The Essence of Discipleship

Today I was studying for an upcoming series on Grace that we are doing at our student ministry. I was looking over some highlights in a book that I read this past year (The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges), and came across this quote that caused me to pause and think.

"To live no longer for ourselves but for Him is the essence of discipleship."

It is a daily battle to not "live for ourselves". What could motivate us to live for such a thing? What could push us to set our desires and self-interest aside for the things that He desires? The answer is simply His Love.

When we come face to face with the reality of the love that Jesus has for you and I and we understand our dependence on the grace that is found in His Love, it changes what we live for. His love for us goes beyond anything we can understand. That thought is hard for me to even imagine!

When I understand how God gave love, it motivates me to give. When I receive that "self-less" love, it moves me to want to live a "self-less" life. The Love of God is so amazing!

Photo Time

For a break from the normal routine, here are some fun pictures of the family: Thanks to Amber's parents who gave me a camera for Christmas, I have been getting into photography. Hope you enjoy!

Just Believe

Some of the most inspiring words to me in the New Testament are found in Luke 8:50:


“Don’t be afraid; just believe..."

Here we see the story of Jairus wanting to see his daughter be made well. Jesus comforts him with profound words that I wish I could live out everyday: just believe. It is simple, yet so powerful. If you are like me, there are moments where you want to believe, yet things tend to get in the way. Circumstances, fears, anxiety, doubt, negative voices of others in our lives...if only we could simply "Believe".

It is interesting that Jesus was selective on who He let come in the home with Him. It is important to surround yourself with people who will stand with you believing, and not work against it. The voice of negativity can be powerful-so be aware of who you allow to influence you.

I think there are some great insights for all of us in this passage about simply Believing:

When Jesus is close we can have confidence
My guess is that Jairus was able to experience a sense of confidence because of the proximity of Jesus. He didn't just hear the words, he was standing right by Him. It is amazing how sometimes my confidence has increased if I am walking next to the right person. A few years back on a missions trip to LA, I noticed when we were out doing street ministry that there were a few students who walked "closer" to me than normal. Proximity can bring confidence if you are walking close to the right person.

When we hear His voice, it can bring faith in a moment where there seems to be no hope.
I wish I could have been there to see the reaction of Jairus when he heard the voice of The King comfort him and encourage him to not doubt, but to believe! There have been some seasons in my life where I desperately needed to hear that voice...and right in the moment where I felt like I was going to be overwhelmed by the current circumstance, that Awesome Voice reminded me, "Dint be afraid...Believe."

When others try to end your hope, put your focus back on Him
We have all been around negative people. It isn't fun. This is especially true when you are in the midst of a battle and trying your best to stand strong with faith. When the servant arrived with a report that should have ended all hope "Don't bother the master anymore..." Jesus reaches out to Jairus with hope, where hope could have been easily lost. Don't allow others to end your hope...put that focus back in the right place.

*I originally wrote this blog post on February 20th, 2009, but decided to simply save it in my drafts section. Little did I know over the next few weeks, that I would be forced to live out this simple truth that the Lord had challenged me about. Today is now March 11th. As I conclude this post I am sitting in my dad's hospital room, next to his bed as he is taking a nap. We have been here for over 7 days. "Don't be afraid, just believe"...what a powerful truth! Sometimes the things that God speaks to us about, we have no idea that they are preparation for us to walk through the coming seasons. My dad is doing better each day. There are points of victory and points of battle. Through it all I am challenged to remember: "don't be afraid, just believe"

The Power of the Body of Christ

The past few days I have had the opportunity to see and be reminded once again of the power of the body of Christ, the church. As my dad has been in and out of the hospital over the past few weeks dealing with a back surgery and other issues, I have seen so many people caring and rallying around him - it has been truly amazing.

The Church is truly an amazing thing! The Church is so much more than sitting in a chair. Its more than singing songs, or hearing a message that will encourage and inspire. The Church is people who have met Jesus, had their lives changed, and want to be agents of hope and change to the world in which we live. And that is what I have been seeing as my dad has gone through this season of trial.

So many friends, family members, people from their church, my church, and other churches have gathered around and supported my family...there is nothing like it! What do people do who don't have Jesus? Who do they turn to if they don't have the body of Christ?

