" she asks. "I just said we were uncomfortable with the movie, and we'd meet them right outside the lobby when it's over. C'mon, let's go get a cup of coffee." "But Barry, I'm not sure we did the right thing. These are new friends we're trying to build a relationship with; what must they think of us?" Fran asks. "I really think we should have discussed it first." "Fran, how were we going to discuss it there in the movie theater?" Barry asks. "Would you want to be watching that movie if Jesus returned right now?" "No," Fran says, "but I just feel badly for Max and Claire." "Trust me, Fran," Barry says, "we did the right thing." As they have a cup of coffee, the air between them becomes heavy. Fran feels Barry should have been more considerate of her feelings in this matter. Yet she can't deny that his decision was right. Sensing her uneasiness, Barry says, "Are you upset with me? I didn't see any other options, Fran, and when you're with me, I consider it my responsibility to keep our environment above reproach. I believe I'm accountable to God for where I escort you, Fran. That's why I made that decision." She looks at him in amazement. "I'm seeing a side of you I've never seen before, Barry," she says. "I hope you like it okay," Barry says with a smile, "because I like every side I've seen of you, Fran." How can she stay upset with a man like this? But what about Max and Claire?

We're continuing our story of Fran and Jesus on the Job. Barry, Fran’s friend, just lost a new account, and it's become obvious that he lost it because of his strong Christian principles. Fran has had more trouble accepting this than Barry, but after talking to Jesus, she realizes this is not a fight that can be undertaken with the weapons of the world, but it must be fought with prayer. Now, this Saturday morning, Fran is thinking of what she can do to lift Barry's spirit, and she gets an idea. She calls Barry and says, "Hey, instead of going out to dinner tonight, let me prepare a quiet dinner for the two of us and we'll have our own little celebration, to celebrate the victory that God is going to win for you!" "Hey, Fran," Barry says, "you're a doll to think of that, but did you forget—we promised Max and Claire that we'd have dinner with them and catch a movie." "Oh, right," Fran says, "I did forget. Bummer! I'd much rather have a quiet celebration with you.” "Yeah, me too," Barry says, "but Max and Claire are new at church, and we need to get to know them better." So, Fran gets busy with all her Saturday chores and errands before time to go out. They meet Max and Claire at a nice little Italian restaurant and enjoy some good pasta and then leave for the movie. "Hey, what movie do you want to go to?" Barry asks. Max suggests a movie rated PG-13 and they agree it sounds okay. But Fran has a funny feeling in her stomach. Hollywood isn't trustworthy and sometimes their PG-13s are more like R-rated, and she’s concerned about this one since she doesn’t know anything about it. As they wait in line for tickets, Fran says to Barry on the side, "I wonder about this movie, don't you, Barry? What if it's no good?" "We'll leave," Barry says quietly. "Well, we can't just leave Max and Claire," Fran says, somewhat startled. "We don't watch junk, right Fran," Barry says as he takes her arm and they go into the theater. Well, Fran wanted a strong man with lots of character—I'd say Barry seems to be living up to her expectations!

Have you ever suffered a setback in your career because of your Christian lifestyle? Fran's friend, Barry, has just had that painful experience. He was in line to be awarded a big new national account, but it was given to a less-qualified person. And the unspoken but clear reason for this decision by upper management is that Barry's Christian principles prohibit him from being a part of the acceptable "party and drinking scene" which this client seems to expect. Fran is upset because Barry is not going to fight the decision. Driving home from work this Friday afternoon, after a long discussion with Barry which almost turned into an argument, she says to Jesus, "Lord, this is not fair. Barry should stand up for his rights. You don't expect us to just lay down and roll over when we're treated unfairly, do you?" "Fran," Jesus quietly replies, "don't you remember what I said in the Sermon on the Mount?" "You mean the 'turn the other cheek' part? Yes, but Lord does that mean we're supposed to be door mats? What kind of testimony is that?" Fran replies. "Fran," Jesus continues, "you should know by now that as a follower of me, you don't live by the same rules as others. The weapons you fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." "Yeah, I know," Fran says, "but it's just so hard to accept it. I feel so bad for Barry. He's such a great guy and he would handle that account imminently better than Lloyd. It's just so hard...." "Remember, Fran," Jesus says, "this is not the end of the story. Barry said he was letting go and trusting me, and you're going to have to do the same thing." "He's a lot better at that than I am," Fran says. "It almost seems like he's a little wimpy. But I guess…." "Don't confuse acceptance and submission with weakness, Fran," Jesus reminds her. "It takes a lot more character and strength to let go than it does to fight." That evening she and Barry talk on the phone, and they agree this is a matter that only God can adequately resolve. So, they pray together about it, and Fran tells Jesus she will indeed let go of it. "I really admire your ability to trust God, Barry," Fran says, "even in the midst of a disappointment. I've learned a lesson by watching how you're handling this." "Gee, Fran," Barry says, "I don't feel like I'm handling it so great. It still hurts, but I believe if I fight it, I'll just mess things up worse. Have to tell you, though, I was already spending that additional income. There's something I want to buy. . . oh, well, in God's time." Fran wonders what he's talking about, but she's afraid to ask!

For those who aren't familiar with the Fran stories, Fran is a young widow with two school-aged children, who has a job in a marketing organization. We've been following her story since she went back to work after her husband's untimely death, and several years have passed. Now she has a relationship with a man named Barry, who is a strong Christian, and their romance has brought a bright spot into Fran's life—as well as a few struggles and conflicts! She and Barry work together and both are account reps with good track records and success. Their hard work and honesty have paid off, and they are held in high esteem by their management and coworkers. This Friday morning Fran is really excited for Barry, because she expects he will be awarded a big new national account. He's the right person for that account, and their manager, Marilyn, has indicated that she recommended him. The final decision is to be made today, so it's been hard for Fran to stay focused. The phone rings just about lunch time, and it's her friend and fellow believer, Louise. "Hi, Fran," Louise says, "just wanted to tell you how sorry I am for Barry." "What do you mean, Louise?" Fran asks with a lump in her throat. "Oh, no, you haven't heard! Oh, I'm sorry. Barry didn't get the new account; it went to Lloyd." "Lloyd? Why Lloyd?" Fran asks in bewilderment. "Lloyd isn't nearly as qualified as Barry - and Marilyn told Barry. . ." "I know, I know," Louise says, "nobody knows why Lloyd got it instead of Barry. I just feel so bad for Barry." "Thanks for letting me know, Louise," Fran says. "I need to find Barry. Talk to you later." She hangs up and calls Barry; no answer. His office is up on the next floor, but she just can't sit still and wait any longer. So she heads for his office, taking the shortcut up the stairwell. As she's going up, Barry is coming down. "Oh, Barry," Fran says, "I was headed for your office. Louise just told me. . ." "Yeah, can you believe it?” He looks at her with a slight grin. "Marilyn told me Lloyd was selected because of his quote 'experience with entertaining large national accounts.'" "What did she mean?" Fran asks. "Oh, I think it's clear—somebody decided that I wouldn't be willing to wine and dine this client as they expect to be," Barry replies. "You mean because you're a Christian and they know you don't carouse like some of the other reps do?" Fran replies. "Barry, that's discrimination. Didn't you protest to Marilyn?" "Look, she feels as badly about it as I do," Barry says, "and she's a fairly new believer, so I'm not going to hassle her, Fran." "You mean, you're not going to fight this, Barry?” Fran can't believe her ears. "No, I prayed about it, and I have to trust God and let it go," Barry tells her. Whoa, would you be willing to do that? Shouldn't Barry fight for what is rightly his?

Even though the topic of discipline is one of those non-emotional topics which doesn't bring tears to anyone's eyes or generate a great deal of response, it’s so essential to our lives in so many ways. To ignore the need for discipline in our lives is to invite disaster. Proverbs says, "fools despise wisdom and discipline," (Proverbs 1:7) and " whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame” (Proverbs 13:18). It also tells us that a person who ignores discipline despises himself, and that a person can die from lack of discipline! But we are told in Proverbs 6:23 that "the corrections of discipline are the way to life." The Book of Proverbs is an excellent book to guide us in the necessary disciplines for a fruitful life. In the first chapter, verse 2, we see that the whole book of Proverbs was written for "receiving instruction in prudent behavior.” Well, how about you? Does discipline come easy or hard for you? Maybe it's easy in some places and hard in others. That's what I find in my life. I've got some disciplines going really well but other disciplines are lacking. I've noticed that I often miss the mark on what we call some small areas where I need to be more disciplined. But they're not really small to God because when I refuse to be disciplined even in small areas, it is in fact rebellion against God—against his control in those areas of my life. I find myself rationalizing: "Well, I'm really a very disciplined person in the important areas; these are just little nits that don't amount to anything.” Or the rationalization which says, "Look, you're so disciplined in most areas of your life, you deserve some time off for good behavior. You've earned your right to be undisciplined here in these little things.” But that lack of discipline is not just a little shortcoming on my part; lack of discipline is sin. James 4:17 tells us that "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them.” So, let's call lack of discipline what it is, even in those small areas: sin. That way we get God's view of the situation, and we're more likely to get serious about putting necessary disciplines in our lives. Let's talk about some typical areas where discipline is often lacking. First, there's procrastination; putting off to a later time what we could and should do right now. Funny how we can find all the energy we need to do things we like to do, but we're just too exhausted or too busy to get to those more unpleasant things, so we procrastinate. Can you relate to that? Here's a motto that I strongly encourage you to adopt: Do it right and do it now!  That's a totally biblical principle. We're told in Ecclesiastes that “whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (9:10), and Jesus warned his disciples that “as long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4). Do it right and do it now! If that's a discipline lacking in your life? Are your talents wasting, your goals unfulfilled, your plans and programs never getting off the ground because you keep procrastinating? It is truly a deadly bad habit. Where have you been procrastinating lately? Why don't you do it right and do it now, and get it off your mind? You'd be surprised how much those procrastinations are rattling around in your brain, gumming up the works, slowing down the thinking processes, keeping you from being optimally effective. Clear the mind; do those things you know you should do. Whether they're little ones or giant ones, they begin with the first step. If you're like me, I'm okay once I make the first step. But oh my, it's so difficult to make that first step sometimes. Another area where our discipline can be lacking is that of being faithful—doing what you said you'd do. Do you know people who glibly offer to help, or promise to do something, but they have a tendency to let those things slide, forget about them,

Would you say that you could use a little encouragement? It could be that you’re just discouraged. Things aren’t going the way you want them to, finances are difficult, your health may not be the best, relationships could be strained and unpleasant. Life has a way of sapping our joy, doesn’t it? It could be that you truly need some encouragement right now. Well, if so, I want to suggest you follow the three principles of sowing and reaping, which are: You reap what you sow. You reap in a different season than you sow. You reap more than you sow. Therefore, if you need encouragement, then sow some encouragement. Encourage someone else, and that seed of encouragement will come back to you in abundance. It may not come right away, but it will come. You will reap encouragement in season, even more than you can imagine. Isaiah 1:17 reminds us, “Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.” The Apostle Paul was continually encouraging people and admonishing new believers to be encouragers. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11 he said, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”  Notice how he complimented them while at the same time encouraging them to encourage each other. This should be a trademark of a Christian—to be an encouraging person. And becoming an encourager is something all of us can do. I trust these simple ideas I’ve shared with you will cause you to stop and think about what you can do to be a more effective encourager—to be a Barnabas in your workplace.

Here are a few more simple things you can do to become a Barnabas—an encourager—where you work: Be a good employee. It’s not always easy to submit to your boss, but that is what Christians in the workplace are to do. When given instructions, follow them—unless they would cause you to betray your integrity. Just being a good employee will be encouraging to your boss, if no one else, but it also sets a good example for others. Take second place. Be willing to be the last in line, to take the worst seat, to let someone else take credit. That’s not easy to do sometimes, but it’s the servant attitude that Jesus had, and we need to have it as well. Apologize. If you’ve made a mistake, done something you should not have done, said something you should not have said, own up to it as soon as possible and simply apologize. A friend of mine says the biggest difference between her and her coworkers who are not believers is that she apologizes more than they do! Well, an apology can go a long way toward relieving tension in relationships, and it will indeed be an act of encouragement. Truthfully, how many encouraging words do you hear in a normal day? In many work environments, they are few and far between. But if you become a Barnabas on your job, and with sincerity you offer words of encouragement, you will become a beacon of light in that world. So, you can become a Barnabas—a person who refuses to be discouraged, and instead, offers words of encouragement to those around you. It’s what Jesus would do, and this is one simple but important way you can be his ambassador right where you work.

I’m encouraging you to become a Barnabas where you work. And you do that by deciding to do things for people that will encourage them. These ideas I’m sharing with you are often very small things that take little time or money, but they can truly make a difference. So, here are some more creative ways you can be a Barnabas on the job: Offer to help your boss. Really, you could ask your boss what you could do to help him or her, especially if you know that your boss is under a lot of pressure. Bosses need help just like everybody else, yet often they are overlooked. Be sensitive to the sniffles. If someone is under the weather, send a note or offer to help with the workload. Acknowledge good work. When a coworker does something well, you could acknowledge it with a word, or an email, or a written note, just to let them know that someone notices the effort they put into a job and it was appreciated. Offer to pray for a coworker. There are times when a coworker shares a worry or concern with you, either personal or job-related. Instead of allowing it to degrade into a griping or gossip session, simply offer to pray for that person. You may not be able to pray at that moment on the job, but you can assure them that you will remember that situation in prayer. I believe you’ll find that most people are glad for you to pray for them. Listen. If a coworker wants to share a problem with you, take the time to listen and give that person your devoted attention. Obviously, you need to be careful not to take advantage of time you should be working, but a listening ear can be one of the most encouraging things you can do for a coworker. You know, if you become a Barnabas on the job, as you encourage people, you will be amazed at how God will use you right there as a beacon of his light and love.

The Apostle Paul wrote to Philemon that “Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints” (Philemon 1:7). What a wonderful tribute to Philemon. Wouldn’t you like someone to say that about you? Well, we can all become encouragers if we decide to do some specific things for the purpose of encouraging others. Here are some more practical ideas that you can do on your job to encourage others: Smile! Did you realize that by a simple smile you could cheer someone up and encourage someone? Smiles are contagious and can brighten the atmosphere where you work. When talking to or passing by others, just turn up the corners of your mouth and flash them a radiant smile. Costs you nothing, and it could really make a difference in someone’s day. Greet people! As you enter the workplace, greet coworkers with a simple, “Good morning.”  You never know the energy it took for others to arrive at work. A pleasant greeting can start a person’s day off right and possibly help them forget about their troubles. Be the Welcome Committee. When a new employee joins the staff, introduce yourself and offer to be of assistance. Help that person find his or her way around, offer to have lunch together. Think how comforting it could be to that new colleague, because being the new person can be challenging and a little frightening. Share your lunch. If you’re not working remotely, this is an easy way to get to know someone.  Or if you baked something special and have some leftovers, bring it in for others to enjoy. Remotely, you could schedule a one-on-one zoom to catch up during lunch time. You may think that these don’t sound that impressive or important, but it is so often the little things that we remember to do that touch someone else, helps them see they are not forgotten, and they are encouraged. Become an encourager on the job. It will make a difference.

Do you have a nickname? Often we get stuck with nicknames from our childhood, or based on a certain characteristic, and it may not necessarily be flattering. However, there is one person in the Bible who was given a nickname because of a very wonderful trait. His name was Joseph, but the apostles called him Barnabas, which means Son of Encouragement. You can read about him in Acts 4. Imagine people calling you a name that signified you were an encouraging person. I can’t think of a greater compliment, can you? I want to show you how you can become a Barnabas in your workplace; you can be known as a person who encourages others. A good friend, Traci Mason, has compiled these ideas and allowed me to share them with you. We all recognize that often our workplaces are full of discouragement, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic. But this just gives us a perfect opportunity to help others by becoming an encouraging person. Now, mind you, this will take some time and effort on your part, but the return on your investment will be eternal! So, here are some practical ways you can become a Barnabas where you work: Write notes. Handwritten notes are almost extinct. Keep a supply of note cards and encourage colleagues by placing a note on their desk, in their mailbox, or in their hand. It’s easy to make personalized cards on our computers now; so get creative and write a note just to encourage someone. Send e-cards. It’s really easy to send an e-card to your coworkers just to let them know you are thinking of them. You can even send the same card to multiple addresses. Employees receive messages that make requests and give instructions. They would surely welcome something more pleasant in the in-box, and an e-card would be a pleasant surprise. Remember birthdays. Find out the birthdates of coworkers, put them on your calendar, and simply give each coworker a birthday card to help them celebrate their special day. I’ve begun doing that for the women in my church, and we send out birthday cards here too, and I’ve been amazed at how many people are encouraged to receive a special birthday card—and it’s so easy to do!

Presented by Lisa Bishop Life will not always go the way you planned and there will be many times your peace can be disrupted, even rocked. So I want to spend some time anchoring us in God’s Word because frankly, we all need reminders of truth to keep us grounded when times are rough. It is easy to feel peace when everything (or at least most things) in life are going well, but let’s be honest. When you hit bumps in the road, when disappointments, delays or losses strike, holding onto peace, well it can feel like it’s slipping through your hands. A good friend of mine called me the other day to let me know her husband was let go from his job. They have two kids, no savings, they had just paid off their debt, and boom. Out of seemingly nowhere their only source of income was stripped away. Food stamps, frugality, and freezing all unnecessary purchases would soon become their reality. The circumstances certainly called for panic, but my friend was determined to hold onto her peace. When is a time where your peace was threatened? A sudden job loss, a conflict in a relationship, financial strain, your reputation being called into question. Maybe you are currently experiencing anxiety, nervousness, fear of the future, or inner turbulence over circumstances in your life. A lack of peace can feel intrusive. Ruminative thought patterns, racing heartbeat, intense feelings of uncertainty, worry, depression—that heaviness that just sits on your chest like a ton of bricks. We have all felt peace lacking in our lives, so what do you do when the inevitable pervasive peacelessness happens? How do you prepare for seasons that threaten to throw you off kilter and into a sea of unsettledness? The Bible is filled with verses that instruct us about peace. Various forms of the word peace are found 429 times in the King James version of the Bible so it must be an important thing for you to grasp, or better yet for peace to get a hold of you. Yet why does peace seem so evasive? I think one reason is because we can tend to intellectualize peace rather than receive the peace that is ours in Jesus and by the power of his Holy Spirit. We read the 400+ verses of peace in the Bible but it just sounds like a nice benefit of following Jesus and we don’t receive it as a birthright. If we are honest, we can think that peace is something we muster up or need to strive for rather than settle into, and our self-effort disappoints over the long haul. I am not saying that we do not have to work hard to experience peace, we do. We need to be intentional about believing what God’s Word says about peace, believe that Jesus and Holy Spirit are our peace, and make an effort to live into what is already given us. But too often we resort to human striving to create peace rather than the supernatural receiving of it. You know the saying, “When life gives you lemons…. Make lemonade.” It is a proverbial phrase used to encourage optimism and a positive can-do attitude in the face of adversity or misfortune. Lemons being analogous to the sourness or difficulty in life and making lemonade meaning turning them into something positive or desirable. While the concept is not a bad one, and it is important to have a positive perspective, real lasting peace has more depth, sustainability and stability when we find it first and foremost in the person of Jesus Christ. In John 14:25-27 after three years of earthly ministry, Jesus, as he prepares his disciples for his physical departure from earth says to them, “All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Don’t miss this! This is huge. Jesus is departing his earthly dwelling and imparting a greater gift to ...

We have been exploring what God’s Word has to say about peace and another aspect of peace is the peace of obedience. Proverbs 3:1-2 says, “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.” King Solomon’s words of wisdom are a discerning guide for us to follow in our own lives. When Solomon says “my teaching” and “my commandments” he is not talking about his own personal decrees. He is pointing to God’s Word that he made personal by following. And remembering God’s laws are more than a mental exercise; it is connected to a life of obedience, internalizing them and living them out daily. When you walk in step with God’s Word you will experience union with him, and this obedience adds peace to your life. Sometimes we can be tempted to look at God’s Word as a burden or list of “to do’s” but that is not the sentiment. God’s Word is not a list of rules; they are an invitation to an intimate relationship with Jesus. Jesus came so that you would have a rich and satisfying life and this can only be found in him. When you abide in Jesus and obey God’s Word you will be as Psalm 1 says like a tree planted by streams of living water bearing fruit in your life. A lack of obedience in your life, sin, leads to death. It looks tempting at the time but as proverbs 14:12 says, “You can rationalize it all you want and justify the path of error you have chosen, but you’ll find out in the end that you took the road to destruction.” We’ve all been there. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). And praise God for Jesus who covers our sin and for His Holy Spirit that leads us (Psalm 143:10). Psalm 32 gives us a glimpse into the power of confession as King David prays to the Lord. The Psalm itself does not tell us the specific occasion in David’s life which prompted this song but from his words we can surmise that he had strayed from obeying God when he says, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.' And you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:3-5). Sin robs your peace; confession restores it as you receive the forgiveness of Jesus. Shame will never transform you, the love of Jesus will. Obedience leads to peace. As we wrap up today receive this blessing from 2 Thessalonians 3:16. “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way.”

I once read a quote that said, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is the power to choose our response. In that response lies our growth and our freedom.” You may be wondering what peace has to do with pausing. Well let me ask you this. How many times have you given your peace away or broken peace by being reactive? Something happens or someone says something that you do not like or agree with, and you fire back in a not so calm and peaceful way. You shoot an arrow or throw a grenade with your words. I see a lot of this on social media platforms. It’s embarrassing really. Especially between people who say they love and follow Jesus. What a terrible witness we give to the world when we cannot even get along with each other. Unity amongst believers matters to God. And that does not mean we will always agree with each other on everything, but it does mean instead of letting our fangs come out in the heat of moments we steward our words and actions to bear the spiritual fruit of peace. “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3). In his letter to the Ephesians Paul is calling believers up to a higher standard when disagreements surface. Romans 12:17-18 admonishes, “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” Do all you can. This will take humility and Holy restraint! But you have it in you fellow believer. Better yet, you have him in you who is greater than your rapid fire words of retribution. Galatians 5:16 reminds us of this, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” So, bite your tongue and usher in the presence of Jesus. Practice the pause and make the choice to tap into your source of peace, the Holy Spirit, who will guide you to speak in the tongues of angels, divine love, and not in destructive words like a noisy gong or clanging cymbal. We can respond thoughtfully and passionately disagree without being hateful. The world is watching how we treat one another. Show them who you believe in by the way you love. Before your lips leap, practice a holy pause. And from the very mouth of Jesus, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34a-35).

Are you a peace-filled person? When you enter a room do you bring a sense of peace? The Holy Spirit can often be the most neglected part of the Trinity. Many churches don’t acknowledge the Holy Spirit or his power in our lives and there are many Christians that have few if any real encounters with him. Jesus signaled the significance of the Holy Spirit as he was preparing the disciples for his departure from earth. As the book of John recounts in chapter 14:15-17, Jesus told his disciples, “If you love me, obey my commandments. 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.” Jesus wanted them to know—he wants you to know—that he is with you always because his Holy Spirit dwells in you. And that the Holy Spirit amongst many things acts as your Advocate. Other versions of the Bible say, your Counselor, which translated from the Greek word paraklētos means, “Called to one’s side; helper; aider.” Jesus says that the Holy Spirit was destined to take his place after his ascension to the Father, to lead the disciples to a deeper knowledge of the Gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom (Strong’s Bible Concordance). This matters to you because as a follower of Jesus the Holy Spirit is your counselor and you have been given that same divine presence, peace, and power. When we think of the Holy Spirit our minds often picture a dove which has become a symbol of peace. The Holy Spirit, pictured as a dove at Jesus’ baptism, symbolized peace with God (Matthew 3:16). In John 20:21-22, Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." As you abide in Christ, the Holy Spirit produces peace in your life. Peace is the byproduct of walking and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Peace resides in you, and you have full access at all times. And, as you carry the Holy Spirit with you and acknowledge his presence, any time you enter a room, you change the atmosphere. His presence in you has the power to impact those around you. The Holy Spirit is the presence of God in the life of a believer. Don’t settle for a life that lacks peace and divine power. Ask God to awaken and increase your sensitivity to the divine power of his presence, his Holy Spirit within you.

Have you ever felt like you just don’t belong—like an outsider, overlooked, dismissed or maybe even abandoned? The other day I was at church. After the service I saw a friend of mine I had not seen in several weeks. We caught each other's gaze and started up a conversation when within seconds someone else came by and my friend turned to them, mid-sentence mind you, and started to chat them up. I thought for sure it would be a brief hello and then she would circle back to me, but minutes passed by as I stood there and it was clear that her conversation would not be ending anytime soon. First, I will admit that one of my pet peeves is when people do not pay attention to the person in front of them. It bugs me when people are easily distracted and clearly not present. But the situation this particular morning went deeper for me because instead of chalking up the encounter as no big deal and moving on, my mind started to wander and ruminate on thoughts of unworthiness. I know that may sound weird or overly sensitive. And I do not consider myself to be an overly sensitive person. One of the old wounds and lies that the enemy tries to dig up and poke at is one I grew up believing that had stayed with me for a very long time. “You aren’t really likable. You will never be part of the popular crowd. Nobody really wants you or desires to be around you.” While Jesus has done a lot of healing for me in that area, if I am not diligent, the devil will take old thoughts and lies and serve them right up on a silver platter trying to get me to feast on them. And that is what was happening that morning at church. Thank the good Lord, literally, that I was able to discern the devil’s deception in those moments, reject the lie and turn my mind to truth. I am included in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 1:11). You are included! 1 Peter 5:8-9 beckons us; “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” Be alert. Stand firm. Don’t buy into falsehoods but anchor yourself firmly in your faith, in what is true. Studies show that addressing our dysfunctional thinking, or in other words, rejecting the lies of the enemy and replacing them with truth, is the single most effective intervention to overcoming that dreadful feeling of not belonging. So, whose voice are you listening to? (The enemy wants to destroy your peace and he will go to great lengths to find the weak spot of your wounds and use them to manipulate your thoughts and feelings.) The only one who deserves any airtime in your head in Jesus so turn your thoughts over to him.

Have you ever had your peace disrupted? You know that was really a leading question. We have all experienced numerous times in our lives when our peace has been jolted. There are times where you cannot control what comes your way and attempts to disrupt your peace. There are other times when we ourselves are the culprits of forsaking our own peace. The other day I woke up to do my typical morning quiet time. It’s a routine of reading the Bible and sitting in a time of stillness with Jesus. But instead of digging right into the Word I did something I had done more times than I would like to admit. I picked up my phone and started scrolling. Within seconds I felt my peace leak out being replaced with anxiousness, and a feeling of uneasiness creeping in. As I was “harmlessly” flipping through people’s social media updates I inadvertently started comparing my life with theirs. It was unconscious but I became astutely aware when my barometer of peace dropped, and negative thoughts started pelting me like hail on a stormy day. Thoughts of unworthiness and inadequacy flooded my mind. “Who do you think you are?” “You are not good enough or qualified enough.” “That person is way farther along and more accomplished than you. “You do not have what it takes.” I could feel myself sinking fast and it was my fault. I did not guard my mind. I sacrificed my peace for a few minutes on my phone. I let the enemy have a foothold in my mind and disparaging thoughts ran rampant. Proverbs 4:23 warns about being intentional about protecting your peace when it says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it..” The Passion translation says it this way: “So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.” The word heart is translated from the Hebrew word meaning mind, knowledge, thinking, consciousness. If your mind and heart are infiltrated and polluted with comparison and thoughts of incompetence, insufficiency, or inferiority, the enemy will have a field day force feeding you lies, and your peace will be compromised. You have a choice on what you fill your mind with. So, the next time you are tempted to grab your phone instead of meditating on the Word of God remember this: Scripture before screen time! Let the Word of God dwell in you richly before compromising your peace with comparison and social media.

No matter what you do on your job each day, you have developed skills and abilities through that job that are valuable. I have a friend who is teaching communication skills in a very different cross-cultural place overseas. As she was telling me what she does and how she has learned to communicate in this challenging setting, I told her that the skills she is learning and her experience in this job, though difficult at times, are giving her skills and abilities that are rare and very valuable. She’s learning “on the job” as we say, and that knowledge and skill is making her a much more valuable employee. Certainly, that’s been true in my life, as well, as I spent many years conducting training seminars in my company and for many other companies across the country. That experience of putting together and making an effective presentation is a skill that God was teaching me through my job—and one he now uses for ministry purposes. But what I want to talk about is not the performance skills and experience you gain through your employment, as helpful as they are, but the many other life skills and relationship skills you are learning, even though while you’re in the midst of it, it may seem more like baptism by fire rather than a training experience. Here are some examples of the practical and important things you should be learning in a job, if indeed you’re doing a good job. You learn The importance of being on time The importance of meeting deadlines How to work with a team to accomplish a task How critical it is to fulfill your promises and commitments That it’s very important to do everything with excellence, and avoid do-overs That procrastination is deadly That you can’t afford to let things fall between the cracks Those are just some of the practical things you learn when you accept the responsibility of a job. For sure a job well-done will require these kinds of skills. And if you aren’t willing to learn these things, it will affect your progress, your promotions, your paycheck—it will hold you back. So, I would ask you to survey your work habits in these areas. Are you learning these things, or are you resisting them? I’ve often said that a Christ-follower may not be the smartest or the most educated or the most experienced person on their job, but they can be the most dependable, the hardest worker, and have the highest level of integrity. No matter what you do or where God takes you, these characteristics will always be important to your success, to pleasing God. Now, let’s think of some other things God wants to teach you through your job. I think toward the top of that list would be learning to love people you may not like that much! Your coworkers are not necessarily people you would choose to be with five days a week, eight hours a day. No doubt you have discovered that not everyone is “your type,” and so you are challenged to get along with people that are not that easy to get along with. In the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians, the Bible teaches us the true definition of love. It is patient, it is kind, it looks for the good in people, not the bad, it doesn’t hold grudges, it hangs in with someone when others have given up, it endures all things. God’s love is an action, not necessarily a feeling, and you can choose to love someone by showing them these kinds of actions, even if you don’t like the way they behave, the way they treat you, their work habits, or their lifestyle. Almost any job you have—and that includes working in a Christian environment—places you in the company of other people, and you have the privilege, the great opportunity, to learn to love people with God’s kind of love. That means you become more and more like Jesus, as you follow his commandment to “love one another.” Of course, you also have the option of refusing to learn this lesson, and instead just being continually irritated and negative about the people you work with or for.

If you had to grade yourself on how contented you are, on a scale of one to ten, would you say you are very contented, a ten, or would your grade fall much lower on that scale? Paul wrote to Timothy that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” That’s really what I want to communicate, that we all need to learn to be content with who we are, how God has created us, content with our bodies, our personalities, our gifting, and yes, even our circumstances. And when you are satisfied with who you are, if you then pursue godliness at the same time, you are in for great gain! What kind of gain, you may ask. The gain of knowing you are growing more like Jesus; the gain of seeing how God is using you in the lives of others; the great gain of knowing that Jesus is pleased; you can hear his “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That is the kind of gain that this world can never give you. No success or money or achievement will ever come close to the gain that, as a Christ-follower, you are walking worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter wrote that “His (Jesus’) divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3). When you and I make that the priority of our lives—to live godly lives for the glory of Jesus—and that desire is coupled with contentment, we will have great gain. So often when our circumstances are out of sorts—we've got the wrong job or we live in the wrong place or we don't have enough money or we don't have good health or whatever—we are then tempted to waste our lives and squander our opportunities. If that's where you are, I urge you to pray daily that God will teach you to be content with your circumstances and help you accept what is coming your way. But at the same time, don't settle for life in the doldrums just because the circumstances are rotten. Accept but don't settle; be contented and discontented. You can hold both in balance; you can be more content and appreciative of who you are, just the way God made you, and where your life is right now. But it will also remind you not to let yourself off the hook but always strive to be all that you can be for the glory of Jesus Christ.

I want to encourage you to be very contented with how God has created you. Appreciate God’s creativity in you, and at the same time, never settle for staying where you are in your spiritual growth and maturity. Accept but don’t settle. Your Circumstances Let me mention one more thing where we need to be contented, and that is with our circumstances. Paul wrote: "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" (Philippians 4:11b). Have you learned that lesson yet? Just think about the freedom you and I would have if we could truly say with Paul: "I am content with my circumstances.” I think of a friend whom I admire greatly. She worked for Moody Radio in Chicago for many years, and is a gracious, lovely, talented woman. Due to a work-related accident, her husband was disabled most of their long-married life. When that happened, overnight her dreams of what her life would be like died, as she was forced to become a working woman and raise their children, while helping her disabled husband. When I think of the years she did that, I marvel at her attitude. She never complained; she learned to be content in the midst of very difficult circumstances. And even when more family problems were poured on her head, she continued to trust God and accept what was coming her way. Through all the years she never lost heart or gave up or ran away—all of which I would have been tempted to do. Instead, she contributed immensely to her job and improved herself and did the most anyone could do "under the circumstances," as we say. She comes to my mind as a woman who has accepted the circumstances of her life, and yet they have not beaten her into the ground. She has grown and contributed and made a beautiful life for herself.  

Have you accepted the way God has gifted you? The Bible clearly teaches us that each believer has been given definite and recognizable gifts or talents, which are resources to use in serving the Lord. The things God has gifted you to do are the things that make you the happiest and bring the most satisfaction. You'll find great joy when you're functioning the way God created you to. For example, if you have the gift of encouragement, your greatest joy will be to write notes, help someone out, listen to a heartache—lots of things which an encourager does so well. Using your God-given gifts and talents will bring you satisfaction, and you will do those things with enthusiasm and excellence. But here's the other side of the coin: Never be satisfied with your gifts the way they are. Jesus taught us that when we use the gifts and talents he has given us, he will give us more. The Apostle Paul told young Timothy to “fan into a flame the gift of God in you,” and that’s a good prayer you can pray. “Lord, help me do the very most with the gifts you’ve provided for me.” So, accept the talents and gifts God has invested in you, and then set out to grow them as much as possible. Start where you are, with whatever you have to offer, and see where God can take it. Your Intelligence Are you contented with your intelligence? There's no doubt that God gave some people more brain power than others. Do you feel like you've been short-changed? Well, God needs some real smart brainy types, but he needs a lot of us ordinary types as well. You may not have the highest IQ around, but you've got far more brain power than you realize. Don't settle for where you are intellectually; become a student and continually work at learning more—and you can improve your mind and knowledge whether in school or not, whether young or not-so-young. Good reading habits will make a huge difference. Be curious. Investigate and learn. There are lots of free on-line courses that you can use.

Are you contented with the way God created you? I want to encourage you to be contented with who you are, but not where you are. Like the way God created you, but also strive to be everything God created you to be. An area where you may be discontented is your personality. Your Personality Each of us is unique; God doesn't make cookie-cutter Christians. Some of us are “people people;” some are “project people.” Some are extroverts, others are introverts. There are many variations in the personalities God has created. Are you content with the personality God has given you? I think of my friend, Afton, who thought for years that being an introvert was a huge liability. But thankfully she has learned to appreciate the way God created her and she recognizes the many strengths she has because she is quiet and reserved. She has written a book about it, Living Connected: An Introvert’s Guide to Friendship. It’s a very helpful book not only for introverts, but it helps those of us who are not introverts to appreciate and admire those who are. My discontent with my personality was the opposite. I felt I was too up front, too take charge, too much of an extrovert, and for years I tried to be different—and of course, I failed. I remember thinking that sadly, I was stuck with who I was. It has taken me far too long to appreciate the personality God has given to me. The challenge is to be contented with who you are but not where you are in your growth. Focus on the personality flaws that accompany your personality, pray about them, and ask God to help you get rid of the rough edges. For example, I don’t have a natural gift of mercy, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be a merciful person. It’s a weakness I have acknowledged and prayed about, because I need to be merciful as God is merciful to me. There is wonderful freedom in accepting who you are. Freedom from having to live up to other's expectations—or even your own. Freedom from having to be like others or compete with others.

Are you content with who you are? It took years for me to accept and be contented with the way God created me. I had some wrong idea of what God wanted every woman to be and since I didn’t seem to fit that mold, I kept trying to change but I just couldn’t. After years of discontent with the way God created me, I finally understood that God had a good purpose for me and I have learned to appreciate and enjoy how God created me. However, at the same time, I want to have a holy discontentment with where I am in my growth and maturity. Contentment and lack of contentment at the same time. Or you could say, accepting who I am but not settling for where I am. Let's look at some specific areas where we often have difficulty accepting who we are, but where we must also never settle for less than we can be. Your Body The Bible says that each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made. So, you should accept and be contented with how God's hands made you because God doesn't make mistakes. Do you look in the mirror and complain about your body, your face, your hair, your size? I want to encourage you to be contented with the body God has given you. I think of my dear friend, Fran, who was just barely five feet tall. All her life she was the shortest one. But you know, God used her size to enlarge her ministry. You see, because she was short and cute, her appearance was never threatening or intimidating to anyone. It made it easy for her to make friends—and she made friends with everybody. God used her personality and short stature to connect her with so many people, many who came to saving faith through Fran. It is not a mistake that she was a short person. Accept the body and face and size and shape that God has given you. Accept, but don't settle. Keep that body running on all cylinders. Do everything you can to keep it healthy. Exercise as you know you should; get rid of some of those harmful eating habits. Be contented with your body, while at the same time never settling for anything less than the best it can be.

Do you remember how Jesus acquired the use of the donkey for the most important parade ever—as he entered Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday? I would love to have been the proverbial “fly on the wall” to see the look on the faces of the owners of that donkey when the disciples just walked up and started to untie it. As I was re-reading that story, it dawned on me that lots of us have things tied up, too, and if we'd untie them, they'd be of service to our Lord. Let me read that passage from Luke 19 that tells this story about the donkey:  After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They replied, “The Lord needs it.” They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road (Luke 19:28-36). This happened just a week before the crucifixion. It’s a really interesting scene, when you think about it. Jesus chose that colt to ride in his one and only parade. He knew where it was, he knew that it had never been ridden, and he knew what the reaction of the owners of the colt would be. How could he know all this? Because he is God, and though he was fully man in his 33 years on earth, he was nonetheless fully God, and God is all-knowing. Interesting that the disciples evidently did not question Jesus' instructions. But then, after three years with him, they should have been very certain that what Jesus told them could be totally trusted. However, it had to take a little bit of nerve to walk up to this colt and start untying it. You have to give those disciples credit for their faith and obedience in this matter. As they were untying the colt, the owners approached them. Why there was more than one owner, I don't know, except I can guess that neither could afford the colt himself, so they formed a partnership and bought it together. Could it be that these owners were poor people without a great deal of this world's possessions? Quite possibly. I doubt that a donkey's colt was a very prestigious animal. Not what kings and wealthy people chose for transportation. But likely it was all these simple owners could afford. I can also imagine that they were a little perturbed to see two strangers taking their prized colt—evidently a young colt, since it had never been ridden. Can you put yourselves in their shoes? I wonder if they screamed at the disciples: "Why are you untying our colt?” I wonder if they were upset?  I think I would have been. At any rate, when the disciples explained that Jesus had requested to use this colt, this one particular colt, it seems to put an end to the entire discussion. Without another question, they give the colt to the disciples for Jesus to use. I have to believe they had heard about Jesus. I'm sure most everyone in the area had by that time. Perhaps they had heard him speak at some time; maybe they'd seen him heal someone or cast out a demon. Their willingness to let go of a valuable possession so unquestioningly leads me to believe that Jesus was someone they knew about, someone they respected, perhaps even loved. As I read this story, I thought, "What do I have tied up that the Lord wants to use?” I think many times we've got resources and abilities that God would use in his service, but they're all tied up. We're using them for our own selfish purposes, or failing to use them at all perhaps, instead of giving them back to God for his eternal purposes

It may seem counterintuitive, but “nice” isn’t necessarily the goal of a peacemaker. Jesus was the perfect peacemaker, and he is our peace, but as you study his life on earth, you will see that as a peacemaker he was not always what we would call “nice.” There were times he said difficult things that others did not want to hear. There were times when he actually disrupted situations that were wrong—like people selling things in the Temple. But he always was doing what was good for others. We are called to be peacemakers, which means that if you always choose what you say or do based on the idea that it has to be “nice,” you probably will avoid hard but essential conversations. You will become a peacekeeper not a peacemaker. But being truthful does not give us a license to be harsh. Gentleness is the key word when we are trying to make peace. You remember that Jesus described himself as gentle and humble in heart. And Paul wrote to the Philippian church that they should let their gentleness be evident to all. Gentleness is required if you want to be a peacemaker in difficult situations. After all, gentleness is a fruit of God’s Spirit and it should be always evident in our lives. It’s a trait that helps bring peace and calm even in contentious situations. It’s a clear-headed way of dealing with others that creates safe spaces to address difficult topics. Jesus declared that he came to give us peace—his peace, not like the world gives. It’s a different kind of peace, one that keeps on keeping on even in tough places. What we as Christ-followers must do is on a daily basis, receive the peace he gives for our own lives, and then share that peace with whoever God brings across our path that day. What a testimony we could have to our worlds if we showed them the peace of Christ by the way we live, and then we followed our Lord’s directive to be peacemakers by helping to make peace where we live, where we work, with close friends and strangers. Christ has come to give us peace; he is our peace. We need to be sure we're demonstrating it daily in our lives, and that we are peacemakers, people who bring peace to turbulent situations.

It is so important to develop peacemaking skills, because Jesus said that peacemakers are blessed. I just want to remind you that Jesus Christ is our peace. He condescended to take on human flesh, even as a baby in a humble setting, so that he could bring peace to our troubled lives. The Apostle Paul in Ephesians wrote: But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit (Ephesians 2:13-18). Jesus was born—to bring us peace. He came to reconcile us to God through the cross, and for those who have accepted his freely-offered redemption, we now have peace because we have Jesus, who is our peace. We who were far away, who had no peace in our lives, who were in bondage to sin, have been brought near, so near that we can enter into his throne room and have fellowship with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Remember to thank God for the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, and if you don’t yet know the peace he offers, you can do so by repenting of your sins and accepting his peace as your own.  

We seem to be in a time when there is little peace between people. And this contentious cultural atmosphere can easily seep into our everyday lives—into our families and our workplaces, even our churches. In Matthew 5:9 we read where Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” It is a blessing to be a peacemaker; there is a special reward for those who make peace, not just keep peace. Peacemakers are proactive, confronting situations of discord to promote peace. Well, if we’re supposed to be peacemakers, how can we make peace? Proverbs 17:9 says, “Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” One thing you can do to be a peacemaker is not to spread the bad things you hear or see. Cover up the offense, don't keep telling everybody else about someone's mistake or bad behavior. In other words, stop gossiping. Proverbs 15:1 tells us that “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” A peacemaker is a person with gentle words. When someone starts telling you how angry they are at you or someone else, find those gentle words to turn away their wrath. If you throw in a few harsh words of your own, you add to the conflict. Often a tone of voice can make a big difference. If you know there is strife between two people, what could you do to bring them together, let them air their grievances, and restore peace into that relationship? Don’t be afraid to make that effort; often it just takes one person to make a move and these petty differences can be resolved. What we need in our world of strife are many peacemakers—people who are willing to make peace in the many small conflicts that surround our daily lives. Ask God to give you that skill, that kind of servant heart, so that you are the peacemaker in your world. When you do, Jesus promises that you will be blessed.

Are you a peacemaker or a peacekeeper? A peacemaker is one who strives to make peace in situations that are in turmoil. A peacekeeper, on the other hand, often just tries to keep the status quo and do anything to avoid conflict. In the Beatitudes, Jesus calls us to be peacemakers; therefore, that is what we should strive to be. Parents know that making peace between children is a part of their job description. From their earliest days, our children manage to disrupt the peace—get into arguments, cause discord, aggravate each other. And we find ourselves in the role of peacemaker. Sometimes that role is a stern role, sometimes it is the role of negotiating, sometimes we have to separate the parties involved. In other words, being a peacemaker is not always a peaceful job! We may have to be assertive and proactive, but whatever we can do to promote peace, that is our calling as children of God. Maybe you work in a situation where a peacemaker is needed. Some of the things that typically cause discord in the workplace are gossip, job insecurity, out-of-control ambition, poor communication—and the list goes on. It could be a company-wide morale problem, producing tumult and disharmony among employees; or it could be little feuds between individuals, where one refuses to speak to another. I’m often amazed at how petty and vindictive adults can be—but there you have it. What can we do in these kinds of environments to be peacemakers? It’s not enough just to keep pushing it under the covers, so to speak, and trying to keep a lid on things. That is peacekeeping, just opting for peace at any price. But we want to be peacemakers.

We hear a lot about peace, don’t we? From the proclamation of the angels to the shepherds at the birth of Jesus—"Peace on earth, good will to men”—to our daily news broadcasts, peace is a frequent topic, and there’s no doubt that most people want to have peace on earth. But you know, peace is not something that can be declared or legislated. True peace is a heart condition, and each individual has the choice to be at peace with others or not. Just think, if every individual decided to be a peaceful person, to never harm anyone else, to do everything he or she could to promote peace, well, we would have peace on earth. Obviously, you and I have little influence on world peace. But we have great influence on our own environments, whether they are peaceful or not. So, I thought we should talk about peace in our individual worlds. How can we promote peace? Let me begin by asking: Are you a peacemaker or a peacekeeper? There is a difference, you know. Peacemaking is something every Christian should be very good at doing. We are called to be peacemakers. Jesus said that people who make peace are blessed, and will be called "children of God.” Peacekeepers, on the other hand, often just want peace at any price. That can lead to compromising and lowering standards and going along to get along, just to keep the peace. So, we need to know the difference between being a peacemaker and a peacekeeper. A peacemaker is one who makes peace where there is none. I'm sure you have many opportunities to make peace if you recognize them and take advantage of them.

The challenge of setting reasonable boundaries is almost always a relationship challenge. And it frequently comes from our misplaced idea of what it means to be a good friend, or what it means to be a good team player. There’s no doubt that as Christ-followers, our standard given to us by Jesus himself is to go the extra mile, to do more than is required of us. We are called to be servants, as Jesus was, and that should always be our attitude. But when you try to do more than you should do and you think that going the extra mile means you jump through everyone’s hoops and meet everyone’s expectations, you are then in dangerous territory. This is how you become burned out; it’s how you become an enabler; it’s how you allow false guilt to drive you into exhaustion and resentment. I would remind you that Jesus knew how to say no. Do you remember when the disciples were looking for Jesus one morning because a crowd of people had gathered to hear Jesus again, and no doubt were eager to take advantage of his gift of healing? They found him alone, praying, and they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come” (Mark 1: 37b-38). The disciples tried to tell Jesus that he should come back and preach to the crowd waiting for him, but Jesus knew when to say no. Another time a man stopped him and asked him to settle a disagreement. He said, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But Jesus said to him, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” (Luke 12:13-14). Basically Jesus said, “Sorry, that’s not my job.” He drew a boundary and said no, even though he could have done it but it was not what he was sent to do. Jesus knew that he could not please everyone; in his human body while here on earth he had physical limitations, as we do. He became weary, as we do. He needed rest and time alone, as we do. And in order to do what God had sent him to do, he had to refuse to do other things—he had to draw boundaries. I believe his example teaches us that we must also learn to draw reasonable boundaries in order for us to be able to do what God wants us to do. So, let’s see what other boundary issues Fran is facing now. It’s Wednesday of this week in her life, and she has just barely made a deadline for her most important client, but it was at the expense of late hours last night because she allowed a coworker to talk her into helping her for “ten minutes,” which turned into three hours. This is one of the boundary issues she faces. Fran is relieved that she got it done, but quite honestly, she is exhausted and sleepy. With two hours to go before the end of the day, she is counting the minutes until she can leave, tying up a few loose ends, and dreaming of going to bed early when the kids do tonight. But in walks her manager, who says, “Fran, if you’re not busy tonight, I’d love for you to join me for dinner with the Vice President of Marketing, who is in town this week, you know. I’ve been telling him about your success and how much you’ve contributed to the fact that we’re twenty percent ahead of our quota, and he asked if you would join us. I know you have your kids, but if you could get a sitter, I’d be glad to cover that expense for you.” Don’t do it, Fran, the inner voice of God’s Spirit seems to say to her, but how can she say no? I mean, how often do you get this kind of opportunity to make a good impression? Well, she thinks I can do it. Mom will keep the kids for me, I think, and it’s just one night. So, she hears herself saying, “That’s very nice of him. I, uh, I think I can make that happen. Let me make a call and I’ll get back to you.” She calls her mom, who does have plans for that evening, but Fran twists her arm and convinces her that her Dad will be glad to watch the kids while she’s away, so of course, Mom can’t say no either,

How can the people you work with know that Jesus Christ makes a difference in your life? I'll give you one way that will always work. If they see that you have peace in your life, regardless of the circumstances, they're going to want to know how in the world you do it. People today are desperate for peace, and as Christians we know the Prince of Peace, the only one who can give us true peace. But if our lives are just as frayed around the edges as everyone else's, if we don't display that peace of God which passes understanding, then we're missing an incredible opportunity to show Christ to the people in our worlds. I want to tell you the story of how a good friend found Christ: Janet, who is a member of our Board here. Before becoming a believer she was working in a situation that was highly stressful. Everyone was under constant pressure and the environment was really crazy. But in all of the chaos, she kept noticing one of her coworkers who seemed very peaceful. He did his work as well as anyone, produced what was expected of him, but he just never seemed to be frazzled and stressful like everyone else. Janet watched him for a long time, and finally she said to him, "How do you do it?” He smiled, and shared with her that it was his faith in Christ which made the difference. Then he simply recommended that she read the Bible and suggested the book of John. Though Janet had considered herself a Christian, she had never read the Bible, so she decided to see what he was talking about. After a couple of months of reading and investigating, Janet accepted Christ, and a few months after that, her husband Ray did, too. And it all started when one person was peaceful in a chaotic work environment. What a testimony we could have to our worlds if we showed them in our lives that Christ is our peace, and because of him, we can have peace even when the situation is chaotic. So, there are many reasons we need to learn the secret of having peace in the midst of pressure. Christ has come to give us peace; he is our peace. We need to be sure we're demonstrating it daily in our lives.

Knowing consistent peace in our lives, even though we have pressure and stress to deal with, should be a trademark of Christians. Of course, Jesus is our supreme example of this ability to be peaceful regardless of the pressures. People were always crowding him, trying to talk to him, trying to touch him. He had a hard time finding any space or time for himself. He was constantly under pressure. But I notice that no matter how busy he was or how much there was to do, he found time to be alone with God. R. A. Torrey wrote something which I copied in the front of my prayer journal and to which I frequently refer. He wrote: "Some people are so busy that they find no time for prayer. Apparently the busier Christ's life was, the more he prayed. Sometimes he had no time to eat, sometimes he had no time for needed rest or sleep, but he always took time to pray; and the more the work crowded the more he prayed." Lots of times when our schedules get very full, and the pressure starts to come in on us, the first thing we sacrifice is our time with the Lord. That's one reason many Christians don't have real peace in their everyday lives. They've not spent time with the Prince of Peace, they've failed to go to the source of peace, and so they face their pressures on their own. I remember one period of time when the pressures and deadlines were great, and so I sacrificed my prayer time for a few days. In his oh-so-gentle way, God showed me that when I sacrifice prayer time to relieve pressures, I do just the opposite: I increase my pressures. He said, "Spend time with me, draw on my strength. You need me now more than ever. And I'll take the remaining time and make it stretch to meet the responsibilities.” Your lack of peace in the midst of pressure may be because you've sacrificed time with the Prince of Peace. Sorry, but it just won't work. Give God the time you need to be with him and see how he stretches the rest of your time for you.

Peace even when you’re under pressure: Do you think that's possible? One thing we all deal with is pressure and stress. While it's true that too much pressure is harmful, it's also true that you cannot escape some pressure if you're involved in anything at all. So, we need to know how to be peaceful even though we have stress and pressure in our daily routine. Peter tells us in 1 Peter the third chapter that the person who intends to love life and see good days must seek peace and pursue it. You have to go for it. It doesn't just happen. It comes when you pursue it. One thing I recommend is to take peace breaks. When you feel the pressure and panic start to crowd in around you, find some way to take a short break where you can pray for a few minutes. Get your mind refocused on Jesus. Then go back to face your situation, and you'll discover that unreasonable peace—that peace that passes understanding—flowing through you, even though the pressure is still there. Write Scripture verses on cards that help you to be peaceful. Such as Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Put that card in front of you, on your screen saver or smart phone, and read it and re-read it several times during the day. That will help keep your thoughts where they should be; bringing every thought into captivity so that they obey Christ. You could hum a good Christian song to yourself to get your mind refocused on the person who is our peace, Jesus Christ. You can do that while you're talking to people, busily working on something, rushing on the job, darting somewhere in your car. Right in the midst of all that pressure, you can still know God's incredible peace. Do you spend any time with God early in your day, so that you begin your day in a peaceful manner? Or do you begin most of your days in a hectic rush, getting up late, rushing yourself and your family? Remember this: Your day is won or lost in the morning hours. Take time early in your day to put on peace, and your peace is a person, right? Put on Jesus and his shoes of peace. Don’t leave home without doing that. And take some peace breaks during your hectic day. Those are good suggestions for staying peaceful in the midst of pressure.

Did you ever think about this: if you don't feel pressured, you aren't? Pressure is a state of mind. If you don't think you're under pressure, you're really not, regardless of what's on your plate to do. One of the most important concepts we can grasp in our Christian life is that we are what we think. Everything begins with our thought life, and that includes whether or not we're feeling pressured. I start to feel stressed when I allow myself to think about all there is to do, when I start to worry about next week's deadlines, when I ponder long the "To Do" list that stares me in the face. "Oh, my, how will I ever get all this done?" I think. Then I convince myself that there's no way. And now the panic starts to rise, because I'm thinking about all I have to do instead of just doing something. Remind yourself often that you can only do one thing at a time, decide what has the highest priority at this moment, and do it. Allowing those thoughts to hang around and bombard you with "Hurry up, you've got a lot to do," or "You're never going to get everything done at this rate," just pours the pressure on yourself, and keeps you from working at maximum efficiency. The good news is that pressure and peace are not exclusives. You don't have to give up peace and calmness just because there's some pressure on you. And peace is not passivity. Peace doesn't mean you're lying down in green pastures, with bubbling brooks and birds singing. Peace doesn't mean the absence of emails or meals to cook or reports to finish. Peace is a state of mind; it begins with our thoughts. And our minds can be at rest in the midst of incredible activity. One good suggestion to stay peaceful in pressurized environments is to talk to yourself correctly. What do you say or think when you're under pressure? "Oh, I'll never get this done.” Or "I can't do all this.” Well, why do you feed all that negative stuff into your head? Say instead, "Lord, by your grace I will survive this. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” You will be amazed at how much easier it is to handle stress when you talk to yourself in biblical ways, not in negative ways.

One of the most common problems we all share today is handling pressure and stress. I don't know anyone who escapes it, do you? How do you have peace in the midst of your stress and pressures? Now, I'm not going to tell you that you shouldn't have pressure or stress in your life. Honestly, if you constantly lived free of pressure, you probably would not accomplish very much. Any time you start to get involved in anything, any time you decide to contribute something, any time you take on responsibilities, pressure and stress become a part of the scene. Pressure forces me to be organized and to prioritize my time much better. And then, I really believe God uses pressure in our lives to teach us many things. Pressure teaches us to turn to him. Pressure makes us look up more often. Pressure keeps us aware of our need for him. Of course, there is such a thing as too much pressure, and we certainly need to be careful about that. God reminds me frequently that I can't do everything, and there is a limit to the amount of pressure I should handle. One of the major reasons we are under pressure and stress is because we haven't learned to say no, and we're trying to be superwomen or supermen. You know, just because you can do something doesn't necessarily mean you should. Just because there is something else to be done doesn't necessarily mean you are the one who should do it, or it has to be done right now. Many of us try to be all things to all people, and it never works. Honestly, I have to admit that sometimes I put myself under pressure because I want the praise of people. I’m doing it for the wrong reasons. Remember this: You'll never get enough applause from people to make you feel significant. Our self-worth must come from our relationship with Jesus Christ. If your superwoman's wings are tired today, just stop and remember that God is not asking you to be a super-person. Perhaps that is why you're feeling pressured and stressed. Let go of that superwoman pursuit and ask God to show you his plan for you and for your day.

As we look at Fran’s struggle with establishing appropriate boundaries for her life, part of the problem is that she has the somewhat misplaced conception that as a Christ-follower, she should try to do what anyone asks of her. After all, she thinks, isn’t that what Jesus meant when he told us in the Sermon on the Mount that we should go the extra mile? Well, no it isn’t. One mile, yes, but not unending extra miles. Fran faces various people in her life who are pushing her boundaries. They are each different, but they represent the various ways that boundaries can become a real issue. The first one deals with a friend who continually exceeds normal and acceptable boundaries when it comes to requiring a lot of Fran’s time. It’s Sunday afternoon and Fran has planned to spend a quiet day at home with her two children, just enjoying an afternoon to play games with Drew and Alice, and maybe even do some good reading, one of her favorite pastimes that she doesn’t get to do very often. Just as she is in the midst of a game of Crazy 8, having fun with her kids, the phone rings and Jane is on the other end. Jane is a friend from church who calls Fran quite often and talks for long periods of time about all her issues. You might say she is a high-maintenance friend, but Fran has tried to listen and help her, thinking that this is the right thing to do. Admittedly it has become a bit out-of-balance and as Fran sees Jane’s caller ID, she is really tempted to just let it go—but she’s supposed to be there for her friends, right? So, she answers and sure enough Jane begins her typical long and detailed complaining and whining. Jane is the type who tells you how to build a clock when all you want to know is what time it is. At first, Fran tries to encourage her and offer some suggestions, but everything she says is resisted by Jane, and it seems Fran can do nothing but listen. Whatever advice Fran may have is immediately discounted by Jane. “That wouldn’t work” is her familiar retort, or “You just don’t understand” is another. After twenty minutes, Drew says, “Mom, aren’t we gonna finish our game?” No doubt Jane heard Drew, but she completely ignores it and continues her tirade. After another ten minutes and several pleas from Drew and Alice, Fran realizes that Jane is not going to stop anytime soon, so when Jane takes a breath, she says, “Hey, Jane, the kids and I were playing a game and I promised them we’d finish, so if you don’t mind, I need to get back to them. I’ll be praying for you. In fact, why don’t I pray for you now before we hang up?” Jane says, “Well, I know you’re always busy and don’t have time to talk—I guess games are more important to you than friends.” And with that she hangs up, totally ignoring Fran’s offer to pray. “Wow,” Fran says to herself, “I guess I should have let her keep talking—but honestly, it doesn’t do any good to listen to her. She simply isn’t interested in solutions or advice; all she wants is to bend my ear and get my sympathy. I don’t know, Lord, what am I supposed to do?” Was Fran right to finally bring this conversation to a close? She feels a bit guilty, but then she feels guilty about her commitment to the kids as well. If it were a one-time event, the answer might be different. But Jane has been doing this to Fran for several weeks, but this is the first time Fran has assertively brought a conversation to the close, which obviously has not set well with Jane. Did she have a better option? Have you got some “Janes” in your life—people who continually bend your ear and take up your time, but nothing good ever seems to come from it?  Maybe it’s time to do something about it. Perhaps instead of putting up with Jane’s time-consuming litany of complaints, Fran needs to consider what she might do to help Jane, while at the same time setting some boundaries for these frequent one-sided conversations. It’s obvious that they aren’t accomplishing anything good for either woman.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) What do you do when life gets hard? When your faith gets tested, how do you respond? Do trials in life incline you to distance yourself from God or do life’s tough moments compel you to lean into Jesus? Trials of life will come. At some level we know this, so why do we get so stunned when trials happen? Jesus told his disciples, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:63), and we will too. If you have been a follower of Jesus for any amount of time you are probably familiar with James’ instruction on life’s trials:  “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. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4). James is a book about practical Christian living; a life that reflects a genuine faith by being not only hearers of the Word but doers. (James 1:22). If we are honest, sometimes we like to read and hear the Word of God but actively living out God’s instruction, that’s another story. Especially when the rubber hits the road and hardships come. One of the most difficult parts of the Christian life is the fact that becoming a disciple of Christ does not make us immune to life’s trials and tribulations. Considering it pure joy when you face trials is counterintuitive. Joy is not typically our first reaction to difficulties and challenges. No one likes to suffer, yet as a follower of Jesus, in your suffering, there’s a unique opportunity for God to perfect and complete the valuable character-building work he started in you. God uses difficulties, trials, and persecution to test, strengthen, and grow your faith. Our faith can get lazy and flabby when times are easy. While I don’t want flabby faith, I sometimes don't want to go through the refining fire that's required to purify and sanctify. But, trials are an opportunity for your faith to work – and get a workout. Just like lifting increased weight builds and strengthens your muscles, the heaviness of hard times can build and strengthen your faith when you rely on and trust Jesus. When James says to “count it all joy,” he encourages us to evaluate the way we look at trials; to develop a new mindset and attitude that considers trials from God’s perspective. Trials test your faith. And when you persevere, grounded in faith in Christ, believing (even when it does not feel like it) that he is with you and working all things for your good, it will be a faith builder.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) Do you believe that God will show up in your life every day, no matter what? When you think about the character of God, what comes to mind? Perhaps you think merciful, gracious, loving, holy, forgiving. What about faithful? Do you believe that God’s faithfulness to you is unconditional, that he can be relied on even when you are unreliable? The Apostle Paul reminds us of the nature of God. “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself” (2 Timothy 2:13). Just stop for a moment and let the magnitude of these words sink into your mind and heart. No matter what you do, God will be faithful to you. As you think about this verse, there are two simple truths that I want you to see and let seep in deep. Faithful is who God is. Faithful is not something that God does or just displays toward you. Even if he wanted to (and he doesn’t), he cannot stop being faithful to you because that is part of his nature. And his nature is unchanging. As Paul said, for God not to be faithful, he would have to disown himself and we know he will never do that. God’s faithfulness is unconditional. God is not faithful based on some long list of conditions you are required to meet. God’s decision to be faithful to you has absolutely nothing to do with you, which is a good thing because most of us have a faulty track record. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, even when you are unfaithful to God, even when you sin, God will remain true to you. Regardless of how you act, you cannot do anything to make him love you less. Even when you are faithless, he remains faithful. This is mind blowing and true. There is no other God like Jesus Christ who displays such loyalty and steadfast love for you. Psalm 36:5 declares this truth, “Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.” And Deuteronomy 7:9 beckons, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” As you love and follow Jesus, albeit imperfectly, God remains loyal to you. This is reason to give God glory, and honor, and praise. Lord, we thank you for your unending love. Thank you that you are faithful even when we are not. Turn our hearts to you, stir our affections for you. Help us to receive your abundant love and respond with gratitude, living lives holy and pleasing to you.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) Have you ever felt hurt by the words of a good friend? Several years ago a friend gave me some feedback that was really hard to hear. While she didn’t intend her words to be mean, they pierced me. I knew that her intention was not to harm me but to point something out that was a blind spot in my behavior. Even though she spoke those truths out of and in love, her words still stung. Have you ever had a friend speak painful and plain words that cut? Proverbs 27:6 Amplified version says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern], But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda].” What these words of wisdom teach us is that a mark of a true friend is the willingness to wound us with words of loving correction. The correction may not feel good at the time (it rarely does) but its purpose is to help us grow and mature us spiritually. Two key words in this verse are “faithful” and “friend.” Both descriptors clarifying that the person is pointing something out stemming from their love for you, commitment to your friendship and investment in your spiritual transformation. The ability to be open and honest with each other, coming from a spirit of love, faithfulness, and integrity, designed for the good of the other person is the mark of a true and deepening friendship. With that intention a friend’s “wounds” should be kindly and gratefully received. It feels counterintuitive to invite correction in our lives. After all, the culture around us has grown more and more resistant to any type of correction. People do what is right in their own minds and if anyone dares to say anything that may appear critical, it is easily dismissed. But as a follower of Jesus it is important for you to invite faithful and biblical correction in your life. How do you react when someone points out a part of you that needs growth and transformation? Are you the type of person who is open to receiving feedback from friends that while feeling hurtful may be helpful? It can be easy to feel defensive when your shortcomings are exposed but you simply cannot grow if you recoil from correction. The kisses of an enemy are deceitful. You really don’t want flattery from someone who does not have your best interests in mind. Your aim as a follower of Jesus is to grow in his likeness. And as the Apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:15 “...speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” Who can you invite to speak truth into your life? Nobody’s perfect. Be humble, invite faithful words that wound and be grateful for the greater goal of maturing as someone who loves and follows Jesus.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) If someone were to look into your life, how would they know that you are a follower of Jesus? Is your Christian faith just a label or is it truly a lifestyle? Do your faith-filled actions speak louder than your words? There are a lot of people who say they are Christians but their lives are void of proof and one source of evidence for your faith is kind acts, your good deeds towards others. James 2:14-17 says, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James is not saying that you earn your salvation through your good deeds. True faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior alone is what saves you. But rather, your goods deeds will demonstrate the authenticity of your faith. Faith takes action and how you live reveals what you believe. Faith is the root, good works are the result, the holy fruit of a faithful life. First Peter 2:12 reinforces this truth: “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” As a follower of Jesus we intentionally act and live in a manner worthy of the gospel and we look for ways to serve others and bless them. How has your faith prompted you to meet the needs of those around you? How has your allegiance to Christ changed how you interact with and love your neighbor? Do you tend to think of yourself first or are you willing to sacrifice your comfort to share with others? Are you only inclined to do good for others when you can benefit? Ask God for opportunities to live out your faith and to continue to produce good works in and through you as evidence of your belief and hope in him. Living a faith-filled life can be hard. As followers of Jesus we need other Christ-followers in our lives. Hebrews 10:24-25 says,  “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” If you do not have Christian community, can I encourage you to find a Bible preaching church near you? You were not meant to walk this journey of faith alone. Get involved in your local church, join a small group, participate in a Bible study.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) As you think about the measure of your faith these days, how’s your faith sight? A few years ago I had my annual eye exam and while I had held onto my 20/20 vision for 40+ years, the time had come when my ability to see clearly was not as sharp as it once was. When doing my daily Scripture reading or trying to peruse a menu at a restaurant it was becoming evident that I could not see as clearly as I had in the past. My vision was becoming blurred, my eyesight was weakening. The same thing can happen to our faith over time. If we are not mindful, life’s disruptions, disappointments, detours, and delays can cause our faith to weaken. So how is your faith sight? Are you seeing God for who he really is--faithful and trustworthy even when you cannot see? Or are you in a season where you are finding it difficult to trust God? In the book of Genesis we read of the covenant that God made with Abraham to become the father of many nations promising him descendants and multitudes of generations to come. But from a human perspective there was one perplexing problem. Abraham was 99 and his wife Sarah was not only unable to bear children, she was also 90 years old. Yet, God would do what only he could do, the impossible. And keeping his promise, Sarah would bear a son and Abraham’s descendants would in fact become as numerous as the stars in the sky. Romans 4:18-21 says, “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” He did not waver through unbelief. Instead he was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God! In the face of what was humanly impossible, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw but what God said. What situation are you facing right now that seems insurmountable? What circumstance is God calling you to look through the lens of faith? When you put on your faith glasses you will see with a renewed perspective that is altered by your trust in God and your view will change.

Presented by Lisa Bishop Whether you have been a follower of Jesus for two months or 20-plus years, we all have something in common. At some point or dare I say several times in your Christian walk, you will doubt the faithfulness of God. You will struggle to trust him. That’s the honest truth. And frankly, I think we need to talk about that more and normalize it in our Christian circles. All throughout God’s Word we see examples and stories of people doubting if God is trustworthy. We see the Psalmists and some of the greatest heroes of the faith struggling to believe at times. Yet even though we see evidence throughout Scripture of wavering faith (let’s not forget about Doubting Thomas), I think we are so afraid of being shamed or condemned for questioning that we sit in our disillusion, silently suffering. We think something is wrong with us. Something is wrong with our faith. “Why does it look like everyone else’s life is so good, that God is faithful to others, but I don’t feel like he cares about me?” If you have ever heard yourself thinking that or even saying it out loud, you are not the only one. I have as well. So, it’s not a matter of if you will wonder if God is really trustworthy, if he is faithful, you will. What matters is your response….what you do, in those moments or seasons when you doubt the faithfulness of God. The other day I was doing my morning quiet time, which is a time of stillness before the Lord, journaling, praying, and reading Scripture. When I journal, I typically start out by reflecting on the prior day by writing down my daily gratitude list and telling God what I am thankful for. This has become a daily habit; expressing appreciation for anything from a cool breeze and sunny day to time with my mom, a new work project, a divine encounter with a person God brings in my path, dinner with friends, patience to endure a frustrating situation with grace. There is a lot to be grateful for when you sit down and intentionally take the time to consider all of the ways God is present and providing. On this particular day, my journaling started differently. Instead of starting with my gratitude list, my pen uttered honest words that my heart was speaking that morning. I journaled, “Today I woke up with a fear of the future. But I will choose to trust.” That morning I found myself a bit bewildered and uncertain about the future. As I was reflecting on my life and current circumstances, I found myself wondering, “Is this it?” I went on to write, “I desire to be in the flow of my calling and giftedness, Lord. Am I missing it?” And then the words, “What if” spilled onto the pages. What if? Have you ever found yourself asking that question? What if I had made a different decision, taken another path, acted on that prompting, not taken that job, taken that job, gotten that degree, married that person, not married that person, said yes to…., said no to ……. What would life have been like if only I had…… (fill in the blank). Trying to play out the “what could have been” in life reminds me of the movie Sliding Doors. The movie tells the story of a London woman whose life and career both hinge, unknown to her, on whether or not she catches a train. The main character, Helen Quilley gets fired from her job as a public relations executive. As she leaves the office building, she drops an earring in the lift, and a man picks it up for her. This minor delay has her rushing for her train on the London Underground, but she misses it as the train doors are closed. But the film then rewinds, and the scene is replayed except that now she manages to board the train. The film continues, alternating between the two storylines in which different events ensue. In one story we see how her life plays out when she gets on the train. In the second scenario, we see how her life unfolds and what happens when she misses the train. In essence, her future, the trajectory of her life,

Undoubtedly many of you, like me, enjoy sports. That's a common practice for us Americans. Well, if you watch sports competition very often, you're familiar with the term "playing hurt.” Many times in these games a key player will be injured in some way, and you'll see them slowly pull themselves up off the ground or the floor. You know they're hurting, but so often they stay in the game. I think we can learn something from these athletes. When a player continues to play even though he or she is hurt, you know you're watching a real pro, someone truly committed to their game. That person is willing to sacrifice herself or himself for the good of the team. Well, there are times in our lives that we must play hurt. What do you want to do when you've been hurt? Suppose someone has trampled on your feelings or been very cruel to you. It makes you want to go to the sidelines and lick your wounds, doesn't it? It throws you into a pity-party, and your first reaction is to walk out of the game and say, "Forget it. Who needs this!" But a true servant of Jesus Christ many times has to play hurt. Jesus is looking for people with perseverance; people who play in spite of the pain; people who stay in the game even though they might want to go sit on the bench for awhile. Paul wrote to Timothy that he must Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:3). In Hebrews 12 we see that hardship produces discipline in our lives, and Paul wrote to the Corinthians that he delighted in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions and difficulties for "when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10b). Are you hurt ? Well, are you going to go sit on the sidelines and lick your wounds, or will you choose to endure hardship as a good soldier would? Ask God to give you the grace and strength to play hurt.

I wonder if you give up too easily? Do you keep wishing for the easy way out of whatever you’re facing? It's likely you, like me, could use a lesson or two in how to persevere. Lots of people make good starts; not too many complete the course. We read in Hebrews 12:1 that we should run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Note that each of us has a unique race marked out. Your race may be different from mine, but the important thing for both of us is to hang in there and cross the finish line. The night is darkest just before the dawn, and all too often we quit the race when it gets dark and bleak, when the finish line is just around the corner. In the first chapter of James we read that "perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4). Without perseverance we won't reach spiritual maturity. That's why we need to learn perseverance. How often do you feel like quitting? Hebrews 12:13 says "Don't wander away from the path but forge steadily onward. On the right path the limping foot recovers strength and does not collapse” (Phillips Translation). Therefore, we need to make certain we're on the right path, and then stay on it regardless. Even if you're just limping along, don't stop. As we hang in there, our limps are healed and we're able to cross the finish line. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2).  Proving faithful is perseverance, and we can learn to be faithful and to persevere. I'll take a faithful person any day over one with bigger talents or gifts who isn't willing to hang in and get the job done—to stick with it through thick and thin times.

Does it seem like your spiritual walk could be better described as a limp? If you're like me, there are times when it seems you're struggling with the same things all the time. Are you limping along—spiritually speaking? Does it seem like God is far away, and prayer is unrewarding and dead? When you read the Bible, do you find your mind wandering, as the words run together on the page? Does it seem like a dry history book rather than a live letter to you from the Lord? Has your desire to be involved in ministry grown cold, and instead those avenues of service are more like a duty now than a joy? Well, you've got a spiritual limp. We all get them, and we need to be prepared to deal with them. Most of us want to leave the race when we start limping, don't we? We figure we just can't keep going, so we give up and sit on the sidelines or start down another path which looks a little easier. But that's not how we should deal with a spiritual limp. I noticed a passage in Hebrews 12 which encouraged me as I thought about my occasional spiritual limps. Verses 12 and 13 tell us "So tighten your loosening grip and steady your wavering stand. Don't wander away from the path but forge steadily onward. On the right path the limping foot recovers strength and does not collapse..." (Phillips Translation). Tightening your grip and steadying your stand and staying on the right path require discipline. Discipline without feelings or emotions. Discipline without visible results. The first verse of that 12th chapter of Hebrews tells us we must run with endurance the race marked out for us. Even run the race with a limp, but whatever you do, you are not to sit down, get sidelined or sidetracked. Let me encourage you to keep running in the right race, even though you're limping along. Just like professional athletes, sometimes we have to "play hurt," keep on keepin' on even though we're not feeling one hundred percent. Remember that the limping foot is healed by tightening your grip and steadying your stand, not by getting out of the race.

I have a tendency to talk to myself. Do you do that, too? Well, I was just noticing that the Psalmist did it a lot. As a matter of fact, I think all of us need to learn to talk to ourselves more. As I read Psalm 42 and 43, I noticed how this phrase was often repeated: "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Evidently the writer was struggling with depression, with discouragement, with the blahs, just like you and I struggle from time to time. And he talked to himself as a way to speak the right words into his mind and turn around his wrong thinking. In verse 6 of Psalm 42, we read, "My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you...” Now this is a very good technique and habit for all of us to learn. When we feel down, we should force ourselves to remember and recite out loud God's goodness to us in times past. Are you having a tough time? Then, stop right now and talk to yourself; find some place where you can say something like, "Look, what is your problem? God loves you and cares for you; he's met your need time and again. Remember what he did for you in times past and put your hope in him again.” I noticed in Psalm 42 and 43 that the writer also verbalized his doubts. "Why have you forgotten me. Why have you rejected me?” He voiced those doubts and questions to God, but immediately he came back to the truth of praising God and hoping in God. When I find myself doubting and questioning God, I try to voice those to him out loud. "Lord, I feel as though you're not there. I just can't understand why this has happened. I can't help but wonder if you've forgotten about me here. BUT I know better Lord. I remember what you've done in the past, and I know your ways are not my ways. THEREFORE, I trust you, I place my hope in you. You are my Savior and my God." So, talk to yourself. I believe it's a Scriptural principle we need to incorporate into our lives to help us find victory in those everyday ups and downs of life.

Do you ever go to God for help in a faithless panic? I certainly can remember doing that at times when I've been at the end of my own rope, and in panic rather than in faith, I've run to God for help. Recently I was comparing two stories in Matthew 8. The first is the story of the Centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant. You remember that the Centurion insisted that Jesus could heal his servant simply by speaking a word, he didn't need to come to his house. The Centurion had faith to believe that Jesus had the power to simply speak healing to his servant who was miles away. When Jesus heard this, he said, "I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith" (Matthew 8:10). You see, this Centurion was not an Israelite, yet he believed in Jesus. And Jesus commends him for his faith, and heals his servant as requested. A short time later, the disciples come to Jesus in a panic. Jesus was asleep in the boat, and a squall comes up quickly which threatens to overturn the boat and drown them all. They come in great fear, begging Jesus to do something if he can. And Jesus says to them "You of little faith. Why are you so afraid?" (Matthew 8:26). Interesting that the Centurion was commended for his faith and the disciples are confronted for their lack of faith. Both needed help. Both sought help from Jesus. Jesus responded to both requests. But one was a request of faith, and one was a faithless cry of panic. The Centurion expected Jesus to heal his servant, even long distance. The disciples were amazed that Jesus could calm the storm. The Centurion only knew Jesus from afar by reputation. The disciples had spent much time with him. Yet, the Centurion showed great faith. He came with his need, but he brought expectation along with the need. The disciples came with their need but they thought this storm was too much for Jesus. They really didn't expect him to do what he did. How about you and me? Jesus invites us to come with our needs, but he loves to see faith along with it. The next time you're in a panic situation and you need Jesus' deliverance, come with faith believing that he will hear and answer. He loves to see us come to him by faith. It pleases him to see that we have faith in him. In fact, without faith, it's impossible to please him.

Holding on, hanging in there, being patient, sitting in the waiting room—none of those come easy for me. And being put on hold on the telephone is particularly annoying—don’t you agree? So, more than anything else I’m talking to me, and you can listen in, as I remind myself again that I have to hold on when I’m on hold. When you think of someone in the Bible who was on hold, you most likely think of Job. Talk about holding on when he was on hold, nobody has ever endured more than Job did while waiting for God to move. In Job 6 he says: Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for. What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient? Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze? (Job 6: 8, 11-12). And in Job 7:6-7, he goes on to say: My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end without hope. Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again. His words may express your heart today. Like Job, you may be saying or thinking: Why hasn’t God granted my request? I don’t have the strength to keep holding on. After all, I’m just flesh! I’ve lost hope and I’ll never be happy again. For most of us, this feeling of hopelessness doesn’t show itself outwardly so much as it corrupts us on the inside. It takes the form of what Thoreau called “quiet desperation.” You keep going, you keep saying the right things and maintaining a semblance of normalcy, but on the inside you’ve truly given up. You’re going through the motions of a marriage or a job; you’re making people think everything’s okay with your children or parents, but in reality, you’re emotionally detached; there’s no more fight left in you, and you’re almost at the place where you really don’t care. Today I want to share three simple truths that will help you hold on when you’re on hold. And the first one is: Trust in God’s Sovereignty. That simply means that you continue to believe that nothing happens in God’s universe that is outside of God’s influence and authority. And you believe the same is true in your life. God is sovereign in your life. Therefore, you can trust that in his sovereignty, he will make all things work together for your good, even the evil and wrongs of others and the cruelty of this sin-infested world. Believe me, I know it’s not easy to trust when you’re on hold, especially when it looks like your world is crumbling around you. I think of a friend who went through years of pain and suffering from an unfaithful husband and a broken marriage, death of two children, another child who walked away from God, and other significant losses. Honestly, she was a Job-story for today, and I often wondered how she made it through. Obviously, all those things left deep scars and hurt, but she turned it into opportunity for her to minister to others. She completed a biblical counseling degree and now she has a voice to help others who are “on hold” because she has walked deep, dark roads. In God’s sovereignty and as only God can do, he turned her sorrow into dancing and has given her a broader, more effective ministry as a result. So, if you can put your trust in God’s sovereignty today, regardless of your feelings, and simply repeat that you believe he is still in control, that is step one in holding on while you’re on hold. Step two is to Trust in God’s Timing. Listen to these verses from Psalm 37:5-7: Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. God’s timing often seems so inappropriate to us. What possible good can come from waiting any longer—that’s how we see it. I can look back on my life and see how the waiting periods of my life were there for a pu...

How well do you know God? Knowing God doesn't just happen. You don't automatically inhale that knowledge because you were born in a Christian home or go to church regularly. Knowing God is a result of seeking him and devoting yourself to knowing him more and more all the time. Many Christians never get over their fear of trusting God. They go through life unwilling to yield to him the control of their lives, because they're not quite certain he is trustworthy. We only overcome that fear by getting to know God because you trust who you know. And you don't get to know God by accident. It happens on purpose. You must purpose to get to know him. We've seen reports of tests given to high school seniors that show their knowledge of basic facts to be extremely poor. I wonder what kind of scores Christians would have if they were tested on their knowledge of God. Do you spend more time getting to know television programs or personalities than you do getting to know God? Could you tell me more about your local sports teams than you can tell you about God? Getting to know God takes time and it takes a plan. Are you really eager to know him? Jesus said, "This is eternal life, that you may know God” (John 17:3). Everything hinges on your knowledge of God. If you really want to know him, I urge you to make a structured plan that gets you into his Word on a daily basis, and that leads you into a prayer life of praise and intercession. You get to know someone by spending time with that person and it will require a commitment on your part. If you feel you don't know how to begin, I have written a Bible study entitled "A Guide on Getting to Know God.” It gives you some practical suggestions on how to do that. But the important thing is that you pursue God. You go after him. Just going to church on Sundays is not enough, no matter how good your church is. You must personally hunger to know him and pursue him, as a deer pants after water. When you do, I promise you this: You'll start to trust him, and you'll trust him more and more all the time. Because to truly know God is to trust him. And once you start to give him the controls of your life, everything will fall into its rightful place. You'll find the answers you've been looking for. The fear of trusting God will vanish.

If we truly believe God is who he says he is, the only true God with all power, wisdom and authority, and we believe that he cares for us individually and desires only the best for us, then the only logical conclusion has to be that he is totally trustworthy. Why is it that you can't easily let go and trust God? Well, you have three enemies, the world, the flesh and the devil, and you are getting all kinds of conflicting signals from them. The world tells you to "do our own thing," "find yourself,” "do what feels good," "decide what your truth is!” The flesh says, "You deserve happiness and you have a right to run your life the way you want to.” The devil says, "If you trust God, you most surely will be left to some terrible life. You'll be miserable and alone.” And if you listen to these voices, then fear takes over, and you're convinced that totally trusting God is too risky. It is meant only for those few people who somehow have the courage to go into "full time Christian service.” And without realizing it, you have decided that you can trust yourself better than God. If that’s true, then that fear of trusting God is robbing you of peace and contentment and keeping you from the joyful, fulfilled life that you long for. Overcoming the fear of trusting God begins with a recognition of who God is, with a true understanding that he is much smarter than you are, that he cares about you and loves you and desires to give you good gifts. And that leads you to understand that the only sensible thing to do is to abandon yourself to his care and trust him completely in every area of your life. God does not negotiate with us. We come his way—through Jesus Christ—or we don't come at all. But once you really comprehend how totally trustworthy God is, you will be glad to yield to his lordship. It takes the monkey off your back. You are no longer responsible for managing your own destiny. Someone far more qualified is now in charge—the God of all ages—and you can be absolutely sure that his plan for your life will be better than your own.

Do you believe that the God we Christians worship, the God of the Bible, is the only true God, that he has all power and authority, that he has all wisdom and knowledge, that he is holy and perfect and does not make mistakes? Certainly this is what the Bible tells us, but what I'm asking you is, do you truly believe God is like that? It may be that you have given intellectual consent to the Bible's teaching about God, but that belief has never become a gripping reality in your everyday life. If you are convinced that God's character, power and personality are as stated, the next important issue to understand is how this God feels about you. After all, you are but a spec in this great mass of humanity. Do you make any difference to God? Let me remind you of a few Scriptures that tell us how God feels about you individually. Matthew 10:30 tells us “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Every time you brush your hair and see the hairs in your brush or on the floor, you should be reminded that God has just recomputed all those lost hairs, and he's keeping a running total at all times! Who else would care how many hairs are on your head? We read that he cares about worthless, colorless sparrows and knows each one that falls to the ground. Can you not believe God cares even much more about you? We read in Zephaniah 3:17: “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Did you know that God delights in you and sings over you? Isn't that incredible? There are many passages in the Bible that tell us clearly that the God of all the universe cares about each of us individually, knows us intimately, and wants for us only his highest and best. His plans for you are good plans. Now, if you're with me this far—if you believe that God has all power, wisdom, knowledge and authority, and in addition, he loves you and cares about your good—here's the next logical conclusion that those beliefs lead to: God’s plans for you are always superior to any other plans. You can trust him and his plans for your life without any hesitation. Not only can you trust him, but it is the only logical thing to do. Why would you want to trust anyone less—even yourself? If your trust is in anyone besides God, you're settling for so much less than you should. If you're afraid to trust God, then something must be wrong in either your understanding of who God is or how he feels about you. Or else your belief is just a head belief, and it hasn’t yet changed your heart.

Do you find it difficult to truly trust God with all aspects of your life? I believe this fear of trusting God is very real with many Christians. It was with me for ten years, as I refused to allow the Lord to control my life, because I was afraid he would punish me for past failures, or else take my life in a direction that would be miserable and would make me unhappy. I've discovered in the many years since how foolish I was to fail to trust God, and I've begun to understand that I didn't trust him because I didn't clearly understand the nature of God. You see, when you have a clear understanding of who God is as Scripture tells us, you really have two simple options: to believe it or not to believe it. If you believe God is who he says he is, trusting him becomes the only logical thing to do. Nothing else makes any sense. To fail to trust him is to say by your actions that God cannot be who he says he is; it is in effect to say that he is not trustworthy. What are these basic characteristics of God that should lead us to trust him? We learn from Scripture that our God is the only God. In the book of Isaiah, the Lord says, "I am the first and the last, and there is no other God besides me (Isaiah 45:5) Is there any God besides me, or is there any other Rock? I know of none” (Isaiah 44:8). So first, we understand that we are worshipping the true and only God. Secondly, we need to understand his power. He is the Creator of all that ever existed. He said, "I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself (Isaiah 44:24). God spoke and the worlds came into being, created out of nothing. The Psalmist said, "I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths” (Psalms 135:5-6). Thirdly, our God is holy and perfect. He does not make mistakes. Now, can you honestly say that you believe the God you worship is the only God, the Creator, all-powerful and wise, holy and perfect, and that he makes no mistakes? Please don't glibly answer that question. Give it some thought, because if you say that you do indeed believe God is who he says he is, it leads to some inevitable conclusions and decisions you must make.

What do you think is the underlying predominant reason that so many Christians today are not living victorious lives, are not effective for Jesus Christ? Why are so many consumed with fear and anxiety, with doubt and despair? Think about it for a minute. As I look back over my life, and observe many others, I've come to this conclusion: The basic problem many of us Christians have is that we're afraid to trust God. Oh, true, we've accepted Christ and his salvation, but to trust God with every aspect of our lives strikes fear in our hearts. And because of this, we never know the triumphant joy-filled life God has intended for us. For ten years in my own life, I fought the Lordship of Jesus Christ, ran my own show, and wasted precious opportunities for God because I was consumed by this fear of trusting God. Oh, I didn't recognize it at the time, but later I realized that underneath my rebellion against God's control in my life was a basic fear that I couldn't trust him. Could that be where you are right now: Scared to death to really, totally trust God? Are you hanging on to the controls of your life as if to say that you think you can engineer the circumstances and events of your life better than God can? What I finally had to face was that my fear of trusting God was a result of my misconceptions of God's character and nature and of his intentions and motivation. I was operating under the fear that God would punish me for past failures by depriving me of future happiness, and I was afraid he would direct me in paths that I did not want to take! I've also come to understand that fear of trusting God is simply sin—the sin of unbelief. There really is no greater sin against the Holy God than to treat him as though he cannot be trusted. Through various events God began to break through to me. And in the years since, I've begun to learn to trust God. What changes! What a transformation has occurred in my life. I look back and say, "Why did I not trust him sooner?"

Life is full of “what ifs” and often they are negative, right? They are usually full of fear and worrisome imaginations. And when you focus on all those “what ifs,” when you allow your mind to go to those negative possibilities, it just discourages you and frankly, makes you miserable. So, let me ask you: How much time do you spend in the “what ifs” of life? In fear and worry, thinking about what could or might happen? Here’s another “what if”: What if you changed “what if” to “even if”? Even if I lose my job. . . even if I get a bad health report, even if I’m robbed, even if someone I love dies. If you’re born from above through faith in Jesus Christ, what if you faced your “what ifs” with truth from God’s Word, truth that would set you free from the fear and worry and despair that your “what ifs” have caused? We have promises from God’s Word that we should throw in the face of our “what ifs.” Promises like: Isaiah 43:2: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Hebrews 13:5: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So, when you’re facing a “what if,” stop and talk to yourself. Seriously, you need to talk to yourself—out loud if possible—and remind yourself of God’s promises. Remind yourself of these truths. Bring those “what if” thoughts into captivity and make them obey the Lord. You remember the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, those three Jewish young men who were forcibly taken from Jerusalem to Babylon to serve in King Nebuchadnezzar’s court.  Shortly after they were forced into the service of this pagan king, they were faced with a direct affront to their faith in Jehovah God, as the king set up a golden image and said that everyone had to fall down and worship this pagan image or else be thrown into a fiery furnace. Talk about “what if”! What if they continued to serve the true God, Jehovah, and refused to bow down and worship that golden idol? They would perish as young men in the prime of their lives. This was a serious what if; there was no question that refusing to obey the king’s order would result in death. So, what was their decision? Here it is from Daniel 3:16-18: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” They went from “what if” to “even if” and declared that they trusted in their God to deliver them, but even if they were burned to death in that furnace, they would not bow to any other god. Maybe you’re facing a fiery furnace of your own—something that could totally destroy you, or so it seems. Maybe a financial furnace, or a health furnace, or a relationship furnace, and you’re in the “what if” stage as you face that furnace. Can you replace your “what if” with an “even if,” declaring that even if your fears are realized, even if the worst happens, you will trust in God to deliver you, to go through it with you, and to rescue you? Can you say with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, “even if he does not,” you will trust him? That is walking by faith and not by sight, and even if your faith seems small or weak, God will be pleased with your “even if,” and you can be sure he will get you through. I pray you will place your trust in the same God who delivered these young men and who will deliver you. And then there’s the story of Moses when God confronted him and told him he had a job for him to do—to face Pharaoh and deliver ...

You know, everybody needs encouragement and help at times, don't they? As I read 2 Corinthians 7, I realized that even the great Apostle Paul had his times when he needed other people. He said in verse 5: "For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within." Doesn't that describe the way you feel at times? Conflicts without, fears within? But this is the spiritual giant, Paul, and it surprises us to realize that he would have these same feelings. Well, we really need to remember that positions of prominence do not isolate anyone from being human. Paul was tired and fearful. He needed help. Where did his help come from? He goes on to say, "But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus.” He needed a friend at his side to comfort him, and so Titus came along. We could say to Paul, "But wasn't it enough to have the Lord there?” And Paul would respond, "The Lord was there in the person of Titus. He comforted me by sending Titus." Yes indeed, that's how the Body of Christ should function. God wants to use us in each other's lives as messengers of comfort and encouragement, to pick each other up at those weary and frightened moments of our lives. God has given us each other for that purpose. Paul goes on to say that he was comforted by the good report Titus brought to him of the concern for his welfare by his friends in Corinth. Paul needed to know that they cared, that they hadn't forgotten him, that they still loved him. How often do we miss these opportunities to be God's comfort in the lives of others? How often do we need to be by a friend's side when they're experiencing dark days? Or send a message to them—by email, on the phone—just to say, I care. Is there someone in your life that needs a Titus? Ask God to show you, and allow him to use you as his agent of comfort and encouragement.

Would you love to catch the next flight to some forgotten island and leave no forwarding address? Running away sure looks appealing sometimes, doesn't it? King David felt that way, too. He wrote, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” Maybe your job is just driving you crazy. Could be a difficult boss or a boring job; could be the people you work with or too much work. Or perhaps you're having troubles with relationships; they can make you want to fly away. Maybe it's your spouse, or your child, or a close friend, a romantic relationship. Undoubtedly for many it's financial worries that make them want to run away. Well, whatever it is that's giving you the run-away blues, I understand because I’ve been there. I remember when I begged God to let me out of a job I was in. I wanted out so badly, I thought I couldn't take another day. But God made it clear that he had a purpose in keeping me there for a while longer. I look back and see why: I needed to learn many spiritual lessons in that spot. There were people with whom I formed friendships and shared my faith and trust in Jesus. I wouldn't have missed that opportunity for anything. And the business knowledge I gained by hanging in another couple of years gave me the resource and experience I needed to go out on my own which paved the way to begin this ministry. Oh, it's easy to see that now, but at the time all I could do was simply agree with God to persevere. Second John 8 says " Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.” Most of us give up just before the victory! And when we do, we waste all the hard work and effort that's been poured into our lives. I want to encourage you today to persevere. Say with King David that instead of running away you will "cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall."

Condemnation—isn't that an ugly word? Webster says that condemnation is the state of being pronounced unfit or unworthy, of being declared guilty. Condemnation is disapproval and lack of acceptance. Have you been subjected to any condemnation lately? It can come from friends, from family, from bosses, from society. The world is full of condemnation—one person condemning another, one race condemning another, politicians condemning each other. I hate condemnation and I'm sure you do, too. One of the most marvelous and wonderful truths of Scripture is that those of us who have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ, who have been forgiven by him and accepted as God's child are free from condemnation. Paul writes in Romans 8 that “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1-2). Now, is that good news, or what! I love the Phillips translation of Romans 8:33-34: "Who would dare to accuse us, whom God has chosen? The judge himself has declared us free from sin. Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us!” The next time you're feeling condemned, remember that if you belong to Jesus, he is the only one who can truly condemn you, and he doesn't. He may deal with you to bring your life more into conformity with his will, but he won't heap up condemnation on you. Oh, it's not that we don't deserve his condemnation; all of us do. But the judge himself, Jesus Christ, has paid the penalty and taken our condemnation himself. So, we are no longer condemned. We are set free from the penalty which we deserve. Keep this marvelous truth in the back of your mind all day. Rejoice in the fact that Jesus does not condemn you, so who else could possibly have a right to do that? You're free from condemnation, praise his holy name.

It’s July 4th, a special day for us here in the United States, as we celebrate the freedom that is ours because we live in this land. It’s a freedom we often take for granted, but we need to stop and thank God for the freedom we enjoy. But you know, real freedom is when you are free from the things that keep you personally in bondage. No earthly government can grant you that freedom. It is found only in Jesus Christ. What is holding you in bondage from which you really want to be set free? Fear or guilt? Shame? Failures in your past? Wrongs done to you? Poor choices you’ve made? Insecurity? Pride? Paul wrote to the Galatians: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1). Mind you, Paul was writing to Christians, those who had declared themselves to be followers of Jesus Christ. And yet, Paul is encouraging them not to let themselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery because Christ had set them free. When as Christians we continue to live in bondage to these things, it’s like someone has put us in a jail but they didn’t lock the door, so at any time we can push open that door and walk out to freedom, but we don’t. We sit in that jail cell, as though we cannot escape, when all the time all we have to do is push open the door and walk out. Later in that letter to the Galatians Paul wrote: “You were called to be free. . .” If you’ve been born from above through faith in Jesus Christ, your calling from him is to be free from all that weighs you down. Jesus said, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). So, as you celebrate our nation’s freedom, ask yourself if you are standing firm in the freedom that Christ has given you, or if you’re allowing yourself to be burdened by a yoke of slavery.

Once I was asked a very interesting question by a woman who had come to hear me speak. She said to me, "Are you a liberated woman?” I think that's a good question to consider as we celebrate July 4th tomorrow—the day we declared our freedom as a country. So in answer to this question: Are you a liberated woman?, my answer is a resounding YES! I am a liberated woman, because I've been set free by Jesus. Paul wrote to the Romans: Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ….You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness….But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life (Romans 6:16, 18, 22). Hallelujah! I'm a liberated woman because I'm free from the curse of sin. That is true freedom; that is the personal freedom that so many are looking for today—but they’re looking in the wrong places. Jesus is the only one who can set us free indeed—that’s why he came. The Bible says that as individuals we are each slaves—slaves to whatever masters us. What is mastering you today? Money? Possessions? Sex? Laziness? Food? Television? Pornography? Drugs? Alcohol? Work? Well, Jesus Christ offers liberation from anything that makes you into a slave and robs you of freedom. Most people think freedom is the right to do whatever they want to do. Women over the past years have been led to believe that they'll find freedom in new opportunities. But it simply doesn't work. Only when Jesus sets you free do you really know what it means to be free. I’m glad to say that I'm a liberated woman—free from being a slave to sin. And because of that, I'm free from guilt. God has forgiven me for every sin that I've confessed to him, and furthermore, he has forgotten those sins. He doesn't hang them over my head ever again; I am no longer condemned. So, even though my past is not what it should be, I don't live under a cloud of guilt as so many people do. I'm free from guilt. I'm a liberated woman. If you are looking for freedom, let me introduce you to Jesus Christ, who can set you free indeed.

This week on The Christian Working Woman you will meet Renee Pollino and hear how she founded a social justice coffee shop—yes, a coffee shop—that addresses social concerns and systemic injustice by offering employment to women who have been held in bondage by poverty, addictions, trafficking or life as a refugee.  Renee’s story will inspire you—don’t miss it.

I’m offering five biblical principles which can help you when you’re dealing with difficult people, particularly on your job. Our fifth and final principle is: The “Speak Kind Words” Principle Here are two verses from Proverbs that tell us how important it is to guard our words carefully and speak words of kindness. Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up (Proverbs 12:25). A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.(Proverbs 25:11). "Aptly spoken words” are those which are strategically selected and gently delivered. They are "apt," they fit the situation perfectly. With "apt" words, you can change an ugly environment or situation into something beautiful—like "apples of gold in settings of silver." For example, suppose you had to confront a person on your job who is repeatedly late to work. Which of these two approaches would be “aptly spoken words”? #1 “I want to point out something that is bothering me. You’ve been late to work a lot and it just drives me crazy. I want every person here on time every day. You’re paid to be here on time, so I’ll be expecting you to be on time every day from now on. I hope that is clear.” #2 “I’ve noticed that you have some difficulty getting to work on time. Perhaps there is some good reason for that; if so, you need to tell me so we can work it out by cutting your lunch time or having you work later each day. Is there some reason that makes it difficult for you to be here on time each day?” It’s pretty obvious that the first example would cause a defensive, angry reaction and may or may not solve the problem, while the second approach shows some concern for the individual while at the same time making it clear that tardiness cannot be tolerated. Those are “aptly spoken words.” So often our choice of words makes all the difference in how responsive the other person will be.

Have you ever worked with someone who was arrogant? A person who tried to tell you what to do and had delusions of grandeur? One of the many purposes of difficult relationships is to teach us needed and important lessons, and humility is certainly an important lesson we can learn through an arrogant co-worker. The “Humble Yourself” Principle In Luke 14:11 Jesus says: “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” And in 1 Peter 5:6 we read: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” Have you learned to look for opportunities to humble yourself? Now, I’m not talking about false humility, such as running yourself down, or refusing to accept a compliment, or walking around with your head hung low and trying to look humble. But most every day we will find opportunities to humble ourselves. For example, if you work with this bossy coworker, it is humbling to keep your mouth shut and not say something back to him or her. It is humbling to take that person’s suggestion. I began asking God to show me when and how to humble myself. It’s a good prayer and I recommend it to you. I found that not insisting on my “rights” was one key way to humble myself; not talking about myself or my accomplishments was another. Not having to have the last word is a good way to humble yourself. But don’t lose sight of the promises given to us when we truly are willing to humble ourselves. We will be lifted up and we will be exalted. Notice that Peter said we will be lifted up "in due time.” That's probably not as soon as you would like it to be, but it will be in the right time after you have learned the valuable lesson of humbling yourself. So, if you have a difficult person to deal with, one who is arrogant or treats you in a condescending way, ask God to show you when you should humble yourself with this person. You’ll be amazed at the blessing it will bring to you when you practice this “humble yourself” principle. And humbling yourself is much easier than having to be humbled!

Do you have any enemies?  Enemies are people who make your life uncomfortable, difficult, cause unnecessary hurt or discord, and are generally at odds against you in many ways, intentional or unintentional. The "Love Your Enemy" Principle Here is a principle from Matthew 5 that gives us direct guidance on dealing with a relationship “enemy.”  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:43-45). What a revolutionary teaching this was. Never before had anyone taught such convoluted doctrine. It goes against all our instincts to love our enemies. It demands an attitude that is foreign to our natures. It requires a denial of self which seems imminently unfair and all but impossible. That's the way it often is with biblical principles. They go against our grain, but if you have some relationship “enemies,” God will empower you to love them if you are willing. Remember, loving doesn’t necessarily mean liking. This kind of love is an action, a set of our will, a decision to act in loving ways, even though our feelings may not be warm and fuzzy. If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you (Proverbs 25:21-22). In these two passages from Matthew and Proverbs we learn three things about how we are to treat our “enemies”: We are to love our enemies. We are to pray for our enemies. We are to give our enemies what they need. We aren't promised that our enemies will change, or that they will appreciate our loving attitude. But when we respond in loving ways toward people who make our lives difficult, we keep ourselves from sinning and we demonstrate the love of Jesus in very real ways.

I’m taking a look at some biblical principles which give us guidance when we have to deal with a difficult relationship—like a co-worker who is lazy, or uncooperative, or negative, to name a few. The "Speak-the-Truth-in-Love" Principle Ephesians 4:14 and 15 gives us a very important principle:  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.  Speaking the truth to people is sometimes the part we are called on to play in their lives to help them grow. Of course, the operative word here is "love.” Have you ever spoken the truth in haste or anger? Often truth is spoken in hatred and vindictiveness. Truth can be spoken with malice or in defensiveness. You see, the truth can often be very painful. When we speak it in anything but love, we can open a door that never should be opened and cause a rift in a relationship that may never be healed. Which would describe you best? Would you say that you have difficulty speaking the truth in love even when you know you should? If so, is that because you hate confrontations, or fear rejection or repercussions? Or perhaps you feel guilty since you know that you’re not perfect either. Or would you say that you speak the truth too freely and often without compassion or forethought? In practicing this biblical principle of speaking the truth in love, you need to exercise extreme caution. Words are very powerful and need to bathed in prayer. Your motivation must be carefully scrutinized to make certain that you are speaking the truth in love for the right reason at the right time. However, remember that speaking the truth in love is a biblical principle, and when God puts you in a position where you should do just that, to fail to do so is to rob that person of an opportunity to become more mature.

Relationships are the sandpaper of life. Isn’t it often true that the relationship struggles of your life are used by God to refine you and teach you and help you grow to maturity? I want to talk about five biblical principles we need to know when we are experiencing relationship difficulties on our jobs.  The Extra-Mile Principle We are called to have an extra-mile attitude in our relationships with others. Matthew 5:38-41 is pretty clear about this: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.” What does it mean to have an extra-mile attitude, to turn the other cheek, to give your cloak as well as your shirt? Don’t you think Jesus was trying to teach us to endure unfair treatment at times, without griping or complaining? to refrain from saying some of the things we would like to say to that difficult coworker. to do some work we don’t have to do or want to do? to put in extra time and effort to help a difficult person? Surely that is all a part of this extra mile principle. And it would lead you to endure at times, and to do more than perhaps even your employer would require or expect of you. But there is also a balance we must find. I believe that Jesus gave us boundaries with this extra mile principle, and he definitely is not teaching us to endure any kind of treatment or to put up with unacceptable behavior or habits forever and never say anything negative to anyone. Do you go the extra mile with those difficult relationships? The extra mile principle is one we need to apply to difficult relationships and when we are willing to go that extra mile, it can often open a door for a miracle.

Presented by Lisa Bishop It is true that joy can often feel fleeting. It can be hard to hold onto. Sometimes taking hold of joy can be like trying to grab a cloud, it slips through your fingers, evading you. If you find yourself struggling to experience joy in your life, you are not alone. I struggle too. It’s part of being human and living on this side of eternity. But there is hope because God cares about your joy. He wants you to experience happiness and high spirits. I think sometimes we forget that. We can see life as drudgery at times and forget that God wants us to experience delight! Speaking of happiness, sometimes we pit joy and happiness against each other. So, I am going to submit that joy and happiness aren’t exclusive to each other! A dictionary definition of happiness is “a state of well-being; a pleasurable or satisfying experience.” One definition of the word joy comes from the Greek word chara (ha-(with a rolled r)- a), which means “gladness” or “cheerfulness.” Depending on the translation, the Bible uses the words happy and happiness about 30 times, and joy and rejoice over 300 times. We know when we see words or themes repeated in God’s Word he wants to get our attention! Your joy matters to God and when you are joyful, you feel happy! The key is what you rely on for ultimate joy and where your focus lies. If you were to look up the references to joy and rejoicing in the Bible you will see that its cause and effect are from the same source. God. He is the root of your joy and you experience joy because of him. Psalm 94:19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 16:11 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. God is our reason for joy and we express our joy to God when we rejoice in him. As Philippians 4:4 instructs us: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! God your Father is the giver of all things and he’s looking for every opportunity to bless you. He wants you to experience happiness and joy in his creation, in the things he has made. He loves to see you experiencing delight in that promotion at work, a new relationship, a vacation with friends, at the birth of your kids, in a bowl of ice cream. Yes, I did just say ice cream. God made that too. Sometimes we complicate joy. Joy can be found in simple moments as well as in the big events of life. The important thing to remember is your source of joy, and that is Jesus. Don’t get too lured in by being distracted by the created things and lose your affection for the Creator. When you rely on external things to sustain your joy you will be misguided. When you base joy purely on your circumstances you will be sorely disappointed, which brings me to another point about joy. In the midst of unpleasant circumstances, joy is possible. Even when life gives you a one-two punch and knocks the wind out of your sails, you can hang onto joy. Happiness and disappointment, joy and sorrow, can coexist. I know that feels counterintuitive and really HARD at times! Yet all throughout the bible we see evidence of this and Psalm 13 gives us a real-life example as the Psalmist in his pain and despair says: How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. How can the Psalmist rejoice, how can he express joy in the middle of sorrow? Because ultimately joy is a long-haul perspective not one that is limited by shorter-term circumstances.

How joyful are you? Here are a few more ways to cultivate a more cheerful and glad spirit. And the first way is to: Practice Patience and Pray We have all experienced impatience in our lives. That irritability and dis-ease when you’re waiting for something and it feels like it’s taking forever to materialize. When something does not happen on your timeline you can lose hope and it can mess with your joy. When it comes down to it, impatience is really an indicator that you do not trust God and his timing. It’s a signal that you lack faith that God is working things out on your behalf and as a result, you can become heavy-hearted. To cultivate joy in the waiting, Romans 12:12 is a call to action: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Another way to intentionally cultivate joy in your life is to: Mind Your Mind According to Proverbs 17:22: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (ESV). A joyful, positive mindset is key to experiencing a healthy and fulfilling life. The heart is your inner self, thoughts, emotions, and will. Good medicine refers to something that treats or alleviates the symptoms of disease. One translation of this verse says, “A cheerful heart causes good healing.” All throughout Scripture we see the potent effects of the mind on the body. A joyful heart is good because it generates health and healing in your inner being. In contrast a crushed spirit dries up the bones or as Proverbs 12:25 explains, “anxiety in the heart of a person causes depression.” Interestingly these nuggets of wisdom are backed up by scientific studies that demonstrate the mind’s powerful influence over the body. A cheerful, contented temperament not only fortifies your mental health but enables your body to resist the attacks of physical disease. That’s another reason to be enamored with God and how he created our minds and bodies. And, why he created you to experience joy! So if good medicine is a joyful heart, how can you foster and promote internal joy? Scripture says that God’s laws, precepts, and statutes refresh the soul and gladden the heart. Psalm 19:7a says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.” And the prophet Jeremiah testified, “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight” (Jeremiah 15:16a). Setting apart intentional time to be with God, meditating on his Word, his character, and his promises, is a guaranteed way to do your heart some good.

Do you let other people steal your joy? We all know people who walk through life acting like victims of their circumstances. They blame the weather, traffic, their job, or other life situations for being miserable. They look for any reason to complain, to be downcast and grumpy. When something does not go their way they find a way to complain and grumble. They are people who allow others to impact their joy and ones who can suck the joy right out of the air. Several years ago I would ride the elevator with the same guy every week. In an attempt to make small talk, I would ask him how he was doing. His response was, “Okay for a Monday.” What a downer! How many times have we caught ourselves thinking that or even saying that out loud? If Mondays dictate that your life will be dull and less than desirable, you have just squandered 1/7th of your life. Think about it. When you put it that way it’s certainly motivation to change your tune. You and I have the power to choose our attitude. You are ultimately in charge of the way you respond to life’s circumstances, the people around you and even Mondays. You have the power to control how you react to life. No one or nothing can make you feel or act a certain way. And nothing can steal your joy unless you give it permission. And here’s the deal: As a follower of Jesus, you have a holy advantage on happiness in life. My friend, you have the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in you and you know what? The Holy Spirit produces all sorts of amazing things in your life and one of them is joy. Galatians 5:22-23a says, “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (NLT). When the Holy Spirit produces joy he is producing cheerfulness, delight, and gladness in you. If you are not experiencing joy take some time to get curious and seek why. I’m not saying you will experience joy 24/7/365, but if your life is marred more by gloominess, despair, or unhappiness it’s time to do some self-reflection. Maybe you are more focused on what is not going the way you want in life and you need to put some effort into dwelling on the things to be grateful for. Maybe you are blaming others and outside circumstances for your outlook and disposition rather than owning your power to choose how you will respond to life’s circumstances. If you want to live the spirit-filled, holy spirit-empowered life and experience the fullness of the fruit of joy, don’t let outside circumstances dictate your happiness. Ditch the critical spirit and ask Jesus to help you count your blessings.

Do you remember the catchy tune, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, deep in my heart?” The song often referred to as “I’ve Got the Joy,” is often sung at Sunday school and around the campfire and is a reminder that joy is an essential part of the Christian life. The song’s chorus is: “And I’m so happy, so very happy I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart Down in my heart.” It reminds us as followers of Jesus that it is important to know that the source of true joy is in our relationship with God. Joy is not just a fleeting feeling. It’s a steadfast and enduring state of being that can be experienced even in the midst of trials and challenges because of its source, Jesus. The Bible provides numerous examples to help us experience joy. Whether it is through seeking God’s presence, trusting in his promises, or cultivating a heart of gratitude, Scripture tells us that joy is attainable and can bring a sense of peace and contentment to your daily life. But there are things that can kill your joy and one of those things is putting confidence in your flesh! Why? Because your flesh will fail and you will make mistakes in life. So misplacing your joy and confidence by placing it in yourself and what you do—what you are capable of—will lead to disastrous results. When it comes to putting your confidence and joy in the Lord and not in yourself, the Apostle Paul gives us a solid example. In chapter 3 of his letter to the Philippians Paul says: “Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more” (Philippians 3:1-4). Paul then goes on to list over seven reasons for fleshy confidence. And then he says, “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith” (Philippians 3:7-9). Paul shows us to not think so highly of ourselves but to rejoice in Jesus. Reminding us that gaining Christ and being found in him are the true keys to your joy.

Have you ever heard the saying “Comparison is the thief of joy?” We’re talking about joy killers and a sure-fire killjoy is comparison. Have you ever been scrolling through LinkedIn when you see someone posting about a new job or promotion and you think, “Their life looks ideal. They're probably rolling in the dough and loving life.” Or maybe you find yourself swept up in social media, stumbling upon pictures of seemingly perfect families. The kids are smiling, dressed perfectly, even the dog is smiling, and the husband and wife look so in love. You look at other people’s lives and think you got the short end of the stick. When you survey other people’s lives and surmise that theirs is way better than yours, you set yourself up to be disgruntled and you can be tempted to lament yours. Comparison can make you anxious and depressed and lure you into believing you are missing out on life. We all do it. It’s part of being human, but if we aren’t careful we can find ourselves down the rabbit hole of discontentment. The other day I came across an article on Michelangelo, perhaps the most celebrated Renaissance artist of all time. The article talked about a poem Michelangelo wrote describing how much he hated painting the Sistine Chapel! He famously worked 65 feet in the air on custom scaffolding and wrote about the four years of physical toil. “I’ve already grown a goiter from this torture, hunched up there like a cat….. My stomach's squashed under my skin,....my brain’s crushed in a casket…..My brush, above me all the time, dribbles paint so my face makes a fine floor for droppings.” Who knew Michelangelo was so disgruntled when everything looked so picture-perfect? We can often look into people’s lives and think everything is going swimmingly when in fact they are experiencing their own version of despising life. Not everything is as it seems. And comparing your life to others can provoke you to think and maybe even do some crazy things. It reminds me of the story of brothers Cain and Abel in Genesis chapter four. The account tells us that God was pleased with Abel’s offering and not Cain’s. Abel seemed to have a better life, more favor from God, and that caused resentment and envy to begin to build up in his brother. Cain resented God for blessing his brother and began despising Abel, which eventually led Cain to murder him. Now I know that is an extreme example but comparison can kill your joy and it is a slippery slope. Who are you comparing yourself to? Whose life may look more pleasing than yours? How are you letting other people’s seemingly perfect life steal your joy?

There are joy killers in life and I want to talk about the keys to cultivating greater joy. Who doesn’t want more joy? And here is what is true: You were created to experience joy. So why can it feel so fleeting at times? The first joy killer is putting your joy in the wrong things. Several years ago I read a book, Man’s Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl. One of the themes of the book is the idea that as human beings, we think we are in search of pleasure in life but what we really seek, what our hearts truly long for is purpose. We want our lives to have meaning but we can get sidetracked in the pursuit of pleasure. While life does bring pleasure and God designed us to experience it, when we chase it or base our ultimate joy and satisfaction on it, we will be depressed and sorely disappointed. The Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes has the well-known verse, “meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless.” Ecclesiastes describes King Solomon’s account of the suffering, misery, and emptiness that came from seeking after foolishness, meaninglessness, and materialistic pursuit; and that ultimate hope and meaning is in discovering truth and seeking after God. Solomon tried the world’s brand of happiness and found it to be lacking as we hear his words in Ecclesiastes 2:1-2. “I said to myself, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.’ But that also proved to be meaningless. ‘Laughter,’ I said, ‘is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?’” As a King, he had all of life’s pleasures at his fingertips. Although he could have anything his heart desired, nothing he found satisfied him for the long term. Even the work of his hands, although a good and meaningful aspect of human existence, led to frustration, failure, grief, and pain. While there is an overall depressing tone to the book, Solomon’s conclusion points us to look beyond this life for our ultimate hope and that no amount of wealth, power, prestige, success, relationships or even wisdom will fully satisfy the longing of the human heart. Only Jesus can provide what nothing on this earth can deliver. Life remains toilsome and frustrating at times, but Jesus gives meaning, purpose, and mission to those who believe and trust in him for their salvation. We do not have to follow the path of the world and seek fulfillment in things that will ultimately leave us craving for more. The joy of the world is hollow, but the joy of the Lord which comes from knowing God, abiding in Christ, and being filled with the Holy Spirit, is rich and abundant. The world’s happiness will fade but the key to cultivating true joy is to be deeply rooted in a relationship with our Savior and find our meaning in him.

Years ago I began to question the self-esteem message which was everywhere. They said you had to feel good about yourself in order to have a good life. But something in my spirit just didn’t jive with it. I couldn’t find anything like it in Scripture. I knew from Scripture that the best things I could do looked like filthy rags to God. And furthermore, I had enough experience with me to know that I did not hold the key to my happiness. For ten years I took myself on a pursuit of self-esteem and ended up in a sinful lifestyle, unfulfilled and very frustrated. I fully got it—that trying to find joy and peace and meaning in who I am was a losing battle. And God was teaching me through his Word that my pursuit of good self-esteem was a dead-end street. As one writer puts it: “We eventually figure out that being the star of our own show actually makes life a tragedy. When life is all about us—what we can do, how we perform—our world becomes small and smothering; we shrink. To have everything riding on ourselves leads to despair, not deliverance.” (Jesus+Nothing=Everything) Jesus said it this way: For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it (Matthew 16:25). If you are a Christ-follower, the life you were meant to live is to lose your life for Jesus. Paul said: “For to me, to live is Christ.” And, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). This completely turns the pursuit of self-esteem on its ears and gives us an entirely opposite recipe for life: Lose your life for Jesus. It’s not “Go find yourself” or “Discover the real you” or “Feel good about yourself.” It’s forget yourself! Come and discover the joy of self-forgetfulness. When you can come to the place where life is so not all about you that you truly don’t think about yourself first and foremost all the time, you are beginning to walk in the freedom that Jesus came to give you. Believe me, there is great joy in self-forgetfulness. It’s really, really simple. But it’s really, really important. The life you were meant to live is found in forgetting about yourself. What does it mean to lose your life for Jesus? Let me begin by saying what it does not mean. Losing your life for Jesus and forgetting about yourself doesn’t mean that you are not valuable and worthwhile. You are so valuable to God that he sent Jesus to purchase your redemption. He knows the worst about you and loves you with a love that will never cease and nothing—absolutely nothing—can separate you from his love. He knows your name, he calls you precious; he rejoices over you with singing; he delights in you. I’m not making this up—it’s all in the Bible. You are valuable because you are personally loved by the God who created the heavens and the earth. Losing your life for Jesus doesn’t mean that you become a doormat or a victim. It doesn’t mean that you don’t take care of yourself or set boundaries or say no when appropriate. It doesn’t mean you wear long faces and ugly clothes (unless you want to!). Here’s the best way I can describe it: Forgetting about yourself means that you put Jesus on the throne of your heart, and he’s there to stay. He becomes and remains the most important person and the most important commitment in your life. You get rid of other idols in your heart. It means that you invest time and energy into getting to know him through his Word. It means that you truly want to help others; you truly care about others, you love others because you love Jesus and his love is spread in your heart and it overflows to others. Losing your life for Jesus means anything you need to give up for his sake is okay with you. Money loses some of its allurement, its grip on your heart. Success becomes redefined as hearing Jesus say, “Well done,

There is no more effective testimony that you can have as a Christ-follower than to consistently be a joyful person. Someone has said, “Joy is the flag flying high above the castle of the heart, announcing that the King is in residence there." How’s your flag doing? Is it flying high these days, or are you allowing something or someone to steal your joy? Well, what can you do to get that joy flag flying high over your heart again, so people will see that Jesus lives there? Here are three verses from Psalms that tell us how: Psalm 16:11: “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.” Joy comes the more you are in his presence—finding joy in knowing God through Jesus and spending time each day with him—just you and God. Are you doing that? When you do, you will be filled with joy. Psalm 19:8a: “The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.” God’s word gives joy. It’s just that simple. Reading God’s word, memorizing it, studying it—I promise, it brings joy to your heart, no matter what’s going on. So, is Bible reading a high priority on your to-do list each day? It will put joy in your heart. Psalm 5:11: “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.” Do you know what it means to take refuge in the Lord? It just means you run to him first when you need comfort or help or strength. He will spread his protection over you and shield you from those joy-stealers. Do you love the name of Jesus? Is it the sweetest name you know? Do you love to talk about him, sing about him; is Jesus everything to you? You will rejoice and be joyful when that is true. It's time to unwrap that flag of joy, raise it to the top of the mast, and fly it high!

Sometimes our joy is lost because of where we allow our minds and thoughts to go. For example, are you harboring any bitterness? Maybe it’s just a wee bit, but there it sits in your mind: that resentment and anger and self-pity that you’ve never really given over to Jesus. You try to erase it from your memory but it just keeps coming back, bringing with it all that hurt from who knows how long ago. And that bitterness starts to eat away at you again. Maybe you thought you had forgiven them but it just keeps creeping back into your mind. Well, that’s because sometimes you have to forgive the same thing many times. When Peter asked how many times he should forgive, and suggested seven should be very generous, Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22). In other words, just forgive again, but above all else, don’t let that bitter root stay there because it will grow and cause you to be cynical and unloving. It is a major joy-stealer. And did you realize that envy can steal your joy—the act of comparing yourself to others? When you compare yourself to others and feel envious of who they are or what they have, you are opening your door for Satan to come in and steal your joy—guaranteed. Someone has said that envy makes us root against the well-being of other people, and you can be sure that envy will leave no room for joy in your heart. So, if bitterness or envy has found a place in your mind, you can do something about that today, this minute. By God’s grace, refuse to let those envious thoughts dwell in your mind—run them out, replace them with good thoughts, and when you get rid of them, joy will return.

We know that joy should be the trademark of a Christian. But the thing is, there is so much negativity and bad news in our world today that if you’re not careful, the enemy will steal your joy. That’s one of his favorite tactics. So, what or who has been stealing your joy? Whatever or whoever it is, realize that it is a satanic flaming arrow coming your way, so put on your full armor and refuse to lose your joy. How? First, resist the devil as the Bible says, out loud if possible; just resist him verbally. Let him know you’re on to him, and you are not subject to his joy-stealing ways, resist his onslaught, and the Bible says he will flee from you. So, that’s step one. Maybe you’re thinking that there really isn’t much to be joyful about: You’ve got money problems, or health issues, or there’s a relationship that’s going sour—or on and on and on. We live in a world packed full of stress and worry and trauma and discord. So, there’s plenty of joy-stealers hanging around these days. But as Christ-followers, we are supposed to rejoice always, right? That’s what the Apostle Paul told us over and over, and believe me, he had plenty of joy-stealers in his life, too. So, being joyful has to rise above our circumstances, doesn’t it? If you want joy in your life, first pray Psalm 51:12: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Remember the joy of your salvation? Remember the joy, the amazing peace, the freedom from sin that received from Jesus? Ask God to restore that joy to you. Then, do something positive to get the joy going. Sing or hum a praise song. Just sing to yourself. I mean, actually sing good songs to yourself. Sing words into your ears and into your heart. Find the humor in your day. Laugh a lot. Then, make a list of answered prayer. Or make a list of what you have to be thankful for. Make yourself focus on the good reports instead of on the joy-stealers.

Do you ever wake up some days and just feel like everything’s wrong and nothing is right? I have those days. The joy of the Lord that we often sing about or talk about just seems to be absent. You know, when that happens, it’s a good time to just stop and ask yourself, “What is stealing my joy?” Sometimes we let people steal our joy, don’t we? It could be that person you work with that just pushes your buttons, or makes your job more difficult, or disrespects you in some way. It could be someone you live with—a mate or family member—just people. Our lives are full of people and they often cause us lots of stress, frustrate us, and steal our joy. What can you do when someone steals your joy—a lot? First, learn to put a shield up against their criticism or negativity or whatever it is they do or say that steals your joy. Pray in advance that God will help you shield your mind and emotions from their joy-stealing tactics. As my friend, Jan Silvious, says, picture yourself in a castle with a moat around you, and just pull up the bridge when the joy-stealer comes your way. You may not be able to avoid them, but you can shield your mind from them. Also, don’t spend any more time than you have to with joy-stealers. Proverbs 13:20 says, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” Choose your companions carefully. Certainly we never treat anyone unkindly or arrogantly, but it is important that we avoid people who continually try to steal our joy. It’s important to pray for those people in your life who are difficult. Ask God to help you understand why they are the way they are—to see them as God sees them. When you can look beyond their behavior and have some understanding of what lies behind it, you may be amazed at how that changes your feelings and actually gives you compassion so that they just can’t steal your joy any longer, even if they never change.

If you could measure joy—how joyful you are—any guess what score you would get? Have you been joyful much lately? Well, there is no way to measure just how joyful you are, but you surely know when you’re not joyful, right? So, my question is, “What is stealing your joy?” We know from Galatians 5 that joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit—evidence that the Spirit of God indwells you. So, as Christ-followers, joy should be our trademark. But too often it seems like joy is very elusive. One day we get a flash of joy, but life seems to steal our joy so easily, and it can seem pretty bleak. Could it be that guilt or shame is stealing your joy? Do you beat yourself up a lot because you keep dwelling on how you don’t measure up? Maybe you are ashamed of something in your past, or feeling guilty because you blew it yesterday? Well, here’s some good news for you, as someone has said, Jesus doesn’t follow you around with a scorecard. He’s not making a list and checking it twice—no way. Jesus wants you to live in freedom from your past, freedom for sins that have been forgiven. I love this verse from Isaiah 61:7: “Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.” Of course, this was written to the people of Israel, but it applies to us as well. Jesus is your friend as well as your Savior, and he wants to give you a double portion of his grace and replace that disgrace, that shame you’re carrying around with his everlasting joy. In Hebrews we read that Jesus endured the cross and scorned its shame for the joy that was set before him. He scorned the shame of the cross—he rejected that scorn, he refused it—so that you as his child can refuse the shame that is stealing your joy. I just want to encourage you to refuse to let the enemy steal your joy. That is his modus operandi—he’s a thief and a robber. What can you do? Sing songs of praise; recite all you have to be thankful for; tell someone about Jesus. Stand up to the enemy and resist him by faith; he’ll give up pretty quickly in the face of praise, and the joy of the Lord can again be your strength.

