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Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Discipleship; What's the deal?



My intention in this blog is to encourage you, the reader, to become active as a disciple of Jesus. For a long time, I wondered about that whole business. Why? What’s it all about? How do you do it.
In Sunday school we sang, “Read your Bible and pray every day and you’ll grow, grow, grow…”. 

Why? So what?

Frankly, it looked like everyone else was having all the fun. Only after years of seeing how the ones I envied developed and how their lives looked did I begin to see the value and wisdom of taking those simple instructions seriously.

For myself I was one in the middle. I wanted to be a teacher, someone in authority, where it involved spiritual things. But, I envied those who turned their backs on spiritual things and lived for pleasure. I was in the “we don’t smoke and we don’t chew and we don’t go with girls that do” group. I think that may be the most miserable group of all.

It wasn’t until much later that I began to see that the ones following the way that Jesus offers are the truly happy ones. I began to try to learn what it means to be a disciple, not just a Christian. In John 10:10 Jesus says,

The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

What is that abundant life?

It’s something to think about, pray about and look into.



Monday, December 9, 2019

Daily thoughts 9 December 2019


I am on a journey of discipleship. I have been on this journey for some time and yet in so many ways it seems I am just a beginner. I am certainly nothing of consequence, but I am on this journey.
For a few years I contributed articles to this website in order to encourage others who are also learning to be disciples. For very selfish reasons I stopped. I must ask your forgiveness.
I am now retired and can spend literally hours in prayer and meditation. My thoughts turn toward those who are still busy with life of work and raising children. I recognize that you do not have hours for dedicated prayer, reading and meditation. Even so, if you can begin or end your day with one thought to think on through your day, hopefully that can be an encouragement to draw closer to Jesus and listen for his words of encouragement and love.
Therefore, it is my intention to offer by this medium; simple, short words of encouragement, that you can think on through the day.
Let us begin with familiar words of Jesus found in Matthew 11:28-30;
Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.
Copy these words to a note card or small piece of paper, then look at them through the day and think what they mean to you.
These are the words of someone who loves you more than you can imagine and wants you to have rest. What does that mean to you?