Christians can be the some of the worst representatives of what we believe sometimes. Grace, forgiveness, mercy, love, humility, these are the qualities Jesus commanded us to show as His disciples.

When we treat others as we think they deserve to be treated, celebrate and applaud our own righteousness, and act like we know the one and only correct answer in every scenario, we represent the complete opposite qualities of Jesus.

We judge non-believers for not accepting the faith that we fail to demonstrate. What do you think Jesus would have to say about that?

Sometimes it's hard to trust that God's process is good. Sometimes it's hard to believe He even has one at all. But He has known everything that was going to happen from the beginning, and knows exactly what is going to happen next, and further down the road.

When things don't make sense, trusting that He knows exactly what He is doing and that His way will ultimately be perfect, helps us to find peace in the storms. He wants us to stay focused on HIM, instead of the situations we don't understand.

A couple thousand years ago, we received the greatest miracle of all. God Himself was among us, in the flesh, experiencing everything we experience, yet without sin.

As ancient as the story may seem, His presence is with us as much today as it was then, and it's every bit as miraculous today. A holy God loves us and wants us to know Him, wants to be with us every day of our lives. It's incredible.

Merry Christmas!!

The Christmas season brings a lot of traditions along with it. Santa, movies, songs, gifts, trees, decorations, concerts and funny sweaters. But the whole season, the whole story, it's all about God and His love for us.

It's easy to get swept up in the chaos this time of year and forget why we are doing all these things in the first place. But what Christmas celebrates is so much more important than how it is celebrated.

The perception of Christianity, even sometimes from within Christianity, is that Christians are supposed to be perfect, righteous people. We equate God's ability to love and use us to our ability to perform at or close to His expectations.

Maybe that part isn't entirely untrue. The lie might be in what we think His expectations actually are.

God knows everything, so He most certainly knows we are nowhere close to perfect. He is aware of, and prepared for, all of our flaws. And He loves us anyway. And will gladly use us for His kingdom if we are willing.

Ironically, perhaps the only people God can't (or at least won't) use, are the ones who think they are perfect and righteous.

Living out the Christian life is really what the first 99 episodes have been about, so it was a fitting title for the 100th. 

Reading scripture, prayer, church, these are all great things that we need in our lives to grow closer to the Lord. But what we learn and how we grow should spill over into how we live our lives as well. If it doesn't, how much did we really grow? 

We should also remember God is the source of our growth; we certainly couldn't do it on our own. Don't forget to thank Him for that along the way.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

It's easy to think Jesus didn't need faith. If He was God, He knew everything and didn't have to worry right? But without faith it is impossible to please God, and God Himself said He was well pleased with Jesus. So He must have had to rely on some faith in His time here. 

When Jesus was on earth, He voluntarily surrendered some of His God-like attributes, coming down to our level in some ways. This makes His faithfulness to the Father all the more incredible! We can't use the excuse "well, yeah, but He was Jesus" when we can't find the ability to live the way He told us to live. He lived by example, struggling with temptation without surrendering to it. 

When we can't find the power to do this on our own, God reminds us that "on our own" was never His plan. 

Worshiping Jesus isn't an hour a week church service, a 15-minute daily devotion, or a nightly prayer. It is a way of life. For a Christian, it is the way of life. 

It is welcoming Jesus along for the minute by minute ride. The ride with the crazy drivers, difficult people, and less than ideal circumstances. He wants to be a part of it all. Church and quiet time are the easy times to follow Christ. It's the rest of life we struggle with. And that's where He wants to be. 

When we invite Christ into unrestricted 24/7 access to our hearts, our entire lives become about glorifying Him, and He is able to do so much with the little things along the way. 

Why are we doing what we are doing? Better yet, Who is directing us?

It's so easy to take control and do what we want or do what we know we should for the wrong reasons. But if we are being led by God, our hearts align with our motives, to serve Him in gratitude, and direct others to Jesus!

If we aren't careful, our inner legalist can twist our motivation to obey God. We either do it so appear righteous to others, make ourselves feel better about ourselves, or even to earn God's favor so He will give us what we desire. 

Not only are those the wrong reasons to obey God, they are sinful! Self-righteousness, pride, & greed square off directly in the face of what God desires in our hearts. So are we not to obey? As Paul would say, God forbid! 

We shouldn't see blessings and obedience as a divine currency exchanged between us and God. If it were, we'd be bankrupt! 

A unique characteristic of love is that it causes you to find joy in the joy of the person you love. When I do something for my kids that makes them happy, I don't do it to make myself feel like a good dad. I do it because seeing them happy brings me joy! But bringing myself joy isn't the motivation for doing it, but it goes hand in hand with bringing them joy. 

When we pursue the things that make God happy out of our love for Him, blessings follow, because our obedience to Him is the blessings itself!