Category: relationships

Got Lemons?? Choose Joy

When life gives lemons…

What can you do when life gives you lemons?                                        Sour lemons like...illness, job loss, broken relationships, natural disasters, the list could go on and on.                                                                You could get angry, lash out at just about everyone around you, or you could withdraw, isolate yourself, slide into a hopeless depression.

Or You could choose joy!

Joy…not be as a response to the terrible awlful sour lemons of life, but joy that is a daily choice no matter the circumstances you find yourself in.  It is choosing to find joy in God— joy that comes out of not just a belief in a God, but a closeness with the God. A day in and day out kind of joy that is a result of your coming into and remaining in the presence of God…

You will make known to me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

    In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Psalm 16:11 nlt

We can choose joy when we completely trust God…a deep “my life is in your hands” kind of trust. This is only possible when we acknowledge our limited understanding and God’s infinite understanding. A trust that comes when, we are willing to say “I may not like where I am right now, but I trust You to work according to Your purposes and bring good.”

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us…  Romans 5:3-5

We can choose joy when we look beyond today to eternity. This life is rough, people will be unpleasant, and disappointments will come. And if we only focus on the trouble, difficulties and pain of today, we will never be able to have a true sustaining joy. It is only when we look pass the mess of today that we are able to have joy. Joy that comes because of the hope and amazing experience life with God forever will be.

…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 24-25

 

Infiltrating your Community with the Gospel

“We need to reach out into our community.” 9616068841b1d3fc9b0ae450d8731906

Ok…lets get a big group together and do a service project. After all, we could volunteer for a couple of hours then go home…get back to our regular routines.

There is no doubt a service project can do good for your community and the people you serve. Yet, when Jesus said “go and make disciples”, He wasn’t talking about an occasional group project, but a personal lifestyle of sharing the gospel and helping people to grow in their faith. Think about “the Samaritan woman who ran back to the city and told people about Jesus (John 4) or when Jesus sent the twelve out in pairs to proclaim the kingdom of God (Mark 6).

Reaching my community means going out on my own and sharing the gospel…scary thought!

Jeff Iorg, in his book, Unscripted, explains it this way,

“evangelism is about connecting people to Jesus and connecting Jesus with your community—spontaneously, joyfully and honestly.”

How do I connect people to Jesus? Do I need to memorize a “gospel presentation” and knock on doors or stand on the street corner and talk to anyone who will listen…not sure I want to do that! 

You might find memorizing a gospel presentation helpful, although this is not about making “cold-calls” to strangers. Instead, there is a way to connect people to Jesus, while doing something you really enjoy. Iorg suggests we “share the gospel in the most natural setting possible—among people who share your interests, passions, or activities.”

Five Step Infiltration Strategy

Iorg recommends implementing a strategy of getting involved in the community that leads to opportunities to the share the gospel.

1. What hobby or volunteer activity you enjoy doing or would like to do if you had the time? Is it…reading, quilting, painting, running, or helping children, youth, seniors, or something entirely different?

2. Do it…join a community group, like a book club, quilt guild, running group or volunteer in a community program at a school, hospital, senior care home or shelter.

3. Lets say you are out there in the community. Look around and start to notice who is there. As you notice the people, pray specifically for God to work in their lives. Also, pray that God would provide opportunities for you to share the gospel.

4. Next, begin to engage one person or a few people in conversations that move beyond what is needed for the activity. Ask personal questions about their family, pets, or job. Or ask goal questions like…what do you dream of doing or where would you like to visit. Then listen and respond with genuine interest and concern. Be alert for opportunities to share the gospel and tell how your faith has impacted your life. Iorg goes on to point out that, “Witnessing is an unscripted dialogue, sometimes an ongoing dialogue with bits and parts of the gospel shared over time.”

5. Finally, continue to be involved and work on building relationships. Keep praying and ask if you can pray with them. Be available to help out with a need they have; invite them over for a meal. Live out your faith before them, as authentically as possible. It could just be that your friendship is what God uses to bring them to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith.