Following Jesus: How to Be a True Disciple

To come to Christ costs us nothing. But to be a true disciple of Christ costs us everything.

But nothing to everything commands a sizable leap. Especially for a college freshman.

Having come to Christ at sixteen, I wanted to jump into every aspect of the Christian life.

Still, living on a university campus at eighteen became a whole new world. Since I desired to grow in my faith, I participated in several Christian student groups; Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU).

The Cost for Following Jesus

A foreign concept, I lacked knowledge about discipleship. During the two years I’d been Christ-follower, my only spiritual teaching came from church youth groups.

But I knew the basics about God and eternal life. I understood the great cost to God by sending His Son to take my place on the cross. Jesus gave His life as payment for mine. Grateful for His free grace.

A female staff member for CRU, Reba, discipled me. For over a year, she poured her life into my life. She explained the cost of a true disciple of Christ—everything.

Jesus laid down His life to give us life. We lay down our lives to follow Him. Simple, right?

No, it’s not easy. But it’s the way of a Christ-follower.

To follow Him with complete abandonment costs us something. Costs like:

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3 Reasons Why the Sky is Not the Limit

“Oh, Mommy look! What a boot-ful sky.”

Mesmerized and Hypnotized

I’ve been dazzled by the sky since I was a little girl. My mother conveys how I noticed beauty as a child—when I looked up. An enchantment that started long before I could enunciate the word beautiful.

And my adoration of the sky has never wavered. But, if anything, it has grown. Sunsets and sunrises captivate my eye’s attention.

A painter’s pallet of vivid orange and pink dazzles me. Throw blues and purples in the mix and it’s hypnotizing.

William Shakespeare said, “The eyes are the window to your soul.” 

So, sky-moments make this true for me.

And I often snap pictures of sky-moments and share them online. When I posted a sunset, I received this note from my friend, Debbie. I think it’s neat how you have always loved the sky. That is sweet. God was calling you to notice Him. I pray regularly for you to glorify Him with your writing. (Emphasis mine.)

3 Reasons the Sky is not the limit:

Reason #1: The Sky Helps us Notice God

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An Easter Throwback That Changed My Life Forever

Throwback pictures not only capture people and places in moments of time. But they also stir our emotions. And they retrieve memories.

Throwback Traditions

The image to the left uncovers an Easter throwback from my childhood. I’m pictured with my twin sister and mother. Besides Easter baskets, we celebrated with new dresses, gloves, and quite-the-fancy hairdos.

So, to achieve the look, my mom pin-curled our hair just before we went to bed. The process involves twisting groups of hair in a circular motion all the way to the scalp then held in place with bobby-pins. When my head hit the pillow, I remember the not-so-comfortable feeling. Oh, what a girl has to do.

Years later, I pin-curled my daughter’s hair on Saturday nights for church and for special occasions. A throwback tradition.

Yet I imagine my mom’s hairdo professionally styled. And the decorated netting showcasing her up-do screams “in-style.”

Posting content pertaining to the past, usually photographs, depicts a popular social media trend. A wistful look back. A blast from the past. Pictures of yesterday, yesteryear, or many moons ago.

Taking ourselves, friends, and family back to a nostalgic time worth documenting:

• How we looked.
• What was happening.
• When it happened.

There’s one look back that changed my life forever.

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4 Ways to Grow as a Braided Wife by Jen Weaver

Today Mike and I celebrate our wedding anniversary. It means I’ve been a wife for thirty-two years. And I still need God’s help and godly advice.

So, welcome, Jen Weaver. Jen and I met at a writers conference and we’re both represented by The Blythe Daniel Agency.

My heart’s tender for all things about marriage. So when Jen’s publisher provided the opportunity to read, review, and giveaway her book,  A Wife’s Secret to Happiness, I jumped at the chance. I know you’ll enjoy her powerful words.

Ropes That Eventually Broke

Ecclesiastes 4 verse 12 is one of the most quoted Bible verses in wedding ceremonies, a popular passage describing the way God longs to be involved in our marriages, woven into a cord alongside you and your husband.

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV

The church I attended throughout childhood held an annual marriage retreat, and one year the couples in our congregation came back wearing gold rope bracelets on their wrists. String tied as reminders of this verse and of their desire to stay tightly woven to their spouse, and to Jesus. To this day, I fondly picture my marriage cord as a shiny gold piece of yarn.

But as days and weeks went on, those ropes eventually broke.

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