I wrote a speech for my discipler's wedding today and shared it live. The next day, I was prompted by the Lord to make this video because it would be such a great honor to share to the world the beauty of discipleship. This video is best viewed with SOUND ON)
If you're new here, hello dear! I've been blogging since 2005. I got pregnant out of wedlock in 2017, and suppressed all my thoughts and emotions because of the waves of misery, uncertainty and brokenness. I stopped writing, praying, singing, creating; I isolated myself and wore many masks of "bravery" just to survive. In 2019 I almost lost the battle to depression, but praise God for directing my steps to the right doctors! In my 30 day confinement, in the process of being treated, the Lord rescued me from further destruction and nudged me to write again, hence these posts : DEPRESSION Pt 1 | DEPRESSION Pt 2 . A year after, just when I thought I was doing okay, I had a haunting relapse (the worst kin - THE RELAPSE ) and with the sense of awareness I had left, I tried seeking for professional help to no avail because of pandemic restrictions and the heaviness of having to retell my story. I eventually sought counsel from a local Christian church (CCF) and they also advised me to join a small group (Discipleship group) and that was the start of ALL THINGS NEW. . .
OCTOBER 2020 marked the beginning of a life on life discipleship journey. I was found by my discipler, I started attending weekly sessions, and in the same month she patiently taught me how to read my bible and how meditate on His Word. And that became the start of a progressive, yet immense transformation in almost every aspect of my life.
I summarized my lifelong journey (in the link below) as a kid who grew up in a very restrictive and religious home that eventually found Christ in 2005, but didn't know exactly how to know Him, abide in Him, love Him, follow Him, and serve Him that's why I became an easy target of the world's troubles that kept me from walking in His light. <Good, Better, Best here : https://www.thewonderhuman.com/2022/06/little-girl-i-say-to-you-get-up.html . > The first two years of my discipleship journey was beautifully sealed by a public declaration of my faith through water baptism. A few weeks later, I FINALLY said yes to His call to lead my own discipleship group. And now here we all are, heeding the command to make disciples who will make disciples.
It's a never ending process, in obedience to His command to "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. " Mt 28:19
DISCIPLESHIP is ROOTED in HIS WORD.
Like seeds planted in a vast field, the fruits of discipleship start with seeds rooted in His Word because it's the only way to know Him, know His heart, know His desires, His plans, His purpose, His will... The bible also doesn't withhold HUMAN experiences - their thought process, their heart's struggles, their sins and their failures. In fact, it takes into account everything about being human, YET it reveals the full glory of the One who made us all.
DISCIPLESHIP is about MODELLING Christ's love in tangible ways.
I thought "His love" was limited to just knowing that I am loved because He said so. I didn't think I would actually experience it. I didn't think it was possible to learn how to do it! Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commands" and Ephesians 5:1 shows us how : "Therefore be imitators of God, as His beloved children". Having a discipler (DGroup Leader) was very pivotal to my walk with Jesus. If you watched the video, she modelled Christ's love in many tangible ways. She's not perfect, but as a "leader" she is called to lead by example. And because of that, as now - dGroup leaders, we are also striving to model His love to our disciples too.
DISCIPLESHIP stands for the Truth through ACCOUNTABILITY.
We cannot live double lives. We cannot serve two masters - the Lord, and the pleasures of this world. That's why being accountable in a safe place has been very impactful in my life too. I didn't have to worry about being judged, reprimanded, or ghosted because there was this blanket of confidence in His word that whatever is brought to the light will have no power over us.
DISCIPLESHIP forms a SISTERHOOD / BROTHERHOOD in CHRIST
Coming from different backgrounds, old dark paths, seasons, and personalities - it's the desire to pursue Jesus that knits us all together. And as we walk together in finishing this race, we grow in love for one another, carry each other's burdens, pray for one another, encourage one another,
There's sooooo much more I could tell you, but the four points above is really best experienced. It's something you'll surely won't regret :)
Praying for you & with you,
Bea :)
You can find a discipleship group here : https://smallgroups.ccf.org.ph/ . You're free to filter the location, the schedule, and even the age group and lifestage! :)
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| Beautiful painting of sisterhood by Claire Elsa Esser | https://www.instagram.com/p/ChqowVZLcAL/ |
