I am a Disciple of Jesus Christ

by Bob Moorhead

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed.

I have Holy Spirit power.

The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line.

The decision has been made.

I am a disciple of His.

I will not look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.

I’m finished and done with the low living,

sight walking, chintzy giving, dwarf goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position,

prominence, plaudits or popularity.

I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized,

praised, regarded or rewarded.

I now live by presence, lean by faith, walk with patience,

lift by prayer, labor by power.

My face is set, my gate is fast, my goal is Heaven,

my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few,

my guide reliable, my mission clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured,

lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice,

hesitate in the presence of the adversary,

negotiate at the table of the enemy,

ponder at the pool of popularity,

or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I will not give up, shut up, letup, until I have stayed up, stored up,

prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I must go until He comes, give until I drop,

preach until all know, and work until He stops me.

And when He comes for His own,

He will have no problem recognizing me.

My colors will be quite clear.

Amen.

His View with Kathy Priest

Forgive Us Our Trash

A Mom listening to her Son repeat the Lord’s Prayer was surprised to hear… “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trash as we forgive those who pass trash against us! And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever! Amen!”

Out of the mouths of babes He has ordained praise! There is so much truth to that statement! Forgive us our trash as we forgive those who pass trash against us. I have heard people say I will forgive that person when I feel it is right. That is never going to happen! Forgiveness is not a feeling. Forgiveness is a decision. People do not fall out of love, they fall out of forgiveness!

Jesus did not feel like going to the cross and being crucified! He went because He loved you and me and it was the only way we could be saved and have eternal life. You see we owed a debt we couldn’t pay. The wages of sin is death. But God paid a price we could never pay! His sinless spotless life in exchange for eternal life!

After being beaten and abused He said “Father forgive them for they know not what they are do.” What Love and what commitment! Jesus decided to forgive! He goes on to say in the gospel of Luke 6:37, “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

You are never more like Jesus than when you forgive. If you want to be free you will have to forgive! Unforgiveness blocks the blessings into your life. God will be glorified when you act in obedience and forgive. I have watched it personally in my own life. From bitterness to forgiveness and finally free!

Sometimes we feel justified to not forgive but Christ does not give us that option. He says if we will not forgive then He will not forgive us! My brother Bobby was shot and killed at 21 yrs. of age on purpose by a 17 year old step son. I know you are thinking that doesn’t make sense? However, my brother married this 40 year old lady because he was lonely and still looking for a mother. My mom had checked out long ago with alcohol and a mental breakdown and beat my brother very badly until one day he ran away and never came home. I am called to forgive this boy that took my brother’s life.

My husband Gary struggled with forgiveness because he hated my mom for what she had done to me with the beatings I had endured. Gary had come to pick me up for a date when I was 17 and stepped in and took a beating for me!

One of our very wise counselors at church read one verse in Heb. 12:15, “Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become deviled.” Gary was able to forgive my mom in the Lord through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit and my mother ended up asking Jesus into her heart and forgiveness for her sins.

There will be a cost to forgive. It will cost you your pride! You will have to be Christ-like and die to self. Jesus knew you would not be able to do this in your own strength and that is why He did it for you! Trust Him to enable you to be obedient, to forgive. The moment you say not my will but Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, you will be free!

Love & Mercy~

In Him, Kathy