If self-discipline could be measured, would you measure up? I’ve been reminding you that being a disciplined person is essential for success, and it certainly is a requirement for us as followers of Jesus Christ. Discipline is a spiritual issue. We will be accountable to the Lord for the use of our time, our skills and our resources, and you have to be disciplined to do that well. I read this recently: “Stop looking for ways to boost your motivation. Success doesn’t come from having more motivation. It comes from doing what you need to do, even if you don’t have the motivation to do it. It’s called DISCIPLINE.” This says that discipline must be imposed in our lives whether we feel like it or not. If your discipline depends on the mood you’re in, or whether you got a good night’s sleep or not, or if you just don’t feel so good, you will be a very sporadically disciplined person—on and off; hot and cold; inconsistent. As I said before, “Discipline is the ability to make yourself do something you don’t want to do in order to get a result you really want to get.” Hebrews 12:11 says: “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Becoming a more disciplined person means you will have a more peaceful life and the fruit of discipline will make you more mature in your faith. Discipline comes in many forms but any time you decide to be more disciplined in some needed area, you will grow spiritually and you will be more pleasing to the Lord. If you need lots of discipline in your life, take baby steps—one thing at a time—because as you are successful in one area, you will want to be successful in others as well. You have much to look forward to—much peace and joy—as you become more and more disciplined in your life. So, choose the pain of discipline and not the pain of regret.

Though it may sound too good to be true, I assure you there is joy in putting needed disciplines in your life. But like everything that is worthwhile, it takes some commitment and work on our part. I remind you that we must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. I want to mention two good work habits that will go a long way toward making you successful: Being on Time Do you have difficulty being on time? Maybe it’s because you don’t get up early enough—which we talked about earlier. If your morning routine is rush, rush, rush because you don’t get out of bed until the last minute, then you see how lack of discipline in one area spills over to other areas of your life. And being habitually late does not show a Christ-like thoughtfulness of others and their time. Whatever excuses you have come up with to justify always being late, if you’re willing to become disciplined, you will greatly reduce the stress in your life. We perpetuate most of our stress by our lack of discipline, and this is one of those examples of unnecessary stress caused by tardiness. Put some reminders in place; set your phone or watch to remind you when you need to be on time. Figure out what you have to do to break this bad habit and impose that discipline on yourself. Do it for a week and see what a difference it makes. You’ll be hooked. Keeping Promises and Commitments This is the second good work habit that will make a difference. The Bible says: “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). When you make a promise or commitment, others are trusting you to keep it—right? So, you must prove faithful—not an option. In Ecclesiastes we read: "It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it" (Ecclesiastes 5:5). Another way to put that is “Under promise and over deliver.” Promise keeping requires discipline. It takes carefully keeping a record of whatever you’ve promised to do, and then just doing it as you promised. Simple, but it takes discipline and it will give back great rewards when you do. You’ll be happy—joyful—that you were disciplined.

I know it’s not your favorite topic but the importance of being disciplined is one of the most important keys to your success in life. I read this somewhere: “The undisciplined are slaves to moods, appetites and passions.” Wow, that’s rather strong, isn’t it? But there’s truth in it. This is how the Bible puts it in Proverbs 5:22-23: “The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast. For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.” That’s pretty strong, I would say. It says that lack of discipline holds you fast in the cords of sin and can cause death. Obviously, being a disciplined person is a spiritual issue for us as Christ-followers. A discipline that impacts your success is eliminating the bad habit of procrastination. You know, putting off until tomorrow what you should do today. Does that ring a bell with you? I don’t have to explain the problems you create for yourself when you procrastinate, right? Things pile up, you miss critical deadlines, and when you finally get around to doing what you’re supposed to do, you’re in such a rush you do a bad job. And that’s just for starts. Here is a sure-fire cure for procrastination. Ready? Whatever you have to do today that you don’t want to do, do it first! I promise it works because it has worked for me for years. It’s simple and it works. Now, I know you can’t always do that dreaded thing first but do it as soon as you can. Get it behind you. It sets you free for the rest of the day. And here’s another suggestion: Take a big job and break it into small parts, put a time frame for each part and then do one small piece at a time. When a job is big, it discourages you because it looks like mission impossible. But you can succeed one piece at a time. So, I want to encourage you not to be a slave to procrastination. You won’t believe how good you’ll feel when you get those things done that you really don’t want to do—and you do it right. Just do it now and do it right. You’ll be glad you did.

Would you describe yourself as a disciplined person? Did you know that there is joy in being disciplined? If that seems like an oxymoron—how could discipline be joyful?—hang with me and you’ll see want I mean. First, it might be good to define exactly what I mean by being disciplined. Here’s a good definition: “Discipline is the ability to make yourself do something you don’t want to do in order to get a result you really want to get.” That’s what I mean by discipline. I have to impose discipline on myself because it is not natural or easy for me. But I’ve lived long enough to know that without imposing discipline in my life, I’ll never get the results I want. However, even more importantly, I’ll never do all the good works God planned for me to do without being disciplined. Here’s a discipline that makes a difference in your day-to-day responsibilities and in your spiritual welfare as well. And that is the discipline of getting up early enough each day to start your day right, to have time to read your Bible and pray about the day ahead, to get started without stress and chaos. You know, your day is won or lost in the morning hours. Are you able to make yourself get out of that bed so that you can get the result you want for the day? Oh, I think I can hear someone saying, “But I’m not a morning person!” Okay—maybe it’s true that you are more of a night owl but here’s the thing: Your day begins early—at least for most of us—and if you don’t take advantage of those early hours, you’re missing a great opportunity to get a real jump on your day. So, let me encourage you to impose this discipline of getting up early enough to begin your day right. The Psalmist put it this way: “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14). Getting up early will help you sing for joy and be glad all day. Try it!

If you made a list of all your favorite words, would “discipline” be one of them? I rather doubt it; I don’t think it would make my list. To me, discipline is a chore, a major chore, and if I could find some way to get through life without it, accomplishing what I want to accomplish, believe me, I would try. So why am I talking about discipline, and why would I title this series “The Joy of Discipline”? Because even though we don’t like the word and what it represents so much, the truth is: Discipline is necessary. It's necessary, that is, if you truly want to accomplish something worthwhile in your life and reach your objectives. It's necessary if you want to turn your dreams into accomplishments. It's necessary if you're not willing to settle for mediocrity or mundaneness. And let me just make one point which is so very critical: Lack of discipline is self-inflicted suffering! Discipline is not fun—at least not all the time! But, if you refuse to impose discipline on yourself, you will inflict suffering on yourself. As someone has said, “We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.” So, choosing discipline over regrets makes for joy! There is joy in being a disciplined person. Here are some verses from Proverbs that tell us the value of discipline: "For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life" (Proverbs 6:23). "Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored" (Proverbs 13:18). "Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding" (Proverbs 15:32). Wise Solomon points out that discipline brings understanding and honor, avoids poverty and shame, and is the way to life. Imposing needed disciplines is guaranteed by God’s Word to make wonderful, joyful changes in your life. Of course, that takes intentionality—you have to make it happen. I’m going to give you some easy, practical suggestions that may help you impose discipline where you need it. I will be sharing from my own struggles and failures and—believe it or not—successes. I am living proof that anyone can acquire discipline!

We’ve seen examples, in our Fran and Jesus story, of the problems that Fran had with setting reasonable boundaries in her life. And that led to lots of unnecessary stress, some false guilt, and enabling others to avoid doing what they were supposed to do. I have to admit that I have struggled with setting and keeping reasonable boundaries, how about you? The challenge of setting boundaries is almost always a relationship issue. And it frequently comes from our misplaced idea of what it means to be a good friend, or what it means to be a good team player. There’s no doubt that as Christ-followers, our standard given to us by Jesus himself is to go the extra mile, to do more than is required of us. We are called to be servants, as Jesus was, and that should always be our attitude. But when we try to do more than we should do and we think that going the extra mile means we jump through everyone’s hoops and meet everyone’s expectations, we are then in dangerous territory. This is how we become burned out; it’s how we become enablers; it’s how we allow false guilt to drive us into exhaustion and resentment. I would remind you that Jesus knew how to say no. Do you remember when the disciples were looking for Jesus one morning because a crowd of people had gathered to hear Jesus again, and no doubt were eager to take advantage of his gift of healing? They found him alone, praying, and they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” The disciples tried to tell Jesus that he should come back and preach to the crowd waiting for him, but Jesus knew when to say no. You’ll find that story in Mark 1. Another time a man stopped him and said, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But Jesus said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” Basically Jesus said, “Sorry, that’s not my job.” He drew a boundary and said no, even though he could have done it but it was not what he was sent to do. You’ll find that story in Luke 12. Jesus knew that he could not please everyone; in his human body while here on earth he had physical limitations, as we do. He became weary, as we do. He needed rest and time alone, as we do. And in order to do what God had sent him to do, he had to refuse to do other things—he had to draw boundaries. I believe his example teaches us that we must also learn to draw reasonable boundaries in order for us to be able to do what God wants us to do.

Do you ever feel like you’re hanging on by your shoestrings? That’s where our friend, Fran is in this latest episode of Fran and Jesus on the Job, because she is having a hard time setting some reasonable boundaries with friends and coworkers, and even with her boss. Finally, it’s Friday and Fran is running on fumes. “Thank God it’s Friday,” she says to herself. “I can take it easy this weekend.” Then, at about 3:00 she sees a text from her Pastor asking that she help with a special event at church tomorrow. He writes, Fran, I know this is a late request, but Courtney is very sick, so she’s not able to do the registration for our equipping class tomorrow. I need someone who can handle the registration process calmly and efficiently. That, of course, is you. I’m sure hoping and praying you can do it. Let me know as soon as possible. Thanks, Pastor Paul. “Well,” Fran says to herself, “how do you say no to that? It’s certainly not Pastor’s fault that this request is so late—and it is church work, after all, so I just think I have to buck up and do it.” And so she sends a response that assures Pastor Paul she’ll be there. Now she has to break the news to her kids and disappoint them, work late on Friday to get her Saturday chores done, and try to get a few hours sleep before heading off to church. What a week! Have you found yourself in some similar tough weeks far too often? Maybe, like Fran, you need to take a look at your need for setting some reasonable boundaries. For Fran, her problem is a combination of trying to please everyone, enjoying the recognition she gets from being the go-to person, and feeling guilty when she has to say no. Yes, there will be times when we have to go the extra mile, but a continual habit of crossing needed boundaries will lead to burnout. If you have trouble holding to reasonable boundaries, and you know it, perhaps you’ll consider what causes you to do that, ask God for wisdom, and then pray for his strength to stick to your boundaries. It really is the best way to live out your faith.

We’re continuing the story of Fran and Jesus on the Job. Fran is having a tough week because she is having difficulty setting boundaries. It’s Wednesday and she has just barely made a deadline for her most important client, but it was at the expense of late hours last night because she allowed a coworker to talk her into helping her for “ten minutes,” which turned into three hours. And now she is exhausted and sleepy, and she’s counting the minutes until it’s time to go home. Then in comes her manager. “Fran, if you’re not busy tonight, I’d love for you to join me for dinner with the Vice President of Marketing, who is in town this week, you know. I’ve been telling him about your success and how much you’ve contributed to our success, and he asked if you would join us. Can you?” Don’t do it, Fran, the inner voice of God’s Spirit seems to say to her, but how can she say no to this opportunity. So she hears herself saying, “That’s very nice of him. I, uh, I think I can make that happen. Let me make a call and I’ll get back to you.” She calls her mom and asks if she can bring the kids over tonight for a short time. Then, when she gets home and explains to the kids that she has to go out to dinner with her boss, Drew complains, “But Mom, we agreed that you would help me with my science project tonight. You promised.” Oops, that’s right. Now she needs to talk her parents into coming over to their house so her Dad can help Drew with his science project. It’s not convenient for them, but like Fran, they have trouble saying no, so they agree. Well, the dinner with the Vice President wasn’t as productive as Fran had imagined. After a few drinks, he told some inappropriate stories, made some remarks that verged on sexual overtures, and it became a pretty uncomfortable situation. Fran used the excuse of getting home to her kids to exit the dinner as early as possible, but it was still after ten o’clock by the time she got home. With apologies to her parents, she tried to clean up some of the mess from the science project, get her house in decent condition, and fall into bed at midnight. Refusing to set boundaries has consequences for yourself and for other people in your life.

Do you know when and how to set reasonable boundaries? Fran is facing some boundary issues. She has a little trouble distinguishing between what it means to go the extra mile and becoming an enabler. It’s Tuesday and Fran has a plate full of things to get done for one of her most important clients before a deadline on Wednesday. As she digs in, a coworker walks into her office. “Hey, Fran, how’s it going?” It’s Amy, a nice gal who is a project manager like Fran, but who somehow always seems to need help from others—especially Fran! “Hi, Amy. Well, it’s going good, but I’m under the gun to meet a deadline by tomorrow. How are things going for you?” Uh-oh, Fran thinks, that was not the best question to ask. So, Amy begins to slowly talk about a presentation she is preparing for a new prospect tomorrow, but she is stumped. “Fran, I know you’re busy, but you’re so smart and so fast, if you could just look over my presentation and give me your opinion, I would be so grateful. It won’t take you ten minutes. How about it?” The voice in her head says, “Don’t go there, Fran. This is a time to say no.” But her exaggerated idea of what it means to “go the extra mile” overcomes her better sense, and she agrees that she can give Amy ten minutes. What happens? Ten minutes turns into three hours, where basically Fran completely redesigns her presentation, and Amy is thrilled. “Sorry it took so long, Fran, but I know you’ll do a great job on your project. Thanks so much,” and off she goes. Now Fran has to take her work home, take time away from her family and her sleep in order to meet her own deadline. Fran has trouble saying no. You see, Fran is a go-to person, so she likes to play the role of superwoman and she truly wants to help others. But she needs to learn where to set boundaries so she doesn’t become an enabler at times without realizing it. Fran should have listened to that quiet voice which told her to say no, but she just finds that so hard to do. How do you come to the place where you know when to say no, when to go the extra mile, and when to draw the line in the sand and stick to your boundaries? There are no hard and fast rules here, but one thing to consider is whether or not you are becoming an enabler by refusing to say no. Well, boundary-setting is challenging for Fran, but her attempts at being superwoman will not benefit her or her friends. So, she needs to address this issue in her life. Maybe you do as well.

Do you have difficulty setting reasonable boundaries in your life? In this episode of Fran and Jesus on the Job, Fran faces various people in her life who are pushing her boundaries. The first one deals with a friend, Jane, who continually exceeds acceptable boundaries in her demands on Fran’s time. Jane calls Fran quite often and talks for long periods of time about all her issues. You might say she is a high-maintenance friend, but Fran has tried to listen and help her, thinking that this is the right thing to do. It’s Sunday afternoon and Fran has planned to spend a quiet day at home with her two children, just playing games with them and having fun. In the midst of a game the phone rings and Jane is on the other end. As Fran sees Jane’s caller ID, she is really tempted to just let it go—but she’s supposed to be there for her friends, right? So, she answers and sure enough Jane begins her typical long and detailed complaining and whining. At first, Fran tries to encourage her and offer some suggestions, but everything she says is resisted by Jane, and it seems Fran can do nothing but listen. After twenty minutes, Drew says, “Mom, aren’t we gonna finish our game?” No doubt Jane heard Drew, but she completely ignores it and continues her tirade. After another ten minutes and several pleas from Drew and Alice, Fran realizes that Jane is not going to stop anytime soon, so Fran says, “Hey, Jane, the kids and I were playing a game and I promised them we’d finish, so if you don’t mind, I need to get back to them. I’ll be praying for you. In fact, why don’t I pray for you now before we hang up?” Jane says, “Well, I know you’re always busy and don’t have time to talk—I guess games are more important to you than friends.” And with that she hangs up, ignoring Fran’s offer to pray. “Wow,” Fran says to herself, “I guess I should have let her keep talking—but honestly, it doesn’t do any good to listen to her. I don’t know, Lord, what am I supposed to do?” And then the false guilt starts to set in. Fran needs to take that hard step of setting some boundaries, for her sake as well as Jane’s. Have you got some “Janes” in your life—people who continually bend your ear and take up your time, but nothing good ever seems to come from it? Maybe it’s time to set some boundaries. You see, setting boundaries is often very uncomfortable and false guilt is one of our enemies.

Presented by Lisa Bishop There are so many areas of our lives that require courage. From changing jobs to admitting when you make a mistake, taking a risk and trying something new, staying in a friendship when it gets hard, making amends with a co-worker, or apologizing to a spouse. There is no end to the list of things and circumstances that require us to muster up courage. Courage is said to be the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. Another way I have heard courage defined that has a bit more depth to it is this: “Courage is the ability to face and overcome fear while prioritizing a greater objective. It is not the absence of fear but rather the determination to act despite its presence, guided by a strong sense of purpose and a commitment to achieving a higher good.” I love this definition because it goes beyond just persevering through fear. I hear hope in it. You aren’t just mustering up the determination to push through something that causes anxiety and distress just for the sake of it; you have a greater intention and mission. You are committed to conjuring up courage because there is a greater motive, something much bigger at stake. Several weeks ago, I watched a movie, Luther: The Fallen Sun. My friend picked it and I had no clue what the movie was about before we started watching it (otherwise I may have declined). The movie is about former Detective Chief Inspector John Luther’s pursuit of a serial killer, David Robey. David, the villain in the movie, uses in-home technology to surveil and then blackmail his victims. Somehow, he finds a way to secretly spy on what appears to be everyday ordinary people, invading their privacy. He has, unbeknownst to them, infiltrated their lives giving him a window into their deepest darkest secrets, which in the cruelest of ways he ends up using against them. He essentially capitalizes on their shame for their immoral acts. The movie is not explicit about what those acts are—they are left to the viewer's imagination. But as I watched the diversity of those victimized by the leverage the serial killer had on them for knowing their dirt, one could surmise the misgivings committed most likely ranged from what may be considered small to greater transgressions that ended in disgrace. You may be wondering, “What does this have to do with the connection between courage and confession?” I am glad you asked. The answer is summed up in one line in the movie. When Detective Luther is asked how the serial killer is able to commit such heinous crimes and manipulate people to take their own lives, Luther responds, “He’s probably figured out that in the right circumstances, the fear of shame, the fear of being called out, the fear of being caught is way more powerful than the fear of death.” Now this statement may sound like an extreme example, but the truth is, the feeling of shame that is induced by the fear of our sin being exposed can destroy and torment us. We have all experienced the weight of shame at some point in our lives. Shame is defined as, “a painful emotion caused by the awareness of having done something wrong, dishonorable or foolish.” David Robey was the villain in the movie that caused people to be so entrenched in shame that they saw no way out, leading them to hide in isolation which was his ultimate form of manipulation. Their shame had so overcome them, that they would rather die than be exposed. Satan is your enemy, the villain in your life, and he will make every attempt to hold you hostage and in bondage to the things that you are ashamed of. The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8-9: “Stay alert! (other versions say be vigilant, watchful, sober-minded; meaning free from intoxicating influences). Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith” (NLT).

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) Do you ever find your confidence in God wavering when life catches you off guard or things just don’t seem to make sense sometimes? We all face times throughout our lives when trusting in God is hard. We can be tempted to wonder if God really cares about us when the circumstances we are facing are perplexing. Whether it’s a sudden loss of a job, a friend who turns their back on us, or a relationship that seemed promising goes sideways, the truth is life’s twists and turns can be confusing and they can cause you to doubt God’s faithfulness. You can be tempted to fear that God has forgotten you and doubt that his plans for you are good. That’s when your courage to trust God needs to kick in. That may sound funny: courage to trust God? Courage has often been described as the determination to act despite the presence of fear. When I think about that definition of courage as it relates to faith, it goes something like this, “In spite of my current circumstance, I will not give in to fear. I will be determined to believe God is for me and live in such a way that shows I trust him.” Sometimes you need to remind yourself that even when you cannot see it, God is always working in your best interest and on your behalf because he loves you. When it comes to the courage to trust God I am reminded of Job. In the story of Job we learn that he was "blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil" (Job 1:1). He had ten children and was a man of great wealth. One day Satan accused him of honoring God only because God had blessed him. So, God allowed Satan to take away Job’s wealth, his children, and his health, leading Job to utter devastation and loss. Stunningly we read that Job grieved deeply but did not accuse God of any wrongdoing (Job 1:22; 42:7-8). The life of Job demonstrates that we are often unaware of the many ways God is at work in the life of every believer. Job, even during his suffering and crying out to God, knew that God was in total control. Though he had no way of knowing why so many terrible tragedies were occurring in his life, Job never lost his faith in God, even under the most heartbreaking circumstances that tested him to his core, he demonstrated determination, courage, and trust, despite his circumstances. It’s hard to imagine losing everything we own in one day—property, possessions, and even children and not wavering in understanding that God is still in control. What difficult and perhaps confusing circumstances are you currently facing? How will you choose to demonstrate the courage to trust God? Proverbs 16:20b says, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.” Put your confidence, hope, and security in Jesus. He will come through.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) Being a part of a healthy body of believers is essential to your spiritual growth. And when I say healthy, I do not mean perfect. One thing that can tempt you to withdraw from Christian fellowship is imperfect people. Well, we are all imperfect. You are imperfect; I am imperfect. Lord knows we are all in the process of being transformed as 2 Corinthians 3 tells us: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Being more and more transformed into the image of Jesus is a lifelong process. We are all works in progress. People will disappoint you and cause hurt and you will do the same, because we are all human as we strive to live in the new self that we are created for, in Christ. And here’s the deal. God designed you for connection, you are created for community. You cannot grow in isolation. You need friends and mentors; you need companions along the journey. Being in community takes courage because relationships, deep and intimate relationships, call us to demonstrate transparency and authenticity. They require going below the surface and opening the door to vulnerability. Sharing our deepest joys, dreams, and desires and exposing our insecurities, disappointments and even our sin. Finding genuine community will take time, so resist getting discouraged and throwing in the towel too soon. Developing enduring connection will require you to be patient as relationships form, to keep showing up and leaning in. As you seek to build relationships, the thing to ask yourself is, “Are you the friend you’re looking for?” In other words, you can’t expect things from friendships and community that you aren’t willing to give and be yourself. If you want to be with people who are generous, selfless, kind, loving, trustworthy, reliable, or loyal, do you embody those same qualities? Sometimes we have high expectations of others when we aren’t willing to raise the bar on ourselves. And don’t wait for people to reach out to you. Make the first move! Invite someone to grab coffee or lunch. Ask them to meet up at church and sit together. It can be tempting to wait until someone seeks you out and initiates getting to know you but if everyone takes that posture…well, you get the point. I know being in community takes courage. Maybe you have been hurt in the past. Perhaps you consider yourself to be shy and stepping out is hard. I get it. If you are not participating in Sunday worship services weekly, that is your first step. If you have been attending (and that does not mean watching online), find a way to serve; get in a small group, and look for ways to connect. Show up, contribute, participate, and pray. Have patience and ask God to bring some solid believers into your life and see how God provides. You were made for community.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) Have you ever found it difficult to forgive someone? I’m guessing the answer is, “yes.” The ability to forgive, especially when you have been betrayed, mistreated, or are the victim of a heinous act can seem impossible at times. Forgiving someone when you have been deeply hurt takes courage. Courage is, “The ability to face and overcome fear while prioritizing a greater objective. It is not the absence of fear but rather the determination to act despite its presence, guided by a strong sense of purpose and a commitment to achieving a higher good.” So, what does overcoming fear have to do with forgiveness? When someone has caused harm or hurt in our lives, we may find forgiveness difficult because we fear if we forgive them that person will in some way be off the hook for their actions. Or perhaps if we forgive, we fear that will invalidate the unsubstantiated pain someone has caused us. But when you have the courage to forgive, you are overcoming that fear for a greater objective and the greater objective is to refuse to allow unforgiveness to cause bitterness and to extend the same grace to others as Jesus extends to you for your misgivings. I know that can be hard to hear but it’s the Gospel. I was listening to a book on forgiveness the other day and it was convicting. I squirmed a bit but also concurred with what the author was saying, even though it was hard. The author talked about how forgiveness is the absence of self-righteousness. That we tend to have no objectivity for ourselves in our own misgivings and when we see ourselves as we really are, we will realize that we are just as capable of committing any sin that others commit. I don’t want to believe that, but I will sit with it long enough to see what truth God wants to reveal to me and I invite you to do the same. The truth is, we are saved only by God's intervening grace. When we choose to have the courage to forgive, we don't exact payment from other people because God didn't exact payment from us. He gave his one and only Son to die on the cross and take on the penalty for our sins. Jesus’ ultimate forgiveness is an example for us. When I think of an astounding example of forgiveness I think of Joseph whose brothers, out of extreme jealousy and animosity towards him, plotted to kill him in the wilderness. Ultimately Joseph’s life was spared, but he did end up getting sold into slavery in Egypt. While Joseph was eventually named supervisor of the high-ranking Egyptian Potiphar’s household, Joseph's life was not smooth sailing. Over the course of the months ahead, he would be falsely accused of seducing Potiphar’s wife and thrown in jail and forgotten about for years until he was released and restored to a position of authority over Egypt. He endured a lot of pain and hardship but ultimately Joseph forgives his brothers for their evil doings and all of the distress it caused him. In Genesis 50:19-21 he says, “But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” Joseph was clearly guided by a commitment to achieve a higher good, demonstrating the ultimate courage to forgive. Who is God calling you to courageously forgive? Ask him to show you and help you. Submit your hurt to him and thank him for the grace he extends to you.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) When you are facing a difficult situation and you don’t know what to do, who or what do you turn to? Is your first instinct to cry out to God? Do you attempt to figure things out on your own? Or perhaps you turn to a friend, relying on their advice? For the record, seeking the advice of wise friends is a sound thing to do as Proverbs 12:15 reminds us, “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” The thing to consider is, do you run to people before turning to God? I know I can be tempted to seek counsel from friends before sitting with the Lord. After all, it takes patience and courage to cry out to God and trust that he will hear and that his Holy Spirit will be your guide. When I am facing uncertainty in life, one of my favorite verses to meditate on is 2 Chronicles 20:12. Here we find the story of Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, facing war being waged against him by the Ammonites and Moabites--Judah’s enemies. In the midst of a vast army coming against him, we read that Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord before seeking the counsel of men. ““Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’…For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:6-9, 12). In the midst of uncertainty, Jehoshaphat acknowledges God’s power and authority and recalls his faithfulness as he courageously cries out, “We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” When you face uncertainty, how do you make God your first go-to? First, be in the Word of God daily so that you are more and more convinced of the truth of God and his character. We tend to seek advice from people we trust. Do you trust the Lord? That can be a tough question. Maybe your trust wavers. If that is the case, you are not alone. That’s part of being human as you seek to grow more in your knowledge of God and encounters with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. But before you seek counsel from friends, discipline yourself to sit before God. Talk to him. Cry out. Be vulnerable and mirror the words of Jehoshaphat. “Jesus, I don’t know what to do but my eyes are on you.” As James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Seeking counsel from godly people in your life is wise. Just be mindful that you are not cutting God out of the equation. Have the courage to go to him first. He is the one who sees all, knows all, and whose counsel you can always trust in.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) What do you do in the face of failure? All of us will face varying degrees of failure throughout our lifetime and when we do, it takes courage to get up and go again; to give something another shot, and as the saying goes “if at first you don’t succeed, ….to try, try, again.” When you experience failure, how do you respond? Do you give up and throw in the towel? Maybe you're tempted not to even take on that daunting challenge because the fear of disappointing, not measuring up, being made fun of, or looking like a fool, holds you back. Whether it’s speaking up in a meeting, going for that promotion, or pursuing the dream God put on your heart, fear can stop you dead in your tracks. So in the face of fear, what you need is courage. I recently heard a definition of courage that resonated with me. “Courage is the ability to face and overcome fear while prioritizing a greater objective. It is not the absence of fear but rather the determination to act despite its presence, guided by a strong sense of purpose and a commitment to achieving a higher good.” Courage is the determination to act in spite of fear because there is something greater at stake. It reminds me of the well-known story of Peter in Matthew 14:22-31. It’s the scene where Jesus walks on water as he makes his way towards the disciples who are in a boat a considerably far distance from land. The waves are crashing, the wind is blowing furiously, and the disciples, thinking they are seeing a ghost, cry out in terror and fear. “But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:27-31). But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink. Fear will try to sink you. Don’t let fear of failure keep you from stepping out of the boat. When you hear that voice telling you to back off and shrink back, be determined to act anyway. And when you find yourself failing at something (because you will) your first instinct may be to give up but resist the urge and instead press on! Push through the fear for the greater objective. Don’t let fear define you. You may fail from time to time but you are not a failure. Is there something you have been avoiding doing up until now because of fear? What fear is gripping and controlling your decision making? Instead of letting fear pin you down, take that first step, press on, persevere, and learn to put fear in its proper place. And if you fumble, get back up and try again. Jesus will reach out his hand and help you get up and go again.

Mary Lowman and Lisa Bishop have a conversations about how one holds fast to their faith in today's workplace. They offer practical advice and encouragement to walk out your faith in love in a "defensive" environment.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 13 that we are to submit to and respect those who are in authority, because authority is God's order and plan. But how do you respect and submit to someone in authority who is incompetent? Smart employees understand that their job description includes making your boss look good. First Corinthians 13 describes the kind of love we are to develop in our lives, a love that is like God's love. And that kind of love "does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." As Christians we should try to make our bosses look good because God's love motivates us to protect others from bad exposure, to delight in the good things they do, not the bad things, to try to cover up their mistakes whenever we can. Proverbs 17:9 says, "Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” It's likely if you work for a truly incompetent boss that everyone else feels the same way you do, and therefore, at lunch and on breaks that's what you talk about. Instead of covering up the offense, you repeat the matter and make the situation much worse. If you work for an incompetent boss, stop talking about him or her to other people. Pray for that boss; talk to the Lord; get counsel from respected Christians outside the company. But don't be a part of the office gossip and character assassination which usually happens when you have this type of boss. Should we ever confront an incompetent boss or take any steps to try to correct this kind of situation? Yes, if that person's incompetence is affecting the customers, or causing unfair treatment for employees, or doing things that are contrary to your organization's stated standards and policies. If you're convinced there is a larger picture, then confrontation may be advisable. But, again, this must be done with great respect for their authority. This kind of situation is simply not easy, I know, but the good news is, it should cause you to pray more and depend upon God more to get you through your days and respond appropriately. The good news is, because of Jesus you have the power to be victorious, even when you work for a difficult boss.

If you've been in the business world very long, it's likely you've run into a manager who just wasn't doing the job right. We need to know biblical principles in dealing with incompetent or unethical bosses. Someone once told me that you can learn as much from an incompetent or bad manager as you can from a good one, and I think that's probably true. But the learning is more difficult and painful! I’ve heard many sad stories of trying to work for a boss who is either lazy, disorganized, inexperienced, or unqualified for the job or who cuts too many corners. The first biblical principle we need to consider is our attitude toward those in authority. While we recognize that level or position does not make anyone better than anyone else, Romans 13 gives us clear teaching on authority. “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves” (Romans 13:1-2). God has established authority as the order for the universe. If it were not for the principle of authority, we would have nothing but chaos. The same is true in our business world. Authority is essential. Therefore, the people in positions of authority are part of God's plan for authority. And as Christians, we are directed to submit ourselves to those people who have risen to those authority positions. But we see so much evidence that many people in authority are neither godly nor competent. Can their authority be God-given? Yes, even though they may not use their position well or appropriately, their authority is nonetheless from God, and as Christians we are to respect it. To rebel against that is to rebel against God's order, and, Paul said, it will bring judgment on us. Obviously, we're going to need special grace and strength to be able to submit to and respect incompetent management.

I wonder if you have ever been confronted with unethical practices by your employer? That’s a tough spot to be in. What should you do? Well, let's begin by saying that if the product or service your organization is engaged in is not contributing to the good of society by providing a worthwhile end product, you need to question seriously if God wants you in that company. As Christ-followers, we are called to be in this world, but not of it. For example, being employed by the lottery commission or a sleazy magazine would place you in the position of helping a product that brings destruction and grief into our society. I can't believe that Jesus would want us to expend our time and gain our financial support from such goods or services. They may not be illegal, but certainly they are not edifying or positive forces in our communities. There are any number of these kinds of industries that we should avoid, and the criteria is simply to determine if the company provides a product or service that helps rather than harms. Now, suppose you work for a firm that is providing a good service, but you are aware of unethical practices that are allowed or encouraged. Maybe hours are billed to the client which were not actually worked and expenses are charged which were not incurred. As a Christian, what action should you take? Well, if you were asked to exaggerate your hours or expenses, your response is clear-cut. A Christian should never be part of lying or deception of any kind. You have to draw clear black and white lines in your behavior in situations like this. Of course, when you take these difficult stands, you want to do it with as little fanfare as possible, and as gently as you can. If you don't have to say anything at all, that is best. Just do what is right and let it go. But if you're told to do something unethical, or asked why you didn't, that's when you must be willing to say that you have done what you believe is right and accurate and you're not willing to falsify a report of any type. A friend of mine lost his job once because he refused to falsify a government report for his employer. He was unemployed for a few months, and it looked dim. But the Lord blessed him, and he eventually found a much better job in a firm that was very ethical.

Recently someone asked me how to deal with a boss who uses belittling and humiliating tactics. You may have found yourself in that type of situation. As Christians, we need careful thought and guidance to act and react according to biblical principles. Remember to make this person an object of concentrated, daily prayer and see how prayer changes your perspective and your attitude. Now, it may be that the changes in your attitude, brought about by prayer, will actually cause the other person's attitude and tactics to change. If you're resenting the treatment, feeling misused and abused, chances are your reactions to this person are making the problem worse. Once you get out of that chain of thinking and begin focusing on God's purpose in the situation, it may so change your behavior, that it will affect the other person as well. However, let me hasten to say that it may not, and you may be faced with a situation where confrontation is called for. However, before you confront, be certain that you check out your motives carefully. Are you simply trying to be vindictive? Are you reacting out of self-pity? Are you fighting for your rights? Those are not biblically-based motivations. Jesus frequently confronted people, but he always did it for their own good, not to vindicate himself. That confrontation will have to be bathed in prayer and God's wisdom, done at the right time in the right way. Please don't over-react, and don't confront when you're emotionally upset. You may start with something like: "I wonder if I could ask a consideration of you. You're probably not aware of it, but it seems that often you choose to give me criticism and negative feedback when it is the most embarrassing. I know that I need feedback, but could I ask you to do it privately?” Be prepared to cite dates and situations, for most people will deny that it is happening. And remember that biblical principles teach us to go the extra mile, to endure unfair and unkind treatment much longer than others would. I would refer you to Matthew 5 to see what Jesus had to say about taking unfair treatment. You know, God may have good purposes for leaving you in that unfair situation for a period of time. Perhaps others are watching you and if you respond in a Christ-like way, that could be a very effective witness. God has a right to use us in these ways, and we must be willing to allow him to do so.

What you do when your boss is wrong? Because managers and employers are people, like you and me, sometimes they are wrong. They may be wrong in their attitudes, wrong in their management techniques, wrong in their tactics, wrong occasionally, wrong all the time–but it happens! What do you do when your boss is wrong? For example, how should a Christian respond in a situation when a boss belittles you? Unfortunately, this is a fairly common occurrence in our business worlds, where a boss gives negative feedback in front of other people or makes fun of you in some way. Or there’s the boss who always manages to find something wrong in everything you do, and he or she tells you about it in a meeting, or loudly standing at your desk. It's humiliating and belittling. Our first human reaction in cases like this is usually either to resist and strike back, or to be intimidated and retreat or run away. Neither reaction is proper. When any person tends to belittle other people frequently, we should understand that it is a symptom of insecurity. Underneath the intimidating facade is a person who can only feel good about himself or herself by making someone else look small. A Christian needs to learn to move from the self-focused reaction which is typical in these situations–"Oh, poor me, this is not fair to me"–to a God-focused reaction, understanding how God sees this person. And that comes only through prayer. Start praying for that boss. Now, I don't mean that you pray for lightning to strike your boss, but pray that God will give you his perspective of this person. Pray that God will help you see beneath the facade and get a glimpse of why he or she is like that. Pray that in spite of the unfair treatment, you will be able to respond in Christ-like ways, and ask God for his wisdom. You know, every person in your life is there through God's permissive will, and that means that God can turn the tough situation into an avenue of growth and learning for you, even if the other person never changes. So, my first advice is to pray for that boss every day before you leave for work. And pray for wisdom. James tells us that God will give wisdom to us liberally, and in a situation like this, you need a lot of godly wisdom. So, pray for wisdom—and expect God to give you the wisdom you need. You will be amazed to see what happens when you start to pray for that difficult manager.

Courage comes in different forms. There is physical courage where you are willing to do something physical that could cause you harm. Like jumping into a pool to save a little child who can’t swim or putting yourself in harm’s way to protect someone else. Then there’s emotional courage which means you face your emotions head on without running away or using some addiction to kill the pain. Social courage is the strength to stand up for what you believe, for your principles, and to stand up for others even when it is risky. There are three women in the New Testament who were very courageous. We don’t know a lot about them, but I sense these were very usual women who were willing to take risks. We first read about them in Luke 8: After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means (Luke 8:1 – 3). The three names we are given are Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna. These women—along with many others—were devoted followers of Jesus Christ. And no wonder! Jesus had cured them of evil spirits and diseases. They knew he was worthy of their devotion because of what he had done for them. And so, in a world that was misogynistic, strongly prejudiced against women, and where women had very little rights and certainly little influence, these women decided to follow Jesus and there was no turning back. Consider Mary Magdalene. We know she had been delivered from seven demons. It’s not easy for us today to understand what that was like, but no doubt Mary Magdalene had lived a life of torment. Who knows what things she had to suffer while possessed by seven demons? Further in Luke 8  we are told of a man named Legion who was possessed by even more demons, and his behavior gives us some insight into the life of a demon-possessed person in that day (Luke 8: 26-39). He was driven to the outskirts of the city where he would have episodes of rage, and no one could stop him. They forced him to live in caves and chained him down, but nothing worked. Everyone had given up on him and no one came near. Then Jesus delivered him from those horrific demons and turned this demon-possessed man into a disciple—an evangelist. For Mary Magdalene, no doubt she was isolated, even feared because of her unusual behavior. We don’t know how long she lived like this but try to imagine living under the control of demons, causing you to do and say things that were terrible, scary, resulting in no friends, no support group, no help and no hope. Tormented by demons, looked down upon by society, she was a true outcast. But Jesus. Oh, if those aren’t two of the most powerful words when put together. But Jesus. Jesus set her free and totally changed her world. She followed Jesus, literally, walking behind him and the twelve disciples as they made their way through the land. I’m certain she shared her story with any who would listen, telling how Jesus had delivered her. She had the courage to face the gossip, the skepticism, the derision of others who knew her before, and stand up for who she was now. Maybe you can relate to that. You may not have had seven demons, but you had besetting sin. You may have struggled and suffered, but the grace of our Lord finally broke in. He saved you, just as he is saving all those who follow him. Do you have the courage to share your story? Have you made it known that you are following Jesus, no turning back? That takes courage but if you have a story of redemption to tell, believe me there are many people all around you who need to hear it. People you live with, people you work with, people you’ve known for years, strangers you just met.

Is it a Christian's duty to be "dumped on"? Surely there are times when we must recognize the need to say, "Enough!” Maybe you are in that kind of situation at this time. If you've extra-miled it, and you've been giving not only your cloak but your whole wardrobe away, it's time to stop and ask yourself how many extra miles you should go. Jesus doesn't call us to be doormats, to simply lay down and allow people to run over us. And if you just let it continue, you'll lose respect for yourself, others will lose respect for you, and eventually you'll explode somewhere to someone inappropriately. But as you think about your own particular situation, the first question you must honestly answer is "Did I go the first extra mile?” In this society, where we fight tooth and nail for our individual rights, being dumped on is not acceptable in any measure. But Matthew 5 teaches us this principle of doing more than is asked of us, more than others would say is necessary. Whatever form that extra mile takes, we've got to travel the extra mile first, before we take any other action. For those of you who are extra-milers, I want to thank you and I want to encourage you not to quit. Address the out-of-control situations that exist—yes—but don't crawl back into that shell of "I'll just do what I have to and nothing more." There's no question that it's possible to go too many extra miles, to become a doormat and allow that treatment to make you bitter and angry. And with that attitude, it's impossible to truly love and care about others and to share the love of Christ with the people in our worlds. But we must remember that we are called to be servants, and sometimes that requires allowing others to "dump on us.” Jesus certainly practiced that principle, and he warned us that in this world we will suffer persecution. But be encouraged, he said, because he has overcome the world.

Been dumped on lately? While there are times when we are called on to endure unfair treatment patiently and wait for God's timing, there are also times when we know that God would have us take some kind of a stand against this kind of treatment. If you feel you're in that position, after much prayer and patience, then remember these guidelines: Don't take assertive, confrontational action when you're emotional, upset, angry, or tired. Don’t confront someone else's behavior when others are present. Do it privately. Plan your approach. Write it out ahead of time so that you choose your words carefully. Even though you're not going to read your speech, by writing it out you will choose your words much more carefully. Take a few notes with you to help you remember. Soften the blow. Choose words that will not cause a defensive reaction on the part of the other person, as much as you possibly can. Try not to issue ultimatums. "Sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness," as we read in Proverbs 15, so make your words as palatable as Don't talk about the situation to everyone else. Keep this between you and the person you're confronting as much as possible. Be careful not to get in a mode of maligning and degrading that person to others. Try to create a "win-win" atmosphere in your conversation. Point out the benefits for everyone involved. Be sure your timing is right. Avoid very busy days or times when the other person is upset or tired or preoccupied with other things. Most importantly, give this decision much prayer and seek counsel from trusted advisors. Remember, when we are emotionally involved in a situation, it can be difficult for us to see the    forest because we're looking at the trees. We sometimes need the perspective of others who are more objective.

What should a Christian do when being dumped on? We've seen that Jesus sets out principles for us in Matthew 5 that teach us to be willing to be dumped on at times—turn the other check, give your coat as well as your shirt, go the extra mile. But does that mean that we are supposed to endure unfair, unjust treatment without end? Let's look at those principles in Matthew 5 again. It seems to me that while Jesus is teaching us to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile, he is also teaching us that there are limits. He said if someone strikes you, turn your other cheek, but he didn't say lay down on the ground and let him run over you with a truck. He said if you're sued for a tunic, give a cloak as well, but he didn't say to throw in your whole wardrobe. He said if you're asked to go one mile, go two, but he didn't say go fifteen extra miles. But how do we know the difference? Well, one way is through prayer. Begin by asking God for clear guidance, pray for the people involved, pray for patience and endurance, and pray that God will be glorified through the situation. That will change your perspective and keep you from running ahead of God's plan. Remember, he's working in the background, doing things you'd never dream of, but you can trust him explicitly. Another way we can determine when enough is enough is to determine if we are actually doing the other person a disservice by allowing him or her to continue to dump on us. There are points at which going too many extra miles would be wrong for others as well as for ourselves—the point at which we become enablers of their evil behavior. If you're being dumped on right now, ask yourself: Am I allowing this person to get by with behavior that is detrimental not only to me but to others as well? By continuing to be dumped on, am I reinforcing this poor behavior in this other person? And is this situation causing me to become bitter or burned out or resentful so that my testimony is damaged? Maybe you're in a situation where it's now time to take some action. Certainly we see examples in Scripture, even of our Lord, when godly people took strong stands against unfair and unjust treatment, but not for their sakes alone. I find this to be a clear principle by example in the Bible, that when we take assertive stands simply for our own advantage, we are acting selfishly and usually in anger. However, when we take assertive action to right a wrong, to take a stand against sin or evil, for the sake of righteousness more than to vent our frustration, then we are acting in accordance with biblical principles.

Is someone taking unfair advantage of you? I can't think of anything more frustrating and humiliating, can you? What is an appropriate Christian response when you find yourself being dumped on? Jesus set out principles in Matthew 5 of allowing people to take advantage of us. Let me give you one example that happened to a friend of mine on her job. She took a new position within her organization, and she encountered a coworker who tried to advance herself at my friend's expense. This coworker began a campaign of lies and treacheries in order to make herself look good while making my friend look bad. This coworker played the political games and worked her way into the confidence of management, convincing them that my friend was not doing her job. My friend really struggled with this, because she always tried to make her job performance reflect her love for Jesus, and the lies were damaging her reputation. She found it impossible to defend herself because it was her coworker's word against hers. For two years she endured this situation, constantly seeking God's wisdom. And each time she prayed, the Lord gave her the same answer: "Wait.” Now, that's not the answer we want to hear when someone is dumping on us, is it? But during this period, my friend determined to pray for her attacker and let the Lord defend her. After two years this coworker became seriously ill and my friend was left to do the job alone. After four months her boss nominated her as Employee of the Month for the entire very large department. He came to understand what kind of an employee my friend truly was, and she was totally vindicated. No one dumped on her after that. So, you see, sometimes God is working behind the scenes, and when we desire to obey him and live by the principles of Matthew 5, we open up great avenues of blessing that God can pour on us. If you're being dumped on right now, before you do anything to correct it or get out of it or get your pound of flesh, will you first do what my friend did and pray to God for guidance. Instead of begging him to change the situation, ask him to work his will in it, both for you and everyone involved. Ask him to teach you what you need to learn through this ordeal. Give him permission to keep you in that predicament as long as it can bring glory to him. And then, let go and wait for his direction. You'll know when it's time to take action.

I received a question from a listener who asked: "What is a loving Christian way of dealing with work issues in which one feels 'dumped on'?” She went on to say that as a nurse, she occasionally works charge duty, a job no one really likes. Because others protest their turn at being charge nurse for the shift, she ends up working far more than she should. She said, "It's high pressure, very tiring and I find myself getting angry at the inequity. How should one address such a grievance—short of simply burning out and quitting?" Well, she poses a good question: Are Christians supposed to be doormats? This is what Jesus said in Matthew 5: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.  And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles” (Matthew 5:38-41). It might be easy to read this passage and think that Jesus is teaching us to let people take advantage of us. Is that true? Well, I think the answer has to be "yes.” To turn the other cheek, to relinquish your rights, to voluntarily do more than is demanded is, in the world's perspective, to allow others to take advantage of you. And most people have a difficult time swallowing that pill. But one of the distinguishing marks we bear as Christians in a world consumed with getting what's coming to them and taking care of number one, is a willingness to go the extra mile, even to the point of someone taking advantage of us. In studying Genesis, I was reminded of how Isaac was taken advantage of. He dug some wells that his father, Abraham, had dug and then his enemy came along and said, "Hey, that's our well. Move on.” That happened to him twice, and he could have started a war over the wells; he certainly had a right to those wells and had done all the dirty work to dig them. I imagine the enemy thought he was a pushover because he refused to fight for his wells. But eventually God gave him the best well in the best location, and blessed him abundantly, much more than his enemies. Isaac was willing to wait on God's timing and purpose, even if it meant being dumped on. Is someone dumping on you? Ask God to give you patience and endurance to withstand it with gentleness. But maybe not forever.

The first woman I’d like you to meet is a woman who was not—as far as we know—a believer in the true God. She was not Jewish but rather Persian. In fact, she was married to the Persian King Ahasuerus, who was a wimpy, weak, narcissistic man. Most Christians are familiar with the story of Esther—the courageous Jewish Queen who God used to save her people. But what about her predecessor, Queen Vashti? Do you know her story? It’s in the first chapter of the book of Esther. In a drunken stupor and at the end of a five-day drunken feast, the king had a brilliant idea to bring down the house with a final display of his superiority. He commanded his servants to summon the prized Queen Vashti decked in her royal crown, so that he could show off her beauty. It is probably true that she was summoned to appear naked, with just her crown on. Vashti refused to appear and that enraged the king—his own wife was defying him in front of all the men of Susa. The royal wise men advised the king that Vashti’s humiliating behavior could not go unpunished because, if the king let the incident slide, all the women in the kingdom would have contempt for their husbands, thinking, “If Queen Vashti can get away with disrespecting her husband, so can I” (verses 16–18). King Ahasuerus responded to the situation by sending out a royal edict saying that Queen Vashti was never to be allowed to come before him again, and the king would give her crown to another. So Queen Vashti was banished, and a search began for a new queen to replace her. And why was Vashti vanquished? Why did she lose her title, her position as “first lady” and all the wealth and privileges that came with it? We aren’t told why, but what do you think would cause a Queen in that culture to refuse to obey the King? She had to know it would cost her the crown, but she refused to be paraded before drunken men just to show off her body. Her refusal is truly amazing. Whatever her reason, it took great courage. Beauty and wealth were considered the most important things in that culture. The King was wealthy, Vashti was beautiful. She could have simply accepted her position and used her beauty as her “calling card,” but she refused. Listen again to what the Bible says is more important than riches and beauty: Proverbs 22:1: A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 31:30: Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Can you think of any parallel situations we might encounter in our culture today? What compromises could be asked or even demanded of us that would be in opposition to our faith and the principles of Scripture which are our guidelines? As we watch our culture slide quickly into a godless secular culture; as we see how the things considered virtues even a few short years ago are now passe; at what point will you and I have to decide whether we will take our stand against what is wrong regardless of the cost? I think it’s important that we think in advance, so that if and when we are faced with such choices, we will be grounded in the truth of God’s Word and have the courage to make a “Vashti choice,” to stick with God’s truth regardless. In a very enlightening article from Breakpoint Daily on transgender issues and the use of transgender pronouns, they point out that Christians should avoid unnecessary offense whenever possible, and I certainly agree with that. But the article continues: “And we should know that calling males men and females women will not in and of itself resolve the thorny cultural, psychological, and spiritual challenge of transgender ideology. Still, caving on words will destroy our ability to understand and undermine our ability to debate the issue truthfully. And it is truth, not niceness or relevance or even hospitality, that can set people free.” I recognize that there are different responses from Christians on thi...

I’ve learned that any time you talk about forgiveness, it resonates with almost everyone, because we all need to forgive, and it’s really hard to do sometimes! I want to explain why you can’t afford not to forgive. Whether it’s a small thing or some traumatic hurt that has left deep scars, you cannot afford not to forgive. And here’s the main reason: If you don’t forgive, God won’t forgive you. Jesus said: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15). If we forgive, we will be forgiven. And conversely, if we do not forgive people that have wronged us, we will not be forgiven by our Heavenly Father. I don't know how to expand or explain that any further. If we forgive, we'll be forgiven; if we don't, we won't. Now, how important is it to you to be freely forgiven by God?  Can you run the risk of not being forgiven regularly by the Lord? Another reason we really must forgive is that if you don’t, you will become bitter and bitterness will destroy you. And bitterness manifests itself in many ways, such as losing your temper, irritability, sleeplessness, depression, a constant negative perspective, and generally not feeling so good. Forgiveness is probably the hardest thing we are asked—no, we are commanded—to do as followers of Jesus Christ. But you can learn to forgive; by the power of the Holy Spirit you can grow in your ability to forgive. That is, if you want to. And one last reason you can’t afford not to forgive is because you need the freedom that comes through forgiveness. You know, when you harbor unforgiveness and bitterness starts to grow in your heart, it’s like drinking rat poison and then expecting the rat to die. The poison of your unforgiveness is keeping you a prisoner. You’re in a self-imposed prison that is painful. Galatians 5:1 says “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Forgiveness sets you free to enjoy the abundant life that Christ died to give you. There are many reasons you cannot afford not to forgive and God will give you the grace to do it.

Are you feeling anxious about something? Are you very disturbed over a situation in your life? Does it seem impossible to find any rest and peace right now? Recently a passage in Isaiah 48 gave me some insight into the reasons behind the anxiety and unrest that I was experiencing. "This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea" (Isaiah 48:17-18). How incisively the Word of God cuts through and exposes the real issues. I was reminded that anxiety and unrest are often a result of my failure to pay attention to what I know about God. Rarely do I need some new truth or principle to help me out; I just need to practice what I know already. God's direction and commands are there for all of us to see and understand. We know the basics, don't we? And yet our feet tend to stray. We leave off something here and something else there, which we know we should be doing, and we fail to completely follow the commands of God which are clearly understood. I find that I rarely make a deliberate decision to wander from God's principles. It's simply a failure to pay attention to what I know already. My focus becomes fractured. I move slightly off-center, simply because I haven't paid attention like I should. And when that happens, the results are loss of peace, loss of rest, anxiety, frustration. When you start to dig underneath those outward effects, you often discover that the cause is failure to pay attention to God's commands. It may be something that seems very small, but if you walk away from doing it God's way, you can expect to lose the peace and rest you so need. The Lord told his people, "If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river.” If you're missing peace in your life, check out the obedience department and see if there's some area where you're not paying attention to God. Once you get that straightened out, that wonderful, marvelous, indescribable peace will return, like a river, flooding your heart and calming your nerves.

In Psalm 19 David asked God to forgive him for his hidden errors, and I suggest that we need to do the same thing—to ask God to show us any hidden sins we just don’t see. But what about those areas of sin that we try to hide? When we knowingly cover up sin in our lives, we are asking for trouble. Proverbs 28:13 tells us that he who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. I believe with all my heart that many Christians are floundering and ineffective for Jesus because they try to conceal their sins. It's one thing to have errors in our life that are hidden to us, but it's a far more serious problem for us to try to cover up our errors. Think right now: Are you finding it difficult to prosper in what you're doing? Now, by prosper I don't mean get rich, but I mean find success. How's your job going? Are you prospering in your work? Are your relationships prospering, doing well? Is your ministry for Jesus going forward and making progress? If not, check it out. If you're covering up some sin in your life, you are asking for failure. God cannot bless us when we cover-up. God will not be involved in cover-ups. God will expose our cover-ups if we continue to try to hide them. Someone has said that rarely do any of us change without pain, and I guess that's true. But it shows we're not very smart, doesn't it? I mean, if you know that you can't prosper by covering up your sin, and you know that God will deal with it if you don't, doesn't it just make sense to confess that sin, renounce it and find God's mercy? The Bible says if we judge ourselves we will not be judged. Do yourself one big favor: Uncover those cover-ups. Confess to God any areas of willful sin, and ask for his mercy. Commit to him that you are renouncing that sin and by his grace you will not return to it. When you do that, God is then able to prosper you in everything you do and in all your relationships. Just makes good common sense, doesn't it?

I’m quite certain that you know how important it is for Christ-followers to pray and yet not too many of us make it a priority in our lives. Why not? Well, for one reason, we don’t plan to pray. It’s not on our to-do list; it’s not part of our daily schedule. I can promise you that Satan will do everything he can to keep you from praying because your power comes through prayer. So, if you don’t intentionally plan to pray, you probably won’t pray very much. Do you have a certain time set aside to pray each day? Another reason you may not pray like you should is because you don’t really believe it makes any difference. You know God is sovereign, so how do your prayers change anything? And besides, maybe you’ve had many prayers that weren’t answered according to your timetable or the way you wanted them answered. So, you may have lost faith in prayer. But can you remember that Jesus prayed while on earth—a lot! He knew that prayer was important in his life, so how can we question our need to pray. But in my opinion, one of the main reasons Christians don’t make prayer a priority in their lives is because they’ve never learned how to pray. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Have you ever asked God for the same thing? Have you ever looked at prayers in the Bible and patterned your prayers after them. Have you ever taken The Lord’s Prayer—more accurately called The Disciple’s Prayer—and used that as your format for praying? Years ago I did that and it revolutionized my prayer life. In fact, I produced a journal similar to the one I use, and you can get one for yourself. It’s available on our website, and perhaps it might help you learn to pray more effectively. I hope you will get serious—if you haven’t already—about becoming proficient in prayer—learning to pray more effectively. You will never regret it.

Have you ever said: "Lord, it's enough! When are you going to do something about this? Why are you waiting so long?” Well, I don't know anyone who hasn't asked those questions of God at some time or another in their Christian walk. I certainly have. When it looks as though God has waited too long to answer your prayers, you need to stop and realize that his purposes may be quite different from yours. Frequently before he responds to your need, he has to adjust you to the trouble and help you learn a much-needed lesson. Maybe he wants to teach you that you can face and endure trouble as long as he is with you in the trouble. Then he will take you out of it. But it will not happen until you have stopped being restless and fretful about it. He may be waiting for you to be calm and quiet. Then he can say, "It is enough." Paul Billheimer wrote in Adventures in Adversity: "There can be no testing of character without delays...By this means, during delay, God is testing and developing character. It is easy to be impatient with God when we fail to understand the purpose of his delay. However, God is willing to be misunderstood in the universe he has made, in order to achieve his purpose of character development." I recall a three-year delay God gave me, when I so wanted to leave a job I was in. And if I had left when I wanted to, I would have missed three years of personal development that have been essential to my walk with God and the ministry he has given me. The tough lessons I learned­ then molded my character like none others. When it was finally over, I wrote in my journal: "I praise you that it is now enough. My time in this job is over, but I praise you that it did not end until you had completed your work in me.” It's easy to say that at the end, but difficult to say it in the middle, isn't it? If you're in that predicament, wondering why God hasn't done anything yet, try to remember that the day will come when you can look back and see how he was developing you in that time. Someday he'll say to you, "It is enough now.” Until then, keep trusting and believing that he waits so that he can be gracious unto you.

Presented by Lisa Bishop We all know the saying, “The struggle is real.” Well, the wilderness is real too. If you have been following Jesus for any length of time you know what the wilderness is like, and if you have not yet hit a wilderness patch, you will. It is part of life here on earth. And rather than wishing it away, I want you to know how to “wander well” so to speak. When I was reflecting on the story of the Israelites in the desert, something struck me. They thought they were wandering. Their perspective of their journey was that it was aimless, endless, and meaningless, but it wasn’t. God had a magnificent plan. While the Israelites saw their wilderness time as wandering, we know that God had a greater purpose. They just couldn’t see it at the time. In my 26 years of following Jesus, I have experienced several seasons of wilderness. And if I am honest, sometimes they have been very long seasons that I thought would never end. But in hindsight, like the Israelites, I can see that there was purpose and God kept his promise. “For the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6b). In other words, God is right there with you, even when you feel as though he has abandoned you, he hasn’t. He is right by your side. So while it may feel like you are idling with no clear purpose or direction, I want to shift your perspective on the seemingly endless seasons of your life; from pointless, to purposeful, and give you some tools to not just merely survive the wilderness waiting for it to pass but to actually experience the wilderness as a place to grow and boost your spiritual thriving. As a follower of Jesus, you will experience times in the proverbial desert. The question is, “When you are in the wilderness seasons, what will you do, what or who will you turn to?” In Deuteronomy 8:2-4, the children of Israel were reminded God had a purpose for the forty long years in the wilderness, and these verses are also a reminder to us as we face our own desert seasons. “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.” In the wilderness God: Leads you all the way through. Tests, strengthens, and matures your faith. Builds Christ-like character. Teaches you deeper reliance and trust in him. In these verses God not only reveals his purpose, he wants us to see his provision in the wilderness, and that ultimately it is a place he uses to purge us and produce things in us, including a greater dependance on him. It will require an additional change in perspective, from “Why is this happening to me, to, “What is God producing in me.” As Romans 8:28 reminds us, " And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Let’s be honest, even with this perspective, the wilderness is an unpleasant place, fleshly speaking. We naturally want prosperity, health, and comfort. Sometimes we forget that there will be times of trial and pressure throughout our lives and our faith will be tested. But the God of grace will meet you even in the wilderness and as Deuteronomy causes us to remember, he will lead you all the way. This is where disciplining yourself and training your heart and mind to lean into God as he leads you through is essential. Take time to pray for an increased sensitivity to his Holy Spirit and ask him to give you spiritual eyes to see how he is providing even in midst of the suffering that the wilderness can induce.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) It’s easy to try to get our identity from all the wrong places rather than from the very of truth of God. Have you ever been in a season of waiting? Maybe you are in a time of waiting right now. Are you waiting to hear back on a job interview, a promotion, a letter of acceptance to school. Maybe you are waiting on a phone call from a long-lost friend or estranged family member, a call from the doctor for a diagnosis. Waiting is hard. I was having dinner with a friend the other night and she was lamenting about prayers that are seeming to go unanswered. We talked about how difficult and often uncomfortable it can be when we experience what feels like long delays as we seek God for help, or answers to a problem we are facing. We confided to one another the pain and frustration we can feel in the waiting. Can you relate? Have your prayers ever sounded like a broken record as you wonder why God was waiting so long to answer? Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us what wisdom looks like in the waiting. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Trust God not your own understanding. If we’re honest, disheartenment can take up residence in us when we rely on our limited knowledge and vision of a situation. We can be tempted to trust in what we know and forget that we serve an all-knowing, trustworthy God. We can be enticed to give into impatience rather than fully surrendering to the faithfulness of Jesus. In Psalm 27, David expresses authentic faith and courageous trust in God as he cries out and waits in confident expectation that the Lord will rescue and save him in his time of trouble. In Verse 14 he declares he will, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” David is training his heart to trust and remember that the Lord hears him and he is faithful. In his perfect timing God will answer David and come to his rescue. In his perfect timing God will answer you and come to your rescue. Waiting for God to come through is a way that God builds your faith and character and grows your spiritual maturity. Waiting can feel like wasted time but it isn’t. The waiting sanctifies you. The waiting humbles you. The waiting prunes you. The waiting strengthens your dependence on God. What are you waiting for from God? Will you trust him? It really comes down to choice. Will you choose patience and faith, or will you give into fear, doubt, worry, and anxiety? Listen, God is for you. He is making a way for you. Cooperate with him so the time spent waiting will prove productive and fruitful. There is wisdom in the waiting.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) Do you want to live a long, good life and enjoy the beauty that fills each day? I’m guessing the answer is “yes.” There is so much advice coming at us at a rapid pace these days and there is no shortage of knowledge and information clamoring for our attention. We are inundated with commercials, podcasts, Instagram, and social media posts that tell us the ways to achieve the “good life.” Buy this car, have this job, make this salary, acquire this house, wear these clothes, marry this person….. The list towards the pursuit of happiness is infinite and the chase is endless. And whatever we look to to guide our “happiness,” whatever “wisdom” we consume on a daily basis, will ultimately consume us and have a profound effect on our hearts, minds, attitudes and actions. That’s why it is important to look to God’s Word as we seek discernment and wisdom for our everyday life. I want to look to the Psalms as we pursue godly instruction to guide our paths. Psalm 34:12-14 says, “Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” The keys to a good life: Watch your words. Turn your back on sin. Practice being at peace. Can you imagine what the world would be like if these were the standards? Surely we would all be living our days filled with more beauty and goodness. While these are not the principles of the world, as a follower of Jesus these are instructions from God’s Word and we are called to live by these truths. If you were to examine your words, do you speak with integrity? Do your words show moral character and honesty? Are they in alignment with Ephesians 4:29 which says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”When you are tempted to sin do you take the way out as 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” Do you practice peace as Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” As a child of God you have the profound privilege of living in a manner that shows the world a better way of living a good life, and enjoying the beauty that fills each day.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) A few years ago I received a call from a friend. When I picked up the phone she asked if we could talk. She said she had been hurt by something I did and wanted to have a conversation about it because our relationship was important to her. I admired the courage it took for her to call me. It would have been much easier for her to stew or make up stories about what happened rather than take the initiative to share her hurt. She went on to describe what happened from her perspective and how she felt. I really admired the way she approached the conversation. She did not blame; she shared her experience and point of view. She sought to engage in dialogue rather than prove a point or put me in my place. Ephesians 4:15 says, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”  Christian maturity is marked by the ability to share difficult truths in a loving way. And my friend did this which led to a fruitful conversation. Her attitude was one of humility. As you prepare to approach a conflict situation, the actual words and delivery in the midst of the confrontation are key. No matter the level of hurt or offense, approach the conversation with humility. Share your perspective. Avoid blaming. Seek to understand the other person’s perspective. Listen. If you are the one who was hurt, give grace and extend forgiveness. If you caused the hurt, own it, sincerely apologize, and ask for forgiveness. Give your ego a backseat and seek the fruit of the Spirit of peace. Whether you are the injured or offending party, seeking an end to conflict by pursuing harmony and being a peacemaker is biblical. As children of God we are called to share Jesus’s passion for peace and reconciliation. Where can you actively engage in conflict with the goal of breaking down the walls that seek to divide your relationships? Who will you call this week to address a conflict as you seek peace and reconciliation?

