Discipleship

October the 19, I went with a friend to a church work shop, in the area.  I took two class on Discipleship.  This is what I learned.

Matthew 28: 19 “Go therefore and make Disciples…”    The last command that came out of Jesus mouth,  the last message He conveyed to us, was not going to church(which is important), was not read your Bible(very important), but make disciples.  It has been my experience the last words that come out of a persons mouth when leaving this earth, are probably the most important words they have ever spoken.

Our Churches are lacking and I have failed.  I plan to do better.  I plan to help my church rectify the problem. What about you?  You may be a Christian, but are you a Disciple?

The picture above is one of an English Mastiff,  a loveable breed of very large dogs, that sober profusely.  They are very protective of their master.  Most all breed of dogs are eager to please their master.  This is the true definition of a disciple. Posted by Steve Waltrip

Catching the Wave

I want you to know up front I am not a surfer.  Never have and probably never will.  But just because I have never surfed doesn’t mean I don’t have an imagination.  One time, when I was about 16 the family went to Florida for a vacation.  While there, I tried my hand at body surfing.  I wasn’t very good, but there is an art to catching the wave just right.  We never went very far, because we didn’t go out very far.  Just enough to feel the power of being carried along by some outside force.  If you committed to early the wave just went over you, to late and you just bounced over it.

At church our pastor has been delivering a series of messages on “Catch the Wave”.  Which got me to thinking.  Finding God working, is a lot like surfing.  You need to keep your eyes open, study the timing and hop on at the right time.  To early, and it will swallow you, to late and you just bounce over it.  To be very good it will take practice.  Your not going to catch the wave just right without work .  Sometimes you going to catch the wave just right and you’ll ride inside the curl, then sometimes you’re going to wipeout.  But take it from me, your hard work will be rewarded. Posted by Steve Waltrip

All Things Work Toward Good

 

I know I’ve talked about Ro. 8:28 before, “All things work together toward good to thoses  who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.”  But this verse is the pillar of my faith.  It was by this verse that I was saved, and it is by this verse that I live every day.   I woke up this morning at 2 a.m. to lightning and thunder, but I knew everything was going to be OK.  When my alarm went off at 3:30 a.m. I set up, with sore muscles, a stiff neck, and I knew everything was going to work out.

You see, through all the trials we go through in life, all the knocks, bumps and bruises we receive, God’s ultimate goal is for us to be Christ-like.  When a co-worker stabs you in the back or a loved one says the wrong thing to you.  How do you handle it?  Are you able to turn the other cheek?  Are you able to love your neighbor as yourself?  Can you walk the extra mile for the one in need?  Until you can, you are not Christ-like!  I think in the last few years I have made great progress in this area.  I have a way to go, but I use to be very selfish. 

I have learned that everything has a purpose to mold me into Christ likeness.  To Him be the glory.   Posted by Steve Waltrip