I am thankful. I am thankful for people who pray. I am thankful for people who care. I am thankful for people who show up and extend the love and grace of God. The Church is a powerful thing!

this is who we are

I love coming across verses in the Bible that remind us of who WE ARE. There are so many things in life that seem to tell us what we are not, can't be, or never will become. I am so glad that God's Word is different! One of my all time favorite verses is found in Hebrews 10

Hebrews 10:35; 39
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded...
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

Confidence is so important! Knowing who you are is a vital key to being confident in who you are and who God has designed you to be. We are reminded not to "throw off" our confidence. Ever been in that place where your confidence melts. I hate it. Why? Because I don't act like who I really am at that point. When your confidence is lacking, you try to make up for it. I think that happens in our spiritual lives as well. We are strong and confident in who God is in us, then something happens...something gets in the way. When confidence is lost spiritually, it is hard to be the man or woman of God that He has called us to be.

I am so glad that we are reminded who WE ARE! "We are not of those who shrink back...[we are] those who believe and are saved." That is WHO WE ARE. I am so glad that God's Word teaches us and reminds us that through His grace and His strength that we are not people who run away in fear, but people who, through faith (believing) are able to overcome!

Today, remember this is who we are!

Get the car MOVING

I heard an interesting quote today: "It's easier to steer a car when it is moving."

Now I know that's not rocket science, but it sure spoke some things to me. Here is what I mean: so often in life we want things to happen. We want to be "over there" or we are looking for this or that to happen. The truth is that we often never see those things come to life simply because we are not moving in that direction...or maybe we are not moving at all.

I know throughout my life there have been some awesome dreams and visions that I have seen come to pass. None of them have ever happened by just sitting there. I had to move to see it happen.

I recently sold my 1970 Dodge D200 step-side pick up truck. It was a huge, green piece of lead with four wheels and an engine...and that's about it. No power windows, the doors didn't lock, no power breaks - AND NO POWER STEERING. I did not notice the lack of power steering when I was driving down the road. But the few times that I had to try and parallel park or squeeze into a tight spot...you really noticed.

Life and our walk with Christ can be like that at times. When you are not moving, it is very hard to turn the course. Complacency kills - dreams, vision, faith - it simply kills (Prov. 6:9; Prov. 24:33). Maybe you find your self in a season right now where you want things to be different - you want change, you want excitement, you want more - but you are sitting still. You are that parked car. A word of advice...get moving, and it will be easier to accomplish those things that are in your heart!

the foundation is just the beginning

The Foundation|Just the beginning

We are currently in a great season as a church and student ministry! Everyday our new building is taking on new shape and form. I love going over and checking out the progress. Putting on the hard hat and bright orange vest reminds me that things are moving along - a building is rising out of the ground. I love how much seeing that building take shape reminds me of the things that God is doing in our lives as individuals, as He grows us and prepares us to take the shape that He has destined for our lives.

I have been reading through the minor prophets (Hosea through Malachi) recently. The other night I was reading through Zechariah and something stuck out to me:

Zechariah 4:6-10 (NLT)
Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty. 7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will flatten out before him! Then Zerubbabel will set the final stone of the Temple in place, and the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’ ”

8 Then another message came to me from the Lord: 9 “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me. 10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. For these seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.”

Here are a few things that I love about this passage of scripture:

First, we are reminded that it can be in our own strength to complete the work that God has destined for our lives. The truth is that it will take WORK. For some of us, that thought might be scary. But the simple truth is that it does take effort - focused work - to complete the things that God has called us to. Here is the point though...it is not finished or accomplished through or by our own abilities, gifts, talents, strengths, possessions, fame...it is accomplished through God's strength - through the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Second, I love that the Lord reminds Zerubbable (through the prophet Zechariah), that nothing can stand in the way of accomplishing and finishing the things that the Lord has ordained (or purposed) for him to do(see verse7)! The truth is that we often face opposition in life, but nothing can withhold God's will and purposes from being accomplished! That is exciting to me! Even in the hardest times, if there are big mountains standing before me - if God has called me to it - He will see it fulfilled.

The last thing that I want to point out is the fact that God has completion in mind. I am sure after years of just seeing a bare foundation in place, that Zerubbable was concerned - even doubted if completion will ever take place. But God says "Then Zerubbabel will set the final stone of the Temple in place "(v. 7) and "Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me. Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin"(v. 9-10). We at times may feel like we just have a bare foundation. Maybe we have started moving forward in our walk with Christ, but something feels like it is undone, not complete. We need to remember that God will complete the work! The foundation is just the beginning!

God told Zechariah "Do not despose these small beginnings". Even if what you have feels like it is "small" and insignifigant - through God's hand and His strength it can be built into something GREAT. The work that God is doing in you, the dreams, visions, goals, desires - even if they feel small - the will become great as God continues to fulfill His purpose in your life.