We are reconciled to God by our belief in Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross so when we die we go to heaven. Not by the good things we do.

You cannot earn God's forgiveness.

Two articles which might help explain this often hard to accept idea...

The Sovereignty of God by John Piper.

Charlene didn't mean challenge as in "I dare you God" or "God, show me your up to the task". What she's really saying is "Let's lay everything before God that's troubling us even if our wavering faith might make us doubt if he will really help - either because the problem is trivially small or scarly big.

Having a personal relationship with God begins the moment we realize our need for Him, admit we are sinners, and in faith receive Jesus Christ as Savior. God, our heavenly Father, has always desired to be close to us, to have a relationship with us....

Those who have a personal relationship with God