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) Are you a peacemaker or a peacekeeper? There’s a difference between being a peacemaker, actively pursuing peace in the midst of conflict, and being a peacekeeper, avoiding conflict in an attempt to keep the often “false peace”. According to the Bible there is nothing inherently wrong with conflict. Disagreements happen. But the way we resolve our conflicts is extremely important. Conflict can become the catalyst to greater understanding, intimacy, and depth of relationship; or it can bring anger, bitterness, and broken relationships. How you deal with conflict will literally shape the direction of your life. Whether it’s addressing a conflict with your supervisor, an argument with your aunt, or not seeing eye to eye with a friend, most of us feel anxious, fearful or at least uncomfortable when conflict arises. It’s important to ask yourself, “What am I afraid of?” For me, I am often hesitant to lean into conflict because I am afraid I will in some way damage the relationship or cause the other person to not like me, to walk away from the friendship or cause a further wedge between us. Yet more often than not avoiding conflict only leads to a build up of hurt and resentment and then the very thing you fear the most ends up happening. Distance grows, avoidance settles in, and the relationship fades. So what do we do? The first step to take is to identify the conflict. Take time to reflect and write down, “who is the conflict with,” and from your perspective, “what happened?” This is also a critical time to get honest with yourself and acknowledge the role you played in the conflict. Now you might be saying, “it’s all her fault. I did nothing wrong.” But most often there is something that both parties need to address and own. It could be an attitude or reaction on your part that God brings to light. As the saying goes, “it takes two to tango.” My favorite verses in displaying humility and inviting God to shed light on my contribution to a breakdown are found in Psalm 139:23-24. “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Invite Jesus into your conflict! This posture before God models a teachable heart and invites God to use the conflict situation to grow and sanctify you. Your heart will be primed to approach the other person with humility and in a way that will honor God.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) Have you ever experienced conflict in the workplace? Clashing with another person is part of life and the truth is, we have all experienced conflict, in both our personal and professional relationships. Sometimes you find yourself in a minor disagreement, other times conflict can turn into a full blown falling out with a co-worker or friend. Whether in the workplace, or at home, relational discord is part of life. It is not a matter of “if” you will have conflict but “how will you show” up in the face of it. How do you react when there is a disagreement, disharmony or tension in a relationship? Do you hide or withdraw and harbor your hurt? Do you react by lashing out, pointing fingers and blaming? Maybe you move into a mode of avoidance just hoping the conflict will resolve itself. While we know that none of these responses is helpful, it can be easy to default to behaviors that are unbiblical. Fear, pride, or simply not knowing how to engage with conflict in a healthy way can hinder our relationships with others. So what is the God-honoring and relationship-building way to approach what most of us experience as uncomfortable conflict situations? In the sermon on the mount, Jesus gives us counsel and words of wisdom when he says, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). Notice that Jesus says “peacemaker” not “peacekeeper.” This is a really important distinction. Being a peacemaker infers an active and intentional posture towards pursuing and creating peace. Taking the actions necessary to live in harmony with another person. Acknowledging there is a relational rift. Peacekeeping on the other hand is often passive and an attempt to work hard at pretending that nothing is wrong or bothering you to keep tensions from rising. Peacekeepers try to avoid conflict at any cost. Peacemakers invite necessary conflict and know that it is a part of life. Now I am not saying that you should intentionally stir up conflict. I am saying that conflict is an unavoidable part of life and rather than ignore it, acknowledge it. Re-frame conflict as a way that can enrich the relationship when approached in love and handled in a gospel grounded way. Practice the courage to engage conflict rather than living in a land of false peace. And remember, in the words of Jesus, when you pursue peace, you will be blessed and called children of God.

What are the dreams you've been carrying around with you for a long time? What are the ideas and wishes that are still nuggets in the back of your mind? Would you like to see some of them become a reality, to the glory of God? You know, there are many good dreamers in the world who never get to the doing part. Jesus said that the blessing comes when we do what we know we should do. So, if we only dream and wish and hope, and we never take any steps to turn those dreams into goals and make them happen, then obviously, we miss out on the blessing. And when you miss the blessing, you miss the joy and excitement and fulfillment that God has for you. I think there are many people who feel that life is just one day after another, the same ole same ole, and they don't really enjoy living very much because they've never stepped out and by faith, reached for some of their dreams and worked to reach a goal. I can see how life would be pretty dull if there was never anything to reach for. Why do people wish and dream but often never make it happen? Well, perhaps because they're reactive instead of proactive people. We talked about that in part one. A reactive person is one who allows others and circumstances to dictate what happens to them. They make victims of themselves and then claim it's not their fault! A proactive person is one who looks down the road, sets a goal, and instead of looking for excuses not to pursue that goal, that person refuses to be sidetracked and he or she heads for the goal they've set. Proactive people don't wait for life to dish out their destiny. They determine where they want to go—where God wants them to go—and do the things that are necessary to get there. Now, let me hasten to add that as believers, our goals should be ordained by God. We should be going for the things that bring honor to Jesus. Our goals should bring glory to God, not to ourselves, and should not be selfish goals. We need eternally significant goals—to set our hearts on doing the things that will make a difference. Those goals can range from the simple everyday things of our lives to life-changing pursuits. For example, you may need to set a goal to become a better communicator—listening better, choosing words more carefully, being truly attentive to others, etc. You don't need to pray about whether to do that or not; it's a great goal and it will glorify Jesus. But let me tell you, becoming a better communicator will not happen unless you determine to set a goal and pursue it. So, whether your goal is to change a bad habit or improve your skills in some way, or a goal to start your own business, or go to the mission field or whatever, you need a plan and a method that will help you turn that dream, that wish, into a specific goal with practical steps to take that will get you there. And today I want to offer some suggestions. Begin with a personal mission statement—a center that governs everything you do throughout your life. You might want to begin this process of turning dreams and wishes into goals by writing this personal mission statement. It would be a good overall plan to act as a governing center in your life to guide your decisions, your motivations, your whole life. Not long after my ministry began, the Board of Directors developed this mission statement for The Christian Working Woman: The Christian Working Woman exists to equip and encourage Christians in the workplace, primarily women, to know and love Christ more, and to live as Christ would, by applying biblical principles and utilizing their gifts and abilities to build His Kingdom. From that came our vision as to how we would fulfill our mission and specific goals for the near and distant future. When we are confronted with new opportunities, we check it out with the mission statement and ask ourselves: Does this further our mission? This keeps us rooted and grounded to stay on track and not be tempted to try to do too much,

Jesus taught us to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. Since there are no Caesars in our lives, what does that mean to us today in our everyday worlds? We conclude our thoughts about conflicting priorities. I think this is a principle we need to understand very clearly. If you think of your employer as "Caesar" in this case, how does this principle apply to you? Well, first of all, what are the things you should be giving your employer—the things that are rightfully his or hers? Hard work. You must be careful to apply yourself conscientiously and work your full shift. A Christian should never take advantage of their employer by cheating them out of time or work that is due to them. Protection of the employer's assets. Those pencils and pens, paper clips and pads supplied by your employer are not for your personal supply room at home. Expense accounts should be meticulously honest and fair. Loyalty. While you are taking your salary from that employer, you owe them respect and you should not be found stabbing them in the back or running them down to others. But, on the other hand, what do you NOT owe your employer? Dishonesty of any sort. Lying for your employer is giving to them what is due to God. An employer has no right to ask an employee to lie or deceive in any way. This is where you need to take a stand and not render to that employer what is not due them. Participation in any activity that is dishonoring to God. Socializing after work can create some compromising situations. If you have to be a part of these in order to keep your job, it's probably time to look for another job. You are rendering to Caesar the things that belong to God. As we think about how to choose between conflicting priorities, we want to always remember that there are some clear lines to be drawn. Give to your employer what is due them. Jesus gave us that principle, and we should take it very seriously. But make certain you don't get trapped into giving an employer what is God's right to ask of you.

You know, sometimes you feel like if you do your job right, it causes you to be uncaring and tough with employees or coworkers. Did you ever find yourself in that kind of predicament? Well, how do we handle what seems like conflicting priorities like these? It is right for you to demand of yourself and others that the job be done right. But it's also true that as a Christian, you should be concerned about the personal welfare and feelings of the people who work for you and/or with you. The first thing we can and should do is to pray daily for those employees and coworkers. Pray for them specifically by name. As much as you can, learn something of their personal situation so that you can pray for them effectively. Obviously, you can certainly pray for their job performance and their relationships and attitudes on the job. That's the best thing you can do for them. And then, remember that your attitude toward these people will clearly indicate that you care about them. Treating them with respect; understanding that in God's sight you are all the same; caring about their lives; giving them recognition when they deserve it; making allowances for personal situations when you can; treating everyone with fairness and honesty—all of these are ways to show God's love to your employees and coworkers and to be a servant to them. What is often frustrating is that many times it's difficult, if not impossible, to carry on the daily duties of your job and still interact with each person, whether coworker or employee, on the personal basis that you would like to. Even in my small organization I find that a frustration. I'd like to know every little thing concerning my staff and take time to talk about their concerns in detail, but if I did that very often, we'd get very little work done. What I've been learning to do is to trust God to bring other people into their lives to help and care for them when I can't reach out to them as I would like to. And then I pray he'll make me sensitive to know when it's important for me to take that time and reach out. Remember that as Christians in the marketplace we have unique opportunities to demonstrate what Jesus is like by the way we care about others. If you truly care about other people, loving them as you love yourself, placing their welfare above your own, you can be certain they'll know it.

Have you ever found yourself faced with decisions which seem to force you to choose between two right things? For instance, a coworker may really need to talk to you about a problem in his or her life, but you don't feel you should take company time for a lengthy conversation. Yet you don't want to be uncaring or rude. I believe our first priority is to do our job well. That means you may have to cut off that conversation with the hurting person and make an appointment to talk at lunch or break or after work, because it's not right to take company time for long personal conversations. What about the particular dilemma mangers and supervisors face in being a demanding supervisor versus showing concern and care for those employees? Think of Jesus and his staff of twelve men. Do you think he was demanding of their time? I get the feeling that those men put in long hard days quite often. Being a firm supervisor, insuring that the employees who work for you do their jobs right and put in a good day's work is not contrary to Christian principles of love and kindness. As a Christian supervisor, your job is to make certain that your employees perform well and work hard for the company. Of course, we cannot ask of others what we do not give ourselves. Whatever Jesus asked of his disciples in time and hard work, he did more than they did. As long as you role model hard work and dedication for your people, you have earned the right to demand that of them. Quite frankly, you will be doing your employees a favor to teach them the rightness of hard work, honesty and diligence. Now, that responsibility may cause you to seem harsh at times. If you're like me, I much prefer having people like me than not like me! However, your job description does not say, "Everyone must like you.” When you have an employee who resists working hard or doing the job right, and you as the supervisor insist on right work, that person is not likely to count you their best friend. Welcome to management and leadership; it goes with the territory.

Put yourself in this situation: You are at the job working and a coworker wants to talk about a personal problem. You want to listen and show compassion, but the conversation is on company time, and it's beginning to get lengthy. You have work to do and yet you don't want to be unkind or uncaring to this friend who is hurting. What do you do? Sometimes we face priority conflicts where it seems that doing one right thing will cause us to do something that isn't right. One listener wrote me about his particular dilemma. He is a foreman with several men working for him. Quoting him, "In my position, I often find it hard to strike a balance between being firm enough with my men to lead them, and being a servant to them; also to serve others in the company (such as the unbelievers) without compromising the use of my time and/or resources. I want to be a servant, but I also must get the job done; I desire to be an example of Christ-likeness, but the things that I often feel I must do in situations seem harsh." Often our duties and responsibilities seem in opposition to what we would like to do and think we should do as a Christian. How do we deal with these conflicting priorities? Well, I don’t pretend to have all the answers here. It's a good idea to be cautious when anyone is quick to give you pat answers. Have you ever wondered why God allows us to face what seems like conflicting priorities? I believe it's because these are the things which keep us on our knees, going back to God time and again with each particular situation, asking for guidance. These are the predicaments that remind us of how weak and helpless we are on our own. I think I could easily become very cocky and self-assured if I thought I knew exactly what I should do at every decision point in my life. But so often I'm driven to desperation by what looks like an impossible decision, and that brings me just where I should be, begging God to guide me and help me. So, we can see how God uses conflicting priorities and decisions for good. I'd like to share with you some thoughts that may help in choosing between conflicting priorities.

Put yourself in this situation: You are at the job working and a coworker wants to talk about a personal problem. You want to listen and show compassion, but the conversation is on company time, and it's beginning to get lengthy. You have work to do and yet you don't want to be unkind or uncaring to this friend who is hurting. What do you do? Sometimes we face priority conflicts where it seems that doing one right thing will cause us to do something that isn't right. One listener wrote me about his particular dilemma. He is a foreman with several men working for him. Quoting him, "In my position, I often find it hard to strike a balance between being firm enough with my men to lead them, and being a servant to them; also to serve others in the company (such as the unbelievers) without compromising the use of my time and/or resources. I want to be a servant, but I also must get the job done; I desire to be an example of Christ-likeness, but the things that I often feel I must do in situations seem harsh." Often our duties and responsibilities seem in opposition to what we would like to do and think we should do as a Christian. How do we deal with these conflicting priorities? Well, I don’t pretend to have all the answers here. It's a good idea to be cautious when anyone is quick to give you pat answers. Have you ever wondered why God allows us to face what seems like conflicting priorities? I believe it's because these are the things which keep us on our knees, going back to God time and again with each particular situation, asking for guidance. These are the predicaments that remind us of how weak and helpless we are on our own. I think I could easily become very cocky and self-assured if I thought I knew exactly what I should do at every decision point in my life. But so often I'm driven to desperation by what looks like an impossible decision, and that brings me just where I should be, begging God to guide me and help me. So, we can see how God uses conflicting priorities and decisions for good. I'd like to share with you some thoughts that may help in choosing between conflicting priorities.

Do you know the difference in a wish and a goal? Lots of us wish for many good things, but not too many of us see those good things happen in our lives because we've never turned our wishes into goals. A goal is not a wish. A goal: Is realistic and achievable. Has a time schedule. Is simple and specific. Is measurable in terms of numbers and specifics. Is written down for accountability. I could wish all day that I could be an accountant but that could never be a goal because it's not achievable for me. A goal has a time schedule and is measurable in some way or another. I may wish to lose weight, but in order to do that, I need to set a goal and a time frame for that goal. "I will lose five pounds in four weeks.” That's a goal. Now, given that definition of a goal, are you truly a goal-oriented person, or do you just wish a lot? I find many of us are very good wishers, but not many of us take those wishes and turn them into goals that we work to achieve. Well, after all, wishes don't take any energy or discipline; goals do. Wishes don't require any commitment from us; goals do. For instance, you may wish that you had a closer walk with God; you may wish that you really knew how to pray with power; you may wish that you knew the Bible better. Those are good wishes, but my friends, until you turn them into goals, your spiritual growth will stagnate. If you listen to this program regularly, you've heard me suggest things for you to do that will help you turn wishes into goals. For instance, I've encouraged you to put on the inner garments of Colossians 3 on a daily basis; to set specific guidelines for your thought life and practice bringing your thoughts into captivity; to establish a time each day that you spend getting to know God, and many more. Those are just ideas to help you turn from a wisher into a doer. Now, ask yourself this question: Am I a task-oriented person or a goal-oriented person? What's the difference? Well: A task-oriented person focuses on doing things right. A goal-oriented person focuses on doing the right things right. Are you doing the right thing or just doing things right? Certainly a goal-oriented person must be a task-oriented person frequently. But it's possible to be task-oriented without being goal-oriented. In other words, you could work very hard and always be busy, but never truly be focused on worthwhile goals and never see any of your dreams and plans realized because of being task-oriented and not goal-oriented. Why is it important for a Christian to be a goal-oriented person? The Bible frequently admonishes us to look for the big picture and set our eyes on the goal. We're reminded not to just look at the visible things around us, but to fix our eyes on the invisible things; to see beyond the obvious and set our eyes on the eternal. Well, that's really what being a goal-oriented person is all about. It's the ability to look beyond the everyday duties and responsibilities and minutia that tends to eat up all our time, and make sure you're focusing your life and energy on goals that add value and make a difference. Jesus said: Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:17). Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.  (Luke 11:28). I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do (John 17:4). These passages underline the fact that Jesus was a doer, and he didn't waste time talking about what he wanted to do. He did what the Father had sent him to do. He came to this earth with certain goals in mind, and nothing was going to stop him from reaching his goals. He said that he had come to do the Father's will, and he did it. At times the disciples tried to dissuade him from the Father's will, his enemies tried to keep him from doing the Father's will, Satan tempted him to try to keep him from doing the Father's will.

Were you a good student in school? Did you make good grades? Even if you didn’t make particularly good grades in school, there is one test—one exam—where you can do really well, if you’re prepared. I’m talking about being prepared for our final exam as believers in Jesus Christ. That day when we will give an account to Jesus for our stewardship while here on earth. In the Bible it’s called the Judgment Seat of Christ, and that’s where we’ll receive rewards for having the right answers—or not. Here are some more passages in Scripture that give us insight into what will be on that final exam. 1 Thessalonians 2:19: For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Hebrews 6:10: God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. The people you have touched will be your greatest joy in Heaven. The people you rejoiced with and cried with, the people you reached with the Gospel—this is going to be a big deal on that final exam. People matter to God. Jesus loves people, and what you have done as a servant to help others will truly matter at the Judgment Seat of Christ. And one last reminder of what will be on that final exam: 2 Timothy 4:8: Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. This is the bottom line for us as believers, because if you long for the appearing of Jesus, if you are aware that your time on earth is time to prepare for that final exam, and therefore you have an eternal perspective, then you will be prepared for that final exam, and you’ll do well when you stand before Jesus. The final exam is coming whether we’re prepared or not. We have time to prepare. Let’s go for it.

I always liked to get good grades in school. I guess everybody did—right? But my grade depended on how prepared I was for the exams. Did you know that as believers in Jesus Christ, there will be a final exam for us? It’s called the Judgment Seat of Christ, where believers will be graded—if you will—on how well we represented Jesus while on earth, and rewards will be given to those who are prepared. I’m looking at what the Bible tells us will be on the exam and what we can do to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Here are few more things that will be on that final exam: Did you do for people who could not repay you? Were you generous for the right reasons? Luke 14:12 – 14: Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” If you did for others without a quid pro quo—without expecting anything in return—you will get a good grade on that final exam. Did you work for people and money, or did you work for the Lord? Colossians 3:22 – 24: Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. That means what you do every day on your job—whether it’s in your home or otherwise, whether you receive a salary for it or not—you will be rewarded by the Lord on the final exam for working for the Lord, doing whatever you have to do with excellence and joy, because you are serving the Lord Christ.

I’m giving you answers to the final—a preview of what will be on your final exam in Heaven. Now, I should explain that this final exam is for those who are Christ-followers and have been born from above through faith in Jesus. The Bible teaches that Christians will have to give an account to Jesus for how we used our resources while here on earth. The good news is, the Bible gives us some insight into what will be important on this final exam. For example, one question will have to do with your motivation—why you did what you did for Jesus. Matthew 6:3-4: But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Jesus is talking about doing good for the right reasons, because you truly wanted to help others and you didn’t do it to impress anyone. Jesus said you will be rewarded for that kind of generosity. Again in that same chapter, Jesus says: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6). Jesus said that those who give to the poor or pray and fast for public acknowledgement will get no reward in heaven for it, for they cared more for earthly rewards than heavenly ones. Here’s another question on the final exam: Did you love unlovable people—did you love your enemies? Luke 6:35a: But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great… Got any unlovable people in your life right now? Maybe even some enemies who are deliberately trying to do you harm? If you can love them with the love of Jesus, you’ll do well on the final exam.

Did you know that the Bible teaches that all believers in Jesus Christ will have a final examination in Heaven? It’s true—there will be a day when you will stand before Jesus to give an account for the stewardship of your time, money, skills, love—and there will be certain rewards for things you’ve done. The good news is, the Bible tells us exactly what is going to be on that final test and how we can be certain that we will pass with flying colors and hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Here are some of the questions on that final test: Have you been persecuted because of your stand and devotion to Jesus Christ? Matthew 5:11 – 12: Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. We read again in James 1:12: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial. Because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. We know there are many Christians in other parts of the world today who are truly persecuted, even killed, for their faith. Their crown is waiting on them. But even though you may not live under such persecution, if you have suffered for your stand for Christ, you will pass this question on the final exam. Have you ever been fired for your faith; ostracized by your family or friends because of your faith? Have you taken a clear stand that you are a follower of Jesus Christ, regardless of the ridicule or isolation it may cause or the price you had to pay? That’s a question that will be on the final, and if you can confidently say, “Yes, I was faithful even in persecution,” you will receive a reward. Have you made wise and eternal investments—investments that are stored up in Heaven? Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” You have two bank accounts; one on earth, one in heaven. You can put deposits in either one. On the final exam, you will be asked for an accounting of where you put your treasure. We’ve heard it said, “Just follow the money.” Well, following what you’ve done with your money on earth will be on the final exam. Are you investing in eternity or not?

Final exams don’t bring back a lot of good memories for me—how about you? Ken Blanchard is a well-known American author and management expert, with over 60 books published on leadership and management. He also has taught these topics in universities, and he tells the story that he always handed out the final on the first day of the course, as well as the answers. He said as a result, all of his students got A’s. “After all,” he said, “isn’t it our goal to help the students learn and succeed?” Well, that’s my kind of final—what about you? If you give me the questions and the answers that are going to be on the test, I probably could ace it too. Sure sounds like the Apostle Paul knew the answers to the final when he wrote to Timothy: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2 Timothy 4:7-8). He was certain he would have the crown of righteousness when he stood before the Lord. How could he be so sure that he had done that well? Because he knew the answers to the final. He understood that there would be a final exam even for believers in Jesus Christ. He referred to it as “that day”—that day when every believer will stand before Jesus individually to account for what they have done that mattered for eternity. Paul had lived for that day and not for today. Our time on earth as followers of Jesus Christ is the time we have to prepare for that final exam. In the Bible we are told exactly what will be on the exam. The Bible tells us “If you do this, you’ll receive certain rewards.” That’s why Paul was confident, because he had listened to Jesus and then he patterned his life around the things that Jesus said would be on the final, so that at the end he could be certain he would be rewarded. I want to look at the questions and answers that will be on your final exam, when you stand before Jesus on THAT day. It will help you live with an eternal perspective.

Let me begin with this question: If God would come down in some miraculous way and give you clear directions when you’re facing a tough decision—writing on your walls as he did in Old Testament times, or sending you a text as he might do today—would you unquestionably and immediately be willing to do what he told you? Have you finally come to understand that God’s ways are better than your ways—that his thoughts are above your thoughts—that he has good plans for you and his directions are the very best for you? You see, until you really want above everything else to know and do God’s will—until you are passionately desirous of pleasing God in all your ways, God could write on your walls and you wouldn’t be happy if it wasn’t exactly what you wanted. Many times we just want God to bless our decisions, not redirect us. Let me assure you that God never plays hide and seek with those who are seeking his guidance. He’s not trying to make it difficult for you to know what to do in puzzling and tough situations. He wants you to know his will more than you want to know it! So, search your heart and make sure you truly want heavenly guidance. That’s the starting place. The good news is, you have the inspired Word of God, the Bible, to guide you. Romans 15:4 says that “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” There is hope for you whenever you’re facing a tough decision, and it is at your fingertips in the written Word of God. And on top of having your Bible, you have your own personal teacher, the Holy Spirit. Jesus told his disciples that when he left them, God the Father would send his Spirit to guide them. I want to point out four specific Scripture passages that tell us how to approach a tough decision. There are many others, but these will get you started on the right path. 1. James 1:5: If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. This is where you begin every time you face a tough decision. You ask God to give you wisdom. Do you often pray for wisdom? Why wouldn’t you take advantage of this wonderful provision God offers you—wisdom given generously? That’s what you need when you’re trying to make a good decision, right? You need wisdom. Wisdom has been promised to you. So, just take God at his word and pray for wisdom. 2. Psalm 37:7: Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Sometimes when we are pressed to make tough decisions, there’s the temptation to be quick and presumptuous instead of waiting on God. Being still before God means that we will have periods of time when it seems like nothing is happening. Sometimes it’s a timing issue; we want to move now but God knows it’s better to wait. You may not think anything is happening, but God is working behind-the-scenes for you. So, pray for wisdom and then be still and wait for the Lord’s timing. 3. Proverbs 19:20: Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Scripture teaches us to seek help when we’re facing tough decisions. However, it’s important to screen out the voices and hear from those who walk closely with God. Proverbs 13:20 says “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” So, you need to seek advice from the right people—godly people who have a track record of walking with God, and who lean heavily on God’s truth in offering advice or help. 4. Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight. Make sure you are submitting all your ways to the Lord. That simply means that you are living in obedience to the principles of Scr...

Perhaps you know the story of Corrie ten Boom and how she and her sister were imprisoned during World War II for hiding Jewish people from the Nazis. Well, I have one last wise statement to give you, and this comes from Corrie. She said, “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength.” We all know that worry is useless and yet I dare say we all still worry, some of us more than others. And Corrie is so right—worrying just takes away your strength and your endurance. What or who is on your worry list today? How long have you been worrying about them or it? Has it helped? Are things any better because you are worrying? Silly question—of course not. Yet this is a tendency all of us have—to just worry about most anything, and that takes us easily into the miserable what-ifs that I talked about earlier this week. Here’s what Jesus said about worrying: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. . .  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’. . .  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:25-31, 33-34). This is a directive from Jesus: “Do not worry;” full stop! So that means when you worry, you are disobeying Jesus and believe me, that never ends well. Here’s what Jesus told us to do with our worrying situations: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30). Exchange your worrying burden for Jesus’ light one. You may have to do it several times a day, but when you start to worry, stop in the middle, remind yourself that you are disobeying Jesus, and then by an act of faith—not feelings—leave your worry with Jesus and take his light one. It works, I promise. You just have to do it.

Never underestimate the danger of disobedience. That is my next wise statement for you—things that I’ve heard or read that I resonate with and I need. And this is certainly one of those. For those of us who are raising or have raised children, one of our continual challenges was to teach our children that obeying us was for their good, not to make their lives miserable—right? But it is not typically a readily-understood principle as our children grow. They often have to learn by experience that there is danger in disobedience. And how often does our God have to remind us as his children that there is great danger in store for us when we willfully disobey or disregard his principles. What looks so enticing to begin with or so innocent and harmless can take us into sin that cripples us and keeps us in bondage. Here’s the truth: Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay. You’ve heard it said that anything that is fun is either illegal, immoral or fattening. Well, that is so not true. Psalm 16:11 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.” It’s a lie from Satan that sin is fun and righteousness is boring. Satan is a liar and a very good one, and from the Garden of Eden to this day, he has lied about sin and its consequences. Sin is deceptive, destructive and deadly. Yes, we have a forgiving God who is ready to forgive and restore us, but initial obedience is always better than asking for forgiveness later because the consequences of disobedience are still with you. You can choose your sin but you can’t choose its consequences. So, is there some lingering sin in your life—some addiction—that has you in bondage? It looked so good at the beginning, so innocent, something you could handle for sure, but it hasn’t worked out that way. Proverbs 4:23 – 27 is really good advice: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead;  fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. Never underestimate the danger of disobedience. That is a wise word I hope you’ll remember.

This next wise statement is one I heard in a sermon recently, and it’s quite simple. You’ll probably find it unimpressive but think about it. The preacher said, “It’s no sacrifice when you get more than you give.” He referred to this passage from Matthew 16:24 – 25: Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Jesus always made it clear that there is a price to pay to follow him. Maybe you can name some prices that you have paid because you have chosen to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Perhaps some rejection by family or friends; maybe some promotions have been denied you. Certainly, there are Christians in the world who suffer continual persecution and whose lives are in peril because they follow Jesus. The enemy of your soul wants you to believe that to live for Jesus, you must give up so much. I just want to remind you that you can never truly sacrifice anything for our Lord because what you get back in return is so much greater. There is nothing we can offer Jesus that compares to the peace he gives us. If you have given your life to Jesus, you have received his peace that passes understanding. Unreasonable peace, I call it. And then there’s hope. Eternal hope—full assurance that you will spend eternity with our Lord. Nothing you could ever give to Jesus could match this sure knowledge that your future is secure. And joy—unfailing joy even in the midst of troubles or suffering—the joy that Jesus gives us—how could you ever put a price tag on that inward joy that comes from knowing Jesus. So, my simple message is to remember that you can never sacrifice anything for Jesus—not in the true sense of giving up more than you get. That’s because any little or big thing you may give up for Jesus is overwhelmingly repaid with the gifts that he gives you in exchange. So, don’t let the enemy lie to you and make you think you’ve sacrificed for Jesus. Jesus gave his life for you so that you could have life to the full—full of peace and hope and joy no matter what. You can’t call it a sacrifice if you get more than you give.

Recently in a prayer meeting with some sisters in Christ, one of my friends prayed, “Lord, Satan wants to put us into the what-ifs.” That stuck with me, and it’s one of my five wise statements. Have you ever been stuck in the “what-ifs”? This is what James referred to when he wrote: If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do (James 1:5 – 8). You may ask God for wisdom, but if you are doubting when you ask, you should not expect God to give you wisdom. That’s what James tells us, and he describes people who doubt as being blown and tossed and unstable in all they do. That’s what the what-ifs will do to you. One day you think you should do one thing; the next day you doubt if that is the right thing to do. Back and forth and back and forth—blown and tossed by fear. And you know that fear comes straight from Satan because God never gives us a spirit of fear. I repeat: Satan wants to put you into the what-ifs. Another way the what-ifs work is to cause you to live in fear of what may or may not happen. So, you allow your mind to focus on those what-ifs instead of bringing your thoughts into captivity and thinking about things that are good and true, and soon you are stuck in that fear, worrying about the unknown, imagining the worst, and Satan is more than happy to leave you there. Are you tired of living in the what-ifs? If so, here’s what you do: Cast all your care on the Lord because he cares for you, and leave them there, even if you must do that many times a day. And if you’re stuck in the what-ifs of some decision you need to make, seek godly wisdom, pray much, do your due diligence, and then take the first step out of the what-ifs and by faith, trust God’s wisdom in you. God doesn’t want his children who have been set free from the bondage of sin to be trapped in the what-ifs. Is not a good place to be.

I want to share five wise statements with you. Each of these are things I’ve heard or read and they stuck with me. They make me think about my priorities and my time management and they reinforce some disciplines I need in my life, so I thought they might be helpful to you as well. I heard a preacher say this recently: Kill complacency or it will kill you. Short and pithy—but oh so true. Complacency can be a killer. Complacency is not laziness, although if you are complacent, it could cause you to be lazy. But rather a complacent person is a self-satisfied person. When you are complacent you can be rather smug and uncritical of yourself. The Apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy: For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline (2Timothy 1:6-7). The reason that Paul referred to was Timothy’s heritage. His mother and grandmother had fostered Timothy’s faith because of their sincere faith and now Paul was mentoring him and advising him. And he reminds Timothy not to be complacent. He notes that God had gifted him but it was his job to fan that gift into a flame. Years ago, I wrote this passage in my prayer journal and began to pray that God would show me how to fan into a flame the gift of God in me. To not be satisfied with just being okay; to not settle for getting by. But to refuse to be complacent and content where I was in my spiritual growth. If you’ve been born again, you’ve been given the Spirit of God indwelling you, and that Spirit gives you power, love and self-discipline. Self-discipline is a fruit of the Spirit and when you are self-disciplined, you will not be complacent. So, my first wise thought is: Kill complacency or it will kill you. It will kill your self-discipline, your love for God and others and it will kill God’s power in you. Rather, fan into a flame the gift of God in you—whatever it is. Get better at it all the time. Kill complacency or it will kill you.

As followers of Jesus I think one of the biggest challenges we face, and one I can certainly come up against, is knowing and remembering how God sees you, how he feels about you and what God thinks about you. And when I say know, I am not talking about just intellectual or head knowledge, but really believing what God has declared about you. If you have been following Jesus for any length of time and you have read the Bible, I am pretty certain you have head knowledge about what God says about you through his Word. You may even be able to recite verses. But there is a huge difference between knowing what God says and receiving it, believing him, and living like it’s true! When you don’t live from the truth that God has already spoken about you, it causes a whole lot of problems. It keeps you from living the life that Christ died to give you. Your life hinges on what you believe. And Jesus says in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” You simply cannot live the full and abundant life in Jesus if you don’t realize, fully receive, embrace, and strive to take hold of what your identity is in Christ. And throughout your lifetime on earth this will be one of the biggest battles you and I face, which means we need daily reminders. As you remind yourself and re-ground your identity with the authority of God’s Word, the bottom line is this: It is God who has the first and final say on who you are. Your past does not get the final say. What a parent or teacher said about you when you were a kid does not get the final say. Anything you have done or anything that has been done to you does not define you and does not get the final say. Your failure, your sin, your successes, circumstances do not get the final say. Your thoughts about yourself, and what others say about you do not get the final say. What the culture tries to get you to believe about yourself and conform to does not get the final say. None of these voices have any authority in or power over your life. Because as a follower of Jesus you are a child of God, and you were made in the image of a holy God. All too often we can let our past, our circumstances, other people’s judgements or perspectives of us dictate who we are. While harsh, cruel and mean words may have been spoken over you or your past may be less than picture perfect, they don’t define you. And I declare right now that in the name of Jesus every word that does not align with the living and active Word of God has lost its power over you. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” When Paul writes these words in his letter to the believers in Corinth it is a strong exhortation, a warning that any and every teaching, word, or thought that does not align with God’s thoughts are to be torn down, held captive, submitted to and brought under the authority of Jesus. So when your thoughts, someone’s thoughts about you, or the world’s thoughts are not in agreement with your creator, the Lord God almighty himself, it is time to take action. Ask yourself, “Am I getting captured by my thoughts or am I taking my thoughts captive?” Your thoughts, consciously and unconsciously, will take root in your mind and heart unless you take them captive and cancel them out, replacing them with truth. The other day I had a conversation with someone who had some pretty unkind things to say to me and when the call ended I felt an overwhelming sense of shame. Her words caused me to really doubt my skills. I felt like a failure. My mind started a downward spiral as I began to question my gifts and my calling. This 45-minute conversation jolted me and put my confidence on shaky ground. I allowed her opinions to have power over me and infiltrate my heart and mind. I ruminated on faulty words rather than focusing on what is true.

I’ve been passing along some life lessons that God has taught me—and is still teaching me.  You know, one of the characteristics of a godly, truly humble person is to be continually teachable. Life Lesson No. 9: When you’re facing what seems like a disaster, ask yourself, “What difference will this make tomorrow—in five years—in eternity?” This is a principle God began to teach me years ago—to have an eternal perspective, to see everything through “Forever Eyes.” Learning to live now in the light of eternity is one of the most life-changing things you will ever do. But I warn you, you have to be intentional about it and you have to work at it every day. We so easily lose a realistic perspective when something is affecting us personally. Our emotions get all involved and we blow things out of proportion and we get very stressed over things that don’t really matter. In fact, I find that about 80% of what is bothering me at any given moment won’t even matter in 24 hours, much less five years! Now obviously, there are times when we do face substantive disasters, but those are very few and far between, as a rule. And if we can learn to let go of all the stuff that doesn’t matter, we’ll be far better prepared to deal with the true trials that come our way. I strongly encourage you to put this life lesson into practice in your own life. Believe me, it will make a difference. Life Lesson No. 10: When God gives you a passion, go for it! If you want to be a speaker, look for opportunities to speak. If you want to be a writer, start writing. If you have a passion to be a counselor, figure out how to get the education you need and start. Don’t wait for someone to open the doors for you; if it’s a God-given passion, just somehow, someway go for it. When God gave me a passion to start this radio ministry over thirty years ago, I had no idea how to start. I had no connections, no experience, no mentor. But I decided that I could no longer ignore that passion, and after much prayer, I determined to find out how to start a radio program. Once I stepped out on faith, God began to open the doors, and God has sustained us all these years. Don’t ignore God’s passions in your heart; don’t be afraid to take the next step and see what God wants to do.  

I’m sharing some life lessons with you. I’m sure you’ve learned some valuable lessons in your own life, and it might be good to write them down somewhere. I’ve shared six of my life lessons so far, and here are the next two. Life Lesson No. 7: Believe it or not, you’re not indispensable. Life will go on without you. I remember some years ago when I was directing the handbell choir at our church. I loved it, and the church seemed to really love hearing the handbells. Then after I began this ministry my life became so busy that I realized I had to give it up. I thought, “Oh, dear, the handbell choir will be no more because they won’t have me as their leader.” Wrong! The handbell choir is much bigger now, much better, and they have a director who is far more experienced and talented at handbells than I am! I was not indispensable. And indeed by stepping aside, I gave someone else an opportunity to use their gifts in the church. So, don’t be afraid to let go; others can pick up the ball and carry on even without you! There’s only one person in control of the universe, and it’s not you! Life Lesson No. 8: Don’t be afraid to ask. The worse they can say is “no.” James wrote, “You do not have, because you do not ask God” (James 4:2b). And Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10). I could tell you many stories of situations where I’ve just revved up my nerve and asked for something which seemed impossible, and I got it simply because I asked. Obviously I’m not talking about asking for things for myself, but asking for appropriate things for the ministry or for others. I don’t find it easy to ask. I really have to make myself do it, because I either get intimidated or I think it will appear inappropriate, or in many cases, I just don’t want to humble myself and ask. But I’ve learned that many times people want to be asked and enjoy giving. Those of us who are parents know how we love for our children—even the grown ones—to ask us to help them, in moderation, of course. So, don’t be afraid to ask. Even if you are turned down, you’re no worse off! As James said, often we don’t have simply because we’re afraid to ask.

What lessons has life taught you? I’m sharing ten life lessons I’ve learned—and am still learning! Life Lesson No. 5: Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does. I often remind myself that people aren’t thinking about me nearly as much as I think they’re thinking about me! Isn’t it true that we often put ourselves under unnecessary stress by just taking ourselves too seriously! We worry about what others will think of us and that can become an obsession. Here’s the secret: Make it your passion to care very much about what God thinks about you. Pray daily that God will grow you into the mature Christian he wants you to be. Let God’s Word reveal areas in your life that need changing, and then by God’s grace, work on them. Care very much about what God thinks about you. But stop worrying about what others think about you. Stop imagining what they’re thinking or saying. First of all, you’ll never please everyone, no matter how hard you try. And secondly, have you ever thought about how wrong it is to care more about what other people think of you than you do about what God thinks about you? Remember, it’s not all about you; it’s all about God and what he wants to do with your life. So, don’t take yourself so seriously. Life Lesson No. 6: Make every day a special occasion: burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the new shoes. How many things do you have tucked away, saving them for a special occasion? Recently I found some beautiful soap someone had given me, probably years ago, and I had put it away for a “special occasion,” and now it was so old and hard that it wasn’t really useful. I think my mother taught me to “save things for special occasions.” She was raised during the depression, and when she got something nice, she just had a tendency to squirrel it away rather than use it and enjoy it. You’ve heard people say, “Life’s short; eat dessert first.” Well, life is short, and while we need to be frugal and saving, we also need to celebrate life and enjoy the good things God has given us. We need to make our everyday lives special and teach this to our children as well. Paul wrote to Timothy that God “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17b). So, make today special. Tomorrow is not promised to you, so enjoy today.

Life does teach us some lessons, does it not? I’m sharing ten life lessons that God has taught me along the way. Life Lesson No. 3: Pay off your credit cards every month. Financial troubles affect every area of our lives, and most people’s financial troubles begin with that plastic card. The credit card companies make it easier and easier for us to get a card and then they do everything to encourage us to use it, and then just pay the minimum each month. That is a recipe for financial disaster. Could it be that you are in financial trouble now because you’ve got so much credit card debt? What do you do? First, stop using that credit card. Look at where your money is going and eliminate those things you don’t absolutely have to have. Then stop buying things you really don’t need until you have paid off those credit cards. And believe me, we all need a lot less than we think we do. Credit cards are convenient, especially for travel, but I’ve had a rule for years that I must pay off my credit card bill every month. I just refuse to pay any interest. That puts controls on what I spend. One of the biggest favors you can do for yourself is to wipe out that credit card debt and then pay it off in full every month. Life Lesson No. 4: Save something from every paycheck. Frankly, I have not followed this principle all my life; I wish I had. But it’s never too late, and I practice this faithfully now. The secret is to have money taken out of your paycheck or your checking account every month—before you see it. I don’t care how small it is, make yourself start the habit of saving some money out of every paycheck, and put that money in an account that you don’t touch. Just forget it’s there. Financial experts tell us we should save enough money to cover six months of expenses for emergencies. Now, it may take you awhile to get there, but you’ll never get there if you don’t start. So, make yourself begin with your next paycheck to save some money, and teach this principle to your children. Of course, giving to God is the first thing we should do with our paychecks. He should get the firstfruits of everything he has given to us, and ten percent is a good standard to use. You know, the Bible has more to say about money than almost any other topic. That’s because where our money is indicates where our heart is! I promise you, if you will pray about this and get serious about getting your financial house in order, it will take so much stress and strain out of your life. I encourage you to do it.

One of the benefits of adding years to your life is that you really do learn a few things along the way—life lessons, if you will. So, I want to pass along ten life lessons I’ve learned, and perhaps they may be helpful to you. Life Lesson No. 1: When you are not sure what to do, just take the next small step. You know, life is full of turning points, small and large—times when you have to make a decision and you’re not sure about it. I’m not talking about black and white decisions, things that are clearly right or wrong. But other decisions like: Should I look for a new job or not? Should I offer to give this person some money? Is it time to sell my house? Of course, prayer is our first order of business when we’re faced with decisions, and it’s always helpful to seek advice from trusted advisors. But I’ve often found that if I take the next small step and then see where that leads, I can usually tell whether it is the right thing or not. And sometimes I discover there really is no next small step; I would have to push and shove and maneuver to get to that next step. That’s always a red flag for me that says, “Slow down; make sure this is a good step to take.” I think many people park-out at the starting line, thinking about what they might do, wanting to do something, but because of fear or double-mindedness, they never move. James says that a double-minded person is unstable in all her ways. Double-mindedness is that state of mind where you go back and forth and back and forth, but you never move forward! So, don’t be afraid to take that first step and see where it leads. Life Lesson No. 2: Live in today rather than yesterday or tomorrow. Jesus said, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). Most of our stress and depression comes because we live either in the past, with regrets and anger, or we live in fear of the future. God gives us the strength to cope with today, but we keep adding on the past and the future and wonder why we can’t make it! Yesterday is gone. You can’t change it; you can’t make it better. In Isaiah 43 the Lord said, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 43:18-19a). If you continually dwell on the past, you will miss the new thing God wants to do for you. Yesterday is over; let it go. Tomorrow never comes. Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday! Fear of the future will absolutely stop you from the good things God has for you. So, pray daily that you will live in the present, and then you’ll have the strength to make it through. It’s a matter of changing your attitude and your thought patterns.

It's very easy for any of us to fall into a trap of comparing ourselves to other people. We see it all around us, especially on our jobs. But the consequences can be devastating, and sinful as well. Usually when we compare ourselves to others, we come to one of three conclusions: First, we conclude that we're better than they are. Or we decide that they're better than we are. And that leads us into thinking we'd rather be them than us since they are better than we are. Think, first of all, about the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, as given in Luke 18:9-14: To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. We look at this Pharisee and think, "How awful!” And yet how easy it is for us to compare ourselves to others with that same type of attitude. Like the Pharisee, we compare outward appearances and end up thinking we're pretty hot stuff. That kind of comparison leads us to a false security about ourselves and it leads us into pride. Have you noticed how insidiously pride creeps into our thinking? Have you been looking at others lately and thinking: "Well, I look better than she does," or "I perform better than he does," or "I've got more to offer than they do.” When you make these kinds of comparisons, the sin of pride is taking over your mind. Jesus said at the end of this parable: "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 18:14b). Listen to yourself think and talk and see how often you compare yourself to others and end up feeling pretty proud of yourself. It's a very dangerous road to be on. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians that they should consider others more important than themselves. That's the attitude we need to have toward others. What I find is particularly prevalent among business people is that they compare their positions and our salaries, and think they’re more important than others because they’ve climbed the ladder higher or gotten another raise. Certainly, that's one of the real dangers we face if we are ambitious—the sin of pride in thinking that we're better than others because we've got a bigger salary or a better title. Remember that in eternity those titles and salaries will have no meaning. Everything we are and have are gifts from God to us. We truly can take no credit for our abilities or accomplishments. Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers: For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? (1 Corinthians 4:7). So, that’s one deadly result of the sin of comparison—we think we’re better than others. Secondly, comparing ourselves to others can lead us to think that others are better than us. Consider the parable of the talents that Jesus gave us (Matthew 25:14-28). Before leaving on a long trip, the Master gives three servants certain talents, or resources. One servant received five talents, one two, and the third servant received only one talent. When the master returned, he asked each of them to give an account of what they had done with those resources. The first servant reported that his five talents were now ten; the second servant similarly reported that his two talents were now four. But what about the third servant? He had taken his one talent and done nothing with it,

Presented by Lisa Bishop It’s easy to try to get our identity from all the wrong places rather than from the very of truth of God. And when it comes to identity, we can get hyper-focused on ourselves when we were created to fix our eyes on Jesus. During my quiet time I found myself meditating on a familiar passage in 1 Peter. As a bit of background, the apostle Peter is writing this letter to God’s elect. Strangers in the world (those who look out of place to the world because they do not follow its customs) who God chose before creation for “obedience to Jesus Christ.” In other words, Peter is penning this letter to believers like you and me. Men and women who have been born again. Those called to a living hope in Jesus and to be a living hope displaying Jesus to a corrupt world that denies Him with its evil practices. Much like the world we are living in today. Peter is essentially saying, “don’t follow the world, obey the Word and set yourself apart.” And that is where we come to 1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” As I read this passage these words came to mind, “It’s not about you.” Let me explain. While it is absolutely essential that you are confident in your identity in Christ, the reason that God has set you apart and made you holy is to reveal his glory. You are chosen, holy and fully possessed by God in order that you proclaim the name of Jesus with your life. And if you are not living from your identity in him, people around you will miss out on experiencing Jesus in you. You are the Imago Dei. You reveal Christ to a world in desperate need of hope. It’s not about you. It’s about Jesus. What if you lived out your calling as an ambassador for Christ. Sharing your testimony of how God called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, displaying hope to your neighbors, coworkers, kids, and the cashier at the grocery store. This does not mean you will live a perfect life but a credible life as one following after the heart of God. How will you stand firm in your identity in him and declaring his praise to those around you?

Presented by Lisa Bishop Has anyone ever said something hurtful about you that you had a hard time shaking loose? I want to talk about lies others have spoken about you or over you that have negatively impacted how you see yourself. When I was growing up there was a saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” You’ve probably heard it. I don’t know who made that little jingle up but it couldn’t be farther from the truth. Often, healing from painful words that have been hurled at you can be a much harder process than mending from a physical injury. Because words hurt. They wound. And if you are not careful you can internalize them and they will become part of your identity. I will never forget coming back from summer break and entering into my second year of middle school. As if middle school was not brutal enough, living through the awkward phases and just having an overall feeling of insecurity, what one of the 8th grade boys said to me stuck with me for a long time. He looked across the cafeteria and shouted, “Hey, Bishop, you actually kind of look good this year.” Needless to say, I was mortified. I am not certain of the full intention of his words but this is what I heard when his words thundered across the room, “Hey Lisa, you were really ugly and unattractive last year but this year you're not so bad.” Let’s just say that is not something an already self-conscious 8th grade girl wants to hear. I still remember his words 40 years later like it was yesterday. Thankfully they no longer have an impact on me, but they did for years. I internalized his view of me and allowed them to feed into my insecurity and inform my identity. Ugly. Not chosen. Overlooked. Undesirable. I know it may seem silly now, but the reality is, words sting. And if you are not fully grounded in your identity in Jesus, people’s careless words can stick to you like glue and you will start believing they are true. What hateful, harsh, or harming words have been spoken over you and into your life? Maybe they were reckless words released from a parent, teacher, boss, spouse, or friend. What has someone said to you that you have consciously or unconsciously taken in as truth? What lies have you let settle in that have impacted the way you see yourself and are not in alignment with what God says about you? It takes intentionality to name the lies and rehearse the truth. And the truth is you are made in God’s image as Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” And Psalm 139:13-14: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful.” The bigger picture here is knowing who God is and he does not make mistakes. What words need healing from Jesus? Bring them to the cross, release them to Jesus, rebuke them and rehearse what is true. Release. Rebuke. Rehearse. Thank God for who he is and how he has made you.

Presented by Lisa Bishop Are you living in fear today or are you living by faith? It can be so easy to let anxiety, worry, and fear overwhelm you when life is hard and your circumstances look bleak. Whether it’s a job loss or negative performance review, you’ve been blindsided by a breakup, your kids are wayward, or your marriage is on the brinks--there is no end to the list of concerns that can consume you on a daily basis and it can be easy to slip into worry and fear of the future. I read a quote the other day that stood out to me. It said, “The antidote of fear is the presence of God.” The definition of antidote is, “an agent that counteracts a poison.” If you think about it, fear is a poison. It aims to pollute your mind, cloud your vision, and destroy your hope. To cancel out fear, remember that as a follower of Jesus, you cohabitate with God! He is omnipresent which means his presence is everywhere. He never leaves you, He is always with you, Jesus is always by your side. The problem is when we fret, we forget. When your mind gets caught in the hamster wheel of worry it will take intentionality to turn your thoughts to God and remember his presence. It reminds me of Psalm 23. The Psalmist in his deep distress declares, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me” (Psalm 23:4 NLT). Sometimes we just want the difficulties in life to go away. I've got some bad news for you. It doesn’t. But the good news is that we have hope in the darkness and his name is Jesus! In the midst of darkness, the Psalmist remembers the presence of God and it is a reminder and encouragement for you to do the same. I know that you do not always feel God’s presence so that can cause you to doubt his nearness. But this is where you can’t allow your feelings to inform your faith, but instead determine to focus on what is true. Snap yourself out of your distress and direct your attention to the prescription for peace found in Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When you feel distress trying to take up residence in your mind, instead of giving into fear, fight back with prayer. Don’t let anxiety win. Start praising God. Thank him that he is near. Thank him for his peace and presence. One of my favorite worship songs is, “Raise a Hallelujah.” I crank it up when I need a reminder to praise in the midst of the darkness. Let these lyrics be your anthem in the worries of life.   “I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody. I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!”

Presented by Lisa Bishop Are you living a transformed life in Jesus Christ? The other day I was at my mom’s house. We got into a bit of a disagreement about something. We didn’t see eye to eye. She asked if we could talk to which I obliged but I am sorry to say that I became a bit impatient in the conversation. I reacted from my flesh and not in the fruit of the Holy Spirit. I’m guessing you can relate. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” The Holy Spirit kindly convicted me that I was not bearing much fruit in my response to my mom. He kindly and gently reminded me what it looks like to live from my identity in Christ. You and I are made in God’s image and his number one priority as followers of Jesus is to make us more like him. To radically transform us into his likeness. It reminds me of growing up as a kid, I looked a lot like my dad. People would always comment on how much I resembled my father. We had a lot of the same features; people knew I was my dad’s daughter. As a son or daughter of Jesus, you are meant to look like him, which means that when people see you and interact with you, they will encounter Jesus in your words, attitudes, behavior and responses. I certainly did not take the opportunity to reflect Jesus with my mom. There will be times that you and I will miss the mark in our interactions with people because transformation is a process. A process of becoming who you already are in Christ. The important thing to consider is this. Are you making it your aim to grow more and more into the likeness of Jesus? An increase of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life is evidence of spiritual growth and maturity. Where old patterns of reacting will be broken and an increase of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control will flow from you. I am a work in progress and so are you. God knows that and he wants to help you as you grow in reflecting him. Remember what Romans 8:26 says, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness.” What fruit of the Spirit is God inviting you to grow in? Take a look at the past few interactions you have had with people in your life. What flesh response does the Holy Spirit want to transform into a fruit response? Confess where you are falling short and ask God for help as you become more like him.

Presented by Lisa Bishop Have you ever felt unqualified? That sinking feeling like you just do not measure up? Recently a friend was sharing how she had been experiencing anxiety in her job. She went from being an individual contributor to being promoted to VP and leading a team of people. Even though God had clearly opened this career door and called her into this position, her new role had induced a case of imposter syndrome. If you have ever felt like you didn't deserve a raise, that you are not smart or qualified enough to succeed at an assignment, or that you fooled everyone when you landed a new job or position, you too have experienced imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is when you doubt your competency and ability to do your job. It’s the feeling that you don’t deserve to be in the position you are in because you are not qualified. If you have ever felt this way you are not alone. This type of self-doubt affects millions of people across various demographics and job types. Imposter syndrome messes with your identity because of the fear of inadequacy and sinking feeling of being found out to not have “what it takes.” When I think about imposter syndrome it reminds me of Moses. In Exodus chapter 3 we read the familiar story of God revealing himself to Moses in a burning bush. This was the beginning of God’s call on Moses’s life to be the one who would bring redemption to God’s people and lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. In Exodus 3:11 we see Moses grappling with his version of imposter syndrome when in response to God’s assignment he says, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” To which God responds, “I will be with you” (Exodus 3:12a). Regardless of God’s continued reassurance that he will be with Moses, equipping him and leading him every step of the way, Moses’s fear and doubt induces an endless list of rebuttals as to why he is not qualified for the position God is calling him to. “What if they don’t believe me or listen to me?” (Exodus 4:1a). “Pardon your servant Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue” (Exodus 4:10). “Pardon Your servant Lord, please send someone else” (Exodus 4:13). When God invites you into a new opportunity you might be tempted to let imposter syndrome cause you to shrink back and like Moses, say “Who am I?” Know that God isn’t surprised by your imposter syndrome, he just asks you to say, “Yes!” God was not sending Moses in his own strength but by the power of the Lord. God is not sending you in your own strength but inviting you to trust in and rely on him. When God calls you into something, remember it is ultimately for his glory. You can trust him as he calls you to partner with him.

This is an incredible truth that we often just take for granted, or it’s become so familiar that we don’t grasp the depth of it. But try to focus on this—the marvelous fact that you are loved—individually and personally—by Jesus, by our Heavenly Father. Five times in his Gospel, the Apostle John referred to himself as the one whom Jesus loves. These all occurred on the day before his crucifixion and immediately after his resurrection. For example, John writes about this scene at the cross: John 19:26:  When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” And then he writes about the time when he and Peter were fishing in the Sea of Galilee, and Jesus appeared them in his resurrected body: John 21:7: Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. No other disciple referred to himself in that way, as the one Jesus loved. Why did John choose that description? Well, it wasn’t because he thought Jesus loved him better than anyone else. It was simply because that was his identity—an identity that was grounded in knowing that Jesus loved him. If you asked him, “Who are you?,” he would say, “I am the one Jesus loves.” This is something I’ve talked about a good deal to the women in my church, where I served as director of women’s ministries. After studying John, we began the tradition of starting every class asking: Sisters in Christ, who are you? And they readily and heartily reply: I am the one Jesus loves. It’s a great way to encourage each other to remember who you are in Christ. If you know Jesus in a personal relationship and you’ve placed your trust in him, then you can join with us in this joyous declaration that you are the one Jesus loves. It should be your number one identity, the most important thing about you. When Lazarus was ill, the sisters sent for Jesus and they said, “Lord, he whom you love is sick” (John 11:3). That was their approach to Jesus—they appealed on the basis that they knew Jesus loved Lazarus. They didn’t even mention his name because they knew Jesus would know who they were talking about. They were totally confident that Jesus loved Lazarus, and they appealed to him on that basis. Maybe this should inform us in our own prayer lives. How do you approach Jesus when you pray? Do you ever pray: Lord, the one you love needs you. Or Lord, I come to you because I’m the one you love and I know you care about me. I’ve begun to do this, and it has a beautiful effect on my prayer time. You begin with your one credential, that one thing that qualifies you to present your requests to God: Lord, I’m the one you love. It establishes that family relationship you have and reminds you that your heavenly Father invites you to come into his presence with confidence and boldness and approach his throne where you’ll receive mercy and find grace to help you in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16). What difference will it make in your everyday life if you truly bask in the daily knowledge that you are the one Jesus loves? Judah Smith writes: “People who know that Jesus loves them, who know that Jesus is with them and for them—those people can not only endure pain and loss and difficulty, they can come out the other side stronger and better people” (Jesus Is_______ pg. 159). It will indeed get you through some tough times and cause you to be victorious. It will make you sit up straighter and hold your head up higher, not from pride or self-righteousness, but from gratitude and joy in knowing that you are the one Jesus loves. So, regardless of what’s going on around you or what other people think, you are less and less vulnerable to their opinions and more and more confident of who you are in Christ. And here’s a really important point: When we are sure of God’...

It is important for us as Christians to understand that we are each uniquely and specially made by God for good reasons. We are not mistakes; I am who I am by design of God, and you are who you are by that same eternal plan and design. God looked at his creation, we read in Genesis, and declared that it was good! Since we're part of that creation, we can learn to accept who we are as created by God as good and right. Now let me add that learning to accept who we are doesn't mean we give up on trying to improve. While it's true God has given me a certain type of personality, it's also true that my personality has a lot of rough edges that need polishing. We have to remember that sin has affected God's perfect creation, and so until we get to heaven, we are damaged by sin. The Apostle Paul told us we are in the process of being conformed to the image of God's Son, Jesus Christ. So, using the personalities given to us, the gifts and abilities that have been entrusted to us by God, we are to be constantly growing into the image of Jesus. Remember, that when you can accept yourself and believe that God has made you for special and unique purposes, then you're free. Now the person God has created starts to shine through beautifully; now you begin to see just why God made you the way you are, now you discover that there was a lot there you didn't even recognize before. God is free to work in and through you, to keep shaping you into the image of Jesus. And you're free to say, "Thank you, Jesus, you didn't make a mistake when you made me. Now, please take what you have made and use it for the purposes you intended." If you have been trying to be someone els­e or you feel as though what you are is second-best, a mistake, I encourage you to go to God in prayer right now, as soon as possible. Confess your lack of trust in his creative abilities, ask him to forgive you, and give him permission to continue to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ for eternal and significant purposes. If you will do that, and continue to do that each day, you're going to discover incredible and marvelous freedom, and the real you God has created will be a joy to everyone, including yourself.  

Do you find yourself frequently wishing you were someone else? Do you often feel that a different personality would be much better than the one you have? Well, if that's true, then not only are you prevented from knowing and appreciating the uniqueness of who you are as created by God, but it keeps you from being able to appreciate others as well. I know that as I've begun to learn to accept that who I am is not a mistake, but rather a plan in God's eternal purpose, I am able to look at other people with a much-changed attitude. Now those who are very different from me no longer present a threat nor cause me to feel inadequate or short-changed. Now when I see people whose personalities and gifts I admire, I can just enjoy them for who they are. I don't have to compete with them, I don't have to feel jealous or envious, because I know that they are unique for God's purposes and so am I. Can you see what freedom and happiness that can bring into your life, when you are able to appreciate who you are? You are free from that foreboding sense that something is wrong with you; you are free not to have to think or worry about yourself all the time; you are free to be involved with others. You are free from the pain of jealousy and envy, and the dreariness of self-pity. And then when you can accept that you were created by God just the way you are for his good purposes, you’re also able to understand that God has made us all very different for good reasons. Sometimes we subconsciously think that everybody should be like us—think like us, feel like us, see everything the way we do. But that's not how God has created us. I'm reminded that it would not have been good if we were all alike. God is so incredibly creative, that it is no problem at all for him to design each of us as unique people, no two of us alike. How wonderful, how marvelous. Will you ask God to help you appreciate who you are? Will you ask him to set you free from trying to be someone else? Will you start consciously thanking God that you are who you are, and commit to him that you want to be all he has planned for you to be? That's the way to have a contented and fruitful life.

