Lent 2019 – Discipleship Is Not Easy

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Dear Friends, I hope you had a good week wherever you are in the world and whatever it is that occupies your time. It’s such a wonderful feeling knowing that I am blessed to be able to share my thoughts with others across the globe! God indeed has blessed me beyond my imagination. After reading today’s words by Juan Huertas, I found myself connecting with his examples. I can relate to the idea of avoiding death and dying, we live in a time where a huge portion of time is given to living and eating well to be healthy and prolong life. A large portion of my youth was filled with playing sports and being physically fit but as time passed other things took priority and now I concentrate of health issues that my doctor recommends. I know that life is short and for that reason I give myself permission to indulge, maybe too much at times. When I was younger I didn’t give a lot of thought to dying, life seemed like there was plenty of time to do everything I wanted to do. I look at my life now and think (?) where did the time go? The subject of death can be very complicated and affects us all differently. I can only share what has been my experience has been and in no way would I compare my story to anyone else’s. For me a turning point way the death of my mom, I just never imagined life without her. Recently, my church family has endured the deaths of three of our congregation members and we are feeling the void of their absence.

It’s the unknown that scares me about death, a better word I guess is that my faith, much like Thomas is weak and doubting. I’m my heart I believe that heaven is the immediate other side of death for believers. The Bible tells us, “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” ~2 Corinthians 5:8 NKJV

The other thing that resonated from today’s reading is the part about knowing the story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and the temptation to jump forward in the story. It’s easy to jump from Palm Sunday to Easter, skipping the entire span of time in between. Personally, I struggle with this kind of thinking in my personal life, especially when it relates to tough topics. I’m ok with the beginning and the end but like to speed through the middle. I’m learning that the middle stuff, that’s the important stuff. It’s the learning stuff, the important contents. I like to speed through the process because I think it will be less painful, and that may be true. I’ve found that some of the most important lessons I’ve learned so far in life have come from the most painful experiences I’ve known. I’ve found meaning in the pain, the pain was for my good not to harm me. These experiences have strengthened my faith and trust in God.

“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die…” ~Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a

“I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope.” ~Jeremiah 29:11

Let’s step into the whole story, the rest of the story…walk with Jesus and experience all that is available to us. Let’s pursue our discipleship and share in the story of Jesus’ death so that we can be born anew to a living hope and share the Good News of Jesus.

~Peace~

https://youtu.be/5IxaEZD02wY

Breath Prayer: I will die with Jesus…and live in hope.

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com/

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Corinthians%205:8&version=NKJV