a 21-day journey is coming...

It's been way too long since I have blogged. I have written a 21-day devotional I will post daily beginning Sunday, January 5 on my blog for your reading pleasure. My hope and prayer is that it will encourage you to grow as a Christ follower. If you are not a Christ follower now, then I encourage you to read and learn from these snapshots what being a Christ follower is supposed to be.

Today I was reading Acts 2:42, "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer." (NLT). I prayed for the Lord to keep me devoted to these same things to which the early church was devoted. They are very relational - all under the same teaching, fellowship, sharing in meals, the Lord's supper, prayer. I also prayed for Bethel Church, where I serve, to be the same. A precious retired pastor that attended a church I once served said to me, "Pastor, if everyone in the church had their oar in the water rowing, they would not have time to complain." His nuggets of truth were so encouraging. So in this new year we can be devoted to rowing.
 
It is encouraging to me that when Jesus is the center of the church, He is the unifying factor. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects of our faith, we become a unified bunch. (Hebrews 12:2). When our eyes are focused on Him, it's difficult to look at others who can distract us. My prayer for all of us is to stay focused and devoted and not be distracted with any spiritual ADD - attention deficit disorder.

On a personal level, I choose to make Jesus the center of my life (and not a top priority). If He is a top priority, it is a challenge to involve Him in all the priorities down the list. However, if He is the center of my life, then everything I am and do comes from this relationship I have with Him. This is a paradigm shift for many of us. In making Jesus the center, I encourage you to follow me as a I follow Christ.

Jesus, may those who read this blog today hear your voice calling to them, "Follow me." Let them walk in your blessing and favor this year. Help them to keep their eyes on You! Amen!