It is essential that we believe and accept that God has created each of us to be exactly who we are, and what a mistake it is for us to try to be someone else. It's a lesson I've had to learn—and keep learning—as I've often felt that a different personality would be better than the one I have. You see, I always thought that my type of personality would have been much more acceptable for a man rather than a woman. I could be described as assertive, outgoing, entrepreneurial, energetic, with leadership qualities and take-charge tendencies. This personality didn't seem to fit in with other people's ideas of what a woman should be, especially in the Christian community. So, I was confused for quite awhile as to why I had this personality. Then I began to learn that God had not made a mistake, he did not forget that I was a female when he designed me, and he had a purpose for designing me, a woman, the way I am. So, I began, little by little, to accept that God had made me just this way for some good purpose. And as I've become more and more comfortable with who I am and the way I've been created, then I've learned to enjoy and appreciate who I am. You know, I don't think I'd really want to be anyone else any longer. I like the way God created me. Now, it's okay to say that. It's okay for you to say that about yourself. Go ahead; say it: I like the way God created me. All you're doing is affirming that God doesn't make mistakes, and you are pleased with his creation. That's not pride, assuming your heart attitude is correct. That is simply thanking God for his creativity and recognizing that his creation is good. God wants you to be pleased with the way he has created you, for it shows that you trust him. It shows that you believe his word is true and that the way you are created is the best, since it is God's creation. Please understand that I'm not talking about thinking you're better than anyone else or being unwilling to change and become all God has intended you to be. But you can appreciate who you are because you are God's unique creation. So, throughout your day, tell God: "I like the way you created me.” Learn to appreciate the uniqueness of you.

Have you ever wished you were someone very different than who you are? A different personality type altogether? Well, if you think about it, that attitude is like a slap in God's face because it says you're convinced God didn't give you a fair shake, or else he made a mistake in the way he designed you. Scripture tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, that God knit us together in our mother's womb, that he is intimately acquainted with us down to counting the hairs on our heads, and we are each created in his image. Now, just put all those facts in your head and consider what that means. First of all, God didn't make a mistake when he designed you. You were planned in the mind of God. You're not an accident of nature. You are designed according to God's plan. Secondly, what you are is like what God is. You are created in the image of God. Now, don't confuse this with teaching which says we're all gods. That certainly is not true. But it is true that we are all created in God's image. That means that God has traits like you and me. Part of God's personality is just like your personality because you're created in his image. Now, please let that sink into your head, because it is very important that you understand this basic truth of Scripture. It should change your whole attitude toward who you are. How can any of us be mistakes if each of us is individually created by a good and merciful God? How can we think that we'd be better off if we were like someone else, if we believe in a God who does not make mistakes, and a God who is good and loving? Can you see how basic this is to your whole relationship with God? If you've been wishing you were someone else, I pray that you'll thank God for who you are, and ask him to help you understand why you are who you are, and what wonderful and good purpose he has for you.

Did you ever wish you could change your whole personality and be like someone else? Maybe you’ve had the notion that if you were a different type of person, you'd be much better off. It’s a serious mistake we make when we try to be someone we are not. The summer after my freshman year in college I thought I had the perfect opportunity to be someone else. I was going to be a counselor at a Christian camp where no one knew me, so I decided that instead of being the outgoing, assertive, take-charge type that I had been all my life, I would become the quiet, reserved, "sweet" type of person, just like a girl in my college. You see, it seemed to me that her type of personality was nicer and better liked than mine, so I decided to be like her. I can still remember those first few days at camp, as I concentrated so hard on being someone else. I had to think about it all the time, so that I would remember to be different. Mostly I just forced myself to be quiet, and instead of impressing people with how nice I was, they thought I was unfriendly. I really tried hard to be just like my friend at school, but let me tell you, I failed miserably. I could only keep it up a few short days, and I had to face the fact that I was stuck with who I was. Could it be that you are unhappy with who you are and you find yourself wanting to be like someone else? Maybe, like me, you've tried to change your personality and found it doesn't work. Well, did you ever stop and think about what it really means when you try to be like someone else? It means you think God made a mistake in the way he made you. It demonstrates a lack of trust in God's wisdom; it says you think God was either wrong or cruel to make you the way you are. I want to encourage you to know that you are unique; there's no one else like you in the whole world. God is so infinitely creative, that he's able to give each of us unique traits and personalities, and he has designed you to be yourself. He wants your personality, your type—you—to meet a certain need in the Kingdom of God. Good news—wonderful news! You don't have to be anyone else in order to be worthwhile, effective, and happy. There is great joy in just being who you are.

No theme has been more used—and abused—than the theme of love. Since the beginning of time, songs and poems have been written about love, movies and plays and novels by the millions have focused on this love theme. Obviously, love is very important to all of us. We all need and want to be loved. But have you ever thought about why we need love so much? Here are a few of the reasons that we long for love: Knowing we are loved gives us comfort. Knowing we are loved gives us confidence. Knowing we are loved helps us get past our insecurities. Being loved gives us emotional strength. It helps us prevail in hard times. Being loved inspires and motivates us. Being loved makes us joyful, happy. Thankfully love can come to us from many different sources: from parents, siblings, mates, children, friends. So that even if we’re missing love in one area, we can find it in another. It also comes in many different forms. In his book on love languages, Gary Chapman lists the five love languages as: Gifts Quality time Words of affirmation Acts of service Physical touch You can probably quickly identify which one of these five languages speaks love to you, or maybe you’re thinking you need all five! There’s no question that we need love and lots of it throughout all our lives, in all stages of our lives, from lots of people in our lives. That’s the way God created us. The Bible tells us that God is love; love is his character, his being, his personality. Love is the essence of the Triune God—Father, Son and Spirit. They are love and they love each other. So, since we are created in God’s image, it shouldn’t be surprising to discover that we are love-hungry creatures. And the God who is love, the only true God, loves us. That’s the great message of the Christian faith: We are all loved by God: John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 1 John 4:10: This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. We’ve sung it since we were children: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”  We sing it and yet how well do we know it? Are you living in the freedom of this wonderful truth? It’s sad that far too many of us have sung the song, “Jesus loves me, this I know,” but never lived in the joy of that truth. I mean, when we really get it—that we’re the one Jesus loves—that has to have life-changing effects for us. That truth should dig us right out of self-pity and give us the comfort and joy and completeness that we so need. It should supply for us all those love-needs we have, because if Jesus loves us, and we know it—we really know it—then it just fills up all those missing pieces that so often have caused us to do lots of crazy and harmful things as we looked for love in the wrong places. So, what’s keeping us from really enjoying and living in the truth that Jesus loves us? Well, one reason could be that God’s love seems impersonal to us. I mean, if God loves everybody, what’s so special about the fact that God loves me? After all, God loves everybody. Love is transforming in our lives when we know that the one who loves us is worthy, and we believe that love is directed to us individually. For example, I am very secure that my mother and father loved me. I was so blessed to be raised in a home where that love was rock-solid and never once did I ever doubt for a minute that my parents loved me. But if I told you that I know they loved me because they loved everybody, that would not describe their love for me. They loved me because I was their daughter; I had a special relationship with them because I was born into their family. They loved other people, true, but they loved me special. So, when we say that Jesus loves us and God loves us, we have to understand that while it’s true that God loves everybody,...

We are the Building of God, a temple for the Holy Spirit; we are the Body of Christ, functioning with unique gifts and abilities; and we are the betrothed Bride of Christ, loved by him intimately and personally. Think what it means to be a bride looking forward to a wedding. It means excitement. Every betrothed bride I've ever met was excited. Her wedding is on her mind constantly. She counts the days and hours. As the Bride of Christ, should we not, too, be excited about being betrothed to Jesus? I know we're in this world and it has more than its share of troubles for all of us. But think about what the future holds for us. A wedding! Remember who you are—the betrothed Bride of Christ. It means preparation. No one ever had a wedding without lots of preparation. It may be tiring at times, but it is a work of love. We're in that preparation stage now, as the betrothed Bride of Christ. You remember the story of Rebekah, being taken back on that long journey to meet her beloved bridegroom, Isaac, whom she had never seen. We're on that journey now, waiting for the day when we'll see our bridegroom, Jesus Christ. I'm sure for Rebekah it wasn't always a pleasant trip. I'm sure she wondered sometimes if they'd ever get there. I'm sure at times she felt discouraged and maybe even fearful. But she had said "I will" be married to Isaac, and she endured the long journey. But when she saw him, that long trip was forgotten. And so it will be with us. As the song so perfectly puts it, "It will be worth it all when we see Jesus." It means receiving. Betrothed brides get lots of gifts. Just as the servant took costly gifts to Rebekah, so our beloved has given us incredibly costly and beautiful gifts. His love, his grace, his peace which passes all understanding. He promises he will never leave us or forsake us, and nothing can separate us from his love. No other bridegroom can make that promise. I hope you'll remember who you are as you go to your everyday worlds. People around you may not recognize that you're wearing wedding garments, but don't let this world rob you of the joy of being a betrothed bride. Isaiah 62:5 says, "As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you."  

As a believer, what is my identity? The Bible says that we are the Building of God, the Body of Christ, and the Bride of Christ. In Genesis 24 we see a beautiful love story which is a marvelous type of God's love for us, his bride. Abraham was getting old and he wanted to find a wife for his beloved son, Isaac. So, he sent his chief servant to his own country to find a wife for Isaac. The servant took with him all kinds of good things from his master for the bride when he found her. He prayed for God to show him who that bride should be, and Rebekah came to the well where the servant was resting, offered to water his camels, and he knew she was God's chosen bride for Isaac. He gave her jewels of gold and silver and articles of clothing–costly gifts. And when asked if she would return to marry Isaac, she answered simply, "I will go." I encourage you to read the entire story in Genesis 24 and see the beautiful type of God's love for us. He sends the Holy Spirit to woo us, he offers us great treasures, and he asks us to be his betrothed bride. If and when we say "I will," we are betrothed. And just as Rebekah was betrothed to one she had not yet seen, so are we. Peter wrote "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy…" (1 Peter 1:8). Does that describe the way you feel? Are you filled with glorious joy at knowing you are betrothed to one you have not yet seen? If not, it might be because you either haven't understood your relationship to Jesus as his betrothed bride, or you haven't focused your mind on it. I hope that you'll be very conscious that you are the bride-to-be. If you carry that knowledge with you, you're going to see yourself differently, you'll see others differently, and your circumstances won't have such control over you. There's a great wedding to anticipate, and like all brides, we should be focused on that event.

Who am I? As believers we must know who we are as Christ-followers. Our identity needs to be firmly grounded in what the Bible tells us about how God sees us when we belong to him. Not for the purpose of self-focus, but in order to be equipped to worship and serve our Lord effectively. When you become a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, we have seen already that you become the Building of God; a residence for the Holy Spirit, making your body his temple. Then we saw that all believers are part of the Body of Christ, and a body has functional parts that work together and each part is necessary. And then we are called the BRIDE of Christ. “One of the seven angels . . .came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb’” (Revelation 21:9). “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!  For the wedding of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready’” (Revelation 19:7). In Ephesians 5 Paul talks about the marriage relationship, how a husband should treat his wife, even as his own body, and how the two of them become one flesh. Then he adds "This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:32). It's good to know that we are the BUILDING of God and the BODY of Christ, but that wasn't enough. God wanted us to know how much he loves us, how dear we are to him, how much he treasures us. And so, he has made us the betrothed BRIDE of Jesus Christ. This is who we are in Jesus—because of Jesus. We are his bride-to-be. I'm certain God used this analogy because he wanted us to know how much he loves us, how tender and close is our relationship to him. Dear friends, can we not rejoice in who we are? Isn't that identity more important than any earthly classifications or identifications? Remember as you go out into your world, if you know Jesus, you are the beloved betrothed Bride of Christ. Rejoice!

Who we are in Christ is essential so that we will have an identity grounded in God’s truth. Without a good knowledge of your standing and relationship to God through Jesus, you'll have problems with how you think about yourself. Knowing your identity as a believer is extremely important. We are referred to as a BUILDING of God, providing housing for God's Holy Spirit. Get a vision of yourself as a building, providing a permanent dwelling place for the Spirit of Christ who lives in your building. If you'll do that, it will have an impact on how you see yourself and understand who you are. We are also referred to as the BODY of Christ. “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). That 12th chapter of 1 Corinthians goes into much detail about how we are each members of the body, and the body is meant to work together in unity. Each part of the body needs the other part, and no part is more important than another. Christ is the head, and we are the body. Each part of our bodies has a special and critical part to play in how we function. So, when you realize that you are part of the body of Christ, then you begin to understand how you are to function within the body; how important your gifts are. This gives you the assurance that God created you for a specific purpose in the body and you better understand your unique gifting. Each person brings their unique function to the body of believers, and understanding that, you can be content with who you are. You understand the part you play and you don't have to envy other people or wish you were like somebody else. If you don't understand this relationship you have as part of the body, then you're missing out on an essential element of your identity in Christ. Carry this with you: If you have been born again through faith in Jesus Christ, then you are an essential and definite part of the BODY of Christ; you're special; you're unique. Make sure you're functioning well in your specialty.

"Who am I?” This is a question that has been asked and answered a hundred different ways. But as Christians we need to know who we are in Christ. What is our identity as born-from-above believers? I don't think too many of us really grasp the smallest inkling of who we are in Christ. Maybe it hasn’t been taught as it should be or somehow, we misunderstand what it means. The facts are, we need to have that identity grounded in our hearts and minds. The Bible uses different analogies and types to teach us about who we are in Christ. I want to briefly tell you about three, all beginning with B: We are called the BUILDING of God “For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). A building's purpose is to provide housing, and our bodies are referred to as the temple of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that he would abide in us (John 15:4). John wrote "This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit" (1 John 4:13). When you realize that your body houses the Holy Spirit of the Living God, you know that you have power; you know that you're never alone; you know that your life must be kept pure and clean because the blessed Holy Spirit is constantly abiding in you. I used to do lots of business training, primarily teaching customer service and communications skills. In reality, it was teaching people to treat others the way they would like to be treated. It's the biblical principle we call "The Golden Rule," and it's the best policy any company could have to establish good customer service. But I often felt a little guilty teaching people who were in many cases non-believers to perform on their job with caring and compassion for others without being able to tell them where the power to do that comes from. I would not have that kind of heart for others if it weren't for the Holy Spirit who dwells within me. Because I am the BUILDING of God, I have power to do and be what would be impossible otherwise. And the same is true for you, of course, if you are a Christ-follower. Remember, as you go out into your work world, that you are a building of God—a house for God’s Spirit to abide in. It will make a difference in how you feel about yourself and how you respond to your circumstances.

Are you feeling the effects of the COVID pandemic and the isolation impact it has had? Mary Lowman and Lisa Bishop talk through the importance and value of community. Below you will find some bullet points and relevant Scripture that are found in this conversation. __________ Social isolation is a term being used these days to describe a lack of social connections. And there’s no doubt that the pandemic escalated this isolation, plus our electronic gadgets have begun to replace person-to-person communication. But that is not enough. The potential effects of social isolation include: Loneliness Depression Poor sleep quality Impaired immunity Accelerated cognitive decline Poor cardiovascular function Impaired executive function Increased risk of premature death And signs and symptoms of social isolation can involve: An inability to communicate with others and connect on a deeper level. Not having any close or best friends. Feelings of isolation, no matter where you are and who you are around. Negative feelings of self-doubt and self-worth. Feeling unseen or unheard when you reach out to others (they don’t reciprocate your efforts). Feeling exhausted or burnt out when trying to engage socially. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced many people around the world to social isolation and the effects it can have as billions of people were locked down at home. Relevant Passages: 1 Corinthians 12:27: Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. Philemon verse 7: Paul writes:  Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. Philippians 2:25: But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 1 Thessalonians 5:11: Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Hebrews 10:24-25: And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Romans 14:19: Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Proverbs 27:17: As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Colossians 3:16: Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  Romans 15:1: We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Hebrews 3:13: But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Ecclesiastes 4:9: Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. Romans 1:11-12: I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

How can you build relationships with your co-workers so that you have an opportunity to share God’s love with them, tell them of your faith journey, and be a witness for Jesus on the job? Here are the last two ways that we can share God’s love on the job. 9. Be ready to apologize when you need to. My friend, Janet, says that the major difference between her and her co-workers who are not yet believers is that she apologizes more often! Well, being humble enough to apologize when you’re wrong is definitely a God-thing, and it really does go a long way to breaking down barriers and solving problems. 10. Build relationships with your co-workers by using lunchtime as an opportunity to talk. It is not appropriate to use any significant amount of company time for personal conversations. But there is your lunch hour, and you can use that time for building relationships. Let me tell you about my friend, Cynthia. Many years ago, she worked in a difficult environment, where she was not fully accepted as a co-equal, because she is African-American. She sensed this attitude, particularly on the part of one co-worker, who actually told her they could never be friends because of their ethic differences. But Cynthia determined by God’s grace to overcome those differences. So, she began what she called Project Love, and each week she invited one of her co-workers to have lunch with her. She even designed special invitations for them, and so one by one, she began Project Love. That began to break down those barriers as her co-workers got to know her and vice-versa. And the woman who declared they could never be friends—well, as it turns out, she has become a close friend and confidant of Cynthia’s, and even though they no longer work together, they stay in touch, and Cynthia gets birthday cards and greetings from her regularly. Love works, my friends. Love will overcome, and if there are some difficult relationships where you work now, why don’t you ask God for your own Project Love idea, instead of giving up on those relationships.  

Have you shared God’s love on the job lately? Sometimes it seems like the workplace is the last place we can talk about God or share our faith. Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians that they were “a letter from Christ. . . written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:3). You can be the word of the living God, a letter of love from Jesus to the people you work with, when you take time to let God’s love shine through you. I’ve given you six ideas on how to do that already. Here are numbers 7 and 8: 7. Smile Are you aware that your body language is louder than the words you speak? It’s true, and so we can send messages of love without saying a word. Smiling is surely one of the easiest and most effective ways to do that. All of us can smile; doesn’t cost a thing; doesn’t take any time. You just have to remember to do it. Proverbs reminds us that, “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart. . .” (Proverbs 15:30). So, why don’t we work harder at smiling more? I’m not advocating phony, insincere smiles, but many of us just have to work at smiling more. We feel smiles on the inside, but don’t show them on our faces. That’s my problem, I know, so I really try to remember to smile more. Some of you were born with smiles on your face, so it comes easy for you. But some of us have to remember to smile, because it brings joy to the heart, and it shares a little of God’s love with others. 8. Do the “dirty work” sometimes, even if it’s not your job. There are always those things that need to be done in a workplace environment that nobody really wants to do. They aren’t in anyone’s job description. Things like cleaning the kitchen or making the coffee; cleaning up after a meeting or tidying up the general work area. In smaller workplaces, it might be things like taking out the trash or taking the mail to the post office. If you just do those things occasionally, without being asked and without grumbling, it would be a good way to show a loving, caring attitude toward the people you work with and for. Too often we think that the only way we can witness for Jesus is through the words we say—quoting Scripture or giving our testimony or explaining the four spiritual laws. And frankly, there are not many opportunities in any given day to do that. But there are countless ways to show the love of God through our actions and our attitudes. But we have to make a decision to be intentional about it.

I’m offering ten suggestions for sharing God’s love where you work. Here are suggestions five and six: 5. Help others with their workload when you can. Maybe you have an assistant who helps you, and you know she or he is just overloaded with work at the moment. If you said, “Hey, I can stay an extra hour tonight and help get that done,” don’t you think that could really be an effective way to communicate God’s love? Or maybe you know that a co-worker is struggling with a certain assignment, doesn’t know how to get started. If you’ve got some experience or expertise that would help them, just stop what you’re doing and help them out. Obviously, you have your own work to do, which cannot be neglected, but for sure there are times when stopping to help someone else is just the right, thoughtful thing to do. 6. Look for opportunities to congratulate and compliment people any time you can. Think about it: aren’t there times in the day when you think something nice about someone but you don’t express it? I try to make myself verbalize the compliments I think. For example, if I like the outfit someone is wearing, and think, “That looks nice on her,” then why not say it to her. If I think, “He did a great job on that,” why not say it. I think we would be more encouraging to others if we simply determined to verbalize the compliments we think. Also, look for ways to congratulate people on any accomplishment possible. “You lost five pounds? Wow, good job.” “I noticed you stayed late last night and finished that job. Thanks.” “Your daughter made a 3.8 on her grades this semester? Terrific!” There are so many little things we can do in any given day to show love and concern for others, to demonstrate that we are thinking about someone beside ourselves. We live in a world that is pretty self-centered, but as servants of Jesus Christ, we are called to “look not only to your own interest, but also to the interests of others,” as we read in Philippians 2:4. These things we can do because we have the motivation of God’s Spirit within us, and the power he imparts to us, and believe me, God’s love will be felt as we intentionally seeks ways to share God’s love on our jobs.

Have you ever had an opportunity to preach the gospel where you work? If you are in a secular workplace, I seriously doubt it! So, then, how can a Christian effectively share God’s love where they work? I’m sharing ten suggestions that all of us can do as a way to become the Bible that people read, the living Word of God on our jobs. Here are suggestions three and four: 3. Go through your schedule for each day and pray for the people you know you will interact with. I know that many of you are facing added stress and pressure on your jobs these days. Seems like there’s more workload for fewer people, and I hear from many of you that you’re expected to do more than you can get done in a day’s time. This kind of environment can easily cause interpersonal problems with co-workers. So, pray in advance for the people you will interact with. Remember, no one is in your life by accident, so even that difficult co-worker can be changed by God’s love. Ask God to give you wisdom in how best to deal with the difficult people on your job. Ask him to help you see them the way he sees them, and to give you a loving attitude toward them. Remember, you don’t have to like someone to show them God’s love. You could easily do this as you commute to work. Make it a daily practice to pray through your day before it starts, and you will discover that God supplies strength and ideas and help to get you through the day with a loving and kind attitude toward the people you encounter. 4. Plan acts of kindness. In 2 Timothy 2:24 we read, “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.” If you are a servant of Jesus Christ, your calling is to be kind to everyone—everyone! I think we have to remember to be kind, don’t you? I mean, you can just get so busy, trying to do your job and keep all your balls in the air, that you forget to do the kind things that matter to people. Here are two easy suggestions: Send cards at appropriate times. You could find out the birth dates of your co-workers, put them on your calendar, and then simply send a birthday card, even an email card would be fine. Celebrate significant events in the lives of co-workers—like promotions, or graduations, or marriages and anniversaries. It doesn’t take much effort to bring in some goodies and have a small celebration, and it truly is meaningful. But you have to plan those acts of kindness and be intentional about them.

If you go to a secular workplace every day, you may wonder what in the world you can do in that kind of environment to share your faith in Jesus Christ, to really have an impact for the gospel. Well, I’m going to give you ten suggestions for sharing God’s love where you work. Set aside a certain time each day or week to pray for your workplace. I have discovered that many Christians don’t really pray for their workplace. I think sometimes we separate our “secular jobs” from our spiritual life, as though the two have nothing in common. But for a Christian, everything should be sacred. We should all see ourselves in “full time Christian work,” and so our workplaces are, in effect, our mission field. What is the best way to pray for your workplace? Well, first, pray for those in authority, for your relationship with them, for wisdom as they make decisions. Then pray for the success of the business, that God will bless the efforts of those working there. Pray for the morale of the workers, that there will be good working relationships, a good team atmosphere, conducive to good work. And then pray for whatever distressing or troubling situations you are experiencing. For example, if the company is experiencing a difficult economic situation, pray for new business, for creative marketing ideas and so forth. I would encourage you to set aside a specific time to pray for your workplace, maybe on Mondays, so that you have this programmed into your schedule and you don’t overlook it. Take prayer walks through your company/organization/building. Now, this is a clandestine kind of prayer, not one you advertise or talk about. But it’s easy to do. Just take a lunch hour, say once a week, and walk through your company, up and down the various hallways and floors, inconspicuously, and quietly pray for each person and department as you walk by their office or place of work. Or if it’s a small workplace, you might walk around the building. Perhaps you might do this before work one day, when not too many people are around. This is a really effective way to remember to pray for the people in your company or department or division. So, here are two things any of us can and should do to bring God’s love to our workplace. I truly believe you will be amazed to see how prayer can change things where you work.

This title about dancing in the rain caught my attention when I read this: “Life’s not about waiting for the storm to pass… it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” There’s a lot of truth in that statement. You know, none of us is exempt from storms; and in fact, God sends and allows storms in our lives to be used for good. In Acts 27 we read about a storm that came upon Paul as he was sailing to Rome. Paul was a prisoner; he had no authority or freedom. But there he was. And don’t miss this: He was in that storm because God was sending him where God wanted him to be—to Rome. This storm did not catch God by surprise. God didn’t look down from heaven and say, “Oh, my goodness, what is happening to Paul? How in the world did he get himself in such a mess?” No, Paul was in that storm because he was doing God’s will. He was a prisoner because he was preaching the gospel. You remember after Jesus had fed the five thousand, he told the disciples to get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. They did what Jesus told them to do and guess what happened: They found themselves in the midst of a storm. Another time they followed him onto a boat, and he went to sleep, but without warning a furious storm came up on the lake. A storm on the lake and Jesus was in the boat! In all of these situations, Paul and the disciples were doing exactly what Jesus told them to do, and then they found themselves in the midst of terrible storms. If anyone tries to tell you that a Christian is exempt from storms, they are not telling you the truth! Nothing in Scripture would validate that belief. In fact, just the opposite. Peter writes: Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed (1 Peter 4:12-13). Your storm has not taken God by surprise. But what does it mean to “dance in the rain”? The bottom line is, it means to have a grateful and thankful heart, no matter what your circumstances. The Bible says to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). And again, it tells us to “always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). We are to give thanks in our storms and for our storms. That is what it means to dance in the rain. You may be thinking, “Do you really expect me to thank God for being laid off, or getting a bad report from my doctor, or losing someone close to me, or watching my grown child stray far from God?” Well, I recognize that seems difficult if not impossible, but those are not my instructions or my idea. It is the inspired Word of God to us—to give thanks in and for everything. I think of a dear friend who lost his eyesight in mid-life. He went through some tough days when he learned he would eventually go blind, but he will tell you now that it is one of the best things that ever happened to him. Not that he likes being blind, but he has become such an amazing man of God because that blindness has driven him to love and trust God more. Learning to give thanks in and for everything just comes down to simple obedience—doing what God says to do even though you don’t want to, even when your heart is not in it. Maybe that’s what it means to give a “sacrifice of praise,” to thank and praise God when it just doesn’t make sense! I know God will honor that obedience. James 1:2-4 says, “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. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” That storm you’re going through, whether from God or simply used by God,

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) The Apostle Paul penned in Philippians this about contentment: “I can do all things through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). To achieve contentment Paul knew he needed the strength of Christ. To achieve contentment, you and I need the strength of Christ. But our natural inclination is often not to make Jesus our go to. In our humanness we forget we have God’s strength and the power of his Holy Spirit to help us. We neglect to delight ourselves in the Lord. The concept of delighting in God is closely connected with intimacy with God. A desire for more of his presence. A depth of relationship where we want to know Jesus more, experience him more, worship him more, converse with him more, and find growing freedom in him. This requires making time to be with God. Daily being in his Word, in prayer and simply being still and delighting in his presence. This also reminds me of John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Remain in God. Abide in Jesus. And in every situation believe and remember that your secret to contentment is calling on Jesus who gives you the strength to be content and to be truly satisfied in him. This side of heaven you will battle with discontentment. It will never go away, and you will never be fully satisfied until you are in heaven with Jesus. But it is possible and a necessity that you pursue contentment in Jesus while on earth. There is great satisfaction to be found in Christ. God wants you to experience joy, gratitude and inner peace in the here and now. Just remember, it will take an earnest attempt on your part, and intention to delight yourself in him.  

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) What do you do when life is not going the way you planned? When you feel disappointed, uncertain, or unsettled? We are taking a deep dive into contentment and how you can have more of it in your life, no matter your circumstances. If I have learned anything about contentment, cultivating it takes effort and it is something that you learn by intentionally pursuing it, consistently over time. It’s an inward state of satisfaction that comes from trusting God with your life even when circumstances look dim. If I am not careful, I can quickly find myself in a state of discontentment when my life is not going the way I envisioned. When a prayer I feel like I have prayed for years still goes unanswered. When I am uncertain, fearful and anxious about what the future holds, my emotions can be easily swayed to dissatisfaction and can drive me to seek fulfillment in ways that are not healthy or helpful. Where are you finding it difficult to be content? Think about it. What area of your life has not gone the way that you dreamed? When you come face to face with life’s disappointments, detours, or delays, where or what do you turn to? We can be tempted to try and numb ourselves and dull the discontent. You may turn to food, busyness, binging on Netflix. Maybe you turn to sex, pornography, alcohol or marijuana and other drugs. In an effort to dismiss the ache of an unmet longing we turn to idols to give us comfort even though we know that our idols never satisfy. Yet in the long moments of our lack of contentment, our flesh, our compulsion leads us to chase after worthless things. In Psalm 119:37, David knew his tendency to let his flesh rule in challenging circumstances. And when tempted and pressed in on every side, he cries out to the Lord, “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.” The Passion Translation says, “Help me turn my eyes away from illusions.” Idols are illusions. The things you turn to in your impatience or frustration may give a sense of temporary relief but will ultimately wreck you. When you are tempted to seek idols for comfort, turn. Turn your eyes away from the idol and towards God and ask him to help you. You need to override your desire to self-medicate and turn your eyes to Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith. Ditch your idols, make a habit of turning to God, and contentment will be produced in you.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) Would you say you gravitate towards grumbling or gratitude? We don’t have to read very far in the Bible to see numerous examples in the Old Testament where grumbling was rampant, and gratitude was severely lacking. The Israelites rarely seemed to be content and when they were it lasted a hot minute before they were back to their complaining ways. They give examples of what it looks like and sounds like to forget God’s faithfulness. To fail to remember all of the ways he has, is and will provide for your daily needs. All too often it’s easy to be tempted to measure your gratitude against the backdrop of what you want rather than trusting God sees the bigger picture and will never deny you of what you actually need. In Exodus 16 we see the Israelites are in their sixth week of wandering in the wilderness after the Lord has just delivered them from over 400 years of slavery. As they enter the wilderness it also begins a cycle of crisis, grumbling, God’s provision, gratitude. Now let’s be honest, I don’t know if you or I would have acted much differently with our lack of gratitude but what I don’t want us to miss is that the wilderness is a training ground to mature in Christ, to grow in our ability to see God’s provision even in hard circumstances and to learn to trust him. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death” (Exodus 16:2-3). After they complain, God responds by providing for their needs. They are grateful for a short time but quickly have gratitude amnesia and the cycle of grumbling begins again. It’s a recurring pattern not only for the Israelites, but for our spiritual lives as well. When you are facing challenging circumstances, it can be easy to focus on what you do not have and to forget what there is to be grateful for. Here’s a challenge for you. Write a list of ten things you are grateful for. Nothing is too small. Thank God for them. Learn to be content as you practice turning your grumbling into gratitude.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) Denying yourself is a gateway to a contented life. The Apostle Paul says this, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:12). When Paul uses the word “know” he means, “to know how, to be skilled in.” Paul had more than head knowledge of what contentment meant. He felt the pain and the reward of practicing contentment. As a reminder, Paul was writing this letter to the church while he was in prison and you can assume the circumstances were not pretty. Paul could not come and go as he pleased, order Chinese food and have it delivered through Grub Hub or get his favorite movies on demand. When Paul says he has learned contentment, in the middle of a prison cell, in the midst of lack and plenty, I think it had something to do with the discipline of denying himself. Not having what he wanted when he wanted it. If you are so accustomed to having your way you will be hard pressed to maintain inward satisfaction when your circumstances are less than desirable. I feel entitled to a comfortable life sometimes. A life free of hardship, difficult coworkers, drained finances, and messy relationships. How about you? This is where Paul’s example of knowing contentment whether in need or in plenty is so important for you to embrace in your own life and this is where denying yourself comes in. Knowing what it feels like to be in want and be okay! One way of denying yourself is through practicing the spiritual discipline of fasting. Typically, it is fasting from food for a day, or two, or three. Or, fasting from a meal on any given day. Denying ourselves of food, the source of comfort and pleasure can be the fastest way to experience self-denial. When that “hangry” state or those hunger pains kick in, we direct our attention to Jesus, the only one who satisfies and we begin to experience Paul’s teaching for ourselves. “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:12b). Our appetites for more are what lead to disgruntlement and dissatisfaction. Learn to discipline yourself with self-denial. Embrace your circumstances and trust God to provide in them.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) Are you content with your job, your relationships, your living circumstances, your life? I recently read an article in Psychology Today entitled, “The Secret to a Contented Life.”  In a nutshell it said that contentment comes from unconditional self-acceptance. As a follower of Jesus, you and I know the secret is not to “love yourself more.” We share with the Apostle Paul in having the true secret to contentment and that’s why we’ll look at what I call the four D’s of living a contented life. But before we do, let's remind ourselves of Paul’s profound words in Philippians: …I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:11b-13). When I studied this passage several years ago the word that stood out to me was, “learned.” Whenever you read Scripture, look for repeated words. That means the author is trying to get your attention and make a point. Here Paul uses the word “learned” two times. In the Greek it means, “to learn by use and practice, to be in the habit of, accustomed to.” I think this is where a lot of us can get tripped up and discouraged. We want contentment just to come, when in fact it is hard work and something we often have to practice over and over again and fight for. Which seems counterintuitive, but we live in a world where we are bombarded with messages that this car, that job, that outfit, that spouse will make you happy. And while we ultimately know it’s not true, we can fall into the fleeting trap of believing contentment can be found “out there somewhere.” With some particular need or desire being met, when really it is a state of mind and a state of being satisfied in Christ. Contentment is not a quick fix, it’s learned. Where are you lacking contentment?

It is a bit of a paradox, I recognize, to be both contented and not contented. Maybe it’s helpful to say we should accept who we are but never settle for where we are. Have you discovered that when you are not happy with who you are, you inflict great suffering on yourself? It causes you to be envious of others, to resent the success of others, to fight to get ahead of others, to be dependent on the approval of others. All kinds of problems arise when you cannot accept who you are. Have you come to that place yet, where you can truly say, "I like the way God has created me"? Oh, I hope so. It is not prideful to appreciate God's handiwork in you. Rather it brings glory to God, just as when you appreciate a work of art you bring honor to the artist. Today I want to point out three additional areas where we need to learn to accept but not settle. Your Gifts and Talents Have you accepted the way God has gifted you? The Bible clearly teaches us that each believer has been given definite and recognizable gifts or talents, which are resources to use in serving the Lord. First Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 are good chapters to study if you're not familiar with these gifts. Once you know how God has gifted you, then accept that role you've been given with great joy. The things God has gifted you to do are the things that make you the happiest and bring the most satisfaction. You'll find great joy when you're functioning the way God created you to. For example, if you have the gift of encouragement, your greatest joy will be to write notes, help someone out, listen to a heartache—lots of things like that which an encourager does so well. It won't be a chore or a duty because it's your gift; it will be a delight. If your gift is administration, you'll love organizing and doing all the behind-the-scenes things that are so important. If your gift is mercy, you will naturally have a sympathetic heart toward hurting people and find yourself trying to help them. Using your God-given gifts and talents will bring you satisfaction, and you will do those things with enthusiasm and excellence. But here's the other side of the coin: Never be satisfied with your gifts the way they are. Jesus told a parable about three people who were given talents to use. One had five talents, one two talents and one had only one. When the master returned and demanded an accounting as to how each one used his talents, he gave strong approval to the first two because they multiplied their talents. But to the man with only one, he gave a grave condemnation because he hid his talent and did not multiply it. You’ll find that parable in Matthew 25. What Jesus taught us there is that when we use the gifts and talents he has given us, he will give us more. I've been amazed to see this in my own life. I'm telling you, years ago I could never have imagined being able to do some of the ministries and new ideas God has allowed me to be involved with. But God is true to his word, and when we start using the talent we have, God is faithful to give us more and increase our effectiveness. So, accept the talents and gifts God has invested in you, and then set out to grow them as much as possible. You do that by using them any way you can. Jump in the water and get wet. Often I'm asked how I began my ministry, which is now heard on over 400 radio stations internationally and reaches out in many other ways. Well, it began in my home in Chicago over thirty-five years ago as a Bible study for five or six women. That Bible study lasted several years, and to this day is one of the sweetest, best memories I have. From that I started a small ministry at my church and became involved in other ministries there, serving in various ways. And much to my amazement, the doors opened until now we have a much bigger outreach. But it all began where I was—in my home. And little by little God gave me opportunities to develop my gifts. God keeps his word,

Do you know how to be a good complainer? I want to show you how to complain. For sure, life is full of things we don’t like, things that aren’t good, and sometimes we just need to complain. Well, here’s how to do it. In Psalm 142:1-2, David said "I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble." King David had some genuine complaints, but he knew where to go with them. He poured them out before the Lord. Do you take your complaints to the Lord and actually verbalize them to him? You should, because he understands you, he cares about you, he's always there to listen, and he has answers. Instead of complaining to everyone around you, why not tell the one person who invites you to bring all your cares and problems to him, because he cares for you? I notice as David spelled out his complaint to God, he heard his own words, and that led him back into right thinking. He says in verse 5 and 7a, "I cry to you, O Lord; I say, 'You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living...Set me free from my prison that I may praise your name." I find that when I pour out my complaints to God, I start to gain perspective and I realize that they're not as big as I thought they were. I also realize that I'm a captive to my own complaining spirit, and once I see that, then God can set me free from that prison of griping and complaining. Philippians 2:14 says we are to do everything without complaining or arguing. But listen to the great benefits of practicing this biblical principle: "... so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” (Philippians 2:15-16a). We will shine like stars and show others Jesus as we learn to do everything without complaining. What a great testimony Christians would have especially in the marketplace if we truly took our complaints to the Lord—to him only—and replaced our complaining spirits with his joy and peace.  

How do we get rid of the bad habit of complaining? I’ve given you four effective ways to cure the contagious disease of complaining in your life and they’re not hard to do. You just have to remember to do them; pray about them; seek God’s help to remember not to complain, and then watch the transformation in your own life when you are no longer a complainer! Let me give you one more really good cure for complaining: Learn to practice the 24-hour rule. What is the 24-hour rule, you ask?  It’s simple: When you’re starting to complain and you’re getting frustrated or impatient, ask yourself this one question: What difference will this make in 24 hours? And then, the rule is that if it doesn’t make a real difference in 24 hours, you are not allowed to complain about it. I promise you, from my own life experience, that this will go a long way toward curing the complaining disease. A great majority of what you and I complain about today won’t matter at this same time tomorrow. When I began to practice this rule, I was a complainer. I was travelling a lot and I found much to complain about with late airplanes, poor customer service, bad hotels—and so I complained, both verbally and in my own mind. Of course, my complaining didn’t change anything, it just made me a miserable person. I suffered from this disease of complaining but I also passed it on to others, I’m sure, because complaining is a very contagious disease. That’s when I got smart and began to practice this 24-hour rule—and I do so to this day. I talk to myself and make myself obey the 24-hour rule—if it doesn’t matter in 24 hours, don’t complain about it. I challenge you to try it. I think it will work for you too. These five cures for complaining that I’ve given you are biblically based principles that will truly help you to become a more joyful, pleasant person, and you will be a better representative of Jesus Christ in every area of your life—and most especially where you work.

Can you think of someone you know who you would describe as a negative, complaining person? I’m guessing you probably can, but here’s the harder question: Would people who know you put you in that category of a habitual complainer? Well, even if you’re not totally consumed with complaining, you may have allowed a complaining spirit to creep into your mind and heart. I’m talking about how to cure the contagious disease called complaining. I gave you two important cures: Make thanksgiving a part of your everyday routine and adjust your expectations. I want to add a couple more suggestions: Stop trying to control the uncontrollable. Control freaks like me get very focused on fixing things and setting things straight. But one of the best gifts you can give yourself is to let go of that drive to control the uncontrollable. When you think about it, there’s not a whole bunch of things in life you can control except yourself, is there?  But my guess is that a lot of your complaining is probably about the uncontrollable things and people in your life. What a futile exercise that is! Here’s a good thought to keep in mind: If you will control the controllable—namely you—you will be able to cope with the uncontrollable. And you’ll stop complaining about all those things beyond your control. It will make a difference. Let go of yesterday and tomorrow. Much of the complaining you hear every day is about what happened yesterday or what might happen tomorrow. Jesus told us that we are not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. He reminded us that each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34). And yesterday is past history; you can never change it, so complaining about either yesterday or tomorrow is a pointless exercise. Live in today; focus on making today as good as you can, so you won’t have anything to complain about it tomorrow! Don’t you think that we often allow ourselves to get into the complaining pit without even realizing it, and before we know it, we’ve caught that destructive disease. But there is a cure and if you and I will just change a few of our bad habits, and ask God to help us, we can be set free from complaining.

Would you like to stop complaining? I have a message of great hope for you. You can be set free from the curse of complaining; you don’t have to continue to suffer from this very contagious disease. In fact, if you are a Christ-follower, you have been given a clear directive to get rid of complaining in your life. Philippians 2:14 puts it very simply: “Do everything without grumbling or arguing.” I pointed out that complaining can be addictive, and it can cause you real mental and physical problems. There is no doubt that you would be much better off if you would get rid of complaining, and because it is a contagious disease, everyone around you would be better off as well. So, how do you cure complaining? I have five powerful cures to give you. Make thanksgiving a part of your everyday routine. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 we read, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  It is God’s will that you become a thankful person; so put it on your to-do list; add it to your daily schedule. Thank God intentionally and continually throughout your day. And please make sure you begin each day with thankfulness. Make the first words out of your mouth—even the first thoughts in your head each morning—words and thoughts full of thanksgiving. You’ll probably have to train yourself to do this, if you’ve been in complaint mode very long. It is replacing bad habits with good habits, but if you are a Christ-follower, you have a mandate to give thanks in all circumstances, so I would just say, get with the program starting today. Adjust your expectations. If you’ve been expecting life to be fair and easy and you live under the assumption that everyone should march in your parade and do what you think they should do, you have unrealistic expectations. So, adjust to the fact that you don’t have a perfect job, a perfect mate, a perfect child, a perfect church. Life is just plain messy and it’s not fair. And if you’ve been thinking that life owes you a smooth journey, throw those thoughts out and determine to focus on the good things in your life instead of majoring on the negative ones. Remember, don’t complain about anything today.

Have you ever thought about the consequences of complaining? I mean, don’t most people consider complaining their right? Surely there’s something in our Constitution about free speech which says we have the right to complain about anything or anyone at any time—right?  In fact, anyone who doesn’t complain on a somewhat regular basis must not be normal! That’s how lots of people look at it. Well, I want to talk about this contagious disease called complaining, and I want to give you the antidote—the cure—for complaining. Here’s the facts about this very common and widespread disease: It affects your brain and your physical health in negative ways. When you indulge in complaining, it brings on a sense of sadness or melancholy, and causes real dissatisfaction with your life. There’s real proof that negative stress like complaining can also exacerbate chronic health problems, such as diabetes or asthma. It literally can increase your headaches, your joint pain, and be a major cause of depression. Now, I’m not talking about ignoring the negative issues of life. We don’t live in a perfect world, and we have to confront negative people and situations for the purpose of finding relief and solutions. So, I’m not suggesting that you “put on a happy face” and pretend nothing’s wrong. But I am advocating a change in your attitude toward complaining. I hope to convince you—if you are not already convinced—that complaining does you more harm than good and it is a contagious disease that causes lots of problems for lots of people. And, of course, the more important issue is that it keeps you from the joy that is yours when you are rightly related to Jesus Christ, by grace through faith, and you have chosen to follow Christ. The Bible tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength; habitual complaining destroys your joy and saps your energy, slowing you down and keeping you from doing what God put you here to do. But the good news is, we can cure this disease of complaining when we turn to the Lord for help and follow his principles. So, would you like to be set free from complaining?  Have you allowed it to have a place in your life so long that it is now almost an addiction?  Well, there’s hope for you.

Do you sometimes feel like you're pulled in two directions? It’s understandable if you do, because we know from the Bible that as believers we are to accept who we in Christ and be content with the way God has designed us. We know we’re not supposed to compare ourselves to others and envy who they are or what they have. We know we are each specially created by God like no one else and we should appreciate his handiwork in us. But on the other hand, if you’re like me, you also know there are many things about yourself that you should not just accept. We all have blemishes and defects and areas of failure. We look at others who seem to have it much more together than we do and feel we should be like them. In other words, we know there is much room for improvement and needed maturity in some areas. So, our dilemma is: How do we accept who we are when who we are is not all we should be? How can you believe that you’re really special just the way you are when you know, as I do, that you’re a long way from completion? It almost seems like mission impossible. It appears to be a paradox with no solution. On the one hand we’re admonished to rejoice and celebrate who we are and on the other hand, we’re daily aware of our inadequacies and shortcomings. Well, here's what I'm coming to understand: I truly must accept and be contented with who I am and rejoice in how God has created and gifted me. But I want to have a holy discontentment with where I am in my growth and maturity. Contentment and lack of contentment at the same time. Or you could say, accepting who I am but not settling for where I am. As God has given me this new understanding, it has greatly helped to clear up my misunderstandings and apprehensions. I can do both at one time—accept and appreciate who I am in Christ and continually strive to grow more and more into what I was created to be. Let's look at some specific areas where we often have difficulty accepting who we are, but where we must also never settle for less than we can be. Your Body The Bible says that each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139: 13-14). God fashioned us in our mother's womb, and he knew us before we were born. So, we should accept and be contented with how God's hands made us and formed us because God doesn't make mistakes. Do you have negative eyesight? You know what I mean? When you look in the mirror, do you see only  the negatives? Do any of these kind of thoughts plague you often: Oh, this hair; if only it were shorter or longer or thicker or thinner or blonde or brunette. Oh, this face; if I just had higher cheek bones, or could get rid of this double chin, or had a smaller nose. Oh, this body; if only I had longer legs, or thinner thighs, or smaller hips, or some kind of waistline! Now, tell the truth, don't we often tend to focus on the negatives. In our society we've been led to think that the thin, shapely female body is the only acceptable one. And I don't have to tell you the damage we've done to ourselves by swallowing this line of thinking. Anorexia and bulimia are two modern-day serious problems some women have because of their obsession with trying to make their bodies perfect. I want to encourage you to be contented with the body God has given you. God has his purposes for your body just the way he created it. I think of my dear friend, Fran, who is now with Jesus. She was just barely five feet tall. All her life she was the shortest one around. But you know, God used her size to enlarge her ministry. You see, because she was short and cute, her appearance was rarely threatening or intimidating to anyone. It made it easy for her to make friends—and she made friends with everybody. In two seconds she would have you laughing and know all about you and you would love her. Combined with her personality, that short statue was a tool in God's hands, and God used her in very special ways.

I've been talking about how to be content in a job you hate. Notice I didn't say "with" a job you hate, but "in" a job you hate. I believe there are times when you should actively pursue another job or another career, when the right thing to do is find a place to work which uses your abilities better or get more education so you can advance to better jobs, or simply find a better working environment. But if you're in a job you hate, however long you are going to be in that job, as a Christian, you should learn to be content in that job. The Apostle Paul said he learned to be content in any circumstance, and he was in some very bad situations. If he can learn contentment, so can we. Let me tell you the story of a woman in Wisconsin who found herself in a job she hated. It is a manufacturing job with repetitive and boring duties. She graduated from college with very good grades but found herself in this job that was beneath her. Finally, after hearing my message on “The Freedom of a Captive Mind,” she decided to change her attitude about that job and to think of it as her mission field. She began reprogramming her mind with Scripture, memorizing verses on the job, and singing songs of praise in that factory job. Her co-workers noticed the change in her. They began to ask her to sing her songs, and many times she was able to share the Scripture she was memorizing in conversations with different individuals. She started praying for her co-workers, and they began to come to her with their needs and ask her to pray for them. She was able to lead one of her co-workers to know Jesus as her Savior and has touched the lives of all who work with her. Yes, the work is boring, but it gives her time to memorize Scripture while working and that has been a wonderful healing process in her own life. She has found contentment in a job she hated because she has seen it through the eyes of eternity, and asked God to use her there. He is. I challenge you to ask God to change your attitude and make you content right where you are, so that you are a light shining in darkness in that corner of the world. (Click here to download the devotional for the entire week.)

If you find yourself in a job you don’t like, you need to know that you can learn to be content right where you are. And when you learn that, you are in a win-win situation, because you no longer allow yourself to be a victim of your job circumstances. If you want to learn to be content with that job you hate, ask God what he has to teach you through it. Have you gone to God and said, "Lord, I'm in a job I hate and I can't get out. Why am I here? What are you trying to teach me or do through me in this job?" You remember Joseph, sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers and treated unfairly and cruelly by his captors, wrongly imprisoned for two years for doing the right thing. Then God delivered him from that prison and he became second in command to the Pharaoh (Genesis 37-41). Joseph said of his bad experience that his brothers meant harm to him when they sold him into slavery, but God meant it for good (Genesis 50:20). Joseph allowed God to turn a terrible experience into a blessing. But please note that God was able to turn it into a blessing because Joseph was willing to let him. God may have you in that job you hate because he has a blessing there for you, but because of your attitude, he can't work that blessing for you yet. If Joseph had gotten bitter or remained angry or been rebellious, he would probably would have just rotted in that prison. Are you rotting in your miserable job because you haven't given God permission to use it in your life for good? Believe me, there are miracles waiting for you in that job you hate, if you will in humility make up your mind to work for God and seek his reward and look for the good that God wants to do for you and through you right where you are. You'll know contentment even in a miserable job if you have that attitude in you. It's the attitude that Jesus had when he was willing to leave heaven and come to earth to die for us. Surely it was a job he didn't relish, but he knew God would work redemption through it, and so he submitted to the good that God wanted to do by sending him to a job he did not enjoy.

Do you have a hard time making yourself go to work each day because you hate your job? As believers in the marketplace, we need to show an attitude toward our jobs that is different from the non-believers, and whether we like our jobs or not, we should learn to be content with those jobs as long as we have them. Paul wrote to the Philippians that he had learned to be content in any circumstance, and we can learn it, too. So, if you want to enroll in Contentment 101, here's the next lesson to learn: Work for recognition and reward but not earthly recognition and reward! The reality of most work environments is that expressions of appreciation and recognition are often few and far between. So, if you hate your job because you never get the recognition or appreciation you deserve, I've got great news for you. You can be content in that job you hate because when you work for the Lord, Colossians 3:24 says that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. You see, God has a recognition and incentive program better than any employer could ever dream up, and if you perform your everyday work duties as unto him, you're going to be recognized and rewarded by the Lord, whether your employer ever appreciates you or not. So, if you feel you're not receiving the earthly rewards you deserve, rejoice to know that you can be assured of a heavenly reward. If you're doing a good job and nobody says "thank you," just remember that someday you'll get the "thank you" you deserve from a higher level of management. That is, of course, if you're working for Jesus and not for people. So, if you're in a job you hate, you can learn to be content if you will live in the knowledge that your recognition and reward are coming from God. It's a big change of attitude, but the Holy Spirit has the power to make that change inside of you if you give him that permission. I pray you will.

Do you hate your job? Studies show that a large percentage of workers really don’t like their jobs. Maybe you hate it because it's boring, or because the people you work with are difficult, or because you have an impossible boss. Well, if you have a job you hate, here's what you do: Change employers. That's right—just change employers right now, today. You’re probably thinking, “But I can't just change jobs like that—today.” Oh, I didn't say change jobs; I said change employers. Paul wrote to the Colossians: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23). Did you realize you can change employers without changing jobs? Just say out loud, "I no longer work for that company or that person; I have a new boss. I now work for the Lord.” Keep that thought in your mind all day long as you're working and keep telling yourself over and over this truth: "I report to Jesus. Therefore, I must be careful how I act and I need to watch my attitude, because I report to Jesus." I don't care how tough your job is or how much you hate it, if you work for Jesus, if you consider him your boss, if you continually remind yourself that you will give an account to him as to how you have performed in your job, and furthermore, that he will reward you if you do a good job, you can be content right there in that job you hate. Believe me, I know because I've had to practice this myself. For three years I worked in a job I hated and wanted to leave. The first year there I did everything I could to find another job, and nothing happened. Finally, I realized God had me there for some purpose, and I decided to work for God, not for that company and not for that impossible boss. As soon as I changed employers, I was content in that job. And God taught me lessons for the next two years in that job I hated which I could not have learned anywhere else. He also used me to witness to others who worked there. But nothing good happened until I changed employers. If you've been working for an earth-person, or for yourself even, you've been working for the wrong person. Make this biblical principle a reality in your life today: Don't work for people or money or a company, work for Jesus. I promise you, you can be content in a job you hate if you work for the right person.

It could be that you have a job you really hate. If you could, you would quit tomorrow but you feel like you're in a prison because you need a job, you’ve got time and benefits invested in this job, and yet you hate the job. I can understand your feelings because I've had a job or two like that myself. But the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians: ...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.... I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:11-13). So, I want to talk about how to be content in a job you hate. You know, if you can learn this secret of being content, as Paul learned it, you can't lose because your fulfillment and satisfaction will not be based on circumstances—not based on whether you have a terrific job that you love or one that you really hate! Keep in mind that Paul had to learn this secret of being content, and so do you and I. So, are you willing to enroll in Contentment 101, and learn how to be content with your job? That's where it begins. If you're not willing to learn to be content, of course, you never will learn it. If you insist on saying, "I hate this job, I refuse to change my attitude toward this job, I could never be content with this job and furthermore I don't want to be content with it," then you've already prevented God from changing you and giving you a new heart and a new attitude. First of all, you have to give up your rights. Most of us think things like, "I don't deserve this job," or "I deserve to have a fulfilling job," or "It's not right that I have to work at a job that doesn't utilize my talents," or "I can't be expected to endure the kind of treatment I get on my job.” That's just our normal nature, which has been fed and fired up by our humanistic society, teaching us that we have our rights. That doesn’t mean that you’re condemned to a job you hate forever, but if you can learn to be content for as long as you are there, when you do leave—if you do leave—you will not be running away. You will leave in victory not defeat, and you will have learned how to be content even in a job that is certainly not your dream job. So, if you are willing to relinquish your “rights” to have the job you want and learn to be content where you are, you’re in for an amazing discovery. Think about that.

Are you in or staying in a job that you don't like? Mary Lowman and Lisa Bishop wrestle with what it looks like to have eyes to see what you can learn and stay well until things change.

I’ve made many decisions that were wrong, some more so than others. The worst decisions were the ones I knew were wrong when I made them. But there have been others that were not so intentional, just misguided. For example, financial decisions that were made too hastily and ended up costing me money. But I’m here to tell you that God remembers our frame and knows that we are dust, so it doesn’t surprise him to see how often we make wrong decisions. What must, however, break his heart is to see how we wallow in those wrong decisions and allow them to keep us living in guilt and despair instead of taking our medicine and going forward. What must break God’s heart is to see how we don’t learn lessons that we need to learn from our wrong decisions, and we keep making the same ones over and over. It must indeed grieve God to see that we don’t allow him to turn our deserts into gardens and our ashes into beauty. God can give you the grace to live with whatever bad or wrong decision you have made, even the ones that last for a lifetime if you will allow him to do that in your life. And you will be amazed at how you can find joy and peace and fulfillment and be used of God even though you’ve made some wrong choices and bad decisions. That’s the kind of God we serve. He has all power. He can do anything. Are you willing to let him take your wrong decision today and make something good out of it? Are you willing to stop using your bad choices as excuses for not going forward with God and being a blessing to others? Are you willing to allow him to put your past behind you so you can be all that God wants you to be? Are you willing to learn from those wrong decisions, so you don’t heap bad decisions upon bad decisions? If so, you can find a fresh start today, even though you may have to live with the consequences of your wrong decisions. (Click here to download the devotional for the entire week.)

Are you now living with the consequences of some wrong decision in your life? All of us face those consequences at times. Some of us perhaps made bad decisions out of ignorance. Obviously, if we had known where these bad decisions would lead, we wouldn’t have made them. But in most cases, it wasn’t that we didn’t know better; it was rather that we chose to ignore the potential consequences. Living with Wrong Decisions So, you’ve made some wrong decisions. What do you do now? Is life over? Is there no way back? Yes, of course—our God can give you a life of hope and ministry, if you first: 1. Own up to your wrong decisions. Don’t live in denial. Don’t keep shifting blame. Don’t try to ignore it. Don’t make up excuses. Just get it out in the open—first with God. Confess it to him. Then you may or may not need to talk about it with someone else. But call it what it is. 2. Refuse to live in despair. You serve a God of second chances—many second chances. You don’t have to live in despair, even over bad decisions that have affected your entire life. So: You married the wrong person. You had an abortion. You committed adultery or fornication. You spent money you should not have spent. You lied to your boss. You chose the wrong career. You went to the wrong school. You walked away from God and the church. You bought the wrong house. You ate the wrong food. You chose the wrong friend. You went to the wrong church. I don’t know what is on your list, but I know that God wants to make an example of how he can still be glorified, even in the midst of your wrong decisions. 3. Start where you are and go forward. Don’t wallow in the despair of your wrong decision. Here are two encouraging passages from Isaiah: Isaiah 51:3: The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing. Isaiah 58:11: The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

I’ve noticed how easy it is for us women to make wrong decisions when it comes to men. Bathsheba Bathsheba’s decision to have an adulterous relationship with King David was a very wrong decision. Was she intimidated by his authority? Or could she have been immensely flattered by his attention? We need to be aware that we women are often prone to make very bad decisions when it comes to men. Our natural desire to have a husband and family can become an obsession that causes us to lower our standards, overlook obvious danger signals and end up in illegitimate relationships or wrong marriages. I remember when a friend informed me of her engagement, and I rejoiced with her. She said, “He was well worth waiting for.” She was in her early thirties and had watched friends and family members much younger than her get married. There were times of pain and loneliness, but now she is so grateful that she waited for the right man that God had for her. I urge you to be extremely cautious about relationships with men. Don’t make decisions based on your emotions or your needs. The consequences of those wrong decisions affect the rest of your life. I’ve pointed out three women in the Bible who made wrong decisions, and they had to suffer the consequences. For Eve, it was banishment from Eden and a perfect life. For Sarah, she ignited an animosity between races that still troubles our world today. And for Bathsheba, she lost her good husband Uriah, whom David had killed. Then she lost the baby she and David conceived. Decisions always bring consequences. And when we don’t make good decisions, we cannot expect to avoid the consequences.

Did you ever wonder why the Bible records all the mistakes and blunders of even the good people? It’s because God wants to teach us how to deal with the mistakes and blunders of our lives. What wrong decisions have you made? Sarah Sarah made some bad decisions. You remember how she decided to give Hagar, her maid, to her husband so she could bear a child that would become Sarah’s child and the child God had promised to Sarah and Abraham. Sarah thought that God didn’t know about her biological clock, didn’t understand that she was beyond childbearing years. So, she decided to get what she wanted her way. But then, when Hagar gave birth to a son by Abraham, Sarah didn't like the decision she had made. She became extremely jealous of Hagar and the boy, Ishmael. So, what does she do? She heaps a bad decision upon a bad decision. She has Hagar banished along with Ishmael, and that began an enmity that has caused incalculable harm and pain since then. When you've made one bad decision, don't let your emotions cause you to make an even worse one in order to try to correct the bad decision. Sometimes you have to live with your bad decisions. Sarah needed to live with Hagar and Ishmael. That might have been uncomfortable at times, but it would have been a whole lot better than what she did. When we make a decision that affects our whole life—such as a decision to marry someone—the consequences of a wrong decision are even greater. I think of a woman I know who would probably say that her decision to marry her husband was not a good decision and her marriage has not been easy. But she has not heaped another bad decision on top of that decision. She has fought for her marriage, and while it may never be all she dreamed it would be, she has a marriage that works. Even your bad decision can be used for good by our incredible God.

What wrong decision are you now living with? I can assure you that I have made some wrong decisions along the way. Who hasn’t? So, let’s talk about living with wrong decisions. The Bible gives us examples of people who made very wrong decisions. Eve Starting with Eve: Her wrong decision is infamous. Eve was ushered into a perfect world. No pain, no relationship problems, no hard work, no stress, no bad hair days—nothing bad, everything good. Eve belies the philosophy that if we give people the right environment, they will be good people and do the right thing. In the midst of Eden, she made a very wrong, very bad decision—to eat the forbidden fruit. Why did she do this? Because she wasn't content with what she had. You see, we often think that if our circumstances were just more favorable, we’d be content. But I want to tell you this: If you’re not content with where you are now, you’re not likely to be content even if your circumstances improve. If you’re not content as a single person, you won’t be content as a married one. If you’re not content in the house you’re in now, you won’t be content in a bigger, better house. If you’re not content with your mate the way he or she is, you won’t be content with another one. If you’re not content in the job where you are now, you probably won’t be content with a better job. Contentment is a choice we make, not a set of circumstances. The Apostle Paul wrote: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances,” (Philippians 4:11b). and you can learn contentment, too. Any area of your life where you are not now contented is a potential danger area—ripe for bad decisions. With what or whom are you discontent? Your job? Your looks? Your financial situation? Your mate? Your lack of a mate? Your children or lack of children? If you don’t learn to be content, you will walk right into a danger zone and that’s when you are most likely to make bad decisions.

