JOY – Jesus, Others, You

Most of us are familiar with the term JOY – Jesus, Others, You.

In our Christian circles, we refer to this as putting Jesus first, then others, then ourselves. It’s a simple word that is relatively hard to follow through doing. Most of us, myself included, tend to put ourselves and others before Jesus.

This past week, we have seen the word JOY throughout the media from USA Today, ESPN, and the Today Show; Joy was all around.

A Confession

I have a confession to make. It’s one that I have never shared with you before.

I am a die-hard college basketball fan, and I am unfit to be around during the NCAA Tournament. My family can attest to that fact.

Being born and raised in Indiana, basketball is a religion. From high school to professional, we Hoosiers love our basketball! At one time, Indiana had some of the biggest high school gymnasiums in the country. What football is to Texas, basketball is to Indiana.

I grew up in a family that cheered on the Indiana University Hoosiers. It was bonding time for my dad and me.  He was an IU fan until the day he died. We celebrated when the 1987 team won the National Championship. We mourned when they fired Coach Bobby Knight. We celebrated the highs and lows, and while I wish my dad were still with us, I’m so glad he didn’t see the trainwreck that occurred for the past few years with the team. Here’s to moving forward with Coach Woodson!

With my beloved Hoosiers out of the March Madness run, ironically held in their home state and in their own basketball arena, I needed to turn my attention elsewhere.

I didn’t have to look very far.

Answered Prayers

When my older son was a junior and senior in high school, he received marketing pieces from colleges all around the country. From the tiniest of schools to the biggest, he received all types- from postcards to folders to DVDs, all trying to entice him to come to their school.

As each piece of mail came in, I would jokingly say to him, “You can’t go there. They don’t have a good basketball team!” While taking a walk one day, chatting about this and that, he looked at me and said, “Are we really going to decide where I am going to go based on the basketball team?” My mouth said, “Of course not! You go where you feel God is leading you to go,” My heart said, “Please God, don’t let it be Purdue, Kentucky, or Duke!”

Praise the Lord it wasn’t any of those schools.

It was one even better: Baylor University in Waco, TX.

Click on the links below for more background information on my son’s decision to attend Baylor:

Trusting Jesus While Preparing to Move My Son to College in Another State

Three Ways the Quarantine Prepared Me For My Son Leaving for College

Watching My Son Walk into School One Last Time

JOY – Jesus, Others, You

JOY – Jesus, Others, You

By now, you know that the Baylor Bears crushed the Gonzaga Bulldogs to win the NCAA National Championship, but did you happen to catch what happened after they won and after the team greeted their fans? They gathered together on the court, embraced arms, got down on one knee, and prayed. This wasn’t just a one-time thing. The team does this before taking the court and after each game.

The team and its coaching staff have said that it’s not about them throughout this season and the previous seasons. It’s about Jesus.

From the prayers before and after the games to the patch worn on their uniforms, with the words, “One Col 3:12-14*” to the post-game interviews, Jesus took center stage.

Jared Butler, MVP of the tournament, said this after the game. “I’m not trying to preach a prosperity gospel, but our Lord and Savior, I say it all the time – He gets us through everything. Jesus Christ is the truth. He was with us, and He was with us all season. He’s with us wherever we go. He just sustained us. He brought us together.”

He didn’t just say this at the press conference after the game; he said it on The Today Show and The CBS Morning Show. In a time where saying Jesus on national tv is taboo, Jared isn’t shy about sharing his faith, and you know what? Neither should we.

I love the fact that he stated that he wasn’t trying to preach the prosperity gospel that so many turn to. He was speaking from his heart, and his faith showed through.

Bears are National Champs! 

Today Show Interview

*The verse from Colossians 3:12-14 is “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,  bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

A Challenge For You and Me

I encourage you to step out in faith and tell someone about Jesus today. Step out in faith and see how the Lord will work in you! EnJOY your day. Serve Jesus and serve others before you focus on yourself and watch God work!

Verses to Pray: 31 Days of Prayer for Students, Parents, Teachers, and Staff at Our Schools

Now more than ever, our schools need our prayers! I’ve created this guide for you to pray daily for our students, parent, teachers, and staff. Please click here to download this free resource.