Thoughts from the Beach

Being at the beach everyday for a couple of weeks gives me much to think about.  Being with all four of the kids and not having another adult to talk to.....that gives me much to blog about.  Now having a quiet house and the right frame of mind to blog, well that is another story :-)

So I thought I'd start with some of the thoughts that I have had while on the beach:
~I miss my hubby.  Being the only parent in the house is hard and lonely. :-(
~Home schooling rocks.  The fact that we could just come down here....yeah, that's pretty cool.
~The sun rising over the ocean is the most beautiful when storm clouds are present.

~Kids can fight with each other on the beach and the glorious sound of crashing waves......means I don't have to hear it.

~I love the beach so much because it is so pure and simple.  It has been around since day 3.  Pretty cool when you really think about it.

~Just because you can get into a bikini does NOT mean you should wear one.  Come on people!!!
~Surfers are cool.
~75 year old surfers are even cooler.
~Big sisters are the best.

~I love that EVERY time Barron catches a great wave on his boogie board, he squeals all the way in. WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
~I hate sand!
~Going to the fishing pier early in the morning is like stepping onto another planet.

 ~Reading a book about God while sitting on a beach seems to do something special to my heart.  I guess it kind of makes you see God a little differently.
~Looking for sharks teeth is a pretty cool hobby.

~Rest is good.  Resting in a chair or jumping in the waves or just walking the beach.  Resting your brain, your body, your mouth, your ears.  Rest is good.

~LL

Black and White Issues #3

Evangelism is a black and white issue.

Matthew 28:18-20

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Jesus said GO.   
He didn't say: 
"Some of you should go."
"Could you please if you feel like it, Go."
"If you win the lottery."
"If you are a pastor."
"If you feel like it and are in the mood."


Nope He just said to GO and make disciples of all the nations. 


The amazing thing to me was when Jesus appeared to the disciples after He had been resurrected He said  “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore GO...

 He has all of the authority of Heaven AND Earth to send us out into the world. So what in the world are we waiting on?

 

If we as Christians are supposed to be sharing the gospel with the entire world what's the problem?  I think one of the problems is that we (Christians) fall into a trap of believing that His calling wasn't for all of us. We feel like it is only for the missionaries or for the pastors.  But Jesus was speaking to all of his disciples when He said "go". Who are the disciples? Disciples are believers who study God’s word and submit themselves to all the teachings of Christ.  They aren't just believers in fact they aren't just Christians.  They must be more than hearers of the word.  James 1:22 says~ But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. I think that describes a disciple well.  Someone who listens to scripture, learns from scripture and is obedient to scripture.  THAT is who Jesus was talking to. THAT is who He is calling.

Then it begs the question why aren't we doing it? If it is so black and white in scripture then why are so many of us failing at obeying? I think another reason  is because we are failing when we lead people to Christ. New Christians are not understanding God's command to evangelize. We are failing at leading them to become disciples. We invite them to church, pray they go forward or raise their hands when the gospel is presented, but then that's it.We leave them.We fail them. I think people are becoming Christians and then feel like they have arrived.  Next stop Heaven.  We fail them by not leading them into living lives according to scripture.  We fail them by not leading them to become disciples.

 

I want to jump up and down and scream or type in all CAPS to get my point across.....  IT"S NOT AN OPTION!!!  IT IS A COMMAND!!!!!  It is not good enough to just invite someone to church.  It is not good enough to just write a check to send a missionary.  It is not good enough to just pray for the missionaries on  their birthdays. It is not good enough to just write your name on a card. It is not good enough to just ___________ (you fill in the blank).  Anything less than GOING and MAKING DISCIPLES and BAPTIZING is not good enough.  All of those other things are good things but they are not being completely obedient.  If you are not sharing your faith...learn how.  If you are not in a church that is preaching evangelism and discipleship......start praying for your leadership. If you are not growing....start reading the bible. If you are not in a place that is baptizing...fill up the tub..  If know one around you is going....then you go alone. 

 

You be the change!  You make a difference!

 

It is black and white. In order to be obedient to the commands of Jesus we MUST share our faith, lead people to become disciples, and baptize.  It is the reason we are here.  It is the reason Jesus died on the cross and rose again.  It was NOT so that we could sing pretty songs, dress nicely, and have a great Sunday service. It was because He wanted to change peoples eternity.

If you don't know how to share your faith.  Hopefully some of these will help:

Share your faith

5 clicks to sharing your faith

APP

 

After we share our faith.  After they hear and accept.  The next step is discipleship.  Small groups, Bible study, independent study.  There must be that next step.  It is there in that next step that people move into a relationship with Jesus.  It is there in that relationship that disciples begin fulfill the Great Commission.

 

~LL