2/9/12 Becoming a Christian is a trip, Lord. There are some things You don't really tell us about when we start off, but I get it, You want us to experience things, hoping we will come to You for answers. That's discipleship. Ok Lord, here You go.

Sabrina once prostituted to live--the life of a survivor who wasn't surviving very well. She came to You wanting a change, a new life, and by Your grace mercy and peace, she has it. She's now got a great new church family, clean and sober four months, and no more street walking. She sings a praise almost every day at RCM Lunch Lesson, in fact, "Thank You Lord" floated from her lips towards heaven just yesterday. I know You heard it, Lord.

BUT. Yep, there's always that big ole but that brings things back to reality. The reality being, that helping make disciples takes many forms and involves every aspect of a person's life. After over 25 years of You having me work with the poor, homeless, and incarcerated, this is sort of a new one...

Elecia, whom You know and I've written about much, came into my office to pray. I walked her out to the guy she was catching a ride home with, but she had another deal going.  As I finished talking with Elecia's friend about how she wanted to come back the next day to be immersed, and if he would give her a ride, Sabrina comes around the corner, "He's ready for you." Elecia's friend says, "You know you don't need to do that, I'll get you something to eat, so c'mon, get in the truck and do the right thing." Elecia did. That was a victory.

So I turned to intercept Sabrina before she got to Elecia and asked, "Whatcha doing, Sabrina?"

"O, nothing, and I ain't prostituting or nothing like that," as she ducked her head. "If you're not doing that, then what are you doing?" She grinned in embarrassment.

"You were setting up a 'date' for Elecia, weren't you?" Sabrina hung her head as I asked the classic question, "So what do you think Jesus would say about that?"

"I wasn't prostituting and I thought I was helping. Elecia needed money, so I just tried to help her get it." I could see the wheels turning in her soul.

"Jesus wouldn't want me to do that, would He?"

I smiled, "You answer that question."

Lord, teach me, that when I leave my life ways of sin behind that seem to ever chase me, I must leave all things associated with it. Help me to not leave a hand or foot, or any other part of the old man left sticking out of the grave of death Jesus lifted me from when I surrendered to Him. Lord, help me to wake up each morning, asking You to show me those things in my life not of You that need to die, how to bury them, keep them buried, so that the new man can live.

Discipleship. Well, ok, it's a daily thing, a journey and not an event, a precious awareness of Your everywhere presence in my soul, so that my heart, body, and mind may surrender to Your will, each moment of every day.

"I can't do that no more. Jesus knows about it and doesn't like it. I won't do that no more. Thank you for showing me that, bro. Anthony."

Discipleship. It's a trip. BUT, a good one.

I urge you, brothers [and sisters], in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2, NIV