Tags
Bible Study, Blogging, Church, Community Group, Disciples of Christ, encouragement, God, Making Disciples, No Sweat Discipleship, waterfalls
My writing time has been few and far between as of late. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have things to write about, rather, I think it has more to do with what I’m doing with my time, other than writing.
As recent transplants to North Georgia, my wife and I both have full time jobs. When we aren’t working, we’re taking time out to visit various locations throughout this area that we dearly love. It’s beautiful and breathtaking. From the rolling hills filled with wildlife and waterfalls to the rivers, streams, and Lake Lanier, we simply feel that God has given us one of the desires of our heart to move here. And simply put, we’re taking advantage of every moment.
One of our greatest achievements thus far has been to get involved with a local church. Not only is it a church that we feel wholeheartedly that God led us to, but it is a dynamic church that is “on fire” for the Lord, especially when it comes to making disciples. In fact, our church’s mission statement is to “make disciples everywhere.” This is not something that is tossed about flippantly, either, but it is something that is taught from the pulpit, community groups, and regularly communicated by its members. There is even a small booklet that we use called “No Sweat Discipleship” that not only helps you be a disciple, but it can be used to teach others how to be a disciple and to disciple others. For more information, click here: No Sweat Discipleship
Additionally, we have joined a community group within our church, and it has allowed us to make new friends and be involved in the “making disciples” process. This is similar to a Sunday School class, but we also meet regularly outside of the church. The women of the group meet together, as do the men. Both groups are currently using the No Sweat Discipleship model to learn and grow in the things of the Lord.
As I previously stated, though my time hasn’t been spent as much writing here at the Straight, Narrow, and Sometimes Crooked, it doesn’t necessarily mean that I don’t have as much to say, I guess I’ve started directing those efforts to other places. That doesn’t mean that I don’t intend to continue posting here, because I do. It just means that I feel that the Lord is leading me to expand my boundaries. One way is through encouragement texts to the men in my community groups. And if not for the encouragement of my wife, I probably wouldn’t be sharing one of those texts here, but hoping that you may find encouragement too, here it is:
“Men, last week I sent our a reminder for us to pay attention to what we let our mind dwell on so that we may glorify God even with our thoughts and not be compelled to sin. This week’s thought centers around us keeping a proper perspective that we are “not home yet.” Philippians 3:20 reminds us that “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enable him even to subject all things to himself.” Furthermore, the Psalmist cries out “I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me.” Psalm 119:19
It is imperative that we not lose sight of the big picture, as we live, love, and share. Just as Abraham lived in the “land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob” and “was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God”, we too should be encouraged to know that all of those difficult trials and persecutions will culminate in a glorious homecoming in a place that our Savior has prepared for us! Keep the faith!”
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