Got Joy?

Does God need to answer a prayer that you are praying in order for you to have joy in your life right now?

Does something need to change at work or in a relationship for you to have a little more peace?

Is your joy completely overflowing in your life right now?


I have a friend who really challenged my thinking when he shared a story. The Lord had used me to help him see the cross again as the center of his thinking. He had a friend that was really getting discouraged because God was taking too long answering some of his prayers. Prayers and work dedicated to good things, but not seeing the results yet. My friend shared what he asked his friend. "Did Jesus need to do more on the cross in order for you to be satisfied?" Wow, that question hits hard. We have such a tendency to move right past the cross on to "more pressing" issues, when the source of joy and satisfaction has already been bought and paid for.

I have related what Christ did on the cross to an analogy of my father wrestling with a person holding a gun to me. If he gave his life in order to save mine, would I still demand more from my father? Would I get mad at my father for not being there when I missed him or things were difficult? The clear answer is no! So an imperfect father, saving only my physical life receives a lifetime response of gratitude for his heroic act, but Jesus heroic sacrifice of His life for mine receives anger, contempt, rebellion, and disappointment when He doesn't give me more than His very life. Is my heart really that hard?

It is at the cross where Christ demonstrated the greatest measure of Grace from God to me. That Jesus would become my very sin, that God would pour out His wrath against my sin on Christ, and that I would become the Righteousness of God through Christ. That the love and acceptance that would be shown to Christ is shown to me. God sees me as righteous, blameless, holy, and as His child. I am given the spirit of God himself as a gift to seal my soul one day to be made into the image of Christ. I am given a gift more valuable than all the treasure of the entire earth, and I am left empty and dismayed because I feel he has shorted me the equivalent of one corn flake out of my bowl of cereal. The gift of the whole world is cast aside, because of the equivalent of one flake of cereal that I feel should have been added to my bowl.

Paul asked for the thorn in his flesh to be removed three times, and the Lord's answer was that His grace was sufficient. I never had considered that the grace that God showed me through Jesus on the cross was sufficient to overcome any difficulty or disappointment in life. I always assumed that it was future demonstrations of graciousness that would be shown to Paul and me that made His grace sufficient. I can see clearly that God continued to show Paul an unmerited favor and kindness after that point, but I believe God was turning Paul's eyes back to the cross! That Paul would know nothing but Christ and Him crucified! May we all return to the cross as the source of strength and joy! For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have ever lasting life.

Lord, let us not get so far from the cross that we feel we need something more from you to have joy today in our lives for you have already given us immeasurably more than we could have ever asked or imagined. Let our lives be lived as our response of gratitude for what was done on our behalf on the cross. Here am I, be glorified through me today!

Who needs more Grace

I having been writing about our need to live life in the shadow of the cross. How it is so easy to drift so far from the cross that we can't even see that it is our ongoing sin that causes us to still need the forgiveness that He purchased on the cross. It is the same pridefulness that causes us to know that we were saved by grace, but think we can become like Christ by working real hard at it (be sanctified by our works). Totally failing to recognize that it will be the gracious work of God that will change our lives more and more into the image of Christ. We grow as Christians to think we are no longer in need of the grace of God in our lives.

While chewing on all of this that has been covered in my previous blogs, I am left pondering the question. Who should profess a greater ongoing need for the grace of God in their life? The person who is just trusting in Christ for the first time or the person who understood their need at salvation, but has now tried to work out their becoming more like Christ with greater confidence in their own abilities and works. What I am getting at is the question of who should profess greater need to receive from God the very thing they could never deserve. Is it the person who walked far away from the cross who has seen it up close previously, or the person who has never seen it up close. Who is in a greater need of grace?

(Lk 12:47-48) 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Look at it from the perspective of Jesus treatment of different people. Was he not harshest on the pharisees because they had already received so much grace and then turned away from it. You might be thinking that they didn't receive grace they received the law. Was it not by grace that God chose the Israelites to be the people that He revealed himself to and through. Their receiving the revelation of God was the greatest demonstration of grace prior to Christ's death on the cross. So who needed more grace the pharisee who had already been entrusted with much grace but did not act according to His will or the gentile who did not know?

