Answering My Call to Discipleship

Words like discipline and discipleship have gotten my attention lately.

I long to be Jesus's disciple and to disciple others. My spiritual gifts are varied. I have the gift of mercy, teaching and leadership. I find myself as a nurse instructor and lecturer today. Recently, the Lord has put it on my heart to teach more in the church. Now THAT is out of my comfort zone. However, I am the bondservant of the Lord so I will do as He asks. The Lord reminds me that I am already ministering online (see Maurice, Anita N You - Interactive Bible Study on facebook) and in song (see www.tru-image.org or Tru Image and Tru Image Lifestyle Ministries on facebook). I have taught in front of groups of people before, but teaching the Word of God takes another level of faith. I feel the weight of responssibility to teach with integrity. The Lord had me going to nursing school, then put it to a halt and is sending me to evangelists and teachers who are mentoring me and training me to teach. Woah!

So, I am now in school online to learn how to teach the Word of God. The Lord reminded me that I prayed for instructors and mentors when he told me I would teach. Some interpret this gift as pastor-teacher, but I see it as two different gifts. The bible clearly says that the gifts of the Spirit are varieties and diversities of the operation and administration of gifts (I Corinthians 12:4-7). So there you have it! I also covet the gift of healing. O to have that spiritual gift! Anyway...I digress.

Discipleship is the goal for every christian. How can you say that you are growing in Christ when you still drink milk (Hebrews 5:12) and are not married (ie. committed to Christ (Luke 14:26-33) and multiplying (Matthew 28:19)? To go and teach is the same as making disciples. A disciple is a follower of God. However, my call is to make and to teach disciples to make disciples. God clearly told me to homeschool his children. I interpret that to mean that I am to teach those who are saved and those who will be saved. I am starting with my own chidren.

There is GREAT opposition to those who are disciple-makers. If the devil can steal the seed of the Word of God he has won a battle. He will, however, NEVER win the war! So, I am also learning to battle as a princess warrior in the Kingdom of God. Training is tedious. It basically involves forcing my flesh into submission to the Spirit so that God can use me 100%. I am studying the characters of the likes of Job, Daniel and Stephen. Again....not in the comfort zone. That is one way that I know I am in God's will. This is so NOT my idea!

Please pray for me men and women of the Most High. Pray that I will die daily to my flesh and clearly discern the voice of my Shepard (John 10: 16, 27). My goal is to walk by faith and not by sight.

Today, I rededicate my life to Jesus Christ. My life goal is to go and to teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever He commands me. He will be with me always, even unto the end of the the world.

Why celebrate?

There are so many holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and special occassions. We are given a new reason to party almost every day. As Ecclesiastes says, there is a time for every purpose under heaven. Not taking time to love, appreciate  and remember your loved ones can cause you to be discontent, ungrateful and eben bitter. Just as we need to recall God's blessings in the past, we need to recognize the people in our lives who have helped, shared and encouraged us to be who we are today. Time is moving faster now more than ever. We are tempted to complain and work ourselves to death instead of taking the time to rest, reflect and admire the people, places and things that make our lives as comfortable as they are.

So for every birthday, every Mother's or Father's Day, anniversary and graduation, i want my loved ones to know that my life has been made more fulfilling by their presence, encouragement and smile. Celebrate! Party! Encourage someone in your life on their special day. You never know when it will be the last time to say "Thank You", "I love you" or " You are appreciated".

What if you do your part to celebrate others but don't feel the love for yourself? I very often feel under appreciated and I must very often remember that God HIMSELF rejoices over little ole' ME! God smiles on my life and I can walk pleasing to Him. I am accepted in the beloved. Hallelujah! For cleaning that mess, wiping those tears, fasting & praying for a need, giving out of lack, transporting so and so for the empteenth time...the list goes on and on. But, even if no one else gives a hoot, heaven went bananas when I accepted Christ, got baptized and when I share Jesus to a person and they accept Him into their lives! Not only that, but the biggest party of all is still to come! Heaven. Wow, just the thought excites me!

Imagine Jesus. He taught, He healed, He delivered, He forgives over and over and over and over AND He is still praying for us! What more could he do to show His love than to give His very life for His beloved?? Sheesh. Can he get a little respect? Can someone show Him some love? A thank you even? Of all the people who deserve it, He does. So let's celebrate Jesus everyday! His time will come when every knee will bow to Him and every tongue will call Him Lord. And so will mine.

"Well done Anita! You have been a good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of my kingdom!"

Mother's Day 2014

My Marriage Legacy

My Marriage Legacy - Walking Together

Lately, I have been talking to God about my marriage. I want it to be even better than what it already is! Since we are in ministry together, people are often asking us questions and want our viewpoint on various topics. I get asked about sex, money, kids, divorce, porn, abuse, you name it. So, it makes me want my own marriage in tip top shape!

My marriage legacy will be left to my two sons. What they see, hear and learn, whether spoken or unspoken, will influence the next generation. I pray that they want a wife who is good to them "like mommy is to daddy".

I want them to see Christ and His Church. I want them to see a man and woman in love - the mushy gush kind and the "I would die for you" kind. I want them to say that their parents laughed so hard together and that they embraced each other through the hard times. I want every sacrifice in my marriage to scream "I love you this much". 

My desire is to walk together towards God with my husband. That was the theme of our wedding. We will be so close that no person, place or thing can divide us. We will be so focused that even though the rode is narrow, by instinct, we make room for each other. We will be so attracted to the things of God that even though in heaven there will be no husbands and wives, we will be more delighted to be One with our Creator forever.

Our wedding - July 21, 2001

Our reception

Swag

So I'm not the one to advertise on my blog....really! However, there is a first time for everything. If you have never done so, try swagbucks. It's a legitimate site where you can earn cash, prizes and rewards for surfing the internet, making purchases, watching videos, etc...

Here is my link. Check it out:

http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/nitaswagger

Jehovah Rapha

This is my post from Instagram today. I am totally under the weather. My guess is that I probably spent so much time outdoors looking for a car after the accident I caught a cold. Bummer. Time to make some tea. Say a little prayer for me.

My new instagram is mrsanitam.

It's not an accident!

The other day, slowly driving down a residential street, my car spun out of control with my 2 boys in tow. All I could do was call in the name of Jesus - which I did. We slammed into a concrete block and were immobilized. Yes I was in shock but no, I did not panic. The boys thought it was cool.

When I tell you that I know the Lord protected us, I speak the truth!! First of all, there were no other cars close enough for me to hit on that busy street and the closest one was a firefighter who immediately stopped to help us. We had two wheels on the ground and two off, but we did not tip over. Secondly,  the police officer who lived in the house across from where it happened was there in less than a minute it seemed. I felt so relieved already.

No one was hurt, injured or in any pain at all. We could have been dead, BUT GOD!! This was no accident in His plan for the lives of me and my children. Whatever you may perceive as accidental is never that way with the Omnipotent, Omnicient Creator of mankind.

Some people get tired of me talking about Christ, giving testimony of His blessings in my life, but NEWSFLASH, theres no shutting me up. I cant help but share about His sacrifice, love and abundant favor He so generosity bestows on me. My life is no accident and neither is yours!

We were traveling in the opposite direction!

Damage: suspension, tire, passenger door, transmission, bodywork, paint, etc.. = $$$$$

Close-up view

Getting towed back onto the road. Thank you Lord!!

Contentment

http://bible.us/n/k2ai Rich or Poor?

A few thoughts on contentment