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Being a Disciple

Are we doing the work of a Disciple and Follower of Christ?

We should see what is in bold and either receive it or deny it — depending on whether we are true Israel and the lost sheep of God or we are the goat children of perdition — there is no room for compromise or excuse in the Word of God — receive Jesus Christ today and live!

​Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans,  but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep.  Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! 

“Don’t take any money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins.  Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed. 

“Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town.  When you enter the home, give it your blessing.  If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing.  If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave.  I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day. 

“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.  But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues.  You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me.  When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time.  For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 

“A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed.  And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.  When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel. 

“Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master.  Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names! “But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.  What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear! 

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin ? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.  And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. 

“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.  But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. 

“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ 

“If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.  If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.  If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. 

“Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me.  If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs.  And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”

Matthew 10:5‭-‬42 NLT

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[Mia, Daddy & Friends] “The Birth”

Luke 2 NLT

The Birth of Jesus

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

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Witness Testimony

​But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit. “A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed.  And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. – Mark 13:11‭-‬13 


I wonder how many of us at times stand ready to provide evidence against the very ones that we are supposed to love?

Have we ever been upset enough at our “loved ones” to keep a record of their wrongs (contrary to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8)?

Or complain to others about our spouse like a dripping faucet in Proverbs 27:15-17?(Husbands, don’t be tempted to use it as a weapon, or you will see yourself emasculated. Wives, don’t be tempted to not believe it is truth.)

I wonder how many pretend to love us to our faces, but underneath the mask hate us, and hate everything that is truth and light?

I wonder how many are right in their demanding something from us because they feel we have wronged them in some way – that we have not given them their due – that we have short changed them from what they deserve?

And I wonder how many might be deceived and how many might be right in their accusations that we have wronged them?

But haven’t we all wronged someone at some point? I don’t say that to justify the wrong doing, but to point out that if we cannot forgive others, then how can we expect to be forgiven ourselves? 

Or are you (in your own eyes) in the right and standing high enough by your own loving service to others that you can accuse another? If so, how deep does the darkness of your emptiness go?

So if you see me standing ready to speak against anything other than sin and death — if you see me testifying against a brother or sister, pray that I will remember who is the accuser of the brethren and how slippery his ways truly are to trick us into division instead of unity. And pray that I will forgive my brother and sister and that they will turn from their wicked ways and I from mine to see the enemy defeated and powerless against Christ who is in us. 

We are a witness to His glory, to His grace, to His mercy, to His love, to His righteousness,  to His holiness — not witnesses against the flesh of pour brothers and sisters. Lift your eyes up, children of God, lift your eyes up, and be in awe of perfect God who has washed you clean and restored you to fellowship with a heavenly family of saints. Rejoice! Sing His praises! Amen.

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Somebody Prayed

[Setting: Morning, living room, heated discussion between parents.]
Daughter: “What’s wrong?”
Daddy: “Mommy is mad at daddy. It’s okay, sometimes adults disagree, but we love each other and everything is going to be alright.”
[Daddy hugs and kisses daughter, trusting the Lord to make his last six words not be a lie. Then daddy hugs and kisses mommy and heads off late to work.]
[Setting: Later, at work, phone buzzes. Copious texting.]
Mommy and Daddy: “I’m sorry. I love you.”
[Setting: Daughter joyfully laughing and playing]
Daughter: “Thank you, Jesus. I knew you heard my prayer.”

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Insufficient, More than Sufficient

I’ve FELT like a rickety old row boat tossed by the waves, 
and I’ve SEEN things around me being smashed on the rocks, 
and I’ve HEARD all the evidence that says that I am weak and insufficient to lead my household or counsel anyone else by my imperfect life’s evidence,  
but I BELIEVE that even in the midst of this trial I can REJOICE 
because MY STRENGTH COMES FROM GOD 
and I do not live by feelings or sight or senses, 
but by FAITH in the one who can 
break the chains of bondage and deliver to freedom, 
Cast mountains into the sea and bring the valleys level and plain,
Calm the raging seas with a spoken word, 
Heal, restore, save, deliver and lead. 
So if it comes from my mouth let it be His Word, His Truth, His Love, let it be LIFE breathed out by the Holy Spirit. 
If it comes from my hands, let it be His Word in action, His Truth in deeds, His Love in good works, and SERVICE to my brothers and sisters in need. 
If it enters my mind,  let it be His Word and meditating on the things above.
Lead me Lord, in case any follow along this path, so that it bet is your path, and not one I have picked out for myself.
Do not allow my many imperfections and weaknesses to stumble even the least of your little ones,  Lord, because by your Word, it is better that I be cast into the sea with a millstone tied around my neck.
Lord, I come to you,  destitute,  with no excuse, with no worthy payment, with no cross that I can claim by my own works to lay at your feet. I have failed you so many times. I have fallen, but I continue to get up. I only have your promise. I only have my faith in your faithfulness and in the truth of your Word.
Please, Lord, have mercy on your servant who has delighted in the work you’ve set before me, to follow you, to share the Good News, to praise you in the storms. I have not always been humble, but you have humbled me. I have not always been strong but you have strengthened me. I have not always been right but you have corrected and disciplined me. And I have always been loved because you have chosen me. 
What might be impossible for man, you have made true.
Please forgive me any who read this who are religious or quick to judge like I have been before (for praying publicly in the square), He knows my heart and will judge me according to His righteousness, because I am washed in the Blood of the Lamb, and because there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. 
Thank you, Lord. 
Amen.

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Great Joy

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. – James 1:2‭-‬6 NLT

The Lord is my shepherd; 

I have all that I need. 

He lets me rest in green meadows; 

he leads me beside peaceful streams. 

He renews my strength. 

He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. 

Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. 

You honor me by anointing my head with oil. 

My cup overflows with blessings. 

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalms 23:1‭-‬6 NLT

Are we fully trusting in the Lord to be faithful and true? Are we fully trusting that even this trial is meant for our good and for His glory? Yes, these questions,  this examining our hearts to see if faith and belief really lives there — it either brings us to the garden to rest humbly and trusting in His arms — or is has us far from Him and grumbling about not getting our own way right now. 
Surrender, and return to the garden, and be still and know that He is God. He is mighty.  Trust in Him. Follow Him. He went through hardships. He was wrongly accused and hated by those he pleaded for on their behalf. He faced opposition repeatedly from the enemy that wanted to hinder his work going forth and seeing many bright into freedom and belief and life abundant no longer bound by sin and death. Don’t think that you should escape the trials, but realize that the trials are the refining fires that purify your heart and that service as your living testimony that He lives in you.

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[Mia, Daddy & Friends] “A Birth”

When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son. And when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her. 

When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!” “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him. He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God. 

Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way. 

Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy: “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us. He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant— the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live. “And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” 

John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel. – Luke 1:57‭-‬80 NLT

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New Kingdom

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” – Revelation 21:5‭-‬9 ESV


Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. – 2 Corinthians 5:17‭-‬21 ESV


Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. – Ephesians 4:17‭-‬32 ESV


Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” – 2 Corinthians 6:14‭-‬18 ESV


Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do no violence to his home; for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity. Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him. Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out. My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both? – Proverbs 24:15‭-‬22 ESV


And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;  therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” – Matthew 9:35‭-‬38 ESV