I know it is like discussing which is greater infinity or infinity plus one. The grace meter is maxed out for both. But I am trying to come through a window that is even hard for our prideful hearts to close. Closed to the point we are not humbled by the grace that we Christians have already been shown. That window is that those who have been shown much grace, immeasurable grace in fact, fail to show grace towards others while still needing grace in their own lives.

We see this demonstrated all throughout scripture and life. The story in Matthew 18 of the person who owed the king ten thousand talents (An unpayable debt). He was shown mercy and grace, but then fails to show mercy and grace to the person who owes him 100 shillings. His need for being shown mercy and grace is now even greater than before because he didn't appreciate what was done for him to the point it gripped his life. Are we not like this person when we have been saved by grace and then act as though we no longer need grace? When we struggle to show grace to others. When we puff ourselves up with pride convincing ourselves that God must be impressed with our works. When we struggle to share the gospel of God's grace with others and our lives are not gripped by the mercy and grace we have been shown. When we fail to live in such a way that points back to His mercy and grace that He showed us. Are we not in need of greater grace.

• Romans 5:20-21 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

As believers entrusted with the gospel of God's grace through Jesus Christ and having moved away from this point, are we not the ones in need of the greatest amount of grace! I am convicted by the fact that I was entrusted with the gospel by an incredible act of mercy and grace. Yet often my response to this is to struggle to share the gospel with others. That God would be so moved to choose me as his instrument of grace and continue to work on my prideful heart that is so prone to wandering away and not sharing mercy and grace with others.

The answer to my question that I am left with is....it is me. For I know the father's will and often do not act according to His will. I have seen the cross and then walk further away from it. I have received the gospel and act as though I have not often. Ouch!!!

Lord, I pray that I would in your mercy and grace be brought back to the foot of the cross today. That I would be forced to face the shear magnitude of mercy that was shown to me by Christ taking on the full punishment of my sin. That I would be gripped by the grace of God that Christ, the son of God, left heaven to die in my place, that He might live through my life through the power of the Holy Spirit I have so graciously received. Lead and direct my steps today that I might be a doer of your incredible will. Have mercy on me, that I might be a good steward of your mercy. Please show me more of your grace that has already been entrusted to me, that I might show it to others according to your will.

The most incredible show on earth

At multiple points along the trip we almost had to pinch ourselves because the opportunity to view the work of God's hand was breathtaking. I wanted to share some of these moments. I look at these almost like God has season tickets to see the work of His hands and he desires to share these tickets with us. On this trip to Uganda we had front row seats to see some of the most incredible things that God was doing and has done anywhere in the world. Step right up to the most incredible show on earth!

1Chronicles 16:23-27
Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and he is to be held in awe vabove all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.

The beauty of God's creation is on display all around the continent of Africa and there were many stunningly beautiful moments along on this trip. These moments would leave you saying wow God, Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised! There were several of these moments driving through the countryside and when we stayed along the Nile River.But some of the most incredible seats came when we were sitting in little wooden chairs outside of a mud hut sharing. Invited there by God to have the closest seat to witness the changing of a life for eternity. If our credentials were checked at the entrance to the event, none of us would been worthy to sit in these seats that belong to God. But God desires us to walk so close to Him that we get to see up close God working in and through our lives to do the miraculous. There were many of these moments shared each night, but only a few people had the privilege to see the actual event each time.

One of these events I was remembering with a friend last night was when we were going hut to hut sharing the gospel in Sibanga I walked up to a woman that was working. I told her I had wonderful news, could I share it with her. She said, "yes." Then another woman came up with a little baby and listened as well. Right after I began sharing the good news of Jesus Christ a young child walked up and a conversation that I did not understand ensued between the young girl and the first lady. I could tell this was her daughter who had just walked up. There was a harshness in the tone and the young girl went inside the hut.

I felt a burden to have this girl hear the message as well. So I asked my translator to tell the mother it was ok for the girl to join us. The translator just replies back to me that I can continue. But I can't shake the burden to invite the girl and ask my translator again to tell the mother it is ok for the girl to join us. He says something and then says to me it is ok for me to continue. I don't get the sense that my translator is on the same page at all and is wondering why I won't just continue. I say to him again, tell the mother I would like for her to join us. He does and the girl is called out of the hut by the mother and she excitedly comes up and sits down next to her mother.