So many choices! Some small and routine and some pretty big ones. Join Mary Lowman and Lisa Bishop as they chat about choices you wish you could redo. We all have made choices in our life that didn't go well. Words we said that we can't undo, business choices that didn't go as expected, family/relationship choices that left painful memories. Mary and Lisa share some of their choices that didn't go as well as they could have and how they are growing in their choice making.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) Have you ever felt fearful, anxious, or depressed? Overwhelmed by darkness that seems to be surrounding you on all sides? There have been times in my Christian journey that have felt dark. Stretches of days and sometimes weeks or months when weariness has weighed on me. And uncertain and painful times when I have worked hard to muster up hope while clinging to God trying to remember his faithfulness. Have you experienced that? If you have been following Jesus any amount of time, there will come seasons in your life when the darkness will try to overwhelm you. It’s in those times that choosing a new perspective will pull you through. We don’t like dark seasons. They seem unfruitful and unproductive. But if you try to see darkness with new eyes it can produce hope. It reminds me of a seed. When you are trying to grow a new plant or tomato garden, what do you do with the seeds? You bury them! The hope of producing something beautiful and fruitful begins with being buried underground and surrounded by dirt. It’s in the darkness that over time the seed sprouts in the soil and starts to rise up, breaking through the surface. What was once buried becomes flourishing and fruitful. Our seeds of faith are similar. This is when you must choose to see the darkness as a time where God is with you and providing for you in every season, even in the darkness. Because that is who God is. He is provider. So that means that even in the most difficult times there is provision, but it will require a new perspective and hope in the waiting. Romans 8:26-28 (MSG) reminds us: “The moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” Just like the seed of the plant needs to be watered, nourished and exposed to sunlight, so does your faith. To fully experience the hope-filled perspective of dark seasons you will need to nourish your faith by spending time reading the Bible, receiving God’s love, rehearsing God’s truth, and praying prayers of thanksgiving. These practices will be the nourishment, protection, and provision you need for your faith to flourish. When you feel surrounded by darkness remember that Jesus is the one who is ultimately surrounding you, covering you and hemming you in on all sides. Seeds sprout in dirt. All you need is faith the size of a mustard seed. (Click here to download the devotional for the entire week.)

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) A few years ago, I was sitting in a coffee shop and there was a pen on the table that read, “Choose the pain of discipline over the pain of regret.” I think it was marketing a weight loss program but isn’t that a powerful statement that can apply to just about anything in life? The choices you make today will impact your tomorrow. And while the decisions and actions you choose today may be hard and require all of the strength, determination and willpower you can muster, they will ultimately lead to your future. Will you choose the pain of discipline over the pain of regret? All too often you can sell out to the pleasure of today and be left to deal with the consequences of your choices. It reminds me of one of my favorite verses, 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” Life will have its fair share of temptations. Whether it’s the temptation to lash out at your spouse, get angry in traffic, fall back on your word, or flirt with a married coworker. The temptation to fail to follow-through on a project or forgo your healthy eating and workout plan because binging on Netflix or a bag of potato chips just seems more satisfying in the moment. Now let me be clear, I have been known to binge on potato chips so you are not alone. The point is, we all have desired outcomes for our marriage, our careers, our relationships, our physical, mental, and spiritual health. Achieving the things you say you want will require sacrifice. Becoming the person God created you to be will require you to overcome temptations rather than choosing to let them overcome you. You will need to exchange the pursuit of instant gratification for the pain of discipline. Jesus will help you to master self-control rather than be mastered by lack of it. Don’t think you are going to be able to endure a temptation when you are in the heat of it without a plan of escape. Making decisions in advance of temptations is critical.  Avoid temptation when you can so you don’t get caught up in it. Don’t put yourself in situations that will lure you into compromise. And remember that when you are tempted, not if, when, God will also provide a way out. He gives you the strength and the will to choose to endure the pull of the temptation, to bear the weight of it but not be weighed down by it! Where is discipline lacking in your life? What new life-giving choices will you create in this new year? Choose the pain of discipline now over the pain of regret later.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) Are you speaking the language of heaven or hell?  “Grumbling is the language of hell.” That statement stopped me in my tracks. It felt so poignant, so in your face, so true. And grumbling comes directly from your disposition, your attitude. Philippians 2:14-16 says, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” So what is attitude anyway? It’s the mental state or position you take as it relates to your life, and circumstances surrounding you. Your attitude is not what you think but how you think it, and your attitude frames every event in your life whether you realize it or not. Out of your attitude flows your enjoyment of life and gratitude for all your blessings or your disappointment and anger at how things have turned out. Everyday your attitude is challenged by other people and by external factors. My attitude tends to be challenged when I am driving, when a coworker is getting on my nerves, or when someone is in the self-checkout lane at the grocery store with 50 items! Your attitude might tend to go sideways in similar ways or maybe it’s the weather that you let affect your attitude or the fact that it’s Monday… again. The point is, while you cannot control everything that happens in life you can control your attitude. You can choose your disposition on a daily basis. If you were to monitor your attitude, what would you notice? Is your attitude set on positive or negative? Glass half-empty or half full? Is your disposition dialed to joyful in all circumstances, patient, forgiving, sacrificial. Or is your attitude’s automatic response set to grumpy, impatient, bitter, critical, or self-serving? When things are not going as you planned or people are not acting in the way you want, how will you react?  Will you let a negative or inconsiderate person ruin your day or tempt you to lose your cool? Or will you be in control of your own internal weather? I am not saying it is always easy, but it is possible. You are the master of your internal world and you have a Master who will help you when you ask him, Jesus. As a matter of fact, Philippians 2:5 is an imperative for every follower of Christ. The apostle Paul says, you should have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. As ambassadors of Christ, we are called to be like Jesus. And a Christlike attitude will make a difference in you and enable you to make a difference in the world around you.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) Have you ever thought about the choices you make on a daily basis? Proverbs 18:21 says, “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose” (MSG). You choose. Now I know you are very aware of what it means to choose but here is a refresher. The dictionary definition of choose is, “​​To select from a number of possible alternatives; decide on and pick out. To determine.” I want to share that definition with you because I think sometimes it can be easy to forget that you have the ability to be selective about what you say. All too often you can find yourself saying everything you think before putting your words through a holy filter. Minding your words takes intention. Do your words—the things you say to yourself about yourself, the things you say to your co-worker, spouse, friend, neighbor—act as poison, bringing destruction and death to a soul? Or are your words life-giving to those who hear them? In the workplace it can be all too tempting to have loose lips that spew gossip, criticism, and complaining. When you are with your friends you can easily fall into the trap of dissing someone who is not around and talking behind their back. Don’t do that. You do not want to be the person dragging others down with their words. And if you find yourself in a group that is getting their kicks by criticizing others, run for the hills. Refuse to join in. Words are a slippery slope. In Luke 6:45, Jesus says, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” The words you say in your head and out loud reflect something deeper. They flow from what’s in your heart. If there is bitterness, greed, jealousy, pride, anger, superiority, or inferiority in your heart, your words will follow suit. But when there is love, joy, gratitude, peace, trust and confidence in Jesus in your heart, your words will be like fruit. Sweet and soothing to the soul. At any given moment you have a number of possible alternatives when it comes to choosing what comes out of your mouth. Choose your words wisely and remember that today you have the power to decide if you will bring life to the people you interact with or death. Choose life.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) If I were to plug into your mind, what would I hear? What thoughts do you find yourself playing on repeat? If your thoughts were a Spotify playlist, what would the title be? Think about it. You know, it’s been said that your thoughts determine your life. In other words, where your thoughts go, your life will follow. Where are your thoughts leading you? What thoughts do you find yourself dwelling on? What words do you find yourself regularly rehearsing? Are they life-giving, producing gratitude, hope, and peace? Or do your thoughts lead to worry, anxiety, perhaps even anger, self-pity, or self-defeat? There’s a quote that says, "Each day stand guard at the door of your mind." As challenging as it is, you have the responsibility to be the curator of the information you consume and the things you dwell on. Now it’s not possible to choose every thought that enters your mind: some will slip through the cracks. But you totally have the power to pick the thoughts you will allow to penetrate your heart and mind. So, stand guard at the door! Picture yourself like a bouncer at a concert venue. Be ready to kick out any thought that is not allowed a ticket of admission! When a thought enters your mind that does not align with God’s thoughts, ask God to help you give it the boot. Thoughts like: I will never amount to anything. I am a failure. I don’t have what it takes. God doesn’t really care about me. I am not lovable. I will always be alone. I will never measure up. I will always be stuck in this addiction. My life will never change These thoughts do not deserve renting space in your head and just because you think something, it does not make it true. Choose what you will focus on. Notice I used the word choose. Oftentimes I think we take the position of being a casual bystander of our thoughts, we leave our thoughts unchecked and let them consume us and ultimately rule us. We can get captured by our thoughts rather than holding our thoughts captive to Christ. Second Corinthians 10:5 instructs us to, “…Demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Subject all of your thinking to Jesus. Examine your thoughts to see if they align with God’s thoughts and choose to do something with the ones that are not well-pleasing to God before they enter your heart and become a part of you. In the next 24 hours, take inventory of your thoughts. Are they life-giving or life sucking? Are they worthy of praise or do they cause a panic? Being mindful of what you meditate on is a really important discipline as followers of Jesus.

Presented by Lisa Bishop When you are in a difficult season, it can be easy to let your trust waiver. It can be tempting to buy into the lie that God has forgotten about you; to think that God doesn’t really care and that the hardship, loss, or feeling of a lack of direction will never end. When fear of an unknown future causes anxiety or despair it’s a time you will find yourself at a crossroad, a point where you will need to make an important decision, a critical choice. Will you cling to God and trust him and his faithfulness? Or, will you lean on your own obstructed view, your limited understanding, and succumb to doubt and discouragement, maybe even despair? Now when I ask this question, I want to make it clear that throughout your Christian journey there will be many crossroads where your faith and trust in Jesus will be tested. Trusting Jesus in all circumstances is something we continue to grow in. It is a lifelong pursuit. In our perfectly curated social media world, we don’t talk much about the messiness of life—a failing marriage, faltering faith, being fired from a job. We see snippets of each other's lives and think that something must be wrong with ours because while we are dealing with overwhelming fears and anxieties, other people’s worlds look like the fantasy that we wish we were living. But trials and the messiness of life are part of being human. Sometimes we don’t want to be human. We want life to be perfect and it’s not. And after all, that is why we need hope and faith in Jesus, because you will have trials and the hardships of life will test you. James 1:2-4 reminds us: “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way” (MSG). Do you consider it a sheer gift when trials and testing, when waiting and uncertainty come your way? It is so hard to trust God in times of trial. We want to wiggle out of the discomfort and get relief from the pressure. We want God to answer us now because we can’t bear the weight of the unknown. Yet these hard places are the very times that your faith matures when you make the choice to trust, to persevere when your faith is tried. When I think about choosing to trust God in the uncertainty it reminds me of the Israelites and their journey to freedom. In the book of Exodus, we read about God’s freedom mission. The book of Exodus describes a climactic moment in the life of God’s people. It tells the story of the Israelite’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt by the Lord’s mighty hand. For 400 plus years the people of God were subjected to harsh labor conditions by Pharaoh. As you read the first part of Exodus you witness Pharaoh’s relentless refusal to let God’s people go even after God demonstrates his mighty power and brings several disasters in the form of plagues to Egypt. After the tenth plague Pharaoh finally agrees to release the Israelites and so begins their journey to the Promised Land. And then this happens next in Exodus 13:17: “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war they might change their minds and return to Egypt’. So God led the people around the desert road toward the Red Sea” (Exodus 17:17-18a).  Did you catch that? Here the Israelites have been in captivity for 400 plus years, they are finally getting their taste of freedom and God chooses not to lead them on the road that was shorter. He leads them around the desert towards the Red Sea. You and I have the benefit of knowing how the story ends, but the Israelites didn’t know that the reason God was taking them down a less than obvious path was because he knew what was ahead.

What parent hasn’t said to a small child, “Now, play well with your friends.” We try to motivate them to play with consideration, not to be selfish, to share their toys—to “play nice” as we say. Well, don’t you think we need to “work nice” with our fellow workers? Here’s one last suggestion for working well at work: Help others to find their greatness, to develop and use their talents and skills. This applies not only to those in management, but all of us can look for ways to help others grow in their job and become better at what they do. For example, if you are particularly skilled in some software program, and you recognize a coworker who is technically gifted, you could offer to coach them in that area. Not only would that benefit the new employee, but the growth of individual employees benefits the whole. The organization would be immeasurably better if we all simply helped others find their greatness, realize their potential. I think we would be shocked if we knew how much time, productivity and success is lost simply because we don’t share with each other. I remember reading an article about the terrible Columbia Space Shuttle disaster in 2003. They have determined that some of the technical issues that caused the disaster were a result of lack of proper communication between different specialties, an unwillingness to share knowledge and research. If that is true, it makes the tragedy so much worse, doesn’t it? Jesus gave us the greatest example of equipping others to succeed. He began with twelve unqualified men, he taught them, he role-modeled for them, and then after his resurrection, he sent the Holy Spirit to indwell them and empower them so that they could be all he intended them to be. He equipped them—and he still equips us today. If you’re born from above, you have the Holy Spirit indwelling you, and he gives you the power to work well with others, to love others, to be a true friend and a peacemaker even on your job. (Click here to download the devotional for the entire week.)

How often do you complete a goal or a project with no help from others? My guess is that rarely if ever do we reach our goals on our own. We receive help and cooperation, ideas and support from others, and that makes it possible for us to succeed. One of the basic things to remember is to share credit for accomplishments and ideas.  Have you ever seen someone who won a very coveted award, accomplished something truly outstanding, and as they were recognized, the first thing they said was, “I could never have done this without. . .” and then they started to name others who had contributed to their success. Well, you may never have an Academy Award moment, but there are so many other small moments in your day where you can share the credit and acknowledge the contribution that someone else has made. Do you ever thank your boss for helping you? Have you taken time to send an email to a coworker who went out of his or her way to give you some advice or share some ideas with you? I think we often just overlook these little things; we get too busy or we simply don’t realize how powerful “thank you” is. Recently I received a text from a friend saying simply, ”Mary I wouldn’t be here without you and all those years of helping to mentor me over the radio!” And she expressed her love. Those kinds of extra-mile expressions will go a long way to improving relationships. One of the things we try to do well here at The Christian Working Woman is to say “thanks.” So many people have partnered with us through the many years of this ministry, and I am very aware that we could never have made it without them—without you! I know that when people support us, they do it out of love for the Lord, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to know that we are grateful, and we appreciate their support. Proverbs 25:11 (ESV) says that “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” A fitly spoken word is “thanks” and it is beautiful. Believe me when I tell you—“thank you” is powerful and you can’t overdo it. Are you intentional about recognizing and thanking those you work with and for? It will go a long way toward improving your work relationships. Give it a try.

Would you really like to have better relationships on your job? I’m talking about what you can do—as one person—to improve the atmosphere where you work. We hear lots of comments about how difficult workplaces are these days. You may feel as though you are trapped in a job you don’t like and you have no hope of escaping because jobs are scarce or you have too much time invested, or whatever. I want to challenge you to try to improve the place you’re in. As a Christian, a true follower of Jesus Christ, your first priority is to represent Christ well where you work, regardless of the circumstances. I’ve made two suggestions for working well with others. Here’s number three: Never ambush your coworkers or boss. For example, if you bring up a problem in a meeting and it’s the first time your boss or the people involved have heard about it, then you have blindsided them and they may well interpret that to mean you’re trying to make them look bad. Always discuss issues first with the people directly involved. Not only will that prevent you from appearing to ambush them, but you’re likely to learn something that will give you a different perspective of the situation. Proverbs 18:17 (ESV) says, “The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.” We’ve all witnessed times when someone forcefully presented their case, expressed their opinion, pointed their fingers, and then when the facts were fully revealed, they were made to look foolish. In order to have really good working relationships, your coworkers and management must trust you. Trust is built over time, and the little things you do—or don’t do—on a daily basis will create a firm belief in the minds of your coworkers as to whether or not they can trust you. Are there not some people on your job that you simply don’t trust? Well, that should never be the perception our coworkers have of us, if we are disciples of Jesus Christ. It was said of Daniel that his coworkers “could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent” (Daniel 6:4b). A distinguishing mark of a Christian in a secular workplace should be that we never ambush others, and we are very trustworthy.

What can you do to make your workplace a nicer, friendlier place to work? I’m talking about working well at work—going the extra mile if necessary in order to create a better relationship with coworkers and management. I talked about the importance of not playing the blame game. Here’s suggestion number two: Always bring a solution when you present a problem. Anybody can complain and find fault, and there’s plenty of that going on in most work environments. But the person who brings a solution to a problem is very valuable. So, before you go into gripe mode, ask yourself, If I were in charge, what would I do to resolve this situation? Early in my career in sales with IBM, I remember my manager telling me, “We don’t have problems at IBM, Mary, we have opportunities.” Now, that may sound kind of corny, but truly if everyone approached a problem as an opportunity, it would eliminate most of the negative chatter and complaining that is prevalent in far-too-many workplaces. What would you identify as the number one problem where you work? What is the one thing you would really love to change, that you feel would truly make your working environment better? Maybe it would be something that would increase efficiency or productivity, or something that would eliminate a headache or a frustration. Identify that one thing, and then come up with a solution. If you can’t come up with a solution, then you certainly have no right to complain about it, do you? Maybe you’re thinking that no one would take your suggestion. But have you tried? And have you presented your idea in a constructive way? Many people predict failure before they even try, and of course, those become self-fulfilling prophecies. Proverbs 16:21 says, “The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.” When you present your solution to a problem, be very discerning about how you say it and make your words pleasant. That will help the other person to hear and to give credibility to your suggestion. But please also be aware that sometimes a problem is far more involved than you may know, and there may be extenuating circumstances of which you have no knowledge.

A recent study showed that if you have a good friend at work, you are much more likely to be satisfied with your job. How would you describe your work relationships? Do you just tolerate those coworkers, or would you count at least some of them as good friends? Your answer to those questions could have a lot to do with how you feel about your job. I want to talk about what you can do to work well with others, to make those working relationships more pleasant, indeed to form some close friendships where you work. Often the workplace brings out the worst in people, but as ambassadors for Jesus Christ, the workplace is our opportunity to shine as lights in a dark place, and even to change the atmosphere by learning how to work well with others. One person can make a difference, you know, so why shouldn’t that one person be you? Here is suggestion number one for working well with others at work: Don’t play the blame game. Shifting the blame for any situation is a big no-no. I’m not suggesting you take blame for something that was not your responsibility, but don’t alienate coworkers by pointing fingers, especially in a meeting or where multiple people are present. The biblical principle for solving issues between two people is very straight-forward: “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.  But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Matthew 18:15-16). Often problems must be addressed and those responsible must be identified and corrected. But the way you go about this will make all the difference in whether or not you truly help someone to correct a problem or just make a problem worse. It’s really smart to always confront privately, one-on-one, after you have had time to think it through, form your words, control your anger, and make sure you’re speaking truth in love—meaning you’re doing this for the good of the other person, not just to ventilate your frustration. You definitely could win a person over this way. And then remember, pick your fights. There are some hills that simply aren’t worth dying on, so be willing to let some things go.

We continue in the book of Ruth, where you notice that the consequences of Elimelech’s poor decision spilled over to his wife and his sons, who suffered greatly because they were in Moab instead of in Bethlehem, the Promised Land. When we decide to go out on our own and “do our own thing,” the consequences will spill over to others. You may be living with consequences of decisions made by others that spilled over to your life and caused you harm. So, what can you do to make sure that the destiny decisions you make in the future are good ones, part of God’s plan for your life? Here are some suggestions: Make good daily decisions. Don’t overlook the importance of what we might call “small choices, minor decisions.” Those choices we consider small add up, and they impact our lives more than we would think. For example, we choose each day whether we will spend quality time in God’s Word, in prayer, and in spiritual disciplines, like memorizing Scripture. If you make the wrong choice to skip that time one day, it may not have any serious short-term consequences. But if you keep making that small wrong choice day after day, it will soon add up to a choice with significant negative consequences in your life. Your everyday life is made up of little choices: Do I buy those shoes, even though they are not in my budget? Do I skip church today because I’m a little tired? Do I take time to call a friend who is hurting? Do I share my faith with a co-worker when I have an opportunity? Do I eat that chocolate cheesecake which I don’t need? Now, one day of poor choices may not take you down the wrong road, but repeated days of poor everyday choices will affect your health, your finances, your spiritual growth—you name it. Making good decisions at these daily crossroads of life requires discipline. In Proverbs 5 we see the lament of a person who refused discipline. At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent. You will say, “How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction!” (Proverbs 5:11-12). Your everyday decisions that may look small one at a time can add up to be quite momentous. Choose carefully the people who influence your life. Proverbs 13:20: Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. You may choose to allow a relationship to begin in your life, which you know will not be good for you, but you think it’s no big deal and you can handle it. However, that small choice opens the door for that relationship to develop and it could eventually drag you down and cause you lots of heartache. Take time to “stand at the crossroads and look.” When you’re facing a destiny decision, remember this passage from Jeremiah 6:16: This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Every time you’re faced with a choice, if you could see the end from the beginning, you would make much better choices. Often the reason we miss the right way is because we don’t stand at the crossroads and look. Instead, we go with our emotions, with our feelings, with our gut, with our momentary desires. How many Christians have stood at that marriage crossroads and made a choice to marry a person who was not God’s choice? They didn’t ask what this marriage would be like down the road. I was talking recently with a young woman who married a Muslim man, even though she is a Christian. He is a good man, but she knows it was not the right choice. I asked her why she made that choice, and she said, “I was blinded by being in love.” She didn’t stand at that crossroad and look for the ancient path, the good way. You must stand at the crossroads and look and ask God for an eternal perspective—what will this look like in eternity? That will prevent you from making some of those poor choices that you would later regret.

I’ve been focusing on the importance of the choices we make—our every day choices about small things and the larger ones that make a difference in the direction of our lives. This passage from Jeremiah gives some good advice about making choices: This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it’” (Jeremiah 6:16). Jeremiah is warning us against making decisions too quickly and making them without seeking God’s guidance. He says stand and look; think of what this decision will look like down the road. Don’t be deceived by the momentary glamor or attractiveness of this choice; what is it going to look like in a week, a month, a year—eternity? Then he advises us to look for the good way, the ancient path. That means take time to pray about it, seek godly advice if needed, ask God where the good way is. Often it’s not the way you may be intending to go. Interesting that in that day the people refused to choose the good way. They just said, “Nope, not going to go that way. I’m going my own way.” I can think of choices I’ve made where, in a real sense, I said the same thing—going to do it my way. And without exception, those choices were harmful; I didn’t find rest for my soul Could that be where you are at this point in your life? You’re facing a decision—a choice—and you just want what you want and you want it now, so you’re not asking for the good way, the ancient path that will lead you to soul rest. If so, I strongly urge you to stand at this crossroad in your life—this decision you are facing—and seek God’s way and then walk in it. You’ll never regret that choice. Or maybe you’re living with the consequences of choosing your way instead of God’s way. Let me encourage you to know that God hasn’t given up on you. He always has a plan to prosper you and help you, taking you where you are, even as you are living with those consequences, and making a way for you that leads to soul rest, to a renewed relationship with God through Jesus. It’s never too late to stand at the crossroads and choose the good way, the ancient path. (Click here to download the devotional for the entire week.)

Have you noticed that the Bible doesn’t spare telling us the whole story? We can learn from some of the people in the Bible who made some dreadful choices. David comes to mind, this man after God’s own heart. But his choice to call for Bathsheba, commit adultery, have her husband killed—all of those sordid details are in the Bible. I wonder how often David thought about the consequences of that terribly bad choice he made. He paid a very heavy price personally for that choice, and yet God still loved him and used him. On the other hand, think of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—those three young Jewish men taken captive to Babylon. They were commanded to worship the pagan statue that King Nebuchadnezzar made or be thrown in the fiery furnace. They had a choice to make. I love how they responded to the King: “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:16b-18). Just as these men chose to take that strong stand for their God, it’s possible that you will have to face some similar choices. You may be facing some fiery furnaces even now: instructions from your company that are not compatible with your faith; disrespect from family members or friends who condemn you for not going along with the culture; rejection from people who think you are weird because you stand strong for your biblical convictions. Will you choose, as these three men did, that you will not serve other gods? You will not give in to the pressure to abandon your beliefs, knowing as they did that you may indeed have to live with the consequences of your choice? Are you determined by God’s grace to take the “even if he does not” stand for Jesus?

This passage from Proverbs 8 gives some good advice about making choices: Proverbs 8:10 - 11 Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Choosing the instruction of wisdom over riches is both biblical and smart. According to this proverb, nothing you desire can compare with acquiring wisdom. Are you focused and intentional about learning to be wise? And how do you choose the instruction of wisdom? Well, another proverb says, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverbs 13:20). So, you choose to closely associate with wise people; you are careful who you allow to influence you, who you listen to. As Christ-followers, we don’t isolate ourselves from the world, but it is extremely important who we “walk with,” making sure our instructors are biblically wise. Another proverb says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6). And, of course, God’s wisdom—the words from his mouth—are given to us in the Scriptures and through prayer. In fact, James writes: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5). Have you ever taken that promise seriously? I remember some years ago when I had to make a rather quick decision about an important matter, and afterwards I remember thinking, Wow, can’t believe I made such a good decision. Then the Holy Spirit quietly reminded me that I had been consistently praying for wisdom and God answered my prayers. The Lord gave me wisdom—and continues to when I intentionally look for wisdom in his word and pray for wisdom. Becoming wise is a choice you make. It takes some discipline and effort, but it is one of the smartest disciplines you will ever incorporate into your life. Choosing wisdom keeps you from much regret and heartache.

Can you think of some choices you’ve made—maybe even recently—that you would like to do-over? Choices have consequences, that’s for sure, so I want to remind you of some biblical principles about choices. This one from Joshua is no doubt the most important choice we make: “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Joshua puts it to the people of Israel that they have a choice as to who they will serve, the Lord God or some false pagan god. That was a default choice. If they don’t choose to serve the Lord God, they will by default serve a false god. One or the other. We have default choices, too. Failing to make one choice means you are choosing another choice by default. If you have made a choice to be a Christ-follower, to serve the Lord, then that means you are choosing not to serve other gods, gods of your own making, gods of our culture. Jesus made it clear that we cannot serve God and money—or other things that can crawl up on the throne of our heart. Joshua began by saying “if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you” because sometimes it may seem “undesirable”—not easy. For example, serving the Lord on your job could require taking a stand that isn’t politically correct, which could have unpleasant consequences for you and your career. So, you have to decide in advance that serving the Lord is desirable—is your choice. Joshua took that stand—"we will serve the Lord,” he said. In our culture today, I believe we as Christ-followers will need to decide in advance—make a determination and commitment in our minds and hearts—that we choose to serve the Lord. We choose to stand true to God’s Word. That is the most important choice you and I will ever make. Like Joshua, we should make that a firm decision in our minds, and a choice we reinforce and re-commit regularly. Can you say, “I choose to serve the Lord—no matter what”?

How many choices do you think you make in a normal day? You probably would never guess 35,000 choices a day, but various sources estimate that an adult makes 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day. This sounds a bit absurd to me and I’m guessing it does to you as well, but when you think about all the choices you consciously and subconsciously make, you realize it’s a lot more than you might guess. You have been given a free-will to make a multitude of choices in life about: what to eat what to wear what to purchase what you believe what jobs and career choices you will pursue who to spend your time with who you will date and marry what you say and how you say it Not to mention all the choices you make for others—as a parent or a manager or a spouse! The list could go on and on, and each choice carries its own consequences—some good, some bad, some neutral. This ability to choose is an incredible power that we have each been given by God and our challenge as Christ-followers is to be sure we are choosing according to biblical principles. Our choices pile up on each other over our lifetime, and if you get into the habit of making poor choices, that can take you to outcomes you really don’t want. But the good news is, you can establish good habits of making good choices and that means your life can go in a much better direction. Some things to consider about your approach to making choices: Watch out for impulsive choices. They are often based on emotions or lack of adequate information and end up not so good. Watch out for procrastination—putting off choices that need to be made now. Procrastination is a deadly bad habit that needs to be purged and forsaken. Watch out for making choices to please other people, or choices just because they are popular. Those choices are often not in agreement with biblical principles. Your approach to how you make choices—big and small—is the first important thing to consider because a good approach will lead to good outcomes. I want to point out what the Bible teaches us about making choices, and we’ll look at some people in the Bible who make really good choices and others who didn’t. It seems like a good thing to consider as we begin this New Year.

What are destiny decisions? Destiny decisions are those decisions we have made or we are yet to make which changed or will change our destinies. They are choices and decisions we make that take us to a different destiny, and most often we don’t even recognize how impactful that destiny decision was until we look back in retrospect. No doubt you can think of some “destiny decisions” you’ve made in your life that, in retrospect, you see that they changed the destiny of your life. And no doubt you’d like to do some of those decisions over! New beginnings has an appeal for us, does it not? Just the idea of starting all over again, making better choices, taking a different path, avoiding the mistakes we made, wiping out the past. It just sounds good. Or maybe we’d just like something new and exciting in our lives. Something to liven things up and put a little “jazz” in our lives. During the restless years of my life, when I was wandering far from God, I was always looking for something new to perk me up. My first choice was a man, but if no man was around, then some new clothes or a new adventure—go somewhere for fun. I changed jobs three times because I was restless and was looking for something new to make life more interesting, more exciting. I remember that Saturday nights were particularly difficult for me. I never wanted to sit home on a Saturday night. I mean, if you were sitting home alone on a Saturday night, something must be wrong with you—that’s what I thought. So I always made plans for Saturday night, looking for something or someone who would fill my life with interest or excitement. Sometimes people look for changes in their lives to get out of a bad situation. They’re in a job they don’t like, so they look for a new one. They’re married to a person who doesn’t suit them, so they have affairs or get divorced. How many people do you know who have made terrible decisions because they simply wanted to get out of a bad situation? True, sometimes we need to get out of some situations we’re in, but if we move in haste or without God’s guidance, then we can make the wrong decision and choose the wrong road. The Bible tells us of people who made poor destiny decisions. People like Eve and Esau, Sarah and Judas. Case Study: Elimelech There is another story in the Bible of a man who was looking for a change. His name was Elimelech, and he was a citizen of Bethlehem, somewhere between 1200 and 1300 B.C., in one of the most tumultuous times in Israel's long, troubled history. Ruth 1:1 – 2: In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab.The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there. Elimelech made a destiny decision: He took his wife, Naomi, and their two sons, and moved from Israel to Moab, a neighboring nation. I'm sure he must have given it much thought and decided that a geographical change was exactly what they needed in order to survive. He had what would appear to be a good reason. There was a great famine in his land and he was having difficulty feeding his family. It would seem a good plan to human logic. Yet when Elimelech left the borders of the Promised Land, he left the protection and provision God had promised to his people. On Our Own Terms What Elimelech did is one of those things we are all sometimes inclined to do under the stress of circumstances; we are tempted to step outside of God's promise and seek solutions to our problems on our own terms. The Bible says, "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death." (Proverbs 14:12). It looked right to Elimelech—going to this new place—but it brought him and his two sons actual death.

I complete this series on words of wisdom for the workplace with: We should always strive to bring out the best in others, not the worst. Often we can bring out the best in others by giving deserved compliments or recognition—focusing on the positive in them rather than the negative. So often others will improve their performance or their attitude if someone just gives them a little recognition or praise. You can bring out the best in others by commending them when you can. In Proverbs 15:30 we see that a cheerful look brings joy to the heart. You can bring out the best in others by something as simple as a smile. Proverbs 12:18 says, “…reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” And Proverbs 15:1a tells us that, “A gentle answer turns away wrath.” It's easy to see that the words we speak can either bring out the worst or the best in people. If you respond to someone with sharp and uncaring words, in a rushed or hasty manner, it can easily cause them to respond in a poor way. But by choosing your words carefully, it's amazing how you can change that other person and bring out the best in them. When you're dealing with someone who is angry or upset, your goal should be to bring out the best in that person. You can do that by being empathetic and sympathetic: "I'm so sorry you've had a problem.”   Or "I can certainly understand how you feel.” You can help to calm someone down by controlling the tone of your voice, keeping it calm and kind. You can bring out the best in an angry person sometimes by simply listening and caring about the problem. Those are little things that bring out the best in people. Don't you think we could impact our worlds for Jesus Christ if we more and more became people who bring out the best in others? Ask God to make you that kind of Christian. (Click here to download the devotional for the entire week.)

Change is the one thing you can always count on, they say. And yet change is one of the most difficult things for us to accept. I’ve been giving you words of wisdom for the workplace, daily nuggets from God’s Word to remind you of his principles as you face various situations at work. And one of those situations is change! A. W. Tozer wrote: "We rest in Thee without fear or doubt and face our tomorrows without anxiety.” Do you face your tomorrows without fear or anxiety? I find that the great majority of us live in fear of change: What will I do if this happens? What will happen to me if that happens? Where will I go if this doesn't work out? Who will be there for me if he or she leaves me? How can I learn to cope with these changes in my lifestyle or my job routine? One of the greatest attributes of our Mighty God is that he never changes. Change happens when things improve or when they decay. But God has no need for improvement, and he cannot be less that what he is already. Therefore, he has no need of change and he's promised us that he never will. Oh, what comfort and peace this should bring to our hearts, as we live in this world where change is the only thing you can count on. It was when I was facing a very uncertain future, with many changes ahead, that I learned the joy and comfort of trusting in a God who never changes. My first reaction was to go into panic mode, but after spending time with God, I started clinging to the promise that he will never change. As I have faced more changes in my life, I am more confident than ever before that my days are written in God's book and nothing is out of control. One thing that can never change is God's love and his presence in your life, and as long as you can be certain of that, you can accept the other changes you may face. Dear friend, if you're facing some changes today, some unknown paths ahead of you, be confident of this: Your God will never change, and he has promised never to leave you or forsake you. Constantly remind yourself that he's the same yesterday, today and forever. Whatever changes come your way, they cannot destroy you because he is your refuge and strength, and that will always be true no matter what happens.

The good word for the workplace today is: Learn to stay positive even in a negative environment. You know, many times you can go to work feeling really positive and up, but you leave in a negative, complaining mood. What are the things in your working world that cause you to have a bad attitude? It can be co-workers or management who irritate you, who cause you unnecessary problems, who don't do their share of the work, or who are very negative people themselves. Most of us have some of those people in our life. Or perhaps there are times when you have an impossible amount of work to accomplish, or difficult deadlines or pressures, or unrealistic expectations, and that certainly can bring you into negative territory. Perhaps it's your environment: The temperature is not right, or it's drab and dreary, or noisy and hectic. Whatever these things are which tend to make you negative rather than positive, you need to identify them. Then, look at those things and ask yourselves three questions: Can I confront this situation and try to change it? I find that most people gripe and complain without making the first effort to find a solution. They give up without trying. I don't think you have grounds for complaint unless you've at least tried to find a solution. Is there some way I can compensate for this situation? For example, if you have a dreary office, how can you perk it up? Maybe plants and posters will help. Ask yourself what goes with your territory. Every job, every industry, every profession has certain aspects which simply go with the territory, and those you must learn to accept without allowing them to bring you down. Think about the things that make you negative and ask God to give you the grace and wisdom to rise above them and be the positive person you need to be for his glory.

What’s the good word today? That’s a cliché we sometimes use. Well, I have good words for you, words of wisdom for the workplace, right from God’s Word. So, here’s our word of wisdom for today: Learn to overlook insults or hurtful words. Have you ever been insulted? It's not much fun, is it? Not too long ago, I discovered that someone had insulted me, and I struggled with it quite a bit. But God showed me some good lessons out of his Word about how to handle an insult, and I'd like to share that with you today. I was upset about that insult; it had hurt and I wanted to retaliate. I wanted to let that person know they had hurt me. I wanted to make them feel badly about it. Can you identify with those reactions? Then I read Proverbs 12:16, which says "Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.” I knew God wanted me to overlook that insult. But I thought, "That's not fair. They shouldn't be allowed to get away with it." But I couldn’t deny the clear word from God to overlook that insult. That was the first thing I learned about handling an insult. Secondly, I had to get it out of my mind, because I found I was thinking of it continually, and it was keeping me from getting anything done, it was keeping me upset, it was doing me harm. So, I had to attack the thought patterns and bring them back in line. Then I asked God to show me what I could learn from this insult, and amazingly, there was a number of good lessons for me that God made clear through his Word. So, if you've been insulted lately, I recommend this procedure to you. Number one, overlook it. Act as though it never happened. Number two, push it out of your mind every time it starts to come back in. And number three, ask God to teach you a specific lesson from the experience. Then, the whole unpleasant episode will not have been fruitless. You will have grown and learned through it.

I want to give you some words of wisdom for the workplace. First words of wisdom: Talk to yourself in encouraging words, not negative ones. In Psalm 41 and 42 you will notice this phrase is often repeated: "Why are you downcast, O my soul?   Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”   Evidently the writer was struggling with depression, with discouragement, with the blahs, just like you and I struggle from time to time. And he talked to himself as a way to speak the right words into his mind and turn around his wrong thinking. In verse 6 of Psalm 42, we read, "My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you...”   Now this is a very good technique and habit for all of us to learn. When you feel down, you should then force yourself to remember and recite out loud God's goodness to you in times past. Are you having a tough time today? Then, stop right now and talk to yourself; find some place where you can say something like, "Look, Mary, what is your problem? The God of all the Universe loves you and cares for you, he has met your need time and again.” I noticed in Psalm 42 and 43 that the writer also verbalized his doubts. "Why have you forgotten me. Why have you rejected me?” He voiced those doubts and questions out loud to God, but immediately he came back to the truth of praising God and hoping in God. When I find myself doubting and questioning God, I try to voice those to him out loud. "Lord, I feel as though you're not there. BUT I know better Lord. THEREFORE, I trust you, I place my hope in you. You are my Savior and my God." So, talk to yourself. I believe it's a Scriptural principle we need to incorporate into our lives to help us find victory in those everyday ups and downs of life.

Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” One translation says, “redeeming the time because the days are evil.”  So, on this last day of 2022, I want to talk about “redeeming the time.” First, I want to tell you what I am not going to talk about: New Year’s Resolutions – I promise, I will not even mention them again because we all know that generally we don’t do so good by them, do we? They come and go pretty quickly, so I won’t even talk about them. Setting New Year Goals – Not going to talk about goals for the New Year. Oh, it’s not that we don’t need goals to keep us on track, but that’s not what I’m talking about today. Going on a Diet – I promise, I won’t mention it again! Turning Over a New Leaf – not today. Won’t talk about that today. Just going to remind you that none of us has unlimited time left on this earth. Our days are numbered, only God knows the number, but there is a number and as people often say—when your number is up, your time on earth will be up. So, we need to think about what it means to redeem your time because as Christ-followers, we will be held accountable for the use of our time. Does that mean we should work all the time, chalk up lots of hours doing things, make sure we punch our imaginary time clocks and try to impress God and everyone else that we are busy? I don’t think so. But what does it mean to “redeem the time”? Well, when you redeem something, you buy it back so you regain possession of it. So, to me, redeeming time means taking stock of where I’m wasting time and getting it back. It is recognizing that you and I have been given a gift of time from God, and God wants us to live in continual awareness that our time is passing—and passing quickly—and it will be gone and wasted if we don’t redeem it—make the most of it. Jesus said this to his disciples: “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4 ESV). He certainly was aware that his time on earth was limited and he wanted to be sure that he redeemed that time by doing the works that God his Father sent him to do. He was the best at making the most of every opportunity. And you know, that meant he had to say “no” sometimes. He chose to take on human flesh and limit himself to a body like ours, so he had to make choices about the way he spent his time while here on earth. Remember the time he told a man that he could not arbitrate an argument he was having with his brother? He said he was not sent to do that, so he didn’t. That’s redeeming the time. The disciples at one time had a crowd waiting in one town, expecting him to come speak to them and heal them as he had been doing, but he simply told them that it was his job to go to other towns. He said “no.” Are you good at saying no? I must admit that I am not. And that can keep you from making the best use of your time because none of us can do everything we might like or want to do. Redeeming the time is making better and better choices of how you spend your time. Someone said that we don’t drift toward righteousness. When you drift in a boat, for example, you just let the boat go wherever the water takes it. No directing the boat in the right direction, but just letting it drift. That’s easier than rowing the boat, fighting the waves, trimming the sails, but it won’t get you anywhere. When you drift in your spiritual life, that’s when you just let life and its circumstances take you where they will. You don’t do the intentional and sometimes hard work of staying alert, being disciplined, steering your life in the direction it should go. So, you drift away from righteousness, not toward it. Sadly, I think that’s the plight of many Christ-followers. They never intended to fall away from their commitment to Christ, but they just started drifting, letting things go,

This is program number 9205. For 9205 days, or over 1800 weeks, I’ve been broadcasting this daily edition of our program. These milestones cause me to stop and think about God’s goodness to allow me this privilege all these years. But milestones should also cause us to stop and measure our progress. I’ve been talking about measuring our spiritual maturity, and I can’t help but ask myself at this program marker, have I grown as a Christian over these many years, as I should have? Does Jesus say to me, “You’re big for your age, Mary,” meaning I’ve pressed on and learned and grown up in Christ? Or does he say, “You’re not where you should be after all these years”? Dear friends, it is so important that we regularly and sincerely take stock of our spiritual progress and make sure we’re doing the things we should be doing so that we are growing up in Christ, not remaining babies, not mired down in the past, not making the same mistakes we’ve always made. Here are some questions to ask yourself to measure your spiritual maturity, based on what we’ve talked about: Is your tongue more under control today than it was a year ago, two years ago? Do you think before you speak, choose your words carefully, and just simply stop talking so much? Are you motivated to serve Christ out of a pure heart, just to please him, or are you trying to please people and gain their approval? Do you love God’s Word more than you used to? Are you spending more time studying it? Is it more and more the true bread of your life? Do you ever memorize some of it? Are you allowing your past to keep you from growing up in Christ? Are you living in bitterness or regret, which keeps you from pressing forward for the good things God has for you? And most importantly, are you loving Jesus more and more with each passing day? Do you frequently and fervently thank him for what he has done for you? Does it break your heart to think that you have broken his heart through disobedience? I urge you to measure your maturity; ask God to show you where your growth is stunted, and then do the things you need to do to grow up in Christ. That is where the abundant life is; that is where you will regain the joy of your salvation and know the peace that passes understanding. (Click here to download the devotional for the entire week.)

On a scale of one to ten, how would you measure your spiritual maturity? As far as I know, there are no scales for measuring spiritual maturity, but there are biblical mile-markers that can tell us if we are growing up in Christ as we should be. In Philippians 3 Paul talks about his own growing-up process, saying “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (verse 12). Becoming mature in Christ is a process, and we must be intentional about pressing on. The Apostle then says, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me. . .” (3:13b-14). Notice that he keeps talking about pressing on, never giving up, always striving to be all that God has created him to be in Christ Jesus. I believe one of the sure signs of our spiritual maturity is whether or not we truly press on, to put our past behind us and to go for the goal—the good works God created us to do. The enemy of your soul would love to keep you mired down in your past. If he can saddle you with regrets, with bad memories, with bitterness, with anger—any or all of those—as you dwell on your past, then he knows you’ll never grow up. Whether your past is filled with your own wrong choices and their consequences, or with unfair treatment or abuse of some kind, living in the past will cripple you and your spiritual growth will be stunted. In Isaiah 43 the Lord says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (18-19). Dwelling in the past causes us to miss the new things God has for us, and we are then stuck in our wildernesses and wastelands, never growing into the fullness of what Jesus died to give us. If your past has you mired down, I pray that you will press on, and with God’s help, put that past behind you, so that you can perceive the way that God is making for you.

We often measure our growth in many areas of our lives, such as skills we’ve acquired, experience we’ve gained, education we’ve acquired, and we’re quick to update our resumes, so to speak, and let the world know how we have grown. But how often do we take time to measure our spiritual maturity and growth? The writer to the Hebrews is warning them about falling away from the faith, and he writes: “We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (5:11-14). This is a real measure of spiritual maturity—whether or not we are eating solid food or we’re still living on milk. What does that mean? It means that if you’re living on milk, you’re still a baby Christian and you’re not growing in your knowledge of God’s Word. Obviously, this is directed to those who have been Christians for a while, who ought now to be ready to teach others, but instead still need to learn the elementary truths of God’s Word. You can measure your spiritual maturity by how much you really desire to get into the Word of God, to know it at deeper and deeper levels. I think of a friend in my class at church who is so thrilled because she has the opportunity to take some college-level Bible classes and learn more. She just beams as she tells me how much she loves these classes and how she is learning so much. I have watched her grow up to maturity in Christ because she has an insatiable desire to know God’s Word, and she makes it a high priority. If your Bible is hardly ever open from one Sunday to another, if you’re not regularly involved in a Bible study of some kind, if you are still in “elementary school” when you ought to be in “college,” then you’re still a baby in Christ, and you need to grow up. As I look back over my life, the years I lived in disobedience to God’s principles were the years I almost never opened my Bible. The Bible will keep you from sin, and sin will keep you from the Bible. So, how do you measure up?

Have you ever said to someone, “Oh, grow up!”? Surely there are times when we want to take someone by the shoulder and say, “Oh, grow up!” I’m just wondering if God ever wants to say those words to me—or you. I’m talking about how we can measure our spiritual maturity. Are we growing up in Christ? The Apostle Paul addressed this issue of maturity as he wrote to various churches. In Ephesians 4 he wrote that we should all “reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants. . . instead. . . we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ” (4:13 – 15). What are some measures of our maturity? I first pointed out that our words reveal our maturity. A mature Christian is one who controls her tongue. Another measure is our motivation. What is it that motivates you to serve Christ? King David gave a strong exhortation to his son, Solomon, who would take the throne after him. We read in 1 Chronicles 28: And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought (verse 9a). We can put on a good front and fool others, but we can never fool God. He knows our thoughts and our motives. This is an area that I often think and pray about, because I am well aware that I rarely, if ever, have totally pure motives. I want to, but tucked way underneath, in my heart of hearts, I often have to admit to pride, wanting the praise of people, doing what I do because it makes me feel good. I have finally come to the conclusion, that this side of heaven I’m not likely to ever have completely pure motivation, but as long as I’m aware of it, praying about it, and desiring to serve God out of a pure heart, he will know and understand. And he will reveal my wrong motives and help me to grow up in this area. So, another strong measure of our spiritual maturity is our motivation—why we do what we do. Check it out.

As we close out this year of 2022, it might be helpful if we measured our faith to see how mature it is. So, I want to suggest some biblical ways you can measure your maturity and find out if you’re growing up in Christ as you’d like to be. Our bodies mature on us, whether we like it or not, but spiritual maturity is not something that just happens. We have to be intentional about growing more mature spiritually. So, if we could measure spiritual maturity, how would you measure up? We sometimes say of children “he’s big for his age,” meaning his physical statue is larger than most boys his age. Could anyone say that about your spiritual statue? Are you big for your spiritual age? Or is your growth stunted? When we recognize that our child is not as mature as he or she should be in some area, we go to a specialist and try to figure out why our child is smaller than she should be, or slower, or less active. Don’t you think we should be equally sensitive to our own spiritual maturity, and recognize areas where we need to “grow up”? One way to find out how much you’ve grown in your faith walk is to pay attention to what comes out of your mouth—to measure your words. The book of Proverbs has lots of good advice about controlling our tongues, and in chapter 17 it gives us a clear measure of our maturity: The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues (17:27-28). Measure your maturity by whether or not you are restrained in what you say. That simply means you think before you speak; you ask yourself, “How would I feel if someone said that to me?” You consider whether you need to say it or not. You remember Ephesians 4:29, which says to let nothing unwholesome come out of your mouth, and therefore you use words with restraint. This is one of the most important measures of maturity, because until we learn to control our tongues, we remain in that immature stage, we’re not where we should be, and we need to start growing up. Make it a matter of prayer and ask God to help you control your tongue.

Mary Lowman, Lisa Bishop and Julie Busteed talk about what it is to be generous.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) Are you a generous person? Proverbs 11:24-25 tells us, “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Be generous, your world expands. Be stingy, your world shrinks. Bless others and be blessed, help others and receive help.” It’s the concept of reaping and sowing. God challenges us to be generous because he wants us to receive the blessing that comes from it. We are generous because God is generous. Generosity is really a mindset. It’s an attitude of heart, a way of being, a lifestyle from which your thoughts, words and your actions flow. In Luke 6:38 Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” When you are generous it flows from a faith and trust in God’s provision and his generosity towards you. When you are being generous you push past the barriers of your comfort zone and go above and beyond, whether you are giving of your time, your service, your hospitality, your financial resources. You don’t live from fear of not having enough. Our culture today feeds our individualistic and consumer mindset and tries to get us to believe that we always need more, we will never have enough; and that can keep us gripping tightly to what we do have. As followers of Jesus, we live in light of biblical principles and God’s economy and from the truth that we have a generous God who calls us to imitate him. Where have you been stingy? How have you been holding back? How is God calling you to live a lifestyle of generosity? What are the serving needs in your church and how can you be generous with your time? How can you generously give of your financial resources to support ministries in and outside of the church? Who is a friend, family member, or neighbor that has a need you can graciously meet? Remember that God will supply all of your needs and that you get to be the hands and feet of Jesus by supplying the needs of others. So, let’s be like Jesus and live generously. (Click here to download the devotional for the entire week.)

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) When was the last time you encouraged someone? I mean, more than a “good job,” or a pat on the back. Not to say those are not meaningful. But when was the last time you told someone what you valued about them and showed them genuine appreciation? Not too long ago I was feeling a bit discouraged in my ministry. I was really questioning if my life and my work in that season was making an impact. Have you ever wondered if what you are doing is making a difference, adding value for others? As those questions were stirring in my head I just so happened to head to the mailbox, and to my surprise there was an envelope addressed to me. I eagerly opened it to find a handwritten note from a woman specifically sharing how her life had been impacted by my ministry. Now I am not saying this to boast about myself. I am sharing this as a reminder that we all need a boost of encouragement from time to time. First Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Encourage one another and build one another up, just as in fact you are doing.” The definition of encourage is, to inspire with hope, courage, or confidence. Paul is talking about encouraging one another in our faith yet this idea of encouragement can be applied to various people and various circumstances in life. When I was asking God about my ministry and questioning if I was in the right place, I felt like that handwritten note was an answered prayer and a reminder that God sees me. The reality is, God uses people. He uses you to encourage others and spur them on. As followers of Jesus, we have the privilege and the responsibility to build each other up. Who can you share an encouraging word with? Maybe it’s a co-worker and you can point out what you value about working with her. One interesting statistic is that 75% of employees who quit their jobs cite lack of appreciation as a key factor in their leaving. So maybe it’s encouraging a co-worker. Or, maybe it’s your spouse. Perhaps you have been taking what they do for granted and you want to share what you appreciate. It can be a friend, a parent, a neighbor, or pastor. To whom will you take the time to write a handwritten note, stop by the office or make a phone call to encourage? I have a plant on a shelf in my living room that I often forget to water. Sometimes it can look a little wilted but when I water it, it perks right up. Consider that your encouragement is like that watering can. A bit of encouragement poured out can nourish a soul.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) If you were to take inventory of your words over the past 24 hours, would they fall into the “generous” category? The dictionary definition of generous is, “Free from meanness or smallness of mind or character. Abundant. Characterized by a noble or kindly spirit.” If you were to monitor your words, are they mean or kind? Are they generous? Proverbs 16:24 says, “Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Do your words bring health to others? Are they sweet to people’s souls? Are the words you speak to yourself about yourself sweet and kind? I was having dinner with a dear friend the other day. She was sharing all of the negative thoughts about herself that she has been ruminating on, the condemning and critical words about herself that are on repeat in her head. She made an interesting connection to the lies she believes about herself and how that impacts her words and actions towards others. It's so true when you think about it. If you have negative self-talk, it will impact the way you show up with and behave towards others. You may come across insecure, impatient, unforgiving and judgmental. What you say about yourself to yourself impacts the way you are with others. What are the unkind words you believe about yourself and speak to yourself? What mean words do you find yourself thinking about or saying to others? Proverbs 18:21 is a familiar verse. I think it is one most of us can rehearse yet are we heeding these words of wisdom? Are you practicing these truths daily? “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose” (Proverbs 18:21, MSG). Your self talk will either lead to you poisoning yourself or believing truth about who you are and bring you life. Your speech towards others will either kill them and cut them down to size, or give life to those in your midst. Do people experience God’s grace because you avoid being harsh with your words? Do people experience God’s kindness because of the tone of your voice? Your words and the way you communicate them is important. You get to choose your words. Choose wisely. Be generous with your words and bring health and life to those around you.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) In Ephesians 3 Paul prayed the following prayer over Christ followers. These are familiar verses in the Bible but take these truths in and let Paul’s prayer sink into your heart and soul. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God (Ephesians 3:16-19, NLT). Do you know how wide, long, high, and deep God’s love is for you? Paul goes to great measures to attempt to capture the vastness of Jesus’s affection for his sons and daughters, for you. He wants your roots to grow down into God’s love, to experience the magnitude of Christ’s love so that you will take hold of the fullness of life and the power of God at work in you. I don’t want to live thinking that God’s love for me is lukewarm, or that in some way I am unlovable. Do you? If you live from a place of being unlovable, if you buy into the lie that God does not really love you or that there is some way you have to earn his love, you are giving the enemy a foothold, a strategic position from which he can advance and multiply his lies. Satan’s greatest attempt is to convince you that you aren’t loveable. This leads to isolation, fear, anxiety, and addiction. When you are not fully convinced of God’s love for you, you will go looking for love in all the wrong places. When you feel unlovable, stand firm in truth. Remind yourself of Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3. And, recite these words to yourself, “I am convinced that Jesus’s love for me is gigantic and generous. I trust in God’s love for me and my roots are deeply grounded in his love. The love of Jesus gives me strength. My heart trusts in him.” Let this be a reminder to you to trust God’s generous love for you.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) When you hear the word generosity, what comes to mind? We tend to think of generosity in terms of money or giving of our material blessings. And while that is true and as followers of Jesus, we are called to be generous with our finances, generosity has far greater meaning than money. Consider this: Generosity is a mindset. Being generous is an attitude of heart. It’s a way of being, a lifestyle from which your thoughts, words and your actions flow. Are you living with a mind and heart set on being generous? Are you living a lifestyle of generosity? It will be difficult to live a lifestyle of generosity if you have a scarcity mindset. When you don’t think you have enough of something, the tendency will be to hold what you do have with a tight grip. I have often found myself living from scarcity rather than living from the truth that God is generous. He does not withhold anything good from me. He does not withhold anything good from you. Psalm 84:11 says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” (ESV). I love the reminder of the truth that God is a generous God. We see more evidence in Philippians 4:19 which says, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (ESV). Notice the apostle Paul’s words “my God will supply every need.” I know sometimes it doesn’t feel like God is supplying your every need. You ask for things and pray for things that do not get answered in the way you want or the timing you anticipate and then you decide that God withholds good things. But God doesn’t withhold. He cannot go against his nature. You have to train your mind and heart to look for his provision in every circumstance and realize while it may be packaged differently than you would have imagined, God is always providing. He is always supplying for your every need because that is who he is. Is there an area of your life that you feel God is withholding something good from you? Take time to talk to Jesus. Share your disappointment. Rehearse what is true, that God doesn’t withhold from you. Ask him to help you see and experience his generosity and all of the ways he is providing for you in this season.

My first great gift idea is the gift of a listening ear. Do you know how many people there are in this world—in your life—that would love to have a listening ear for Christmas? Someone who simply will give them time and let them talk about whatever is on their heart. I often think of elderly people who we sometimes overlook in our busy lives. Does an elderly person you know come to your mind right now? What about making an opportunity to sit down with them, have a cup of coffee, and just listen. Even if you don’t personally know someone like that, you could visit a nursing home and make yourself available to someone there. Often those in nursing homes have few if any people in their lives who visit them. Can you imagine how thrilled they would be for you to simply say, “How’re you doing? Tell me about yourself.”  It would be the best gift you could give them. And you’d be surprised how interesting and entertaining their stories can be. Maybe there are some children or teenagers in your life that would love to have someone to talk to. Why not give them a listening ear for Christmas? If you know someone who has experienced a significant loss lately, they would usually love a listening ear. You might feel like you don’t know what to say to them, but the thing is, you don’t have to say much of anything. Just listen. It won’t be hard for you to find someone who needs a listening ear; why don’t you give it to them? It will make Christmas for them. James 1 tells us we are to be quick to listen and slow to speak. So, great gift idea number 1 is “Give a listening ear.” Here’s idea number 2: Give a helping hand. Jesus said that whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant (Mark 10:43). We are called as Christ-followers to serve as he did. So, what acts of service could you do this Christmas for some unexpecting person? Just one intentional act of offering a helping hand could absolutely make someone’s Christmas the best ever. It might be something you do for a sick or disabled person you know. It might be doing some shopping for or with a widow or widower you know. Or just someone who is lonely. You could design a card that said something like: “My gift to you this year is to do something that would be helpful to you.”  You might even give them a list to choose from, such as cleaning their house, cooking a meal, taking them shopping, washing their car—and any number of other acts of service from which they could choose. In Acts 9:36 we read: “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor.”  Always doing good and helping poor people! What a reputation to have! There are lots of ways to help poor people these days. You could serve a meal at a shelter, or volunteer at a charity. How about babysitting for an exhausted single mom so she can have a night or day to herself? Many cannot afford babysitters, and that would be a very helpful gift. There are so many creative ways to give a helping hand, and so many needy people. I have no doubt that you can come up with the perfect gift for someone you know. All it takes is a little time and a caring heart. Here’s suggestion number 3: How about giving forgiveness? Are you harboring something in your heart against someone? Have you allowed a root of bitterness to grow in the soil of your soul because someone has hurt you? Don’t you think it would be a great Christmas if you decided to give up that resentment and offer forgiveness? Perhaps they have never asked you to forgive them. That does indeed require a very special gift of forgiveness from you. But here’s the thing—withholding forgiveness causes you far more harm than it does the other person.  It’s like taking rat poison and expecting the rat to die. So, in effect, giving forgiveness to someone else is a very wonderful gift that you give yourself. You know, it may just be a very small thing—something your mate or s...

Leave it better than you found it. That’s a Boy Scout slogan. I’ve never been a Boy Scout, but I’m sure I could benefit from making that a personal goal—to leave everything better than I found it— a personal goal. I’ve talked about a leaving our jobs better than we found them, leaving our relationships and environments better than we found them and leaving our churches better than we found them. I want to tell you about my friend, Cynthia, who definitely left a situation at her work so much better than she found it. Some years ago, she worked in a department where one coworker made it very clear that she and Cynthia could never be friends because Cynthia was African-American. It’s hard to believe that someone would actually say that, but this person said those very words to Cynthia. Thankfully, Cynthia was able to get beyond her hurt feelings and respond appropriately to this situation. She prayed about it, and got the idea to start what she called “Project Love.” Now, she didn’t announce to her coworkers that she was starting “Project Love,” she just decided to do it. Besides being kind and considerate on a daily basis, she decided to invite each person in her department to have lunch with her as her guest. So once a week she would deliver a written invitation to a coworker, including this woman who said they could never be friends. Well, who can refuse such an invitation? So, the two of them went to lunch, they began to get to know each other, this woman saw how wrong her attitude was and what a good friend Cynthia would be, and before long they became friends. Now this woman openly and proudly claims Cynthia as a friend, and though they no longer work together, they keep in touch. Cynthia left that place and that relationship so much better than she found it. She could have responded with anger and bitterness, but she chose to respond in love. That’s the power that we have as believers because we have the Holy Spirit within us to enable us to do what otherwise we would find impossible to do. I hope you’ll remember this simple slogan: Leave it better than you found it. It’s one way to show God’s love to others. (Click here to download the devotional for the entire week.)

How’s your church doing? Since I’ve been on staff at my church, I’m well aware that churches that thrive and do well are those who have lots of involvement from the congregation. I’m proposing that we adopt the Boy Scout mantra to leave things better than we found them, and I was thinking how much better our churches would be doing if every church member took that seriously. You know, it’s not difficult to find things wrong with your church. It’s full of people—people who make mistakes, people who don’t have it all together, many are new believers with lots to learn. So, you won’t have trouble finding something about your church that you don’t like so much. But if it’s a Bible preaching church, under godly leadership, and that’s where God has put you, then you have to ask yourself what you’re doing to make it a better church. I think of a woman who was in our church until God called her home—we called her Miss Shirley. Miss Shirley never held an office in our church, but few people have benefited the church like she did. For years she made it her job to greet someone new every Sunday, invite someone new to sit with her, get to know them, and just share God’s love with them. One of my friends tells how when she started coming to our church, she was very wounded and was trying to just isolate herself from everyone, but Miss Shirley found her, sat with her, invited her to a Sunday class, and eventually helped her get involved and find healing. Miss Shirley definitely left our church better than she found it. Just ask yourself: If you dropped out of your church today, would it leave a hole? Would your service to the church be missed? God created us for community; we are one body in Christ, and we need each other for fellowship, for healing, for growth, for accountability. I hope you are very much committed to your church and you can say for sure that you are leaving it better than you found it.

The Christian Working Woman, began in 1984 to challenge workplace Christians to see their jobs as assignments from God, not just a place to earn a living. And the way we live on those jobs has a greater impact for the Gospel than anything else. I’m taking a phrase from the Boy Scouts and applying it to our lives. It is: Leave it better than you found it. I’ve talked about leaving our jobs better than we found them and leaving our relationships better than we found them. Now let’s think about leaving our environment better than we found it. There’s a lot of concern about what’s happening to our environment, and we should be good stewards of God’s universe, that’s for sure. Which means we recycle as much as possible and do whatever we can to make our physical world better than we found it. Then there’s our more personal environment: our living space and our working space. I have a friend who decided she could do something for the environment. She got tired of how messy and unclean public washrooms tend to be. So, she decided that she would try to leave any washroom she used better than she found it. When she told me what she was doing, I realized I had never even thought of taking that kind of responsibility—to leave a public space better than I found it. But if we all did that, we’d live in cleaner, nicer environments, wouldn’t we? Our streets and roadways wouldn’t be cluttered with trash. Someone has said that cleanliness is next to godliness, and while I’m not sure that can be supported biblically, there’s no doubt that we should care about cleanliness for ourselves and for others. So, why don’t we just decide to leave our environments—wherever they may be—better than we found them.

