Monday, November 3rd, 2014 RE-Post
Second only to the “Disease Got Him”, this post is my #2 most viewed post in the month of October. I wrote it back in February – but it’s one of my posts that I get the most questions and emails about. Every first of the month or so I will be reposting the most viewed/asked about post of the past month to keep the “conversation” going. This is one close to my heart – well – they all are actually, but this one seems to be the most relevant in the last few weeks. btw – I appreciate all the heartfelt emails and messages – thanks again for sharing your hearts with me and supporting my passion for writing. xx
Walking
February 4, 2014
The #1 ministry that God has given me – is my son. It is the number one ministry that he gives to every mother. Everything else follows, motherhood may be closely linked to and a part of our church life, evangelism and outreach, but God in His infinite wisdom and wonderful grace has given mothers a very specific ministry, and it has been my obedience to His will in this that has taught me and trained me in what true ministry work really is.
This isn’t a blog post defending the much debased and ridiculed traditional roles of women, rather it is a springboard for what real discipleship looks like. There are hundreds of “believers” that I come in contact with every year that are hungry, seeking discipleship, mentorship, community. They “want what I have” and are impassioned to follow in my footsteps and in the footsteps of my close brethren who walk this walk with me. Invariably the majority fall away..looking for quick fixes..avoiding the painful work that is required to truly grow. They run from the very thing they have been searching for.
The problem, is that the very qualities and dynamics necessary for proper biblical discipleship and community are absent from most of what these people have been presented with for years, and so when they come in contact with real community, real accountability, REAL relationships, they buckle.
There is a reason why my 12 year old son has more emotional maturity, more spiritual stability than people 3 times his age, and demonstrates a startling discernment absent from most – it is not because “as my son” he reads the Bible 24/7, it isn’t because he stalks my every post cutting and pasting my wisdom to his wall, it isn’t because he attends spiritual retreats and compulsively downloads sermon podcasts. It is quite simply that he walks with the wise. He walks with us.
That is what real ministry is, it is a daily walk with Christ, a daily walk with those you claim to be taught by…daily…consistently…continuously walking…working…praying…reading….growing.
Through great times and scary transitions. Through thick and thin, everything that I am is poured out for my son everyday, that was the beginning of my ministry. That is the only kind of ministry that disciples and grows real, mature Christians.
In our fast paced, disposable culture of throwing away friendships in a click of a Facebook button, of walking away from anyone who makes you feel uncomfortable, of hopping from teacher to teacher and church to church – these droves of “believers” are stuck in a delusion of what community, fellowship and Christ’s family actually is. They have drunk from the cup of spiritual pride that has seduced them into thinking they can recreate the body of Christ. Because they think that by blocking and deleting and hiding from people who challenge them, and by shunning churches that refuse to hand over the keys to a new convert, they are trailblazers…when in reality…you are foolish children.
My prayer for you is that you would set aside the burning rebellion and chokehold of pride that grips you – it seems impossible, but you can do it, and pray for genuine humility and a teachable heart.
“He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” Proverbs 13:20
Recovered In Christ 
Beautiful!
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You rock lady! We miss your flavour down south..come back!!
A moment that really stands out as transformational in my life was when I was convinced that the writings of some of my favorite mentors who quoted a lot of authors like Tozer and Spurgeon were about me – and I hated it. I saw it as an accusation and a condemnation. My pride had me in a “chokehold” as you say…until I finally realized that up until then my acceptance of my shortcomings and conviction of sin was just lip service. Truth is it burned me up inside to be exposed by these people. But they kept at it – challenging me directly and indirectly through all of their writings and sermons – until I welcomed it. That is transformation. Can’t be faked.
This kicks ass!!! I am so tired of these weepy cheesy, barely surface scratching blogs and books that litter the Christian scene – we need our modern day Spurgeon’s and Wesley’s who cut to the heart of the matter and inspire the rest of us to get real. Thanks for being that for us!
I’ve been “mentored” by a lot of women who preferred to keep me as their pet or sidekick – who never challenged me – I never felt uncomfortable or hurt by them…but then I also never changed or progressed either. Truth be known, they were just like me, quoting the BB – aggressively evangelizing in meetings and church groups…but just as immature and secretive as I was. Flirting with newcomers…secretly bulimic…full of anxiety and jealousy. They too were sponsored and mentored by women who talked alot about “sanctification” while pretending their acting out wasn’t happening! I loved these women – but I watched them scramble to attack you or pretend to be like you when you challenged the hell out of them! You forever changed the landscape around here – thank you so much for being you and doing what you do!!!!!!
Ouch been there done that. Growing up and getting honest is painful!!
I was a companion of fools for a long time. Worse than junkies and thieves – these fools were wise and righteous in their own eyes. Praise God that I got out.
“…disposable culture”!! again…a loud YES!! This was so me!! I was so painfully incapable (unwilling) to admit just how sick I really was that I would just revamp my life every so often..new sponsor…new church…new look….but unfortunately no new spirit! Thank God for Christ’s mercy and grace that pulled me out of that!!