I was in the middle of sharing the gospel but backed up to recap and enable the girl to hear the whole message. At the end when I asked if anyone would like to ask Jesus into their life and trust in Him for their forgiveness it was only the little girl who responded. The other two mothers didn't seem impacted by the message at all. They just seemed indifferent. The little girl shared with me her name and that she was ten. The same age as my Hannah! It was a sweet moment showing her the picture of my family and my ten year old, knowing that they would meet one day in heaven. It made me just thank God for the gift of salvation, because it truly is a miracle if any of us are ever saved. Seeing this precious child that God had a divine appointment with that day, still makes me say, "Wow God I totally didn't see that one coming. That was so cool!"
(not the picture from the story, but a similar front row seat for Alicia)

Another front row seat came when we were going with the school ministry team. Some times it is easy to think your seat is one place (at the schools) when He actually has a seat for you at the restaurant at lunch as well. That was the case this day. I was sharing some of the 10 different snacks I had packed in my backpack with Godfrey on the school team as we talked about life and the Lord. I grabbed a package of peanut butter crackers that I had forgotten were in my bag. Godfrey and I had eaten plenty and so I motioned for the waitress to come over to give her the crackers. That was the extent of the thought I had. But the moment I looked into her face I was hit with a desire to share the gospel. I asked her if she knew Jesus and she said, "Yes, I am a christian...Hallelujah."

Normally that response would be enough in a restaurant to make me glad to have run into another excited believer. This moment was different, I found myself asking when she had become a christian. She stopped and said, "Actually I lied, I am a muslim" Stunned by the this turn of conversation. I asked her if I could ask her a question. She said, "yes" and I began asking her about how a muslim deals with the issue of sin in her life. It was amazing that she was not willing to admit that she had any sin in her life at first. After sharing that different things wedo that fail to glorify God are sin. Each possible sin I suggested she would say that she hadn't done that. I brought her to agree that if we told a lie it would not glorify God and would be a sin. When asked if she has ever told a lie, she said no. I reminded her of how our conversation began and it was though she was very convicted and even laid her head on the corner of the table.

It was clear to see that God was working on her heart from this point on. One of the remarkable things I saw in sharing Christ with many muslims is that Mohammad didn't die for anyone's sin. And there is no mechanism for payment of sin in Islam other than praying for forgiveness. The forgiveness is all dependant on the sincerity of the prayer. But there is no means of paying for that debt. I felt the Lord prompting me to ask her if we could pay for our meal by saying a sincere prayer. She said, "No." I asked could I borrow money from the bank and pay off my debt with a prayer. She said, "No." I asked her if there were any example in life she could think of where she paid for something with prayer, and she said, "no."

Collosians 2:13-14 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

There was a great segway to sharing why it was that Jesus left heaven to come to earth as a man and humble himself to the point of dieing on the cross, for payment of sin. God opened her eyes to see her need for a savior to actually pay for her sins. The conversation continued as I inquired about whether she prayed for Mohammed. All good muslims pray for Allah to show Mohammad mercy and allow him into paradise. She said she prayed for this as well.

The flow of the conversation then went to show her that if every muslim was praying for Mohammad to receive mercy (not receiving the consequences he did deserve) and be allowed into paradise that muslims believed their prayers moved Allah to do this or why would they all be praying for it. Now if Mohammad has the prayers of millions of muslims praying 5 times a day for him to receive mercy and be allowed into paradise, what confidence should any other muslim have of entering paradise. I asked her if she thought of herself as more holy or righteous than Mohammed. She said she didn't. I told her that if she was the only person praying for her to get into paradise she either thought she was more righteous than Mohammad or she didn't think she was getting in to paradise.

