How To Win Friends and Influence People For Jesus

Jesus is So Cool (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We’re all suckers for hype. That’s why it’s called hype. People go all crazy over something or someone and, pretty soon, we’re wanting to know what the big deal is. So we read the book, see the movie, visit the place, eat the food, or do the thing that they’re all doing.

So…do you get people hyped up about Jesus? Here’s some ideas how.

Rock The Jesus Music. I will admit, I don’t always listen to Christian music. I find a lot of it sounds like something that would be played in an elevator. Or like something my mom would listen to. Or like something my mom would listen to in an elevator. All that said and done, there is a lot of good Christian music out there, too. So, when you find it, blast it. Play it all the time and talk about why you like it so much. Sing. Dance. Worship. If you know me, you know there’s no denying how much I love Switchfoot and The Supertones. I get people listening to it. And then we talk about it. And then they think about it. And then they think about Him.

Rock The Jesus Books. I read my Bible almost every day. I have one sitting on my coffee table, one in my car, a digital one on my iPod, and about five on my bookshelf. They are torn, tattered, coffee-stained, and falling apart. But there’s no denying that there’s much Bible love in my house. Don’t you love talking to people about what you’re reading? And for me it’s not just the Bible, but Christian books! (Summer Intensive, anyone?) I read biographies, spiritual growth, theology, and (my favorite) Christian fiction. I want to be as hyped up about Christian books as I am about The Hunger Games. Are you?

Rock The Jesus Clothes. No, I’m not talking about cheesy Christian T-shirts with a Coke logo that says a Bible verse (sorry if you own that shirt…just a matter of preference.) It’s more about modesty. Dress well and dress excellently. Cute tops that don’t show skin. A skirt or a pair of shorts that no one could call too short. Jeans that don’t hug in all the right places. Show off your beauty without showing off your body. And when you walk around all fabulous and confident, people will notice there is something different about you. And you can tell them why.

Rock The Jesus Talk. Yes, quoting Scripture is good. But Jesus is big into using love. Kindness. Encouragement. Forgiveness. Joy. Use your words to love people in the name of Jesus. Be a listening ear and an encouraging friend. Don’t gossip, slander, or complain. Instead, use kindness, thoughtfulness, and humor to make yourself (and Jesus) the kind of person that people want to be around.

Rock The Jesus Walk. Your attitude speaks volumes. The way you respond when your parents and teachers ask you for something. The way you drive. The way you react in the midst of conflict. The way you spend your time. Each moment you are around other people is a chance to influence them for Christ. Are you?

Question: How are you influencing your family and friends for Christ? How can you do it better? Which one of these is the easiest for you? Which one is the hardest?

Think Parents…And Murder

I want you to kill your parents. Today. Right now, in fact.

Kill them with kindness.

Blow their minds with thoughtfulness.

Leave them speechless with intentional acts of love.

Why?

“‘Honor your father and mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise) ‘that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.’” – Ephesians 6:2-3

This isn’t a post nagging you to obey your parents (which you should, FYI. But you already know that, don’t you tough girl?) This is about doing something for someone else and for someone who will appreciate it more than anyone else.

Slay them. Pound them into the ground with love. Suffocate them with affection.

Sound brutal? That’s good. Here’s a few ideas:

-Cook dinner

-Clean the house without being asked

-Wash their cars

-Rent a movie and ask them to watch it with you

-Make a CD with songs that make you think of them

-Take them out for coffee

-Send them a text every hour telling them you love them

-Make them breakfast in bed

-Leave sticky notes around the house telling them that you love them

-Give them encouraging Bible verses

-Write a message on the steamy bathroom mirror with soap while they are in the shower (and while you’re at it, pull my favorite prank of all time – pouring cold water on the person in the shower. But only do this if your parents are pranksters. And if you can lock the door while you take a shower so as to stop their revenge.)

-Be where they are, even if you’re doing something simple like your homework

-Turn off your phone and leave it in your room for a whole afternoon and evening

-Brag about how awesome they are on Facebook, tagging them in your rant

-Go for a bike ride, hike, or walk

It doesn’t matter how old you are. It doesn’t matter how physically or emotionally close you are to your parents. This is one of those things that you can do and should do. And if they don’t appreciate it, know that your Father in heaven does.

Question: When is the last time you did a random act of kindness for one of your parents? Which of these will you do today? Do you have any other ideas?

The Hardest Place To Shine The Light Of Christ

You’ve read all about Paul. He was chased, yelled at, beaten, imprisoned, and left for dead.

You’ve read stories about missionaries who give their lives to serve in hostile countries and martyrs who actually give over their physical lives for the sake of Christ.

And what do you have? A suburban life where your most difficult trial is who you’re going to vote for on American Idol.

Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But do you ever feel that way? Like your life isn’t dynamic because you’re in a very ordinary place doing very ordinary things?

Tough girl, God has called you to shine the light of Christ. And where you’re at right now may be the hardest place of all. It isn’t big or dramatic. It isn’t far away and fantastic. It’s here. It’s now. It’s…normal. And making conscious choices day in and day out to take the ordinary and make it extraordinary…well, let’s just say that’s pretty extraordinary in and of itself.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” – Colossians 3:23 (I have this verse memorized because I know a totally cheesy little jingle. Don’t judge me.)

When you’re at school, are you working heartily for the Lord? When you’re bored in class? When you’re at lunch and there are people sitting by themselves? When you see a cute guy walk by and what you say? When you’re having a fight with a friend?

When you’re at home, are you working heartily for the Lord? In the way you take care of your room in the house that your parents pay for? When they ask you to do chores? When you make decisions whether to hang out with your friends or your family? In the way that you talk to your mom, dad, sisters, and brothers?

When you’re at church, are you working heartily for the Lord? In how you pay attention to who is taking? In the way you participate in games and other activities? In how you volunteer your time? In the way you talk to both friends and strangers?

Don’t think you have to wait to shine the light of Christ. Don’t fall into the trap of believing you need to be in an extraordinary place doing extraordinary things. Shine right now, where you are at. God has you where you are for a reason. So shine…and shine well.

Question: When in your day to day life do you find it the hardest to shine the light of Christ? What can you do to shine brighter?

Why You Should Hang Out With People You Don’t Like

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Christmas is this weekend. Time for food, presents, and, of course, family.

Does that make you smile? Or cringe?

Chances are, if you’re anything like the rest of us, there are at least one or two people in your family or extended family that you can’t stand. That uncle who drinks way too much. That aunt who has nothing nice to say about anyone. That cousin who has to one-up everyone they come in contact with.

It’s hard to be around people that we don’t like. When we imagine the picture perfect holiday, those people are usually absent from the shot.

Wouldn’t it be easier to just stay home with the people you like?

Yes.

But is that right?

 

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16

 

Sure it’s easier to stay home where things are safe and comfortable. Sure it’s easier to surround yourself with like-minded Christians who you feel like you have everything in common with.

But what good is light where there is already light?

There are dark places in your life. There are people you know who are stumbling around without a clue as to what life really is. And you, tough girl, get to be light to these people.

It certainly isn’t easy. You will be mocked and made fun of. You will be ignored. People will go out of their way to make you uncomfortable, seeing how far they can push you before you crack or give up all together. But that doesn’t change the fact that we’re called to be light.

Question: Who can you be light to this Christmas? Who in your family is hard to love that you can go out of your way to show the fruit of the Spirit to (Gal. 5:22-23)? Who have you complained about seeing that you should be praying for instead?

Video Viernes #17

Because kick butt girls know how to have fun – especially fun with their family…

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