Tag Archives: michael joe

Uncategorized

Fired Up Friday!

Together Is Better!

Together Is Better!

Friday tends to be one of those days when we are tempted to make it all about us.  We have been busy all week long – giving ourselves to someone or something else and it would appear that now it is almost time to make it about ourselves.  Before we make the leap, I want to share some thoughts that the Holy Spirit has been laying on my heart.  And let me be the first to say:  “I’ve got some work to do!”

Jesus said:  “If any man would come after (follow) me, then he must deny (surrender) himself, take up his cross (sacrifice) and follow me!”  This is what it means to be a Christian!  Being a Christian is about so much more than getting out of Hell and into Heaven!  It is so much more than going to church and going through the motions.  Being a Christian is about living in a relationship of following, surrender and sacrifice!

I often hear “church attenders” make so many excuses about what they can and can’t do, about what they are and are not going to do.  And what it really boils down to, is this one question:  Are you going to be a Christian or not?  If you are going to be a Christian, then you are going to follow Jesus because you have a “want to” to follow Jesus.  If you are going to be a Christian, then you will surrender your will to His will, because you truly believe that His will is better!  If you are going to be a Christian, then you will sacrifice everyday, multiple times throughout the day, because you know and appreciate the sacrifice that Jesus made for you!

Let’s stop making excuses!  Let’s start making a difference!  Let’s really be what we say we are!  I am a Christian!  I choose to follow Christ!  I am excited about surrendering my will to His will!  I count it all joy to be able to sacrifice for His glory and other’s blessing!  I am following Jesus and I know that I am on a journey of “right direction!”  Let’s do it together!  The journey is so much more enjoyable when we do it together and I do it better when I have someone that I can help and someone that will help me back!  I just can’t wait to see where God is going to take us together!

Uncategorized

A Few Thoughts On Discipleship!

1 Comment

DSC_0026Discipleship is one of those words that we toss around our churches like a familiar football!  We know that the word discipleship has something to do with being close to God, and we convince ourselves that this is enough.  We need to start thinking about discipleship and what it really means.  I think that true discipleship is one of the lost gifts that God has given to the church!  I am trying to get my head and heart around it, and must admit that I have a ways to go.  I thought that it might be helpful for me to share with you some of the things that God has been teaching and showing me!

How do you know when discipleship is happening?  Discipleship is the work of God in a person”s heart and life.  When a person experiences transformation through a relationship with God, their life shines Jesus to all of those around.  When you experience God’s love, you can’t help but to share that love with any and all around you.

I am afraid that many times in our churches we end up preaching a gospel that turns people into consumers of religion, rather than into disciples of relationship.  The problem is this:  Faith that does not grow into action is not really faith at all!  Bonhoeffer said:  “Only those who are obedient believe and only those who believe are obedient.  Faith is the only real obedience.”

A true disciple is a person who abides in Christ, produces fruit, practices obedience, lives with joy and gives love!  (John 15)  If you want to be a growing disciple, then you must submit to spiritual leadership and teaching, so that you can learn to live by the words of Jesus and follow His example of ministry, which seeks to find and grow other disciples.

Are you a disciple?  Would the life that you are living today prove it?  I have to go – because I’ve got some work to do!  I want my life to prove it!

Uncategorized

Working On Myself!

 

My Aunt Judy Having Fun At Easter Lunch!
My Aunt Judy Having Fun At Easter Lunch!

Hey!  I am glad that you made the choice to join me today!  Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post!  My goal in life is to help people find the right direction in life!  God has and is providing direction for my life and it excites me to be able to share that with others.  While I seek to improve and grow everyday, every so often, I go on a personal self improvement campaign.  It’s just a little something that I do to try and amp up my living life in the right direction that God has for me.

 

I thought that it would be cool to invite you to join me on this campaign!  All of us have things that we need to work on, areas of our life where we can grow and improve.  Today and this week – I am taking some steps to work on the spiritual and physical parts of my life.  

In my spiritual life, I want to grow deeper in my walk and relationship with Jesus.  I already have a daily devotional time with God, but I want to make sure that I am not allowing it to become just a part of my routine, so I am changing things up just a little.  This week I am still meeting God in the morning, but I am specifically looking for direction from Him about how I can have a deeper and more meaningful relationship with Him.  Here are some things that God revealed to me this morning:  

One of the biggest temptations of living in this world is the temptation to become superficial.  It does not benefit anyone to play make-believe!  Get real with God, yourself and everyone!  Another problem in our world today is the need for instant satisfaction – realize that some of the things that God has for you are not instant, but they take time, discipline and trust!

We live in a physical/material world, but this is not all that exist.  There is a spiritual world of God’s creating that we miss out on when we get too focused on the physical/material.  I tend to focus to much on the outside.  I get distracted by the outside.  I need to make sure that my focus is on the inside, because it is the inside that matters to God!  God will give me victory from the inside-out, if I will trust Him.

For my physical – exercise and diet!  It is a continual battle of my life to stay fit physically.  Spiritual discipline seems to come much easier for me than physical discipline.  This week I am going to exercise everyday and I am going to try to treat food as fuel and make sure that I am taking the right stuff in.  I know it does not sound very fun or exciting, but I have to figure out how to make it that way.  I believe that my body is the temple and I have some fixing up to do!

How about you?  Do you have any spiritual or physical work that needs to be done in your life?  If you do, then join me and we will work on it together!  It’s going to be a great journey!