Leave it better than you found it! What a good idea. I’m taking a look at how we, as Christians, can leave things better than we found them. I talked about how to leave your job better than you found it and now I encourage you to consider how to leave your relationships better than you found them. Relationships are the sandpaper of life, are they not? We all need to live in relationship with others, and yet getting along with the people in our lives can be the toughest assignment we have. So, how can we leave our relationships better than we found them? Let’s start with what we call the Golden Rule, which Jesus gave us when he said, “Treat other people exactly as you would like to be treated by them—this is the essence of all true religion” (Matthew 7:12 Phillips). Jesus says that we should take the initiative to improve the relationships of our lives, not wait on the other person to do it. Has someone treated you ill lately? If so, are you willing to put this Golden Rule into practice and respond to them the way you wish they would respond to you? If so, you will definitely improve that relationship. Here’s another relationship principle from the Bible that will definitely leave a relationship better than you found it. From Philippians 2:3-4: 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. Putting others first is a sure winner when it comes to improving relationships. I remember when I read that passage and just shook my head because I couldn’t figure how in the world I could ever live up to it. Consider others better than me? That doesn’t come naturally for me, how about you? So, I just began to pray and ask God to show me how to put this into practice. God showed me that it begins with an attitude of the heart—consider others better than yourself, think of others in that way. I find that if I change my thought life and truly remind myself that others are just important as I am and what they’re doing is just as important as what I’m doing, then I can start to truly look to their interests, and not just my own. Well, if we practiced these two principles in our relationships, there is no doubt we’d see great improvement, and we’d leave them better than we found them.

There’s a slogan from the Boy Scouts that I like a lot: Leave it better than you found it. It’s good for Boy Scouts, but don’t you think that Christians should have that same kind of attitude? I’m going to talk about what we should leave better than we found it. We should leave our jobs better than we found them. I’m not suggesting you literally leave your job, but rather that because you are doing your job, things should be better where you work. Your presence in that job should be a positive thing, so that if you did leave the job, it would be better than you found it. Another way to put that is to ask, If everyone in your organization worked like you do, would the organization be better off? For example, If everyone worked as hard as you do—put in the same number of hours really working—would productivity go up or down? If everyone arrived at work the same time you do, would everyone be on time or late? If everyone were as creative as you are, finding new and better ways to do things, would there be new initiatives and new ideas happening—or not? If everyone were as willing to go the extra mile like you do, would there be more people exceeding requirements—or less? If everyone were as positive and upbeat as you are, would there be a better morale where you work, or would it be worse? If everyone were as neat and tidy as you are and cleaned up after themselves like you do, would the work environment be nicer or messier? If everyone talked about others in the organization the way you do, would there be lots of positive confirmation going around, or lots of gossip? You get the idea. Paul wrote to the Corinthians that “if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment” (1 Corinthians 11:31). It’s just smart to check up on ourselves—to judge ourselves—and avoid coming under judgment by others, so ask yourself if you are leaving your job better than you found it!

As our story began last week, Fran was asked by her manager to be on a committee to plan the company Christmas party. She really didn't want to do that, because the party is notorious for its drinking and bawdy atmosphere. Certainly, she does not want to be associated with anything like that, but she felt trapped. However, Jesus encouraged her to be an assertive member of that committee and work to get the party changed this year to a more family-oriented affair. So, at his urging, Fran volunteers to head up the committee and suggests they change the format to a party for the children, with gifts and games and prizes and no alcoholic beverages. Bill, who headed up the party for the last few years, was indignant at the suggestion, and eventually stomped out of the committee meeting, claiming no more association with the party and Fran's “Sunday school ideas.”  We left the story at this point last week. As Bill left, the room was quiet and the other committee members seemed nervous. Fran knew it was her move, but she wasn't sure what to say. She didn't want to railroad her idea through; yet she believed the others felt the same way she did but were reluctant to stick their necks out. Finally, Fran says to the group, "I'm sorry about Bill leaving, and I'm going to try to get him to rejoin the group. But I still believe we ought to have a different kind of party this year and just see how everyone likes it. We'll never know until we try. But I need to know how the rest of you think about this." Elizabeth says, "Well, I don't want to spoil everybody's party. I mean, if the employees really want the same kind of party we've had in years past, I guess that's the easy way.... I don't know." Fran is disappointed in Elizabeth because she had been in favor of the family party idea. "Well," Fran says to the group, "the question is, do you think most of the employees want the same kind of party we had before, with lots of drinking and stuff like that? You know the people you work with; what have they said to you?" John finally pipes in and says, "Well, I know three people in my department who said they're not coming to the party this year because things got so noisy and rough last year." "Yeah," Virginia suddenly finds her voice, "I just told my husband that last week. I think there are several people in my department that would prefer a family party." And with their comments, the others seem to be in agreement that it would be a good idea to have a family-oriented party this year. Fran is encouraged, and they set out to make the necessary plans, assigning jobs and duties for the various things that must be done. By the time the meeting is over, there is enthusiasm in the room and they leave in a spirit of unity and excitement about the party. "Wow," Fran thinks as she walks back to her office, "that seemed to turn around pretty good. I think we'll have a terrific party and it will go over a lot better than the out-of-control events they've had before." Fran shakes her head in amazement at what she's learning about being a Christian in the marketplace. It's really different than she would have imagined, much harder in some ways, but with many opportunities she had not dreamed of. When she gets back to her office, the phone rings. It's Marilyn, her boss. "Fran, Bill just stopped into my office hopping mad because—to quote him—"you took over the committee meeting and forced your Sunday school ideas on the group.”  What happened?" she asks. For the next ten minutes Fran explains what happened. Marilyn says, "Well, okay, but don't be surprised if Bill causes a stink over this. He was pretty heated." When Fran hangs us, she prays, “Lord, what can I do about Bill? He could sabotage the whole thing if he gets to the right people and they believe his story."  She thinks quietly about the situation and refuses to allow the panic feelings to take over. "Lord, I know I did what you wanted me to do,

I’ve been talking about generosity this week—the joy of being a truly generous person. I want to remind you that God gave first. You know the verse, John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. That is the ultimate example of generosity. Jesus condescended to earth, leaving the glory of heaven, sacrificing all that was rightfully his, to provide eternal life for us. So, when we choose to be generous, even sacrificially generous, we are following Jesus for sure, showing the same attitude he had, learning the truth that it is more blessed to give than to receive. And after all, everything we think we own is just on loan to us. God owns it all and we are simply stewards—caretakers. Psalm 24:1 says that the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, which includes everything you have! So when you decide to give some money—to be generous—you’re really giving away someone else’s money, right? And that is truly fun. As Christ-followers, when we come to the place where we truly believe that we are possessionless, we don’t own anything, everything we have is given to us both to meet our needs and then to share with others, we are moving into new growth in God’s grace and new joy as we obey God’s Word. To make the point that we are on this earth for a very short time compared to eternity, Randy Alcorn gives the illustration of drawing a line across a piece of paper, then go back and make a dot with the tip of your pen just above the beginning of line. The dot represents your time here on earth—whether that’s a hundred years or less. And as you’re in those years, it seems like a long time. But compare the long line representing eternity to the dot you made. It’s like a nanosecond. Randy says, “Live for the line, not for the dot.” So, I close with this reminder from the Apostle Paul from 2 Corinthians 9:7: Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. If that were all the Bible told us about being generous, it should be enough, don’t you think? God loves a cheerful giver, and a cheerful giver is cheerful because she or he has learned that there is great joy in being generous—there is great joy in taking God at his word and obeying him. (Click here to download the devotional for the entire week.)

If you want to be a generous person, how much of your income should you give? Often Christians say 10% - a tithe— is what we should give, and that’s a good place to start. But a study shows that only about 25% of Christians in the United States give that much. This is what C. S. Lewis had to say about how much we should give: I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusement, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our giving does not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say it is too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot because our commitment to giving excludes them. I don’t know about you, but that convicts me. How often have I denied myself something in order to give to others? Probably not often. But I think we should give this careful thought and prayer. Lewis points out that there’s no one answer for everyone, but the standard should be: Give more than you think you can. When you decide that you want a different attitude toward generosity and in obedience to Christ you want to take it to the next level, you are in for unexpected joys. Even if you approach this new attitude with some caution, maybe even some fear you might overdo it, I am confident you will never regret the new adventure of deciding to give, even to the point of giving sacrificially. I challenge you, as I do myself, to make a decision to give more than you’re giving now. Discover this true joy of generosity. Maybe you can deny yourself that expensive coffee you buy everyday, and give that money to the Lord. Or shop a little more carefully at the grocery store or deny yourself that new outfit. I simply remind you of what Jesus said, you will be blessed more than you can imagine when you tune your heart to be generous.

I’m addressing our “culture of more” that gets stronger all the time—the belief that contentment and fulfillment and happiness are for those who have a lot of money and “stuff.”  But the Bible’s principle of generosity is exactly the opposite. Remember the parable Jesus taught about the rich man who had an abundant harvest and decided to build bigger barns so he could store his surplus grain. He said to himself, You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” And Jesus gave this warning, This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God (Luke 12:19-21). Jesus is telling us that earthly success can cause great spiritual failure. If you’ve been thinking that more money would solve all your problems, think again. There are many stories of people who won a big jackpot and it ruined their lives. So, be careful what you wish for, as they say, and hold your money loosely. Be generous whether you have a lot of money or not so much. If you were to come into a lot of money, you have no idea how much that could change your life for the worse. Think of this: how long did the “happiness” last after you bought that new thing you wanted so much? That car, or that house, or that new outfit, or that expensive vacation. Didn’t last as long as you thought it would, I imagine. But in contrast, the joy that you experience when you meet someone’s need, when you support your church, when you give to a worthy charity doesn’t go away. The “thank yous” and difference you can make in someone’s life are priceless and lasting. The Apostle Paul told the believers in Corinth: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously (2 Corinthians 9:6). Generosity should be a trademark of all of us who are Christ-followers.

Our Lord said that “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). That word translated “blessed” is more accurately translated “happy.” It is more happy to give than to receive. Generosity—having a giving heart and attitude—is the pathway to real joy, just plain fun! When was the last time you gave something away—money or some possession—and it just made you so happy? Have you ever met an unhappy generous person? We talked about the truth that where we put our treasure is a good indication of the condition of our heart. But here’s the truth we often overlook: Being a generous person doesn’t take anything out of your life; it gives joy and fun that is far greater than the joy of receiving something as a gift. Jesus said he came to give us abundant life and one of the most important ingredients of this abundant life is generosity—looking for ways to share your money and your time, your talents. It happens when you go from “I ought to give” to “I get to give.”  When instead of trying to figure how much you can afford to give, you start asking how much do you really need to keep. Maybe you’re thinking that you would be generous if you had more money. You really want to give to others but with inflation and high prices, right now you’re just trying to get by and you don’t have anything left over to give to others. I understand that, but here’s the thing: the biblical principle is true whether you have a little or a lot—it is still more fun, more blessed to give than to receive, so if you want a blessing, determine that you’ll give, even if you think it is small. There are so many benefits promised for those who are generous. Jesus said, Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you (Luke 6:38). Generosity will bring you joy and be a lot of fun, and Jesus said it will come back to you. My Daddy use to say, “Honey, you can’t outgive God,” and that is so true. I don’t know how it will come back to you or when, but Jesus said it will be poured into your lap. But note that it makes a difference whether you give with a teaspoon or with a shovel. Can I challenge you to ask God today: What do you want me to give to someone today, this week? I think he’ll put someone on your mind and then if you will obey, it will make your day! That I can promise you.

I want to talk about the “culture of more” in which we live. Let’s face it—everywhere we turn these days the message we hear is more stuff, more money, more things will make you happy. Advertising and marketing are all about making you dissatisfied with what you have, with who you are, with where you are, and convincing you that if you had more, you’d really be happy. This is a subtle influence in our culture that creeps into our thinking and our decisions far more than we realize. Not only is it subtle and insidious, it is relentless. Why do we so easily buy in to this culture of more? Because the enemy of our soul wants to entrap us into this false narrative that bigger, better and faster will make us happy—and he has a lot of help! Your smart phone and computer quickly figure out how to target you with stuff that is specifically directed to your desires. Did you know that there are more than 2300 verses in the Bible about money? In fact, Jesus spoke more about money than any other topic. That may surprise you, but it’s true that there’s more written in the Bible about money than about prayer and faith combined. So, what does that tell you? It says that our attitudes about money and what it can buy, our stewardship of the money we have, is a key part of our spiritual health and our spiritual growth. So, we really need to pay attention to what the Bible tells us, right? And let’s start with what Jesus said, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).  Randy Alcorn writes, “If you want a heart for something, invest in it.” A simple statement but profound in its impact in our lives. If you invest in, let’s say, a particular company in the stock market, you follow that company, you care whether it goes up or down, that investment has a part of your heart—right? Well, here’s the thing: If you invest your time and money in giving to others, helping others, supporting the things of the kingdom, your heart will grow for others, for God’s work. There’s a ministry in Kenya that we support here at The Christian Working Woman, providing scholarships for nursing students and things like that, and so we really care about that program, we care about our fellow Christians in Kenya.   Our heart is there, we pray for them, because we are invested there. So, I would encourage you today to take stock of where you’re investing your treasure, whether you’re financially well off or struggling to pay your bills. Ask God to help you be more intentional about investing in God’s kingdom, because that will lead you to increased spiritual growth and vitality.

These Fran and Jesus stories have caught on; it seems we learn best from stories, and so that's why I continue to use this story-form method. These are fictitious stories, but they are based on my experience and knowledge of the workplace through many years and because I'm in contact with so many of you. In this episode Fran has to face a touchy situation. She arrives at work on a cool November morning, and as she gets settled in for her work, Marilyn, her boss, walks in. "Fran, Human Resources is planning the Christmas Party for the office and they asked me to send a representative from our department. I'd like you to go to this meeting today and put your two-cents in for us, okay?" Marilyn says to Fran. "Well..." Fran's head is swimming as she tries to respond to Marilyn. She remembers the party from last year. She left after being there less than an hour, even before dinner was served, because the drinking and noise and conversation were just not acceptable to her. She certainly doesn't want to be involved in that kind of activity, but Marilyn seems to be telling, rather than asking. Fran stammers a bit and says, "Well, I've got a very heavy workload right now, Marilyn, are you sure...." "Yeah, I know, we're all busy, but somebody has to do it and I think you'll do a good job. So, show up today at 1:00 in the conference room.” And with that Marilyn walks out. "Oh," Fran says with weariness, "what am I going to do about this? I remember the awful party they had last year at Christmas? It was the next thing to X-rated! What am I going to do?" Fran has learned at moments like this to simply stop and pray about her dilemmas. “Lord,” she says, “I need wisdom and insight to know how to handle this assignment. I didn’t ask for it; I don’t want it; but it appears I have it. So, please, let me know how you think about this issue.” Fran begins to think about last year’s party. Why was it such an awful party? “Well, it was because Bill from accounting was in charge of it, and he's a real party animal," Fran thinks to herself. “Maybe if someone else was in charge of it, it could take a different turn.” “But not me, Lord,” Fran thinks. “Not me. I don’t need this . . . I’ve got plenty to do. Not me, please, Lord.” But she can’t ignore that tug she feels inside of her head, and she can’t get the idea out of her head. "Lord, are you suggesting I should get involved with planning this party?” Fran asks. "Lord, I'll have to compromise my standards and beliefs if I do that." Then, as so often happens with Fran when she seeks the Lord for wisdom, he seems to plant questions and ideas in her mind. She has a question and answer period with herself: "What standards would you have to compromise, Fran?" she asks herself. "Well, for example, serving drinks. That's the major thing they do at these parties—drink. And I don't want to be associated with anything that promotes this kind of excessive drinking," Fran answers. "Have you ever thought that maybe you could influence them not to serve alcoholic beverages?" she asks herself again. "Not serve alcoholic beverages at the Christmas party?" Fran responds with a laugh. "Jesus, you just don't understand these parties. They would laugh me out of the room if I suggested that." "Of course,” Fran says with a laugh, “you do understand the parties because you understand everything." Fran stops and thinks about what she has said. Again, God’s Spirit in her has reminded her that Jesus is all-knowing. Occasionally she gets caught in the trap of thinking that there are some parts of life that are unfamiliar to Jesus or out of his control. She is stunned for a moment as she digests the knowledge that Jesus knows about Christmas parties! "I'm sorry, Lord," she says quietly. "I didn't mean you don't understand, it's just that these people equate Christmas parties with drinking.... but I guess you know that, too, huh?" "Yes,

Fran thinks a moment then says to her, “Please, Cynthia, don’t let anything cause you to commit another sin on top of the adultery. You would be killing your child if you have an abortion,” Fran pleads. “Well, not everyone believes. . .” Cynthia tries to justify herself. But she can’t keep it up. “Oh, Fran, I know that, don’t you think I know that. But what am I going to do with his baby?” “Cynthia, let’s take it one step at a time. First, break the relationship, find out if you are pregnant, and then after you’ve crossed that bridge, we’ll consider your options if you are pregnant,” Fran says. They talk for a couple of hours, missing lunch, but Fran gets Cynthia to agree to breaking off the relationship, blocking his phone calls, and refusing to speak with this man. Fran says, “When you’re feeling weak, like you can’t stand not to talk to him or see him, please call me, any time of the day or night. Call me first. I’ll help you; I’ll pray with you,” Fran assures her. So they establish an accountability plan. Cynthia promises to take a pregnancy test first thing when she gets back home and let Fran know the results. “Oh, I hope I’m not pregnant,” she cries. “If you are, Cynthia, you will have to live with the consequences of your wrong choices and your sin, but God can turn this into something good,” Fran assures her. “There’s a woman at church who has a grown son now, born out of wedlock, but she raised him to become a strong Christian and he is a blessing in our church. Whether you choose to raise your child or let some couple adopt that child, you can be a part of that wonderful miracle of producing a life that God can use.” Cynthia has some very difficult days ahead of her, but if she will follow Fran’s advice and make herself accountable, if she will begin a daily diet of Bible study and prayer and get back in close relationship to the Lord, she can watch a miracle in her own life as God again does what he is so good at doing—turning our deserts into gardens and our ashes into beauty. (Click here to download the devotional for the entire week.)

How do you help someone who has messed up her life and can’t see her way out? That’s the dilemma that Fran finds herself in as we continue the story of Fran and Jesus on the Job. After Fran strongly advises her to sever the relationship with this man, Cynthia says to her, “But I’ve tried many times to stop seeing him, and I just can’t. I mean, I really love him and he really loves me.” “You’re telling yourself some lies there Cynthia, and you need to know that” Fran says. “First, you can stop seeing him. You can block his phone calls and texts, move if you have to, go to another church if you have to, and simply say NO. So, don’t keep telling yourself that you can’t stop seeing him. Of course you can,” Fran continues. “And it really doesn’t matter whatsoever whether you think he loves you or you love him. This relationship is wrong, it is sinful, and you have no right to steal this man’s affection from his wife.” “I didn’t steal him,” Cynthia starts to object. “He called me.” “And you could have hung up the first time he called and you’d never be in this predicament,” Fran says. “I don’t mean to be tough on you, Cynthia, but until you are willing to accept the responsibility that is yours and call this what it is—a sin against God—you’ll just continue to mire in this mess and make matters worse.” Cynthia begins to sob. Fran feels like she has upset her with her tough talk, but Jesus says, “Fran, the truth often hurts. Let Cynthia hear what you’ve said.” So, they sit in silence for a few minutes. “I suppose I could get an abortion,” Cynthia whispers. “Then it would be easier to break up with him.” “Oh, Cynthia, no, no,” Fran begs. “Don’t even once let that thought enter your mind. If you are pregnant, that child is a life inside of you. You cannot take that life. No, Cynthia, no. You will never forgive yourself.” “But Fran, that’s easy for you to say. You’re not in my shoes,” Cynthia looks at Fran. Fran doesn’t know how to respond. It’s true, she’s never had to make that decision, but does that mean she can’t advise Cynthia to make the right choice?  What do you think?

The Bible teaches us to speak the truth in love, but that’s not always easy to do, is it? Fran finds herself counseling a woman she has just met at their church’s women’s retreat. This woman, Cynthia, seemed very troubled, and as Fran talked privately with her, she confessed that she has been having an affair with a married man. Finally Cynthia looks at Fran and says, “But I think I may be pregnant with his baby.” It feels as though the floor has dropped out from under her as Fran thinks how to respond. “Keep sticking with the truth, Fran,” Jesus whispers to her. “This doesn’t change the advice you gave her.” Fran puts her arm around Cynthia and holds her for a minute. Then she says, “Cynthia, this may seem cruel, but the fact that you may be pregnant doesn’t change your course of action. He is a married man and there is no possibility that he will marry you, so you must break this relationship once and for all.” “But,” Cynthia says, “I think if he knows I’m pregnant, he might divorce his wife and marry me.” “Cynthia, that would be heaping one bad decision on top of another,” Fran says with emphasis. “Do he and his wife have children?” “Yes, two boys,” Cynthia adds, “but they don’t have a good marriage.” “Oh, Cynthia, you can’t go there. Even suggesting that he break up another marriage to marry you—that is wrong and you’ll never forgive yourself if you do that,” Fran advises. “But it’s his baby and he got me pregnant. . . if I am pregnant,” Cynthia adds. “Wait a minute Cynthia, what about the role you played in this affair?” Fran asks. “Did he rape you?” “No,” Cynthia replies quietly. “You were a willing participant, Cynthia. You’ve got to take responsibility and refuse to make more wrong decisions and choices,” Fran tells her. “It’s time you did the right thing and make the best you can out of this mess. Besides, you don’t even know for sure that you’re pregnant.” “No, I’m afraid to find out,” Cynthia says. “What will I do with a baby?” “There are several good alternatives, and I promise we’ll help you, if you’ll just do the right thing,” Fran says. Do you think Fran is giving Cynthia good advice?

Have you ever felt like God led you to someone just at a moment when they had a great need for a friend and a counselor? “How did you know something was wrong?” Cynthia asks Fran through her sobs. “Just the look on your face, I guess, Cynthia,” Fran replies. “Do you want to talk about it?” “No, I don’t want to but. . .” Cynthia hesitates. “I think I’m going to burst if I don’t talk to somebody.” “Well, I promise you I will keep this conversation confidential, if that helps,” Fran says. “Yes, well, it does. It just seems funny talking about this to a complete stranger,” Cynthia says. “But you know,” Fran assures her, “I don’t think it was an accident that God put it in my heart to talk to you.” “Yeah, I guess so. And in some ways it’s easier to talk to a stranger about it. You see, I. . . I. . .I’ve been having an affair with a married man. . .” Cynthia’s words come out slowly with great pain. “Umm, I see,” Fran replies, without alarm. “Are you continuing that affair now?” she asks. “Well, I keep telling him that I’m not going to see him anymore, but as soon as he calls, I give in,” Cynthia answers. “You see, my husband left me with two kids five years ago and I guess I’m just so lonely. . .” “Cynthia, do you want me to talk with you straight?” Fran asks. “Yes,” Cynthia says, “I guess I need some straight talk.” “Well, then, the first thing you have to do is absolutely sever this relationship, immediately, finally, forever, with no further contact of any kind. Whatever it takes to keep him from contacting you, that is what you have to do,” Fran advises. “Are you willing to do that?” Cynthia is silent. Fran wonders if she was too strong, too hard on her. But she hears the voice of Jesus: “Don’t say anything, Fran. You’ve given her biblical advice that is right, so let her think about it. Don’t back off.”

For many years now I’ve been telling this story of a workplace woman named Fran, who is forced back into the job market when her husband is suddenly killed. With two young children, Fran has faced many struggles as a single working mom, but through it all she is learning to practice the presence of Jesus. And that is the purpose of these stories—to encourage all of us to be continually aware of the presence of our Lord, because when we’re born from above, he is with us always. This is a busy week for Fran because her church is sponsoring a weekend retreat for the women, and she’s in charge of registration. Drew and Alice are staying with her folks while she is away, and on Friday afternoon she leaves work a little early to take the kids over and get them settled. Then she meets some friends at the church, where they carpool to the camp grounds, about 30 miles out of the city. Friday evening is a fun time, and Fran is well prepared to welcome the women and help them get settled. Over 150 have registered to come, and the fellowship is really wonderful. Saturday morning they have a general session with great music and a wonderful speaker who talks about putting our past behind us. Afterwards they form small groups to discuss the topic. Fran begins the discussion by saying, “You know, even though it’s been six years since Jim was killed, I still find myself living in the past and dreaming of the way my life used to be.” Her friend, Andrea, joins in. “I know; it just seems so hard sometimes to let go of the past, whether it’s the good past or the bad past.” The conversation continues, but Fran notices that one woman in the group is very quiet. Her name is Cynthia; she’s new to Fran, and she just seems to be miserable. As the group breaks up, Fran makes a point to walk with Cynthia and start a conversation. “We’re so glad you joined us for our retreat. Is this your first time?” Fran asks. “Yes,” replies Cynthia, but says nothing more. Not knowing what to say, Fran finally asks, “Are you okay? Is there anything I can do to help you?” At this, Cynthia covers her face with her hands and tries to control her sobs. Fran guides her to a secluded place where they can talk privately. Somehow Fran senses that God has ordained this meeting, but she wonders what in the world could be upsetting Cynthia so much.

Do you know what is probably the most difficult command of God's for me to obey? It's "Stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes!" (1 Samuel 12:16). Come on, Lord; why "stand still"?   Why not "Get busy and do this and that and then you'll see the great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes"? That would be so much easier for me. As I mentioned, I don't like standing still. I hate standing still. I love movement. I love busyness. I love activity. I love to-do lists. Let's go; let's do; let's make things happen. You can do it. Just keep trying. Keep on keepin' on. Those words are music to my ears, but not "stand still.” Why is it so hard for us to take our hands off and let God run the show? Well, to answer that question for myself, I would say it's hard for me to stand still because I'm a controller. I want to be in charge. That's my personality and I'm much more comfortable when I'm running things than when I'm having to take orders. My guess is you may be the same way. I'd rather drive than be a passenger; I'd rather give a presentation than listen to one; I'd rather lead than follow. So, I constantly struggle to take control of any situation I'm in. Therefore, "stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes" is hard for me to do. When you dig a little deeper under that personality trait, you discover that the need to control indicates you think you can do it better than anybody else and you don't trust others as much as you do yourself. Ouch! There's a lot of pride and sinfulness tucked in that controlling spirit, isn't there? That's hard to take, but it's part of the truth we have to face about ourselves. At one point in my life when I was going through a particularly difficult period of "standing still," I would get frustrated and start to take action. And each time, as I would start taking the controls back in my own hands, I would hear the quiet voice of God in my mind saying to me, quite simply, "Can't you trust me?” That's what it takes to stand still—it takes trust. And when you and I are willing to take our hands off, give up the control, and stand still, we are saying to Jesus, "I trust you. You're smarter than me. You can run this show better than I can.”  And when we stand still and demonstrate our faith in him, he is pleased. Another reason standing still is hard for me is that I'm just not a patient person. I want things to happen now. I hate waiting. My mind tells me, "If you're standing still, nothing is happening.” But God's Word says, "Stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes.” I think one reason I am not a patient person is because I hate loose ends. I want to complete the loop and make sure every package has a neat bow on it before moving on. But so often life is full of loose ends, and we have to stand still and let them be. Paul wrote that patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit, one of the evidences that God's Spirit is in control of your life. Well, I can sure tell you that when I am patient, it is not me, it is God's Spirit in me, because I'm no good at being patient. But I’ve learned to pray a lot about being patient, and believe it or not, I am more patient today than I used to be. God is helping me learn how to stand still and let him do it! Here are some little secrets that are helping me learn how to stand still. When you are emotional about any situation, it is not the time to act. Stand still until your emotions have calmed down and you can be certain that you're thinking straight. Just today I dashed off an email to tell someone how to do something more effectively—or so I thought—but thankfully before I hit the send button, God’s Spirit just urged me not to send it. So, for once I didn’t let the emotional reaction of the moment cause me to do something without thought or prayer. Often we really want to do something when we're upset or angry,

Let’s review how Christians are like pumpkins: First, God picks us from the patches of life, brings us into his family, and cleans us up. Then he digs inside of us and scoops out all the yucky stuff that is clogging us up. He gets rid of the seeds of anger and rage and malice—and all those other things which have kept us on bondage for too long. Then he puts a new look on our face, a new song in our heart, and puts his light inside us to shine through us for all the world to see. This simple presentation can be very effective for children or adults. Just get a pumpkin and as you clean it up and scoop it out and put a smiling face on it with a candle inside, you can explain how in the same way God does this for us who have become his children through faith in Jesus Christ. I have found that any kind of visual presentation along with a message increases its effectiveness many times. We remember what we see far longer than what we hear. So, I’m always looking for creative ways to make a message memorable and practical. Let me remind us once again of how God has transformed us from the dirty pumpkins we were, taken us out of our sinful pumpkin patches and made us new creations in Christ. Psalm 30:11-12 expresses this so well: You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever. (Click here to download the devotional for the entire week.)

Since we’re in the season of using pumpkins for food and decorations, I thought I’d point out how we Christians are somewhat like those pumpkins. First, God has to pick us from the “pumpkin patches” of our lives, clean us up, and then scoop out all the yucky stuff inside. We covered how the seeds that grow inside of us have to be truly cleaned out. One of the favorite things to do with pumpkins at this harvest time is to make jack-o-lanterns. After scooping out all the yucky stuff from inside, then we carve a smiling face and put a candle inside to light it up. And the process is similar with how God changes us when we allow him to clean out all the yucky stuff inside. He carves a new smiling face and puts his light inside of us to shine for all the world to see. One of my favorite passages is Psalm 40:2-3: He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. With a new song to sing and a smile on your face, you truly become a light in your world, as Jesus intended when he said: You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14). Proverbs 15:13 says, A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. And again in verse 30: Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. Do you carry a cheerful look and a happy face into your world each day? I’m not talking about a phony smile or pretending that everything is right. But I am talking about allowing God’s light inside of you to shine through you regardless of the circumstances. Anyone can look cheerful when everything is going right, but when life is tough, that’s when the smiling face really makes a difference. Did you know that when you smile, you get those endorphins going inside you and that can actually change the way you feel. And sometimes the smile comes first and the joy comes later, so, it’s a very good discipline to just remember to smile more and let the light of Christ shine through you.

Have you ever cleaned out a pumpkin? At this time of year, we enjoy pumpkin pies and muffins and other delicious pumpkin dishes. But before we can use that pumpkin, we must clean it out on the inside, right? God picks us from the patch, washes off the dirt of sin, and then he has to clean us up on the inside. He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. The Christian life is a process that begins at that moment that Jesus picks us out of the patch and cleans us up. Then begins the process of transforming us into the likeness of Jesus. This is a process that continues throughout all our earthly days. Sometimes that process can be painful, as we are confronted with the mess on the inside of us, the yucky stuff that is clogging us up. Just as there are lots of seeds inside a pumpkin that have to be removed, so in our hearts there are many seeds that need to be cleaned out. Paul wrote to the Colossians: You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips (Colossians 3:7-8). And again he wrote: Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God (2 Corinthians 7:1). What seeds are still clogging up inside of you, contaminating your body and spirit? Years ago, I wrote this verse in my prayer journal, and I began to pray that God will help me clean up whatever it is that is contaminating my body and my spirit. And God has faithfully pointed many of those seeds out to me and given the grace and power to start cleaning them out. Paul named some of these seeds that have to be cleaned out: Anger and rage must be scooped out of your heart. You know, when you allow anger to remain, it will quickly turn into bitterness, which is a deadly heart contamination. It will ruin your spirit and your physical body. Malice and slander are seeds that we cannot afford to keep around. Regardless of how others treat you, you must not allow malice to reside in your heart toward them. It sours on you quickly and makes you miserable. Scooping out the yucky stuff may not be pleasant, but it produces the peaceable fruit of righteousness, and that is very worthwhile and very wonderful.

Christians are like pumpkins! This season when pumpkins are ripe and we use them for all kinds of delicious dishes, as well as decorations, it’s interesting to see how we are like those pumpkins. For example, pumpkins first must be picked from the patch, brought in and cleaned up. And when we are born from above and made new creations in Christ, he chooses us from our dirty pumpkin patches, and brings us into his family, and cleanses us from the sin and dirt of this world. It is true that we never want to dwell on our past and live in regret. What God has forgiven and we have forsaken should no longer keep us in bondage. But it is also true that we need to remember where we were before Christ brought us in from our pumpkin patch. A. W. Tozer has written: “The only sure defense against self-righteousness is to cultivate a quiet state of continual penitence. A sweet but sobering memory of our past guilt and a knowledge of our present imperfections are not incompatible with the joy of the Lord; and they are of inestimable aid in resisting the enemy.” Remember your pumpkin patch today—the place you were before Christ picked you up and brought you in. Remember, and give thanks that he has redeemed you from that life and given you new life and hope for a bright future. Because we’ve been given new life in Christ, our demeanor and our attitudes should be joyful, don’t you think? You may be in a place you don’t particularly want to be in, a job you’re not crazy about, dealing with people you’re not fond of. But you have a wonderful opportunity, right in that spot, to be a witness for Jesus simply by being a joyful, positive person. After all, you’ve been saved from the pumpkin patch and you have every reason to rejoice. So, today, wherever God has you now planted, make a commitment to rejoice all day long as you remember that you’ve been rescued from the pumpkin patch and made new in Christ.

It’s pumpkin time again! At this time of year we see lots of those delicious pumpkins, some for eating, some for decorating. But did you ever think of this: Christians are like pumpkins! Now wait, that’s not an insult. Let me explain. First of all, we’re like pumpkins because: God picks us from the patch, brings us in, and washes all the dirt off of us. For those who have been born from above, our salvation began when God picked us out of the patch. Jesus said in John 15:16: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. And Paul reminds us in Ephesians 1:4: For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. I never cease to be amazed at this truth, that God chose me. He picked me out of that dirty pumpkin patch of life and brought me into the fold of his care, made me his child and called me by name. But you know, a pumpkin is of little use until you get it cleaned up. I don’t know if you’ve ever picked a pumpkin or seen one right out of the pumpkin patch, but they are really dirty. They lie on the ground for many days and collect all kinds of dirt and mud, so when you bring them in, the first thing you have to do is get them cleaned up. And that’s the first thing God does for us when he chooses us from the dirty patch we were in. We read in 1 Corinthians 6:11: And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. And again in Titus 3:4-5: But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. We come from different “pumpkin patches,” with different kinds of dirt on us, but all of us had to be cleaned up by Jesus, didn’t we? Think of what you were before Jesus brought you in from the patch. Think of where you would be without him.

I've noticed that a lot of people I meet and talk with are truly handicapped over the missing pieces in their lives. Whatever it is that is not there in their life's puzzle, they have become obsessed with it, it controls their thought life, and it keeps them from enjoying or appreciating the good things they do have. What about you? Would that be true of you? I remember talking with a friend who had been married quite a few years, and had always wanted children, but she had not been able to have her own. That's a painful missing piece, and she was sharing the pain with me. But even though she recognized that an important piece was missing, she hastened to add: "But, Mary, I have so much to be thankful for. My life is still full and meaningful," and she began to recite the good things—the pieces that are not missing from her life. I said to her, "Do you realize how unusual you are? While you acknowledge that a key piece is missing from your life, and is likely to always be missing, you are focused on what is not missing.” I can tell you that she never moaned and groaned about this missing piece. While she felt sorrow and pain over it, she accepted that no one has everything, and life is full of missing pieces. Have the missing pieces of your life become so overwhelming that you cannot see or appreciate what you do have? For ten years I allowed what I thought was a major missing piece in my life to control me. I felt that I had to be married for life to be complete, so I was consumed with pursuing and finding the right person to marry. I've shared my testimony many times before of how that obsession with finding the missing piece led me away from the Lord, away from biblical principles, into a life that was self-focused and sinful. What I've come to learn—and am still learning—is that instead of being controlled by the missing pieces, I can be thankful for them. If that sounds a little "too good to be true," let me assure you that I don't live on another planet and I have the same feelings and emotions and struggles as everyone else. And I emphasize that I am learning this principle of being thankful for the missing pieces. But as I've started to grasp this truth, I've found such freedom and contentment. I'd like to share a poem with you, which really helped me start down this road of being thankful for the missing pieces. I first read it several years ago, and I re-read it quite often; I have it written in my prayer book as a reminder of this important biblical principle, to be thankful for the missing pieces. The poem uses old-fashioned words, but the truth is still very relevant: An easy thing, O power Divine, To thank Thee for these gifts of Thine! For summer's sunshine, winter's snow, For hearts that kindle, thoughts that glow; But when shall I attain to this: To thank Thee for the things I miss?   For all young fancy's early gleams, The dreamed-of joys that still are dreams, Hopes unfulfilled, and pleasures known Through others' fortunes, not my own, And blessings seen that are not given, And ne'er will be - this side of heaven.   Had I, too, shared the joys I see, Would there have been a heaven for me? Could I have felt Thy presence near Had I possessed what I held dear? My deepest fortune, highest bliss, Have grown, perchance, from things I miss.   Sometimes there comes an hour of calm; Grief turns to blessing, pain to balm; A Power that works above my will Still leads me onward, upward still; And then my heart attains to this: To thank Thee for the things I miss. -Thomas Wentworth Higginson When I first read this poem, I began to ask myself, "Where would you be today if you had everything you wanted, if there were no missing pieces in your life?” And it was as though God drew back a curtain to let me see how having everything I wanted could have been disastrous for me. Why?

If I told you I was an heir of a very wealthy person—say Elon Musk, the richest man in the world—would you be impressed? That would mean I would be in line to get lots of money. Well, the truth is, I have more impressive credentials than that. When you and I are born from above through faith in Christ, our identity is truly incredible. Don’t forget that: You are an heir of God and co-heir with Christ. That’s what we read in Romans 8. If you're an heir of God, that means you're in line to inherit God's riches. And if you're a co-heir with Christ, that means you'll inherit equally with Christ of the Father's great riches. When you ask yourself "Who am I?", and the answer comes back "An heir of God and co-heir with Christ," then you have to say, "I have value." If you are indeed born from above, if you and Jesus have a personal one-on-one relationship based on faith in him and repentance from you sins, then you've got the God of heaven and earth counting the hairs of your head, putting your tears in his jar, opening the door to his throne for you to enter whenever you please. Are you somebody? How much more important and significant can you be? When you focus on who you are in Christ and his power in you, then you can have victory over the old self-images and inadequacies and the way you've seen yourself all these years. You can know freedom from that. So, please, don’t forget who you are. Let go of the old self-images that have been based on wrong information. Know who you are in Christ according to the Word of God, and just keep remembering it. Tell yourself who you are in Christ. Reprogram your mind to get rid of the old tapes which are Satan’s lies, and program the truth of who you are in Christ and because of Christ. (Click here to download the devotional for the entire week.)

If someone asks you, “Who are you?” what do you say? Your answer to that question is important, because having a firm understanding of who you are is critical to your ability to be all that God has created you to be. I’m looking to Scripture for a clear understanding of our identity when we are born from above. We are God’s intentional creation, we were created for his pleasure and his glory, and when you come to saving faith in Christ, the great news is: You are a new creation. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 we read: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  The day that you recognized your sinful state before God and accepted his Son as your own personal Savior, that very day you were transformed into a new creation. Now, this new person that you have become because of Jesus Christ is someone you can feel good about. This new person is righteous. Not self-righteous, because in ourselves, the Bible says, all our self-righteousness is like filthy rags to God. But Philippians 3:9 tells us that we have a righteousness now which comes through faith in Christ, not a righteousness of our own. The righteousness of Jesus Christ is credited to you and God sees you wrapped up in his righteousness. And here’s more wonderful news about who you are in Christ: You are no longer under condemnation. Romans 8 tells us that the new person has been set free from the law of sin and death. It says you are no longer condemned for what that old person is or was. You're free! There's no condemnation against you! Good news! Great news! Incredible news! Feel good about yourself; you should. You know, when you intentionally remember who you are in Christ and because of Christ, it truly makes a difference in the way you face life, the way you face the day ahead. Regardless of what’s going on in your life, what other people think of you, even what you think of yourself, if you remember who you are, it will give you strength and encouragement. So don’t forget: You are a new creation in Christ and you are no longer under condemnation.

We all recognize that a strong self-image is important to us. Knowing who we are and why we’re here is a foundation that is really necessary for living a fulfilled life. I’m pointing out from Scripture just who you are if you are connected to God through faith in Jesus Christ. We’ve seen that we are God’s intentional creation, we were created for his pleasure, and now, don’t forget that: You were created for his glory. Here are a few verses from that Isaiah 43:1-7: But now, this is what the Lord says - he who created you...he who formed you...'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine...I am the Lord, your God...you are precious and honored in my sight, because  I love you...everyone who is called by my name, I created for my glory.... We admire the paintings of great artists because of their beauty and creativity. But who gets the glory for the painting? The artist, of course. We don’t give the painting credit; rather we say, "This artist is wonderful; this artist is great.” The masterpiece brings glory to the artist. That's why you and I are here—to bring glory to our Creator. Maybe you're thinking, "But Mary, there's no way that I can glorify God because my life is a mess. You just don't know all the mistakes I've made, all the things I've done wrong. My past is too awful for me to be able to bring glory to God." Ah, but don't you see, the less he has to work with, the more God gets the glory for the workmanship! And he is masterful at taking ashes and turning them into beauty. He is incredible at transforming ruined lives into testimonies of his greatness. When your life has been transformed by the power of Jesus Christ, you bring glory to God. Don’t forget, you were created for God’s glory.

As Christ-followers, those who have been born from above, our identity is found in our relationship to God the Father through Jesus Christ. We saw that we are God’s intentional creation, created by him and for him. Now, consider this: You were created for his pleasure. Remember the wonderful movie, Chariots of Fire, the story of that remarkable Olympic champion, the Scottish runner, Eric Liddle, who was a strong Christian committed to Jesus Christ. His missionary sister was concerned about his running career because she felt he was neglecting his calling and not putting God first. But Eric said to his sister, "Oh, don't you see, Jenny. God made me fast and when I run, I give God pleasure.” He got it! He understood that God took pleasure in him. I love this verse from Zephaniah 3:17: “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Don't you love that imagery of God rejoicing over you with singing? We often rejoice and take delight in God through singing, but to think that he does the same over us. God takes pleasure in you. You should be able to verbalize how God has created you to bring him pleasure. Maybe you would say: "Because God made me a good listener, I bring God pleasure when I listen and care about others.” Or "Because God made me a good organizer, I bring God pleasure when I organize events and run them smoothly.” Or "Because God made me a speaker, I bring God pleasure when I give a good talk or make a good presentation.” It really doesn't matter how God has created you; we are all very different in our gifts and abilities. But we were all created for his pleasure. It is not pride on your part to recognize how God has created you. Eric Liddle gave God the credit for his fast body, but he also recognized that it was a gift from God to bring God pleasure. Don’t forget who you are! You were created for God’s pleasure.

Who are you? This is a very important question, but often we have the wrong answers. Even those of us who are born from above, who are dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ, all too often let the world shove us into its mold and we define ourselves by the wrong criteria. I did that for many years, and it led to an emotional roller coaster ride, to a self-focused life, and to a sinful lifestyle. It might be the cause of a great deal of the pain and struggle you are having in your life right now. If you're unhappy with who you are, wishing you were like other people, feeling cheated because you don't have what you want, feeling guilty because you haven't lived up to other's expectations or your own, it's highly likely you've fallen into this trap of identifying yourself incorrectly. You don't really know who you are. I want to go to Scripture to show you who you are in Christ, just in case you’ve forgotten or maybe you never knew. You are God's intentional creation. You are not an accident of nature or a mistake your parents made. In Colossians 1:16 we read: For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. You were not just created by him, but for him! The depth of this truth is life-changing. You and I were created by the Almighty God, and we were created for him—for his purposes, for his reasons. That knowledge alone brings significance into our lives. A dear friend who is now with Jesus came to saving faith as an adult, and I’ll never forget how this truth transformed her life. Her mother had told her all her life that she was accident—an unplanned birth—and her birth had complicated her mother’s life. So, coming to know Jesus meant she finally understood that she was not an accident. She was created by God for his purpose. And that’s true for you as well. So, don’t forget who you are today! You are God’s intentional creation—his handiwork.

Let me start with quoting this admonition from God’s Word: 1 Peter 5:5b-6: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Luke 14:11: For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Notice that there are promises given in these two passages for those who are willing to humble themselves. They will be lifted up and they will be exalted. No doubt the average person would not connect being humble with being lifted up and exalted, but this is the upside-down truth for us as followers of Christ. Living for Jesus is often swimming upstream as to what our culture would tell us. Frequently we are called to live counter-cultural lives but it’s not a call to a dreadful life or a weird life. It’s a call to be lifted; to find true lasting joy and even to be exalted, as Jesus told us. We typically think that God is the one who exalts or humbles us. If we’re humbled or if we’re exalted, we think it will be God who does it. But Jesus said we must humble ourselves. Have you ever intentionally tried to humble yourself? Is that something on your to-do list? “Today I will humble myself?” Very few Christians ever take this literally and seriously. But there is great benefit for those who do. In addition to being lifted up and exalted, here are some further promises for those who humble themselves: God gives you grace. James 4:6: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (ESV). God guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. Psalm 25:9: He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way (ESV). God crowns the humble with salvation. Psalm 149:4: For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation (ESV). With humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2: When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom (ESV). You will be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 18:4: Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (ESV). So, for all kinds of good reasons we should learn how to humble ourselves. But how do we do that? How do we humble ourselves when our natural instincts are to be number one? How do we humble ourselves when we fear that others will take advantage of us if we are humble? What does it mean to humble yourself and how do you do it? First, let’s consider what it does NOT mean to be humble: It does not mean that you walk around with your head hung low, looking pitiful. It does not mean that you run yourself down. It does not mean that you cannot be ambitious or successful. It does not mean that you can’t be the best at what you do. It does not mean that you can never be number one Furthermore, humility and ambition can co-exist very nicely. Look at some people in the Bible who were ambitious: Abraham was ambitious to go to a land where God was sending him, and God calls him the father of our faith. Noah was ambitious to build an ark that took over one hundred years to complete. David was ambitious to defeat Goliath. Esther was ambitious to save her people from extinction. Ruth was ambitious to save her mother-in-law and herself. Jesus was ambitious to do the Father’s will. The Apostle Paul was ambitious to spread the Gospel throughout the world. Without ambitions and goals and visions, we don’t do anything—we perish! It’s not wrong to be ambitious and want to succeed. Here are three reasons every Christian should have great ambitions: We are created by God and from the beginning God had a plan for his creation. He told Adam to “Fill the earth and subdue it.” That is definitely ambitious. Jesus told us, his followers, to go into all the world and make disciples. That is an ambition every believer should take seriously. Paul wrote to the Ephesians that we are God’s workmanship,

Trying to find the right balance as a Christian woman is certainly a major challenge for most of us. I find that I must fight not to be caught up in what others think I should be. Rather I want to focus on the characteristics of a godly woman, and as Proverbs 31:30 tells us, a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. We should not fear: What people say or think about us Frankly, that can be a hard one for us women, because our natures are often inclined to be people-pleasers, and we will do most anything to avoid rejection. So, we can easily care too much about what people say or think. Sometimes I find myself fearful of looking irrelevant because I have aspirations and beliefs that are not in sync with the norm for women today. Let's face it—we like to think of ourselves as sophisticated and “cool.”  And quite honestly, there are times when I feel like the country-bumpkin, even among some Christian women who seem to be more "in tune" than I am. But I have to keep going back to who I am—a woman who wants to please God. That means, I must fear the Lord, and not fear looking dumb or backwards. If we live godly lives in this society, we're going to look weird at times. Be prepared for it. And ask God to help you not to fear what people say or think. That also means I must not fear: What people can do to me. A boss can fire you, a boyfriend or husband can leave you, a child can disobey you, a parent can disappoint you, a friend can be disloyal to you. There are many things that people can do to you, and if you live in fear of those things, your life will be a constant emotional roller-coaster. Remember, no one can separate you from the love of Jesus, and as long as they cannot do that, then we don't have to live in fear of what people can do. "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.”  Let's make that our goal in life, to be a woman who fears the Lord. (Click here to download the devotional for the entire week.)

What are you fearful of today? Did you know that we should be women of fear? The Proverbs 31 woman is described as a "woman who feared the Lord" and she was praised. This is the most important lesson we can learn from this ideal woman. Are you a woman who fears the Lord? If so, there are some specific things you will fear, and one of those is: The fear of getting off on some issue and losing the right focus One of the things that I fear greatly is getting out of balance and becoming an issue-oriented woman instead of a God-fearing woman. It would be very easy to do in this society with my personality, believe me. And I fear it, because I know that is one way Satan gets his foot in our doors. Many women in the last couple of generations have focused their lives and energies on righting all the wrongs done to women. To be sure there have been and still are discriminatory practices in our culture—including Christian institutions—which can be criticized, which should be changed, and which are not fair. And we may have some opportunities to try to effect some of those needed changes. That's fine in its proper place. But for us to become issue-oriented on women's rights so that the issue is more important to us than anything else is to be shoved into the world's mold of fighting for your rights. I keep reminding myself that the only way I can really help any woman is to point her to Jesus, who can free her from her sins and give her peace. Then she'll be free indeed. Paul wrote to the Romans that we are all slaves either of sin or of Christ. So instead of being in bondage to some issue, or becoming obsessive about fighting for our rights, I want to encourage women—and everyone else—to become slaves of righteousness, because when we die to ourselves we find life in Christ. I could help further the cause of women's rights 'til I'm blue in the face, and any progress made would be useless if the women are still slaves to sin. I want to fear not hearing the Lord say to me, "Well done, good and faithful servant," for I will stand before him someday for my life's work to be judged. I fear wasting the time and energy I have on things and issues that are not of eternal significance. That is godly fear.

No matter who you are, how qualified or successful you may or may not be, if you are a woman who fears the Lord, you will be praised. That was the heart of this remarkable woman—she feared the Lord, and we can do that, too. If we truly fear the Lord, we will fear bringing disgrace to his name. Another holy fear is Causing any kind of dissension or disunity in the body of Christ Paul wrote to the Romans: "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Rom. 12:18). And Jesus told us to love one another as he has loved us. "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35). Are you fearful of causing bad feelings among your friends and fellow believers? That is a godly fear, and we need to cultivate that kind of fear. That loose gossip which we tolerate in our lives, those unkind words we say to each other, that competitive spirit and malice which is evident in the way we treat each other—those are things we should fear greatly. If you have bad feelings right now toward someone, would you start praying about that and ask God what he wants you to do about it? He may want you to go to that person and ask for forgiveness and have your fellowship restored. If so, please don't put it off. The longer you wait, the heavier that burden will be. Until you make things right between you and others, you'll never be the godly woman you want to be. Is your fear of people stronger than your fear of the Lord? If you really fear the Lord, it will be more important to you to get your relationships right than it will be to save face with your friends or family. Maybe you're fearing rejection by others, and that keeps you from restoring fellowship with them. But ask God to give you a holy fear—the fear of the Lord—which will be stronger than your fear of people, so that you can do what he wants you to do. "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”  Keep repeating this verse over and over to yourself and ask God to make you a woman who fears the Lord.

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” You probably recognize that verse from the famous 31st chapter of Proverbs, which describes a godly woman. The one thing that made this woman significant was that she feared the Lord. I want to be a godly woman, and I'm sure you do, too. So, how do we become a woman who fears the Lord? What does that mean? This fear is reverential awe—a fear that comes from knowing enough about God to be in awe of his power, his holiness, his sovereignty. An awe that springs from love and devotion. First, let's talk about what we should fear if we fear the Lord. I should fear bringing any kind of disgrace to the name of Jesus. Psalm 69:6 is a prayer of David's which I have written in my prayer journal and I pray often: "May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, God of Israel; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me.”  Do you fear doing something that will cause the name of Jesus to be dishonored? That is a godly fear; it is the fear of the Lord. We've seen many times over, both in public and private arenas, where Christians have strayed morally and ethically, and brought disgrace to the name of the Lord. I have a great fear of doing that and I hope I always will. Why am I fearful of bringing disgrace to the name of the Lord? One, because I know how weak I am and how easy it would be for me to fall. That's true of all of us. Two, because the thought of breaking his heart through a moral failure breaks my heart. And third, because I know I would lose so much; my ministry and freedom to serve the Lord would be greatly impacted if I brought disgrace to his name. When you have a holy fear of bringing disgrace to God's name, you will watch the way you live very closely. No temporary thrill can entice you to pay this awful price, when you truly fear the Lord as you should.

Have you ever read Proverbs 31 and felt like quitting? I get tired when I read about the superwoman pictured in that famous last chapter of Proverbs. What woman can live up to this ideal? Well, I'm encouraged to realize that this is most likely not the description of a specific woman, but a picture of the characteristics of a godly woman. And if you will focus on verse 30 of that chapter, you will be encouraged: Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. The beauty of this Proverbs 31 woman is that she feared the Lord. Her central focus was not to please people, not to set new records, not to prove she could do anything she wanted to, not to fight for her rights, but it was to fear the Lord. If you and I want to be like this ideal woman, then what we must learn to do is fear the Lord, because then we will be women to be praised by God. Any woman can be a woman who fears the Lord if she chooses to. There may be many things you cannot do, many avenues that will never be open to you, many mountains you'll never climb, many awards you'll never win. You may think you are insignificant compared to other women and what they do. But take heart today; you can be a woman to be praised if you will fear the Lord. Throughout time women have often been characterized as deceptive and manipulative, and physical beauty has always been the world's way of measuring a woman. But when I read that charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, it tells me that these shallow and non-durable characteristics—charm and beauty—are not God's criteria, and we are not bound by them. Women today are often very focused on being free from stereotypes and traditional roles. This Proverbs 31 woman found her freedom by fearing the Lord, and believe me, that's where we will find ours. Let me tell you, as one who has tried it both ways, true freedom comes when you commit yourself to be God's woman and make him the central focus of your life. What does it mean to be a woman who fears the Lord? Have you given that any thought?

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) What do you do when the hard days come? Several years ago, a friend recommended a book to me. I was eager to get it and start reading. When I cracked the book open and turned to the first page, the first three words were, “Life is difficult.” I didn’t know whether to throw the book across the room and regret paying $14.99 or to keep reading and risk being bummed out for the remaining 243 pages. Who starts a book with “life is difficult?” But it’s the truth isn’t it? Life is difficult. You will have hard days, weeks, months…. sometimes years. Maybe you are having one now. Maybe you are in a long season of “difficult” and you see no end in sight. Maybe you are experiencing the pain and loneliness of singleness. You feel isolated and alone. Or, your kid is struggling and you don’t know what to do. Your marriage is on the rocks and it seems irreparable. Perhaps you are experiencing the repercussions of poor choices. Maybe it's job loss. Sickness. Deafening silence in a broken friendship, heartbreak or the demands of a job that are overwhelming. Financial troubles. Depression. Anxiety. Aging parents. Facing your own mortality. What do you do when life just seems hard to bear? As a friend of mine says, “Life is complex and messy, sometimes brutally so, but…… there is a way to look at the mess.” How do you live in the “but?” How do we live in the mess with the lens of heaven? It will take disciplining your thoughts. It will take trust in God, and oftentimes it takes sheer determination to remember and hold onto truth. It will take courage, the state of mind and belief that enables you to face difficulty and pain. With the shield of faith and the belief in God’s nearness and faithfulness, over the filter of fear. It will take resisting the temptation to deconstruct your faith when life is hard and take the disappointment and pain as a cue to lean into Jesus. When you are in pain or doubt, it can be tempting to run from the only source of comfort and trade God in for manmade gods. To be lured away from standing firm and lulled by things you think will bring comfort and relief but are only temporary and will never fulfill the deepest longing of your soul that only Jesus Christ can fill. Instead of lashing out and running away from God, how do we remember to cry out to Jesus and run towards him? It doesn’t take long to realize the multitude of examples of the men and women in the Bible whose stories tell us how they faced major trials in their lives, and how God proved himself faithful every single time. We need these stories as reminders because sometimes in the midst of our own pain, we forget. That is why as a follower of Jesus it is absolutely essential that you are in the Word of God, daily. God’s Word is what renews your mind and reminds you of what is true. There are so many things vying for your attention and affection on a daily basis, it can be easy to be pulled off track. It can be easy to forget God’s character. It can be all too tempting to fail to remember his faithfulness. In order to acknowledge that “life is complex and messy, sometimes brutally so, but…”. In order to live in the “but” we need to look at the Word of God. We need to remember the character of God. Because the world and your circumstances will scream loudly at you. Tempting you to turn away in defeat and forget. One story that you may be familiar with is the story of Job. Now, before you have an allergic reaction to the word Job like I have in the past, hang with me because I promise you when you read and understand Job’s story in the way God intended, you will be encouraged in the midst of whatever struggle you are facing. The story of Job seems so complex yet so poignant. The story ultimately and beautifully displays the sovereignty of God in the midst of suffering. Before we look at Job’s story there is a quote from A.W. Tozer that has always stuck with me that I want to share with you.

What would amaze Jesus Christ? Well, there are only two occasions where we're told that Jesus was amazed. Jesus was amazed at the faith of the Roman Centurion who asked him to heal his servant. He had great faith in Jesus even though he had little teaching or knowledge of our Lord. In Mark 6 we see where Jesus was again amazed, but for different reasons. He was in his hometown of Nazareth, teaching in the synagogue. But those who heard him couldn't believe that he was the Son of God because this was their home-town boy, the carpenter's son. So instead of believing in him, they took offense at him. And because of their unbelief, Jesus could not do many miracles there. And again we're told that Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith. Here are people who should have known who Jesus was. He was a fulfillment of all their prophecies, and he had demonstrated his power to them many times. But Jesus didn't suit their notions of what the Messiah should be like, and their stubborn, proud hearts kept them from believing what was right in front of their noses. And Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith. He left there and went elsewhere. I wonder if Jesus is amazed at my faith or at yours? Is he amazed that you have faith in him, regardless of the circumstances, regardless of the prospects, even without complete understanding? Do you amaze him with your consistent faith in him and what he can do? Or rather, is he amazed to see that in spite of all you know and all the experience you've had, your faith is still weak and anemic? Recently someone said, "Faith is not only believing a certain thing will happen. Faith is turning everything over to the Lord and trusting him with what happens, knowing that he will bring to pass what he knows to be best." I want to have that kind of faith that will trust to him every situation, every circumstance, unquestioningly and without hesitation. I want some amazing faith, don't you? (Click here to download the devotional for the entire week.)

Recently I realized there were only two occasions in Scripture where we're told that Jesus was amazed. Do you know what they are? The first occasion is recorded in Luke 7, which is the story of the Roman Centurion who asked Jesus to heal his sick servant. Roman soldiers were characteristically hard, tough men, with little compassion or concern for others, certainly not for servants. We would expect this man to be ruthless and uncaring, so we cannot help but be impressed that he would care about a servant, and that he would be willing to come to Jesus on his behalf. This man was truly humble. Also, he had been very generous with the Jewish people who were under his command, and had built them a synagogue, though he was not himself a Jew. This was indeed an unusual man. What is really amazing is his profound comprehension of who Jesus was. As Jesus was going to his home to heal his servant, the soldier sent friends to say to him, "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed” (Luke 7:6b-7). Here was a Roman soldier that somehow knew the power and authority that Jesus had. In addition, he was a truly humble man, feeling unworthy for Jesus to even enter his home. He showed great faith in Jesus, believing that he could heal his servant by just speaking a word, without even seeing the servant. And when Jesus heard this, we're told that he was amazed at him. In fact, Jesus said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith, even in Israel” (Luke 7:9b). Jesus was amazed at his faith. He was amazed at the depth of his faith, and at his persistent in seeking Jesus. Surely it was not considered smart for a man in his position to believe in this itinerant, controversial Jewish preacher. Yet he unashamedly goes to Jesus for help. He had amazing faith. I would like to have that kind of faith - the kind that amazes Jesus, wouldn't you?

Humility and success are not exclusives. Indeed, humility can accelerate our learning curve and enhance our people skills and contribute to our success in any area of our lives. But how do we acquire true humility? We've talked about how true humility can be a great asset for us in the business world, because it causes us to be more teachable and more respectful of others. But the question I always ask is "How do I acquire true humility?" It seems very elusive for me at times. Well, in 1 Peter 5 we're told to humble ourselves. What are some specific things we can do to humble ourselves? First, we can learn to be better listeners and truly care about what other people have to say. James says to be quick to listen and slow to speak, and that would surely be a good way to learn to humble ourselves. Second, we can make a list of the areas in our lives that need some work and ask God to help us make the needed changes. I always need to be more patient, and I can learn to humble myself if I will continually concentrate on putting on patience. A third way to humble yourself is not to talk about yourself all the time, even when you have an opportunity. When we talk about ourselves a lot, we easily get into bragging and trying to make ourselves look good. Fourth, we can humble ourselves by asking others to give us any input that would help us to improve. Have you ever done that with your boss or a coworker? They may be able to offer some suggestions about your performance that could be very helpful. It takes a little courage, but it surely is one way to humble yourself. Jesus said that whoever humbles himself or herself is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and he described himself as gentle and humble in heart. Therefore, there is great gain for us in learning to humble ourselves. The most important result is that it makes our lives more pleasing to our Lord. The side benefit is that it enhances our opportunity for success in anything we undertake. I challenge you, therefore, to decide to humble yourself and discover that humility and success are very compatible attributes.

