Man, I'm really realizing I haven't made a single post since September! That is actually pretty wild considering I'm trying to use this as an avenue to keep everyone up to date on my life and ministry! Every time I write a new post I always say that I will write more often. Well, that apparently doesn't seem to ring too true as we see lol. Anyways, let me get into this update on my life.
One of my favorite co-laborers in ministry over the last year has been Alexis Anthony. She's a young woman that has such a heart for discipleship and being intentional with getting to know people. Seeing Alexis' heart for discipleship has even grown my heart for it! Which is super encouraging for me. Seeing young people care so much for others and their walks with Christ really motivates me to do more of it as well.
Discipleship is oftentimes over spiritualized in modern times. We think we need to sit down and go over scripture, teach theology, or even be intentional with teaching a skill. Discipleship simply is inviting people into your life, and showing them how much you need Jesus. Utilizing the aforementioned means in discipleship is not wrong by any stretch of the imagination, it is actually extremely helpful and can help in someone being developed and learning more about their faith. However, if the people you disciple do not consistently see your need for Jesus, or know you deeply, you're not discipling.
13 And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. 14 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:I encourage you guys reading this to think about the people in your life that you want to be with you. People you want to see grow and help you grow.
Mark 3:13-15 NKJV
Anyways, in typical Alexis Anthony fashion, I wanted to share a rose, bud, and thorn with you. (Something awesome, something exciting coming up, and something that has sucked).
Thorn: I gotta be honest y'all, being a retired athlete is so difficult at times. I have recently realized my metabolism is not what it was when I was playing football five times a week in high school and it has started to.. be more noticeable. So getting back into the gym of late has been SUCKY. I'm obviously not hitting the bench press or squat rack like I used to when I was striving to be a D1 athlete, which morally can be defeating at times. I acknowledge that I shouldn't let this weigh on me too much, but it has. I'm just glad my wife has been so much of an encouragement she stopped going to her gym which works for her and joined my gym so that I have someone to go to the gym with, which makes going altogether so much easier.
Bud: The most exciting thing going on right now is the excitement that I have to be preaching the word of God. Since joining staff at Awaken, I have been being taught and groomed as a communicator of God's word. But I don't think there has been a season of life where I have been more eager to do the actual communicating. I enjoy giving sermons,but this series that the awakening is going through in the book of Titus has me on another level of amped. I find this reflecting in my prep time and even the day of the teaching. We also have a bible reading plan to go alongside the teaching series which has gotten me even more excited. I have grown to really enjoy seeing teaching the word as a means of pouring into people, and how the Holy Spirit has used the prep time to pour into me.
Rose: As a newlywed, I feel like I am learning just how incredibly selfish I really am when it comes to my time. Learning to consider my wife consistently in my schedule is an adjustment, one we are both going through, but I cherish the times we sit down to talk and we get on the same page. It's refreshing to get to the heart of the matter and to feel heard and understood as well. Specifically and especially by the person I love most. This past Sunday we got time to do that and I felt so loved and encouraged and more importantly reminded of the reason why Erica is such a blessing in my life. Being able to hear her speak and to have her intently listen to me really makes my heart feel alive. So even in the midst of the Lord showing me my brokenness and how much I need Him in order to better love my wife, the love my wife gives me is the rose in my life right now.
Now with all this being said, I wanted to wrap up this post by giving a major shout out to some of my favorite people. Keegan and Karmen Cullen are getting ready to go overseas as missionaries. They will be spending the next couple of months in intense training and preparation to be sent. Keegan is one of my closest friends from college and he and his wife are two people I was blessed with co-laboring with my last year in school. I genuinely yearn for the day we get to serve alongside one another again, also understanding that the Lord has prepared our lives and right now we have different assignments. I love you guys a lot and will be in steadfast prayer for the both of you!
That's all from me guys. Hopefully I stop putting these posts off and find a more regular schedule for them. As always, stay blessed and keep it clutch. Chrissian out.
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