Above is a pic of my youngest daughter and me.
My Husband, My brother in Christ
Discipleship: Holding Up the Word of God as the Standard for Faith and Practice
Terri at Keeping the Pace, a dear friend that I had the privilege of attending church with when our family lived in Tulsa, wrote:
In my discipleship with Linda, she would hold up the Word of God as the standard for my faith and practice. Over the course of the years, this has worked to train me to line up every belief and every action with the truth of Gods Word. In our discipleship, God's Word is the measure for personal examination and a guide for growing in obedience. This meant that I had to take serious and sometimes painful looks at myself against the reflection of scripture. Early on in our discipling, Linda seemed almost gleeful at times watching me go through the sanctification process. She would often encourage me by simply saying “praise God” when I was growing through difficult times. Of course what she understood and what I was learning was that the end result of seeing and acknowledging my sins and weaknesses was that the sense of Gods presence and the enjoyment of His fellowship makes Christ and His work more precious. Truly He is worthy of all praise. I am eternally grateful that Linda was not there to try and make me “feel better” or function better. There was a higher purpose and passion. Since Gods Word was the standard, the Holy Spirit was able to take the application of Gods Word to shape and drive my character.
And oh there's MORE of this HERE and you do not want to miss out on reading it.
Comments
Thank you Lisa for pointing my way there. Holding up God's word as the standard, though as frustrating at times as all get out, is the best way to encourage someone. Thank you.
Posted by: Annette | February 26, 2008 09:30 PM
Annette,
Terri is a great gal. I needed to read that article as well. It really is easier to lower the standard in this world. Easier to just make someone "feel" better instead of hold them accountable according to God's standard. Having been discipled by some incredible women, I can see, as hard as it was to hear the truth, the benefits and blessings of having such people in my life that are willing to speak the truth in love... it far outweighs the initial shame.
Posted by: Lisa Nunley | February 27, 2008 10:15 AM
Lisa, you have no idea how much I needed to hear the words of your last two posts. Thank you for your encouragment to speak truth in love. So hard to do, but so needed.
Posted by: Jill | February 27, 2008 10:38 PM