Are humility and success compatible? I believe they are not only compatible, but true humility can enhance our success. It may sound contradictory, but I think you'll find it's true. We talked about the fact that humility is not generally viewed as a necessary characteristic for the successful career person. But true humility is indeed very helpful. Consider the characteristics of truly humble people. First of all, they are teachable. They don't have a "know-it-all" attitude. They recognize that they can learn from others and that they don't have all the answers. They are open to suggestions and constructive criticism. Now, I can tell you that those characteristics are extremely useful in any business environment. The person who is continually looking for ways to improve and is willing to learn from others will grow and improve much faster than the ones who think they know all there is to know. The person who is truly humble is one who gives respect to other people and does not have an arrogant or condescending attitude toward others. The Apostle Paul said in Philippians to consider others better than ourselves. In other words, true humility is when we continually remind ourselves of the importance of other people, when we try to daily practice compassion and have empathy for others. Again, this attribute is very well received in business circles. How often do you hear someone say, "They have really good people skills."  Well, good people skills is another way of saying they treat people with respect and fairness, and they are considerate of their feelings and their needs. That is recognized in business today as a very desirable trait for a good manager. And true humility gives us that kind of attitude toward people. It truly helps us develop good people skills, and therefore makes us better prepared for success. Humility and success are very compatible, and as Christians in the marketplace, we'll find that striving to be truly humble will enhance our skills and our performance on the job.

In the Bible we're frequently told that we should be humble, but humility doesn't seem to be the way to get ahead in this world. How can a Christian be humble and still be successful If you’re looking in bookstores or online for books to help you be successful, you'll find titles like Winning Through Intimidation, but I doubt you'll find a book entitled Finding Success through Humility. That wouldn't be a best seller, because humility is viewed as a liability rather than an asset in the business-world and elsewhere. Well, where does that leave those who are Christians trying to make a living in the world's business environment? Is the Bible's challenge for us to humble ourselves, as Jesus said, or to wear humility, as we read in Colossians 3, compatible with our desires to succeed in our careers? I believe the answer to that question is yes when we understand the real meaning of humility. What most people think of when they talk about being humble is not the real meaning of the term, but rather a false humility. Have you ever met someone who acted very humble but somehow you just didn't feel it was sincere? That kind of false humility never impresses anyone and gives humility a bad name. When we try to demonstrate our humility, then it's pretty certain we don't have it! For example, refusing to accept compliments graciously is not real humility. Saying degrading things about yourself is not a sign of humility. Refusing to accept rewards or recognition for what you've accomplished is not a sign of humility. Humility is a natural outcome of learning who we are in comparison to who God is. When we are in a life-long process of constantly learning that everything we are and everything we do is because of who God is, then humility becomes a natural characteristic. But it does not make us into a door mat nor does it keep us from achieving goals and ambitions. Indeed, true humility helps us in the business world.

The Bible makes it clear that the name of Jesus is to be honored and respected above all other names. In Philippians 2:9-11 we read: Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The President of the United States is called President, Leader of the Free World, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Head of a Political Party—and other titles that are given to him because he was elected President. Those titles represent his authority in various areas. Similarly, but in a much more important way, Jesus has been given names by God the Father that represent his authority, and as Christ-followers, we have access to the power of his name. I want to focus on five of the many names in the Bible that describe Jesus and I want to encourage you as a Christ-follower to claim his name for whatever need you are facing—to “claim the name.” Immanuel – God with Us In Isaiah 7:14 we read that the Messiah will be called Immanuel, which means “God with us.” This is a name of Jesus you can claim. This means that in the midst of whatever you’re facing, you stop and claim the truth that Jesus is “God with you.” You are not alone. He will never leave you or forsake you. It means that in the middle of your pity party, when you are feeling sorry for yourself because you’re facing something all alone and you feel as though nobody cares, you can claim the name of Immanuel and know that God is with you. For those times when you feel forsaken or abandoned, when all your friends seem to have vanished, when the person closest to you doesn’t seem to understand what you’re going through, learn to tap into the power in the name of Jesus Immanuel—God with you. It’s true, but you must claim it for yourself—claim the name of Jesus Immanuel today and be encouraged because God is with you. Wonderful Counselor Our lives are full of decision points, forks in the road where the choice we make will have some significant impact in our lives. How do you make good decisions? How can you be sure that you’re choosing the right path? One of the most wonderful names given to Jesus is found in Isaiah 9:6 which says, “he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” In that one verse we have four of the incredible names given to our Lord, and at the top of the list is Wonderful Counselor. What is the role of a counselor? It is to give guidance and trustworthy advice, right? So, as you’re facing some important decisions today, have you gone for counsel to Jesus, or are you just trying to figure it out on your own? His name is Wonderful Counselor—the best Counselor. Have you claimed the name of Jesus for the guidance that you need? I well remember some years ago when I was facing a dilemma in my life, one that looked potentially dire and where the wrong decision could be catastrophic. I knew I needed good advice, so what did I do? I called my best friend, who just wasn’t available to me at that moment. I kept dialing and re-dialing her number to no avail, and I actually became irritated at her for not being there when I needed her. And as I paced the floor in frustration, trying to reach my friend, so clearly the Lord reminded me that Jesus is my Wonderful Counselor. He is the one I needed to turn to first and fast, because his guidance is perfect. So, I stopped and claimed the name of Jesus—Wonderful Counselor—and took the whole situation to him in prayer. He calmed my spirit and assured me that he would guide my steps through this situation and I could trust him. After all, he’s not like any other counselor—those who can be mistaken; instead he is my wonderful, perfect Counselor. I want to encourage you today, as you’re facing some decision point,

As we continue looking to 2 Chronicles 20 as our guide we see the final weapon in King Jehosaphat’s battle plan: Praise and Worship. Jehosaphat has just cried out to God asking him what to do, God answers, and immediately we see that Jehosaphat and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed down before the Lord and worshiped him and the Levites stood up to praise the Lord God shouting with a loud voice. When in the midst of a battle the people put themselves in a posture of worship and praise. Sometimes the last thing we feel like doing when we are faced with a battle is to worship God. Yet this is the very thing that brought victory and the very thing that God invites you to when you are feeling the heat of pending defeat. As my friend Becky says, turn your panic into praise! 2 Chronicles 20:20-22 continues: “Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.” Praise is what defeated the enemy. This reminds me of one of my favorite worship songs. “I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies. I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief. I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody. I raise a hallelujah, Heaven comes to fight for me. I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me. I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee. I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery. I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!” When you are facing life’s battles, your weapon is a melody. Praise God in the middle of the battle. Praise Jesus in the middle of the storm. (Click here to download the devotional for the entire week.)

What do you do when you are facing a battle? When it feels like the odds are against you? When it seems like the enemy is winning? When you are in a battle it can be easy to feel alone, surrounded on all sides, not knowing what to do. This week I have been talking about steps to creating a battle plan when you are experiencing hardships in life. I want to encourage you to remember that God is with you in the battle. In 2 Chronicles 20 when in the thick of the ensuing battle against Judah King Jehoshaphat calls out to God, “We are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to you.” (2 Chronicles 20:12) Have you ever been in a situation where you had no clue what to do? Where did you turn? Who or what did you turn to? God wants you to know that when you ask him for help, when you look to him for guidance, he is with you, the Spirit of God will counsel you. When Jehosaphat looked to God, the Lord said, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number, for the battle is not yours but God’s….. You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord….. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out tomorrow and face them, for Yaweh is with you” (2 Chronicles 20:15b-17). When you feel defenseless. When your back is against a wall, and you don’t know what to do. When fear, worry, and anxiety grip you, look to the Lord and position yourself towards God. Being aware of God’s presence is always the way to dispel fear in your life. How often do we take the battle into our own hands and try to fight back in our own strength when God says, “You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourself. Stand firm.” Ephesians 6:11-18a is another reminder of how we can take our stand against the enemy’s schemes and stand firm in the battle. The apostle Paul says, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” When you are in a battle, look to God, listen, position yourself before him, and stand firm.

Sometimes other people’s lives look so perfect as if they never face challenges and everything is always going right. But that is simply not true. We all face hardships in life. If you are currently in a battle, you are not alone. So the question is not if you will be in a battle the question is “when you are in a battle, what will you do?” 2 Chronicles 20 reminds us that the first thing to do is seek the Lord. The second thing to do is to acknowledge God and pray and the next thing to do is cry out to God. Verse 9 says, “If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.” Do you know that you serve a God that listens? In Psalm 116:1-4, we hear the words of the Psalmist as he cries out to God in the midst of his own personal battle. “I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!” You can hear the absolute distress in the Psalmist’s voice. He is in utter despair. There is a lot of despair in the world these days. We can find ourselves in our own times of utter darkness and hopelessness. When disaster comes and it feels like life is caving in. In those moments when you are tired and weary and you feel like you are at your wits end. When you are not sure where to turn and you feel as though there is no way through your circumstances or no way out from under the weight of life, remember to cry out to God. Not too long ago I was experiencing a really big battle in my life. I felt confused, anxious, worried, and weary. I was desperately seeking to hear the Lord’s voice. Psalm 25:4-5 became a Psalm that I recited on a daily basis, “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Sometimes in the battle it will feel like a fight just to cry out to God. You can be tempted to turn to other things to distract you or to numb the pain. But remember to cry out to him. As a follower of Jesus, you have the privilege of a personal relationship with God and 24/7 access to him.

We all face battles in our lives, situations that are seemingly impossible, challenges that seem insurmountable. Times when our limited minds see no way around the conflict in front of us, or in us. What is your battle plan when you face difficulties in life? As we seek to formulate our own battle plan for challenges in life, we are looking to 2 Chronicles 20 for cues on how King Jehosaphat led in a battle that Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel, faced. The first thing Jehosaphat did when he was afraid in the battle was to seek the Lord and he also led his people to do the same. So when you are facing a battle the first part of your plan is, seek the Lord! The second step in Jehosaphat’s battle plan was to acknowledge God and pray. 2 Chronicles 20:5-7 tells us, “Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and said: “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?” Don’t you just feel stronger already, hearing those powerful declarations about God? In the midst of the battle, Jehosaphat acknowledges who the Lord is and with confidence and boldness declares what is true about him, his character and his promises. I have to admit that sometimes when I am in a battle, I spend more energy staring at my circumstances and welling up with fear and anxiety rather than focusing on God. When you are in a battle do you recall and declare what is true about God? Can you easily call to mind the character of God and proclaim your courage in God? Courage is the state of mind and belief that enables you to face difficulty, fear, and pain because you know who fights your battles and who fights for you—the Lord! As a follower of Jesus, who you set your mind on and who you get your courage from determines your ability to experience victory in the battles you face. What truths about God do you need to remember? What character of God do you need to recall and declare, shout at the top of your lungs with confidence and courage, knowing the battle is not yours to fight. That the Lord is with you wherever you go. Power and might are in his hand and no one can stand against him which means he fights for you and no one or nothing can stand against you. Declare his faithfulness in the battle.

What do you do when you are in the midst of a battle? We all face battles in our lives, situations that are seemingly impossible or challenges that seem insurmountable. Times when our limited minds see no way around the conflict in front of us, or in us. We face battles in our marriage, in our thought life, at work, in our friendships, with our kids, financial battles, health battles, battles with addiction, emotional and mental battles. What is your battle plan when you face difficulties in life? How do you have courage in the battle? Let’s look at 2 Chronicles 20 and a battle that the southern kingdom of Israel, led by King Jehosaphat the fourth king of Judah, was facing for some cues. For a bit of a backstory, spiritually King Jehosaphat began his reign in a positive way, seeking the Lord, and leading his people to fear and follow God. But like many of the human kings we read about in the Old Testament, Jehosaphat had his shortcomings. Despite his misgivings we see how he led God’s people to victory when a vast number of their enemies were in hot pursuit to destroy them. There are five parts of his battle plan that are important as you prepare your plan for the battles you will face in your life. When faced with what appeared to be an insurmountable battle the first thing Jehosaphat did when he was afraid was that he resolved to seek the Lord. (2 Chronicles 20:3). He was determined and resolute to fix his eyes on and seek God. When you are afraid, what is your knee-jerk reaction? What or who do you give your first attention to? It can be easy to give in to fear and forget to seek God. It can be tempting to phone a friend and rely purely on human wisdom (which by the way - phoning a wise friend is a good idea). We just sometimes forget to seek the Lord and his wisdom. After all, the battle does not surprise him so you need to fix your eyes on Jesus. Jehosaphat also “proclaimed a fast for all Judah, who gathered to seek the Lord.” (2 Chronicles 20:3). Fasting is a spiritual discipline that helps you take your eyes off the things of this world and focus completely on God. It helps gain a new perspective and a renewed reliance upon God as you seek him for answers and direction. The next time you are facing a battle, resolve to seek the Lord first. Consider fasting as you enquire of the Lord and his wisdom for the road ahead.

I want to talk about stewardship and in particular, how we steward our choices. I want to talk about this is because I think when we think about how we steward our choices, it actually empowers us as leaders—in whatever capacity you're leading—to lead out of a God-given sense of self-worth. Now the church loves to talk about stewardship. We hear messages on how we steward our finances, how we steward our time, how we steward our resources. And these are really important things. But I can't tell you the last time, if ever, I heard a sermon on stewarding our choices. What I want to focus on is that this choice to function consistently out of a biblically defined understanding of our self-worth, particularly as it relates to our role as leaders, as women, it can have a profound impact on how we view and use our emotions; how we navigate boundaries, and it can actually enhance our ability for valuable risk-taking. But let's stop and think about this because let's be honest, choices stress us out. We face choices every day. I start off the day with “What am I going to wear?” “What am I going to look like when I head into my meetings?” And then I start thinking about “What am I going to eat for breakfast?” And some of you were probably thinking about “What am I going to feed my kids or spouse for breakfast?” And then I think about, “Okay, what tasks do I have to focus on at work today?” Because definitely there's no way I'm getting everything on my to do list done. And then I move onto, “I know we've got performance improvement plans coming up. So, do I need to let this person know what their outcome is going to be today? How is that going to make them feel? How's that going to make me feel?” I'm also a psychologist, and so I have clients that come into my office and they're wrestling with even bigger choices, things like “Should I stay in my marriage—even though my husband was selfish and cheated and doesn't act like he wants to be married anymore?” Or perhaps you're faced with a choice that says, “Do I follow this doctor's suggestion, or do I get a second opinion?” Choices are all around us. A huge part of my career is focused on helping people who get stuck in those choices. They're dealing with the consequence of perhaps past choices, or they're paralyzed with fear over future choices. And, you know, I think back to the Fall in Genesis. The Old Testament displays from the beginning of creation how God designed us to be gifted with the ability to choose. This was given to no other element of creation. And what did we do? We kind of messed it up. And the consequence is that our daily choices, the things that we have to choose, they leave us feeling pretty up in the air. We're not grounded. I think it is because just like Adam and Eve did, we're trying to build routes and choices that are pretty fleeting. Adam and Eve wanted to route themselves in the choice of knowledge instead of the truth of who they were in Christ, which was perfect image bearers of God. We miss this practice of navigating our lives from a launching point of the choice, the one choice that really, truly matters. And that's what is going to ground us in the midst of everything when everything around us feels like chaos. We have the choice to fully embrace and act out of a true definition of our self-worth. So how do you steward your choices? It's a big question. Because when we don't steward our choices, so often, we function from a place of trying to please other people to serve and to maybe sacrifice out of fear of being cast out, not included. And unfortunately, we oftentimes then find our lives in chaos. If you're in that circumstance, you might be asking yourself, “How do I remain grounded when my choices around me don't have me feeling confident?” Perhaps you are feeling uncertain, incapable, uncomfortable, and not grounded at all. But the reality is, God has given us a choice.

We have been given only one offensive weapon to use in this spiritual battle, but it is all we need. The Word of God is our sword (Ephesians 6:17). Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:4 that "the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” Remember how Jesus defeated Satan when he was tempted on the mountain. He quoted Scripture back to him, and though Satan tried three times to trick Jesus, he finally had to give up because the Word of God is far too powerful for him. Now let me ask you something. If Jesus had to use the Word of God to defeat Satan, how much more do we? You will remember also that the Word of God was in his head. He knew it and could recall it when he needed it. Does that give you some idea of how to use the Word of God as your sword? You need to know it to use it, and when you do, Satan has absolutely no defense against it. Here’s the thing: you need to wear all of this armor every day to stand against your enemy. I want to encourage you to start praying on each piece of the armor daily, before you leave home, so you're prepared for that enemy. So, pray on each day the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith and the sword of God's Word. I have learned to do this, and I find that it becomes that daily reminder and awareness of the battle I face and how important this armor is to my survival as an effective witness for Jesus Christ. I trust you will get very serious about putting on the armor of God on a daily basis, so that you are able to withstand the enemy's attack and be victorious. (Click here to download the devotional for the entire week.)

Another piece of that armor is the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16). The Scripture says with this shield we can extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. All of them, not just some of them. Do you know how to use the shield of faith against Satan? Taking the shield of faith is directly related to knowing God. The more you know him, the more you will trust him, and the more you trust him, the stronger will be your shield of faith. Do you know whom you have believed? Knowing God is all important. Sadly, many of us know more about our friends than we do about God. Until you pursue a knowledge of God, your shield of faith will be weak, and will not stand up against all those flaming missiles that your enemy is constantly throwing at you. You need faith, and faith comes as you get to know God. Faith also comes through exercise. When you trust God in a certain situation, and you see how he protects you, then the next time the enemy comes at you, your shield of faith is stronger because you remember the last time when you exercised faith, and God took care of you. Faith builds faith, but it has to begin by knowing God so that you believe he is trustworthy. Our next piece of armor is the helmet of salvation, which protects our head (Ephesians 6:17). We are all aware that our minds are vital to the health of our body, both physically and emotionally. The Bible tells us that we are what we think. Before anything happens outwardly, it has its beginnings in our mind. Little wonder that Satan makes his greatest effort to control our thinking. If he can capture your mind, he can control and destroy you. Without the helmet of salvation every day as your protection, you are defenseless. Protecting your mind with the salvation which comes from Christ means that you don't allow anything into your mind that contradicts or violates or offends that salvation. If you are not willing to carefully control what goes into your mind, and to make certain that you consistently fill your mind with good things, your mind will be unprotected and provide an easy target for your great enemy, Satan. So, put good things into your mind, and keeping the wrong things out. That will win your battle with Satan.

Do you get prepared for battle every day? Are you aware that, as a Christian, you are in a very real struggle with a most real enemy? Already we've talked about the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness, two important pieces of our armor from Ephesians 6. The next one is the gospel of peace to be worn on our feet (6:15). Did you ever wonder why peace is to be worn on your feet? Seems a little illogical, when you think about. I would have guessed that peace would be worn on our hearts. We think of having peace in our hearts. But instead we're told to put peace on our feet. Why? Well, you see, when you have peace on your feet, then nothing can stop you. Think about it: When your feet aren't properly protected or when your shoes are hurting you, it's hard to keep going, isn't it? If you're taking a hike, you don't put on shoes with three-inch heels. You wouldn't get very far in those shoes. If you are to run a race and finish it, you have to wear the right shoes. Well, peace is the boot you wear that will get you through anything. Peace on your feet protects you from the conditions of the path on which you are walking; you are no longer vulnerable to the surroundings or the environment. Doesn't matter where that road takes you—into a desert with burning sand, or through ice and snow, or in a lovely meadow with flowers and birds—if you're wearing the boots of peace you can keep going because your feet are protected. Fear debilitates us, incapacitates us, handicaps us, but peace frees us to keep on keepin' on. This is peace which passes all understanding, even your own. And Satan hates to see it in a Christian because those sandals of peace on your feet make you strong and give you endurance. Wearing peace on your feet also gives you a strong testimony in this troubled world. Have you been wearing the shoes of peace lately? You need to have them on to be prepared to fight an enemy who is out to get you. Pray on those shoes of peace; you shouldn't leave home without them.

Did you know that Christians are supposed to be fighters? Well, the truth is—we're in a daily battle, and we have an expert opponent—Satan. In Ephesians 6 we're told to put on the armor of God, the first piece of that armor was the belt of truth. The next one is the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14). This is designed to protect an area of extreme vulnerability, our hearts, our feelings and emotions. One way Satan attacks our hearts is by telling us that we are total failures, and therefore we can never be worthy or do anything for God. We know from Revelation 12:10 that Satan is our accuser, and many times he succeeds in convincing Christians that they have no value because they have no righteousness of their own. He loves to bring up your past sin and keep you mired in your past, wounded in your heart. While it's true that we are unworthy in ourselves, what Satan does not want us to discover is that we have the righteousness of Jesus Christ available to us to wear as our breastplate. That's the secret: We wear the righteousness of Jesus Christ, not our own. I'm a big believer in talking back to our enemy, to remind him and ourselves that he is truly powerless over us. If you remember, that's how Jesus defeated Satan when he was tempted (Luke 4:1-13). So, when the enemy starts to attack you, talk back and use the Word of God. Say, "Wait a minute; you must not know who you're talking to. I'm a child of God; I have the righteousness of Jesus Christ as my breastplate. Therefore, no matter what you say about me, you're wrong. I'm a new person and you can no longer defeat me. Try it. Put on the breastplate of righteousness before you leave home each day, and all through the day remember to talk back to your enemy when he tries to destroy you through accusations.

If you're a Christian, do you realize that you are in a fight, a real war, every day of your life? Are you prepared for the fight that faces you? We know from Scripture that as Christians we have an enemy, and that enemy has one objective: to destroy us. He is ruthless and he knows how to fight and does it very well. In 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) we read: "Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.” In referring to Satan, Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10 ESV). In the sixth chapter of Ephesians we find very explicit instructions on how to fight this enemy of ours. Paul clearly tells us that if we put on God's complete armor, we can successfully resist all the devil's methods of attack. Have you ever learned how to put on the armor of God? Do you do it on a daily basis? If you don't, you are going to war completely unprepared and headed for defeat. Let's look at each piece of this armor. The first part is a protective belt called truth (Ephesians 6:14). Since Satan is a liar and the father of lies, his favorite tactic is to lie to us, and he's very good at it. He will lie to you in your thought life, he will lie to you through what you hear and believe from other people, and through what you read and see. We must learn to detect his lies. The Word of God must become our testing station whereby we determine what is true and what is a lie from Satan. Satan loves to get us to rationalize our way into untruth. We put our human reasoning to work, coupled with our sinful nature and the lies of our culture, and the first thing you know we're justifying sinful behavior—such as lying, affairs, unethical behavior of all sorts. We justify ourselves with words like "But this is different.” Or "I really love him.” Or "I know God understands. . .” Friends, God never changes his mind and the Bible spells truth out very clearly. We have to know that truth and obey it in order to defeat our enemy. When there is any area of untruth in our lives, we are walking right into Satan's territory, and we're on our way to defeat. Have you told or done anything untruthful which needs to be set right? If so, do it today. Don't mess around in Satan's territory of lying. When you do, you cannot wear the belt of truth and without that belt, you are wide open to the enemy's lies.

This grasshopper disease came on the children of Israel when they were afraid to possess the land God had given them. They said "we look like grasshoppers" and they figured they couldn’t win the fight, so they wanted to quit and go back to Egypt. The disciples gave up on feeding the crowd of 5000 because they didn't have enough money or food. They caught the grasshopper disease, too. And you know what, you and I catch it from time to time, don’t we? But there's another servant of God who did the right thing when faced with his own crisis. We looked last week at 2 Chronicles 20 and the story of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, who is facing a vast army and doomed for defeat. Instead of giving up, he called the people together and inquired of the Lord. I want to read now the prayer he prayed at that moment. It's found in 2 Chronicles 20:5-12. "Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and said: “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’ “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” Jehoshaphat's response to his impossible situation is a sure cure for the grasshopper disease.    I want to point out seven R's that I hope you'll remember, because this is the cure for you when you’re coming down with the grasshopper disease. The first R - Recite who God is. Notice that the first thing Jehoshaphat does is to recite the characteristics and nature of God: “Are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.” (2 Chronicles 20:6). Jehoshaphat's first move was to remind himself and his people of God and his power. And it has to be our first move, too. We must go back to the basics. We must have an in-depth knowledge of the nature of God. That means we must get to know God. Are you able to recite the nature and character of God? Is it firmly established in your heart and mind? When there are no answers, we must begin by reciting who God is. The second R - Remember God's great works. After reciting who God is, Jehoshaphat remembers what God had done: "Did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?” (2 Chronicles 20:7). Isn't it amazing how your memory goes on you when you're in a crisis or when you're frightened? It takes an act of your will to remember what you should remember. But it's really important at these times that you purposely remember God's past miracles in your life, his faithfulness to you in days gone by, his deeds of old, as Jehoshaphat did. That's an important step two in curing the grasshopper disease. The third R -  Recall God's promises. Notice that next Jehoshaphat recalls God's promises to the children of Israel. He says: "If calamity comes upon us...we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will c...

If you haven’t read the book of Esther, I encourage you do so. Esther was faced with a challenge to go and share with the King that something was going to happen to her people. She told the King “My people are at risk. They are going to be completely taken away from the earth.  There is a death wish on my life.” Her bold and courageous actions put her in a position of risking her own life. There is a part toward the end of the book of Esther where Mordecai, her cousin, who is taking care of her, the one who has told her of the plot to kill the Jews, tells her you can choose to remain silent. Like Esther it is actually your right as well. But rest assured that God’s purpose will prevail because he has a promised plan for us. And you are able to determine, in this critical moment, how your actions, or the lack there of, will influence the course of your history or simply tuck you away in its shadows. Esther with faith, courage and conviction replies, “I will rise. I will speak out. I will respectfully push back.” I am so inspired by Esther’s response here. You know why? Because she recognized that she had something to lose, and she was willing to lose that in order to gain a partnership with God and become a liberator. So often we navigate this world only thinking about gains.  What am I going to accomplish? What am I going to get out of this? What am I going to receive in return? And yet so often we fail to consider what we could lose.  And that is equally, if not more important, than considering our gains. Esther had the very lives of her people in her hands, and she was willing to say that she was not willing to risk that loss. When you think about your day-to-day life, what are you actually losing? It may not be as significant as what Esther was about to lose, but maybe it is time with your family, or time with the Lord. Or maybe it is the opportunity to do something else. So, I would encourage you, as you face your decisions, to be bold and courageous, and don’t forget to consider the losses as well.  Maybe, just maybe, there are actually losses you are not willing to incur. (If you would like the devotional for the entire week, click here.)

One thing that always strikes me when reading through Jesus’ earthly ministry is how frequently and perhaps even how easily he set healthy boundaries despite the pressures of others. I don’t know about you, but I am typically the type of person that when a request is made of me, or I feel called to step into a situation, I am pretty apt to say “yes” right away. I don’t often place boundaries around my time like I would like to, or say “no” to the people around me in fear of letting them down. Yet, when I look at Jesus’ example, so often his willingness and his abilities to set boundaries was out of necessity for sustenance and a nourishment from the Father first. He stole away to quiet places to pray. The time he spent in the desert and resting and praying makes me feel uncomfortable as I face the pressures of my life. To think about taking days or weeks at a time to spend with the Lord makes me think about “all the things on my to-do list: what am I to do about all those things?” When I don’t set those healthy boundaries around my daily choices, too often I am not functioning out of God’s design for my life. I am trying to take things into my own hands. So, I want to encourage you, if you are walking in a season of challenges and difficulties, maybe you’re in a season of growth and opportunity, and you’re knowing that you are stepping into this bold and courageous place. How can you set healthy boundaries around your time, your relationships, your time with the Lord, with your family? That takes the ability to stop and ask yourself, “what is most important to me?” When I have new clients, one of the first activities we usually do is list out everything in their life that is important to them. Nothing is too significant or insignificant. We end up with a list of 25-30 things and then we go back and rank the top ten. Then I ask them to think back over the last week and over the last few days and ask, “How often have you prioritized these things?” And as you can imagine it makes them uncomfortable and it reminds me of how often I don’t prioritize my most important things. So, I encourage you, set boundaries like Jesus did. Even if you feel like you don’t have the time or space take five minutes, ten minutes, even one minute as a great starting point. Your decisions, your family, the people around you will thank you.

Is there a season or circumstance that may be happening right now where God is calling you to step out, to say something, to be an agent of change, to support the people around you? Whatever that circumstance is for you, I want you to consider the importance of context. Context is something that we often take for granted or forget to consider, especially if our circumstance is immediate and possibly causing us a lot of pressure. We have to get this done now. We need a solution in place. And we fail to consider context. That often can cause damage to our relationships that can actually create a solution that is not long term or more damaging than we had hoped. Looking at Esther’s story, one of the things that is so important is when her cousin Mordecai first comes to her to let her know that there is someone out there who wants to obliterate their people. And when this message is sent to Esther it comes through the people around her. Mordecai doesn’t come directly to Esther, and Esther needs some clarification. Sometimes when we are faced with an obstacle or a solution one of our first responses might be to immediately go to someone—the source of the problem or the person in charge—and ask for help, support, or clarity. But what we see Esther do here is so important. When she first becomes aware of Mordecai’s distress, and he can’t come to her because under the Persian law he is in mourning, she is beside herself. She wants to know what is happening, what is going on and what is troubling Mordecai. So, she actually sends clothes for him to change so that under the law he could come to her. But he objects. When we are in those seasons when we act on a situation, especially in an emergency, and things don’t go as we had planned, we immediately push back. And yet Esther pauses. She chooses to respect Mordecai’s decision. She considers the context of the situation. You know what she does next? She flexes in her approach. So, as you are facing a difficult season or circumstance and you are being called to step out in boldness and courage, I want you to consider the context of your circumstance and be open to flexibility.

What is radical acceptance? Esther gives us an example of what radical acceptance looks like. Esther was called to stand up and challenge the King to save her people. Esther was in a very dangerous position. Her life was on the line. As God gave her the courage and the boldness, she also had to consider her circumstances. I think a lot of times we have an idealized version of what our circumstances are going to look like when we are called to step into uncertainty—when we are called to speak up. We want to feel a certain way. We want to feel emboldened, confident; we don’t want to feel anxious. The reality of it is that most of the time those emotions of uncertainty are going to accompany us even if we know we are doing the right thing. Think about all the emotions Esther must have been feeling. She must have been feeling terrified, uncertain, and yet she showed up with faith, courage and conviction. She said, “I am going to stand up.” “I am going to speak up.” “I am going to respectfully push back.” Esther was by God to be a liberator of her people but as the Queen of Persia she was expected to be obedient to the law. She was expected to be quiet and submissive. But what she did in that moment is she chose to partner with God. She stepped into that place of uncertainty—of not knowing the outcome, probably feeling quite anxious about the outcome, and overwhelmed. But she knew her circumstances and said “Okay this is where God has placed me. I’m going to partner with God and we are going to bring about radical transformation. We are going to free the people. I am stepping out in faith.” When you find yourself facing a really difficult situation, I want you to consider how you can embrace and accept those emotions that might be holding you back. And yet still challenge yourself to step forward knowing that God will provide victory and God will carry you through.

One of the things I hear a lot from people, especially women who are in the marketplace, is when they get into a situation that is overwhelming or they start to feel that anxiety level rise, they begin to ask, “How do I navigate this?” I think one of the most important things for us to recognize about being bold and courageous is where we are launching from. What is the ground you are standing on like? It is really hard to step out in courage when the floor beneath you is shaky. But I think we can ground ourselves more easily than we realize. I think we can be grounded right here, right now. You can be grounded whether your circumstances are overwhelming, or whether the decision you have to make is rather exhilarating but also daunting. Maybe your team or your family or whatever you are navigating is well oiled and going well or maybe it is breaking down. You can be grounded when people are with you and when people are against you. In any and every circumstance, as a Christ-follower you are grounded. The Apostle Paul tells us “Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude” (Colossians 2:6-7). Did you catch that? You have been firmly rooted. It is a done deal. Everything else from that point is the building up part. The building up part is hard. And that’s where our emotions can come in. But I want you to recognize that you are already there. You have been firmly rooted therefore you are grounded. So, when we hold on to that, we can keep our emotions in check. When I am feeling anxious, I can say “I am standing on solid ground.” I may feel overwhelmed but the ground beneath me is not moving. You may feel this is impossible, but God has got you. You are firmly rooted.

If you’re thinking I've made up this grasshopper sickness, let me remind you of the time when God's people were afflicted with it. You'll find it recorded in Numbers 13. Here are some selected verses from that chapter: "The Lord said to Moses, 'Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.'  So at the Lord's command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites (13:1-3). "When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, 'See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.' (13:17-20). "So they went up and explored the land...At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land... They gave Moses this account:  'We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey!  Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large... (13:21,25, 27-28). "Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, 'We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.'  But the men who had gone up with him said, 'We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are.'  And they spread among the Israelites a bad report             about the land they had explored. They said, 'The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.'" (13:30-33). GRASSHOPPERS! That's how they saw themselves—grasshoppers! And as a result, they wanted to give up. They lost all hope of ever entering the promised land. In the 14th chapter the story continues: "All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, 'If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?'" (Numbers 14:2-3). Oh, this grasshopper disease is really serious. Let me point out the symptoms of this sickness so you can check up and see if you've caught it lately: First, it wipes out your memory. Think of those children of Israel, poised on the borders of Canaan. How had they gotten there? God had miraculously led them out of Egypt. I mean, it's not every day you see the waters of the Red Sea parted and walk across on dry land. Miracle after miracle after miracle had happened right in front of their eyes. But they didn't even remember. So, when you catch the grasshopper disease, you remember what you should forget and forget what you should remember. Does that ever happen to you? How often have you found yourself facing what looked like an impossibility, and all you could talk about, all you could focus on was how difficult it was going to be? If that's where you are today, you may indeed be coming down with this disease. Second, you grumble and complain. If you know anything about the children of Israel, you know that griping and complaining was a common problem for them. And sure enough, as soon as they heard the bad report from the ten faithless spies, they complained and grumbled against Moses and Aaron. Notice that their complaining spirit quickly spread to everyone around them. This disease is very contagious! When was the last time you grumbled or complained? Paul wrote to the Philippians "Do everything without complaining or arguing..." (2:14). Everything! When you complain, you not only bring yourself down, but everyone around you as well! Third, you want to quit. This grasshopper disease makes you want to retreat; to forget your calling ...

I want to encourage you to step out of the boat at the invitation of Jesus like Peter did, to do the good works he has for you to do. Could it be that you’ve been stuck in your boat and missing the joy of walking on the water with Jesus because of some fear or maybe laziness or just not wanting to rock your boat? If that’s where you are, it’s keeping you from knowing the incredible joy and fulfillment that comes when you simply obey Jesus and by trusting him, you do what God wants us to do. You see, as a Christ-follower, you were created to do certain good works, as we read in Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. That is your mission in life, as established by God, and it is only when you are doing those good works that you are living in the completeness of who you are in Christ Jesus. Maybe you haven’t stepped out of the boat because you haven’t truly asked God to show you what good works he has for you to do. That’s a good place to start—just pray for guidance, and if you’re sincere about doing it, God will put a desire in your heart to do a good work. Maybe you haven’t stepped out of the boat because you simply haven’t made time in your life to do those good works. Could it be that your life is so full of what you want to do, that you just can’t fit God’s calling into your schedule? I think of a person I knew who filled her life with lots of activity—fun things as well as career pursuits—so that there just was no time to put anything else in her life. She had just made her boat so comfortable that she didn’t want to leave it. But she missed the blessing of walking on water with Jesus. Maybe you stepped out of the boat once and then you started to sink, like Peter did, and so you just jumped back in the boat and now you’re afraid you’ll sink again. But failure is often part of our growing process, and God gives us lots of second chances. I don’t think I could count the number of times God has had to rescue me and give me another opportunity to walk on the water with him. That’s the kind of Lord we serve, and he’s waiting to take your hand and show you the incomparable fulfillment that comes when you walk by faith and not by sight. I just want to encourage you to keep your eyes on Jesus and follow his invitation to step out of the boat. I know it’s scary, but you don’t want to miss the indescribable joy of walking on the water with Jesus, doing what you could never do alone, and hearing him say “Well done.” (Click here to download the devotional for this week.)

Did you know that there is  no “little” with God? I’m talking this week about stepping out of the boat to do what Jesus is inviting and asking you to do. It takes courageous faith and it can be a little risky, but it is the way to the abundant life that Jesus has for us. However, I think lots of times we don’t take that step out of the boat because we keep thinking that God measures people and gifts and accomplishments like we do—by size, by quantity, by big versus small. And we decide that what we can do just doesn’t seem that big or important, compared to what others are doing. But God doesn’t use our measurement systems. You remember the parable of the talents, where three guys were given different quantities—one ten talents, one five and one only one talent. The first two servants got busy and doubled their talents, but the guy with only one talent just sat down and did nothing. No doubt he figured that he couldn’t do much with only one talent anyway, so why bother? What difference would it make? But as Jesus tells that parable, it made a huge difference, and he was severely reprimanded by the Master. He could have done something with his one talent, but he just gave up. Have you been disparaging the importance of your “one talent,” your gift, your ability, your opportunities? Have you been thinking that God is not involved in your “little” life? Can I remind you of the boy with the small lunch? Jesus multiplied it more than he could have ever dreamed. What about the widow who gave her last penny? Not small to Jesus. Jesus said she gave more than the others. And those two people have been memorialized in Scripture for centuries. You see, Jesus just measures differently than we do. If your excuse has been that you don’t have much to offer to the Lord, it simply won’t hold water. Jesus measures what you do with what you’ve been given—where you started and where you ended up—and he never compares you to anyone else. Mother Teresa used to advise, “Don’t try to do great things for God. Do small things with great love.” There’s a passage in Zechariah 4 that says “Who dares despise the day of small things?” (Zechariah 4:10a). Maybe you’ve been despising or discounting what you see as a small thing that God wants you to do, and that’s why you haven’t stepped out of the boat. Can I encourage you to do that small thing with great love for Jesus? To step out of your boat and experience the joy of walking on water as Jesus empowers you. You’ll never regret it.

The Bible teaches us that as Christ-followers, we have to walk by faith not by sight. That means sometimes we have to take a risk, step out of the boat like Peter did, in order to walk where Jesus invites us. I’m talking about stepping out of our boats this week, and some things I’ve learned in my years of following Christ. Think about this: Obedience is more important to God than your comfort. I believe that God sometimes withholds information from us and takes away our security blankets because he’s teaching us the simple discipline of obeying. If you’re trying to cross all your t’s and dot all your i’s before you step out of the boat, you’ll probably be sitting there a long time! Sure, we need to do our due diligence and not foolishly charge ahead without making adequate plans. But seeing every turn in the road ahead just never happens with God. He shows us enough light for the next step. The Bible says that the Word of God is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. We don’t walk blindly ahead, but we take it one step at a time, walking through the open doors even when we’re not quite sure what’s on the other side. Control freaks will have difficulty walking by faith, because it requires that you trust God all the way and relinquish the control into his hands. Psalm 91 is good for the faith walker—it says that God will cover us and his faithfulness will be our shield and defense. Quoting verse 9: “If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent” (Psalm 91:9-10). When you step out of the boat, God has your back. And consider this: Often God’s will is for us to make some decisions. Making decisions is one way we grow and learn. So, there will be times when you simply will not have any great emotional confirmation or direction, but you will be faced with a decision that you must make, based on your knowledge of Scripture and the wisdom that God promises to give us. That means, of course, that you are taking a risk—the risk that you could make the wrong decision. You could absolutely fall on your face. In fact, if you haven’t fallen on your face once or twice, my guess is, you haven’t done much! Asking God to give us clear, unmistakable signs—like Gideon of old—is not an act of faith. It is a sign that we really don’t want to walk by faith; it is evidence that we are controlled by our fears. So, is God showing you that he wants you to step out of the boat? What’s keeping you from taking the next step?

I wonder if you’ve ever thought about what it must have felt like to Peter when he actually walked on water at Jesus’ invitation? What an incredible experience—something no one had ever done before. But you know, he had to step out of the boat in order to do it. I’m talking this week about stepping out of our boats, taking the risk that comes when we follow Jesus to do the good works he’s called us to do. This step of faith will often take you outside your natural gifting, and you’ll have to trust God to see you through. Here’s another thing I’ve learned about stepping out of the boat: You’ll always feel inadequate, because the truth is, you’ll always be inadequate. I would remind you of what Paul wrote to the Corinthians: But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).  Recognizing your inadequacies doesn’t mean you are not called to do the job; it just means that God has chosen to use you and he will get the glory because in yourself, you can’t do it. It wasn’t long ago that I took on a new project that was totally out of my wheelhouse, as we say. On paper I was not qualified for the job, but I had no doubt that God wanted me to do it, so I just kept going, depending on him to teach me, to put people in my life who could help, etc. Stepping out of the boat usually takes you where you’ve never been before. God is always preparing us for what is ahead, even when we don’t realize it. Think of King David. Do you think that while he was tending sheep he ever thought that God had chosen him to be King of Israel? Not once, I’m sure. But that’s where he became an expert with a slingshot; that’s where he wrote music and words and learned to play an instrument. All of which God used mightily in his life then and to bless untold millions in the centuries since then. I dare say if you look back on your own history, whatever you’ve learned, whatever you’ve experienced, whatever hardships or difficulties you’ve gone through, they have prepared you for something God is doing or is going to do with you. You may have never chosen that kind of education or preparation, but God knows how to turn even what others meant for evil into good for us. Is God inviting you to step out of the boat? Don’t miss the blessing that is yours when you do. God has for you to do. Don’t miss the blessing that comes when you step out of the boat with Jesus.

You are no doubt familiar with the time when Jesus walked on the waters of the Sea of Galilee, and Peter decided he wanted to join him. So Jesus invited him to step out of the boat and when Peter did that, he actually walked on water for a few steps, until he took his eyes off of Jesus. Well, this week I want to talk about stepping out of the boat—being willing to take a step of faith in order to do what you believe God wants you to do. If you’re willing to take a risk, as it were, to experience the new thing that God has for you, you’ll have to step out of the safe boat and do something you’ve never done before, something you couldn’t possibly do unless Jesus invited you and empowered you to do it. So, the first challenge is to check it out and make sure this new idea or adventure is a God-thing. How do you know? Well, you pray about it a lot, you seek wisdom from godly people, and if it’s from God it will be something that will help and bless others, not something to promote yourself. It will be one of the good works God ordained in advance for you to do, as we read in Ephesians 2:10. Once you are fairly confident that this idea or passion is from God, here are some things to consider—things I’ve learned along the way. God often gives us assignments that are outside of our gifting. It’s true that we all have individual gifts from God and God wants us to use those gifts to serve others. But in order to do the good works which were ordained in advance for you to do, you will sometimes be out on a limb, in territory that is not only new, but territory that doesn’t fit. Let me give you one personal example: My skills as a manager of people are not naturally good. But to do the good works God has called me to do, I’ve had to manage people in one capacity or another for many years. It came with the God-given job. So, what do you do when you have to do something outside your gifting? You seek help! It took me too long to figure this out, but finally I have enlisted the help of people who are very good at this—people who have done it and who can teach me things I need to know. What a difference that has made. So, I just want you to know that the work God calls you to do will have parts that you aren’t particularly good at, and parts you don’t necessarily enjoy. Don’t let that keep you from the good works God has for you to do. Don’t miss the blessing that comes when you step out of the boat with Jesus.

Most of us are sufficiently informed about safe driving techniques and rules of the road, but many times we ignore them. And when we do, we can find ourselves in many difficulties. For example, do you allow your car to warm up before revving up the motor and taking off? I’m told that's bad for the car and it can damage the motor, but many times we just turn on the ignition and go because we're in a rush. The question is, do you live like that? How often do you procrastinate getting up until the last minute, so you don't have any time to quietly warm up your mind and your heart and tune it into the things of the Lord before leaving home? When you do that, you leave home undressed—you don't have the armor of God in place to protect you against your enemy. If you head into your spiritual battlefield without even thinking about putting on the armor of God, as explained in Ephesians 6, your enemy will often be able to defeat you. Not only that, but you don't have time to get your inner mind and thoughts focused on Jesus. You don't have time to pray for his guidance and his wisdom, so you face your days trying to do everything yourself and relying on yourself for needed wisdom. How foolish. And you'll find that your mind easily goes in the wrong direction all day long; you'll see how easy it is for you to be impatient and unkind and uncaring. All because you left home without warming up, just like you often do with your car. You know, you can jump in that car day after day and rush off without warming up, and you may not notice any problem, until one day the motor conks out in the middle of traffic. Bad driving habits often come home to roost later. The same is true spiritually. If you head off most days without warming up spiritually, it may not show up for awhile, but eventually spiritual failure will result. So, do you live like you drive? I hope you'll warm your car up before you leave home, but much more importantly, make that early warm-up time with Jesus an absolute necessity and discipline that you practice regularly. I guarantee you'll see remarkable improvement in your performance as a believer if you'll get in tune with Jesus early in your day. Here's another driving question: Do you abide by speed limits? Do you drive as fast as you think you can without being stopped by a cop? I know that often I find myself pushing that pedal down a little too far, thinking, "Oh, well, I can go a few miles over the limit; that's no harm.” Well, that's a bad driving habit, but it's an even worse living habit. God's speed limits in our lives are there to give us abundant life, not to rob our joy. A “road” where many people frequently speed is in their sexual practices. Even Christians who are committed to a pure lifestyle often find themselves in compromising situations because they don't abide by the speed limits. Let me tell you, this is one area where if you deviate from God's principles, you can end up in a spiritual wreck. Most people who start speeding down this road never intend to commit adultery or fornication, but they lose control of themselves, just as you lose control of a car if you drive too fast. You cannot go too slowly when it comes to dealing with your sexual drives and passions. Just as you drive very cautiously on a road covered with ice and snow, you have to be exceptionally careful about sexual temptation. Don't put any confidence in yourself when it comes to controlling those impulses. Stay off the road that leads down that path, and travel very slowly when your sexual impulses kick in. Many Christians push the speed limits in the area of what they read and listen to and view. Trashy or unedifying reading material just fills your mind up with junk, and most movies are even worse. Are you highly selective about what you allow into your mind? If you're exceeding the limits of purity in these areas, don't be surprised to discover that you'll have an accident somewhere soon,

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) Are you desiring transformation in your life? Spiritual renewal and growth in your walk as a follower of Jesus? This is one of my favorite prayers from Psalm 139: Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24). I love this prayer of David. He invites God to investigate his life, to put his life and actions to the test. He asks God to know his every thought, examining not just his outward conduct, but what he thinks about. If God were to examine your thoughts, what would he find? What passes through your mind; what occupies your imagination and memory; what thoughts do you dwell on? Anxious thoughts? Fearful thoughts? Self-defeating thoughts? Sinful thoughts? Most of us let our thoughts run wild when God tells us to hold our thoughts captive to him. Which essentially means, our thoughts should align with God’s thoughts. Philippians 4:8 gives us guidance on the thoughts to entertain: whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things. The mind is super powerful. It has been said that the directions of your thoughts determine the direction of your life. And David gives God an open invitation to try his thoughts to ultimately see if they stand the godly test. David invites God to test him. You can hear the desire in David’s words. He wants his life to reflect that of a man following hard after him. To rid himself of anything that is offensive to God and walk in integrity as a man after God’s heart. And if you know the story of David you know he did not live a perfect life, and neither do we. If we are honest, there are parts of our lives that we let God into and other parts that have a “do not disturb” sign. Yet here is David, inviting God into every nook and cranny of his life because his ultimate desire was to live a life fully pleasing to God. That is the kind of life that will ultimately bring us the greatest joy and fulfillment. If you want to experience transformation in your life and a greater intimacy with God, invite the Holy Spirit to lovingly point out things in your life that are hindering you from living life to the fullest in Jesus, one that honors and pleases him. When you do you will be led not in the way of sin and evil but in the way of godliness and everlasting life in Christ. (Click here to download the devotional for the entire week.)

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) A well-known prayer from the apostle Paul is a rich example of the power of intercessory prayer. Intercessory prayer is the privilege of petitioning God on the behalf of others. We are not concerned with our needs but with the needs of others. I love praying for people, and when someone tells me they are praying for me I feel loved, seen, and deeply cared for. There have been seasons in my life where the burdens have felt very heavy. I have been anxious, worried, and desperately needing direction and comfort from God. In moments of hardship, inexplicably waves of peace and comfort would come over me and I would feel a sense of “groundedness.” Then I would find out that a friend was praying for me. The prayers of my friends have sustained me and encouraged me in times of difficulty. You can easily pray for the needs of others. For their health, job, financial issues, marital problems, broken relationships, dreams, desires, and unmet longings. And one of the greatest things you can pray for is their spiritual growth and an increasing love for, trust, and faith in Jesus; along with a growing knowledge of his love for them and his power at work in their lives. In Ephesians Paul prayed a powerful prayer for believers and one that we can pray as well: “I pray that out of his glorious riches Christ may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:16-21). One of the greatest gifts we can give people is the gift of praying for them. Who is someone you can intercede for in prayer? Who is someone you can go to battle for, petitioning God on their behalf? Write their name in your journal and commit to praying for them. See how God works in you and how he meets them as you are faithful in prayer.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) When was the last time you sat before the Lord and thanked him? Really thanked him—expressing your heartfelt gratitude to Jesus? Here is another Psalm of David. This one gives us a rich example of what it looks like to pour out our hearts in thanksgiving to God. King David had many highs and lows in his life. David experienced hardship, loss, suffering, fear, anger, worry, and despair. In the midst of being hunted down by his enemies, we see a man who passionately pursued God as his faith was being purified. Psalm 138 are the words of a man faithful to God and grateful to him in all seasons of life. Let this be your prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord. I will give you thanks with all my heart; I will sing your praise before the heavenly beings. I will bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your constant love and truth. You have exalted your name and your promise above everything else. On the day I called, you answered me; You increased strength within me. If I walk into the thick of danger, you will preserve my life from the anger of my enemies. You will extend your hand; Your right hand will save me. The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. Lord, your love is eternal; do not abandon the work of your hands (Psalm 138:1-8 HCSB). Prayer is an authentic outpouring of our thoughts and emotions to a holy God who hears us; a gateway to intimacy with God as we humbly come before him acknowledging his goodness and faithfulness. It can be easy to thank God when things in life are going according to your plan. But do you praise him when it feels like your life has taken a detour or dreams are delayed? Do you express gratitude in times of trouble because you know God’s character? Do you thank him that he will never leave you nor forsake you and that he is with you in the middle of life’s storms? Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.” Praise is not something conditional based on our circumstances; praise exposes the condition of our hearts. How will you spend time pouring out your heart to God in gratitude this week? He is worthy of your praise.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) The book of Psalms has often been called a book of prayer and it is rich with examples of the Psalmists' communication with God. As a follower of Jesus, you have a relationship with God that enables you to have rich spiritual communication with him. You have the privilege of talking to God, of pouring out your heart to him, and also hearing and listening to him by the power of his Holy Spirit. We see this pouring out in prayer in Psalm 25, a Psalm of David. David was a king of Israel and referred to as a man after God’s own heart. Throughout Psalms we see him crying out to God as he is repeatedly pursued by his enemies, lamenting of his sin, and praying in his times of deepest struggle and need. David gives us an honest look into what it sounds like to come before God in times of trouble. In this Psalm we hear the cries of his heart as he seeks counsel from the Lord and confesses his utter dependence on him. Where do you turn when you feel desperate? Who or what do you depend on in times of trouble? Maybe you are in a tough season in your marriage, your singleness, your health, your job. Perhaps a co-worker has talked poorly about you and given you a bad reputation or you are out of work and don’t know what is next and you desperately need guidance. David reminds us where to keep our focus. “Lord, I turn to you. My God, I trust in you. Do not let me be disgraced; do not let my enemies gloat over me. No one who waits for you will be disgraced; those who act treacherously without cause will be disgraced. Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me; for you are the God of my salvation; I wait for you all day long. Remember Lord, your compassion and your faithful love, for they have existed from antiquity.” (Psalm 25:1-6 HCSB). You hear the longing, humility, and gratitude in David’s words. He begins this prayer by acknowledging God and declaring his trust in him and his character. God is trustworthy no matter what difficulties he is facing. He courageously asks God for what he needs. He desperately desires to hear from God, to know his ways and to be guided in truth. He waits on the Lord as long as it takes until he hears his voice and his direction. I think it can be easy to forget the goodness of God. Or to pray and get impatient in the waiting. Have you forgotten the goodness of God in your time of desperation? Are you impatient as you wait on him? Someone once said, God is never late, he is rarely early, but he is always on time. Pour your heart out to him, praise him, trust him. He knows just what you need.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) Have you ever longed for something—prayed fervently for something you wanted with all of your heart and soul? Maybe you are single and you have prayed for a spouse. Or you are married and have prayed for a child. Perhaps you have prayed for a specific job, a raise, or a promotion. Sometimes we see God answer our prayers in a way we desire, other times he answers in a way that we did not expect and is not in alignment with what we hoped for. Maybe you are in a period of waiting and wondering if and when God will come through. Sometimes we ask God for something and he answers with a “no,” “yes,” or a “not yet.” It is in the times of no or not yet that our faith can be stretched. And it is also in these times where it can be super easy to miss the blessing and provision that is in front of us because we are so fixed on the outcome we want. When I think of a prayer of longing, it reminds me of Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel.  Hannah was grieving over a difficult situation in her life. She desperately desired a son but was unable to bear children so she went before the Lord and poured her heart out before him. First Samuel 1:10 tells us, “Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept many tears.” Hannah declares, “I am a woman with a broken heart…. I’ve been pouring out my heart before the Lord… I am praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment” (1 Samuel 1:10,15-16 CSB). Hannah is honest about the pain of her unmet longing. What is a longing of your heart that has not been met in the way or in the timing that you want? It can be really hard to trust God to give us what is best when a deep desire of our heart is delayed. Hannah was in a heartbroken place and she poured her heart out to God and God heard her. We don’t like hard places, but God uses difficult places to draw you into a deeper relationship with him. He wants you to come to him with your hurts, heartache, bitterness, and resentment. God already knows what’s on your mind and heart but praying helps you to work through and process your pain when you verbalize and give words to your emotions, allowing the vulnerability and depth of your heart to cry out to him. When you are suffering from hardships, difficulties, and unmet longings, God is working in ways you cannot see. It may not turn out like you had hoped but God is at work and he will strengthen you to walk by faith and trust when you pour your heart out to him.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop) I have a question for you. How are you doing? No, really, how are you doing? What are the things that are most consuming your thoughts? What is a worry, concern or uncertainty, maybe a disappointment, unmet need, longing or loss that is weighing on your mind? If you were to do a check-in with your heart and your soul, what would you notice? Are you weary, tired, stressed out, angry, or depleted? Are you feeling overwhelmed or overworked? In the busyness of life, it is important to take time to do a self-check and get a gauge on our souls. Because let’s face it, life can be hard, and it is easy to get depleted. How do you experience renewal, refreshment and supernatural strength in your life? How do you receive sustenance in difficult times and grow in your ability to experience the divine power and presence of God? I want to remind you of the power of prayer. Now before you say, “I already know about prayer,” my question is, how consistently do you practice the power of prayer? I read a quote that said, “If you want your life to experience divine power, it needs to be a praying life.” Far too often it can be easy to bypass the transformation that comes from prayer because we are prone to put it on the back burner. But we can experience the divine presence and power to greater degrees in our lives. If you think about it, what are the reasons we don’t make prayer a daily habit? Being brutally honest, we don’t really believe that prayer works. Or since God already knows what we are thinking, why do we need to pray? And all too often the old “I am too busy” can become a barrier to a praying life. If you think you are too time crunched to pray, you need only to look to Jesus who modeled prayer and whose life points to not only the necessity of prayer but the practice of prayer in the busyness and demands of life. In Luke chapter 5, we see that crowds of people came to hear Jesus teach and to be healed of their sickness, and then it says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16). In the midst of his ministry, healing and teaching, Jesus points us to the power of prayer. In the hustle and bustle of life it is so easy to be on autopilot, going at warp speed, that we neglect to take the time to slow down and get away from the crowds and pray. Retreating from the crowds doesn’t necessarily mean going to a mountain or rural place, although that sounds really nice. It may simply be waking up early in the morning before the demands of the day kick in. Sitting in a quiet place in your house or apartment, even if for a few minutes before you start your day, to come before the Lord and in the quietness of his presence, pray. Of course, prayer is not reserved just for morning times. There is no one right time of day to pray, it is something you can do throughout your day. When you spend time in prayer, you make space to hear from God and for the Holy Spirit to guide your steps and transform your heart. Having a vibrant prayer life is a significant spiritual practice among followers of Jesus. Prayer positions you to pour out your heart so that you can be filled up and experience deep connection with the Lord. In Psalm 116 the Psalmist says, “I love the Lord because he has heard my appeal for mercy. Because he has turned his ear to me I will call out to him as long as I live” (Psalm 116:1-2). I love the reminder all throughout the Bible that God inclines his ear towards us. He listens intently. He delights in hearing your voice. Throughout the years I have struggled to pray. Especially in times where I felt distant from God, it was really hard for me to want to talk to him. Sometimes I didn’t even know where to begin. And then I read a book that suggested starting each day with the Lord’s prayer. In the gospel of Mathew, Jesus gave his disciples and us a model for prayer. Even if you start with 15 seconds a day,

It is better to pray a bad prayer than not to pray at all, because there are no pointless prayers. But praying in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers—praying as Jesus taught us to pray in what we call the Lord’s Prayer—this is even more powerful praying. So, even though it is better to pray a bad prayer than not to pray at all, it is better still to pray effectively. How do we make sure our prayers are as powerful and effective as they can be? Well, Jesus gave us a format for prayer, which we call The Lord’s Prayer but it really is The Disciple’s Prayer, and if you pray like Jesus taught you to, then I believe it will be more effective and powerful. Years ago I realized that my prayer time was rather monotonous, repetitive and not very exciting. It was more of a duty than a privilege. So, I took The Lord’s Prayer as my guide and I began a prayer journal, where I organized my prayer time based on how Jesus taught us to pray. That absolutely revolutionized my prayer life. It gave structure and meaning to what had been rather generalized prayers, and I began to keep a record of answers to prayer. Now, many years later, I have pages and pages of answered prayer—many I would have forgotten had I not made a record. And I began to pray Scripture into my life. That has truly transformed my prayer time and me. For example, I pray Romans 12:1-2 regularly, committing my body to him as a living sacrifice for that day, asking that I will not be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of mind, and in that way I can prove God’s will for my life for that day. I promise you, that is effective, powerful praying. (If you would like the devotional for the entire week, click here.)

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 we read: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Prayer is simply conversation with God, and that should be an on-going conversation, where at any time in any day you are so connected with God that you keep the conversation going. I was thinking of the ways we stay connected now with the people in our lives. Because of all the technological advances and gadgets that we have, we truly can keep a conversation going just about all the time, can’t we? Well, don’t you think we should stay connected with God throughout our entire day at least as much as we do with our loved ones and friends? I have a long-time friend who is a successful lawyer, and she incorporates prayer all through her day. I asked her how she keeps this continual conversation with God in the midst of a busy day, and how that affects her life. Here is how she replied. “I have many goals every day as I work—like providing valuable legal advice, articulately presenting a client's position, clearly and accurately drafting necessary documents—but there is no more important goal that I have in my work with clients and with co-workers than to show the love of Jesus to them in every interaction. I try to pray before every call, every meeting, and even as I am walking through the halls of my office, that I will show Jesus' love. I text my prayer partners before important calls and meetings to pray that I will show Jesus' love to everyone. It changes everything about how I see people and how I treat them. It helps me focus on the most important thing—the love of Jesus. And no matter what the outcome is of the call/meeting/interaction, whether I performed well or whether I delivered the value that I wanted to deliver to our client, if I was able to share just a tiny bit of the love that Jesus has given me, then I consider it a success and not a failure because love never fails.” I am one of her prayer partners and I love the way she brings a conversation of God into everything she does. She prays on all occasions with all kinds of prayers, and as we read in James, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16b). When you have been born from above and the righteousness of Jesus has been given to you, then you can claim this promise, that your prayers are powerful and effective, because you have the righteousness of Christ. I strongly urge you to keep a conversation going with God all day long. His Spirit is totally with you and is attentive to your prayer, so pray! And remember, there are no pointless prayers!

Have you stopped praying because it feels like your prayers are pointless? The Bible teaches us to pray about everything, even if it seems pointless. Ephesians 6:18 says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” What does it mean to pray On all occasions This simply means it is appropriate to pray about every occasion in our lives. From the smallest incidents to the traumatic occurrences, pray on all occasions. My friend, Fran, first taught me this truth by the way she prayed. I remember one specific time when she lost the diamond in her wedding ring. She immediately began to pray about it, and of course, she began a desperate search for her diamond. A couple of days later, she decided to search her car. Now, how likely would it be that a small diamond could be found in a car—even if indeed that was where it was? But she prayed that God would help her find that diamond, and you guessed it—tucked in one of the car seats there it was. Fran prayed on all occasions about everything, even when it seemed pointless, even when it’s not a life and death issue, even when it’s a small thing like a diamond. And then, this verse says we are to pray With all kinds of prayers and requests God invites us to petition him—to make our requests known to him. James said you have not because you ask not. Intercession is praying for others, and this is certainly one of the most important kinds of prayer we should pray. Corporate prayer is another form of prayer—praying with others. Urgent cries for help, insignificant requests for God’s favor, praying for the salvation of people who seem totally closed to the Gospel—there are many kinds of prayers and requests, and even if they seem pointless, we should pray for them because there are no pointless prayers.

There are no pointless prayers! I began to mediate on this after reading an article by Marcus Warner, where he points out the story of Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth. They were childless and Elizabeth was long past child-bearing age. But Zechariah, who was a priest, had many times prayed for a son. No doubt it felt like a pointless prayer at this point in their lives, but as he was praying before the altar of incense, he encountered an angel who told him his prayers had been answered. And indeed in a short time Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist. As Marcus writes, “Zechariah had offered many “pointless” prayers for his wife, Elizabeth. Realistically, she was never going to have a child—not now, not at her age. But it turns out, there are no throwaway prayers. God had heard them, and God was about to act.” “How about you? Have you given up praying for someone or something because the prayers have begun to feel pointless? You never know,” as Marcus says, “An angel may already be on the way.” Ephesians 6:18 says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” So, prayer can take many different forms and we should pray about everything—on all occasions. What does this verse teach us about praying? First, it says, Pray in the Spirit What does it mean to pray in the Spirit? It simply means that we need the Holy Spirit to help us with our prayers. Romans 8:26 says, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” Praying in the Spirit does not refer to the words we are saying. Rather, it refers to how we are praying. Praying in the Spirit is praying according to the Spirit’s leading. It is praying for things the Spirit leads us to pray for and it is trusting the Spirit to pray for us. When you feel like your prayers are pointless—or maybe you just don’t even know how to pray about a certain situation—just ask God’s Spirit to present your heart’s request to God. That is praying in the Spirit.