Are We Missing It?

     This has been quite the month for revelations. Many things have happened to strengthen my faith as well as call out my short comings in that very same faith. As mothers, we are bombarded with information. How to raise our children, how to have a happy home, how to keep ourselves joyful, and the list goes on and on. And if that isn't enough we are then pummeled with the "you need to" lists. You need to make time for you. You need to be more involved with your children. You need to be more engaging with your husband, and again, the list goes on and on. I could go on with the lists of "you're not good enough if" and the "this is what you need" lists. Like I said, bombarded with information that conflicts and contradicts. 
     But what if it is so simple, such a straight path, that we simply are missing it because of all the twist and turns all the "people" have us going down? I have to think so. This month Lance and I had the wonderful (yet, as it would turn out, extremely difficult) chance to share our marriage testimony with a church down south. To be honest, for almost a year I have struggled with trusting the LORD, I have struggled in my walk with the validity of our prayers. It was a really hard season. But our God is faithful. In sharing my side of the testimony I was forced to recap step by step where we were and where we are. For whatever the reason, looking at it from a point A to point B I hadn't seen it. But when I was asked to dissect each step and relive it, that is when I saw the true faithfulness of Jesus. So often we don't dare look back to see where we came from, and even lesser do we look back at details. Why? Well it hurts of course. But is there a bigger reason for sharing our story, could it be used to keep others from stepping on the same landmines we did? And if so, how?

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." Revelation 12:11

     So what is it that so many of us are missing and how do our testimonies fit in? I believe it is a true understanding of why we are here. Why are you here momma, on this earth? Are you able to answer that? And if you have the answer, do you understand that answer and what it means? Jesus was very clear in His Word. Go, therefore, and make disciples of ALL nations. So what is a disciple really? Well, if you live a Christ first life, you are an example of what it means to be a disciple. Did you know the word Christian was originally a negative title? Yep, that's right. In the early church age those who hated Jesus called His followers "Christians" which translated to "Little Christs". 
     In this modern, progressive, western culture, the title Christian has become little more than a hollow title. There are people all over talking the talk and not walking the walk Jesus commanded us to walk. However, if you truly know who Christ is and strive to be like Him then your hollow title of Christian morphs into disciple (or as you will sometimes hear me refer as True Believers). 
     So what is a disciple? Simply put... a copy cat. I once was teaching a school lesson and remember teaching my kids that if someone copied them to not get angry, that it is a high form of flattery. So, to be a disciple of Jesus means we do everything we can to copy Him, not just in words, but in actions as well. 
     Okay, okay, now you are wanting to know why I am bringing this up. The reason is simple, if you are a disciple of Christ then you have been commanded to GO AND MAKE more disciples. So often, myself included, this command is not obeyed. We don't just neglect the command in our outer relationships with people, but with our friends, with our extended family, with our own children. Why is this? Well there is a great book that can tell you that answer (Growing Up: How to Be a Disciple Who Makes Disciples by Robby Gallaty) but the short answer? People are not being taught how. So many are under the impression that in order to be a disciple one must have a degree, have a WOW testimony, have experiences, etc. LIES!!!! All lies momma. You, right now, right where you are need to be a disciple and are qualified to the task. Want proof? The Bible states that God qualifies the called, he doesn't call the qualified (2 Cor. 3:5).
     Jesus didn't say "And when you have a four year degree and have traveled the world, then you can be a disciple of mine." Nope, there was only one prerequisite, walk like He walked. Our ripple effect as mothers is HUGE!!! We are called to disciple the very next generation that is growing up. We are called to disciple the believers that are younger than we are in the faith. We are called to be so much more than the mom who drives all the kids to soccer, the mom that has the coolest birthday parties, the mom that shows up to all the PTA meetings. All those things are amazing, but without the discipling of our children it will mean NOTHING. 

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

     We can not expect to raise children that live a Christ first life if we are not living a Christ first life ourselves. It's not that it is 100% guaranteed that they won't make it Home. It is simply 100% guaranteed that you will stand before God and have to answer Him when He asks you why it wasn't you that did the discipling.
     I will never forget this year when my daughter and I were grocery shopping at Walmart. We were in the produce department and she told me, "I'll be right back momma, I have to do something." She walked over to where a worker was stocking shelves. I don't know what she told him, it wasn't my heart that was pressed. All I know is God told her to go and tell that worker something special and she obeyed (She did tell me that part). She has done this a handful of times in the last couple years. I would like to think that I had something to do with it, but to be honest I don't know. Like I said, it was this month that I had these revelations of what it means to train up a child. But, perhaps she saw me obey at one time and is copying me who was copying Jesus. 
     All I know is we have a command mommas and we are running out of time. We are told to make new little disciples that will then go and make their own. It's a never ending, never stopping endeavor. If all believers would obey this command the entire world would be reached so much faster then simply relying on a church Sunday for one hour. 
     So today choose who God wants you to invest in (your children are top priority if they are still living with you under your stewardship). Start ministering to them by letting them watch you be the hands and feet of the Spirit. Then begin allowing them to assist you (there is a reason trade schools are so great). Afterwards allow them to lead in the ministering to others while you are there in case they need assistance. Finally sit back and observe them take flight like an arrow being loosed towards a target. 
     We are missing the purpose of why we are here. We are allowing the busyness of good things to over shadow what should be the best thing. When we are faithful to obey, God is faithful in His promises to us. So today I am asking you to keep it simple. Walk the straight and narrow of making disciples of your children and others God leads into your life. Share your testimony when pressed by Him to help others overcome what you did. Set the example in not only words but actions as well. He will then be faithful to remove all the noise of information chatter overload. In turn your life, home, children and husband will live in Shalom. The peace that only Christ can give. God bless until next month. 

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."     Colossians 3:17