The Lord used all of this to expose islam as a religion of works that led people to actually place their trust completely in their own works, when it was clear by their own admission that it was not enough. There was an eagerness for her to hear how our hope was in Christ and His work on the cross, not trusting in the goodness of our own works. We also had great confidence of an eternity in heaven, because our admission to heaven was again based on the work of Christ and our adoption as children of God.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

After sharing how to have eternal life in Christ Jesus and the forgiveness of her sins. She prayed at the edge of our table to trust in Christ as Lord of her life. She ended her prayer with the words Hallelua! It was truly amazing to have a front row seat to see God working in and through us even at lunch in the restaurant. There were several times of getting to share with muslims these same truths that there is no hope of paradise based on our own works, and Jesus death is the only way to have our sins paid for. But this one young lady was special because of it being such a surprising conversation that only the Lord received the glory.

I later learned that muslims are forbidden from saying Hallelujah unless said mocking a christian. It explained why it seemed a little odd when she said it the first time. The words didn't seem sincere and from the heart. I think those words were what struck my spirit to cause me to ask more questions. When she ended her prayer with Hallelua it seemed as an overflow of her heart and would have been spoken against Islam. Wow, thank you Jesus for these incredible seats to see of your glorious works!

Our God Saves

One of my favorite songs is by Paul Baloche, "Our God Saves." Listen to it as you read this blog about seeing Ugandans trust in Christ.



On the first day that we were going hut to hut sharing the gospel it seemed as though there was a barrier preventing the people from trusting Christ. My interpreters even chided me for spending too much time sharing with individuals who were resistant to the gospel. I don't believe anyone but Alicia really saw any conversions that first day. The rest of us shared again and again only to see people not trusting either the messenger or the message.

We came back at lunch and felt the Lord needed many of us not named Alicia to be in a more humble, prayerful and God dependent mindset before opening our mouths to speak. We needed that reminder that it is not the cleverness of our words that draws people to Christ, but the work of the Holy Spirit. The level of prayer increases when you understand who it is that must convict and lead men's hearts. And we began being much more prayerful throughout our trips into the countryside. We began to see nearly every person we shared the gospel with, trusting in Christ. Whole families, multiple generations, having their eternal destiny changed by the power of Christ.

The second day began with a van ride down a single track in the dirt that veered off the main road. We traveled a good ways down this path until a muddy patch prevented further travel. The mazungu's and their translators piled out from that point. When we stepped out we were greeted by several men who seemed amazed to see all of us pile out of the van right at their huts. The men immediately began talking about their need for money to build a better road. It didn't seem they wanted anything but our money. Every one began walking off including my interpreters to head down the trail. I asked my translator if we could share with these men and an amazing group conversion resulted. Three men sat down on a log and listened to me share the gospel of Jesus Christ. It seemed they were listening intently and readily agreed that they had indeed sinned against God. When the opportunity was given to trust in Christ, you could tell they felt a little awkward with different people around looking at them. These three men had several others at a distance watching them interacting with me.

The initial answer was that they were not ready. It was then that the conviction of seeing them walking down a path that leads to death, and being offered a path that leads to life overcame me. Who would say, "no I want to walk a little while longer down this path of death" if they really understood where the path led. I shared with them why the path they were on was a path that led to death, and that I was offering them a path that leads to life. After I asked them again if there was anything keeping them from trusting in Christ today, they said there wasn't. They said they wanted to receive Christ and life.

I led them in a prayer of salvation and then asked who had really meant the prayer that they had just prayed. All three men said they meant every word and truly desired for Christ to be Lord of their life. Then the most amazing thing happened. A lady stepped out of the doorway of the hut that the men were sitting closest to and said, "I prayed the prayer also and have trusted in Christ as well!" Then another lady came out of the same hut and said the same. Then I looked at the two women who were sitting behind us the whole time and they said they had prayed along and had trusted Christ as well. Another hut and the same thing. There were 9 women in all that said they had heard the gospel message I shared with these men, and that they had prayed to receive Christ. We hadn't taken 20 steps from where the van dropped us off and I was blown away by what God had done. He really is mighty to save!!

Romans 1:16-17 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Thank you Lord for allowing us to see that the gospel really is the power of God. That there is not a person whose sin cannot be overcome by your grace. Thank you for all of these sweet Ugandan brothers and sisters that we will see in heaven one day because of the power of the gospel to save. Amina!!