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You are here: Home / Sacred Connections / Guest Post: Mark's of a Disciple: Allegiance to Christ's Compelling Leadership.

Guest Post: Mark's of a Disciple: Allegiance to Christ's Compelling Leadership.

May 23, 2018 by Stephanie Leave a Comment

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Jesus provides our identity: life in the vine.
Jesus is the vine to supply our identity, life and growth.
We are the branches connected and resting in Him;
we have all we need for life and godliness.
Fruit is naturally produced from the branches.
It is not a matter of effort-it is a matter of identity.
John 15, Luke 6:45
~God is the Caretaker of the Vine.
Jesus’ identity is in the Father;
He only does whatever He sees the Father doing.
The Father in His supreme authority planted the vine,
and then tends the vine until the coming of the age when all things are revealed.
~The fruit we bear depends upon the Vine.
Apart from the vine,
we can do nothing.
We are not independent agents of good,
earning our way to the top of the kingdom food chain.
We are wholly and utterly dependent branches of the vine,
and therefore all we are and all we do, is His work in us.
Apart from the vine, says Jesus, you can do nothing.
~Every good branch is pruned on the vine.
Fruit producing branches are going to get pruned.
Pruning are necessary endings.
Pruning requires that we cut something away.
Pruning is painful.
Pruning involves hardship,
loss or trial, make no mistake.
~Remain in the Vine.
To be in the Vine is the ultimate contentment and joy.
Both bearing fruit to the glory of God yet, dually it can be a place of loss, pain and persecution.
With God, there is no compromise in His counsel and leadership through Christ.
Remain in Christ, fix our gaze upon Christ, all allegence to Christ, who is the Vine and glory alone.
 
http://mightyrighthand.com/2017/08/5-marks-of-a-dis…lling-leadership/
Mary Beth Anderson
is a soul care counselor, consultant for leadership, and she
writes about theology, poetry, and discipleship within a biblical worldview.
This excerpt is taken from her website in the series, “Marks of a Disciple.” 
Mary writes of God’s grace and mercy working all things
for good in and through her life from childhood memories in the beautiful,
northern state of Michigan with great waterskiing and
delicious blueberries; to living the desire, pursuit and favor
of a professional modeling career.  
Although God’s hand of favor was sought, 
she’s grateful while in New York City our merciful God quietly,
yet strategically wooed, revealed, and challenged the focus of her heart. 
Questions echoed and surrounded the meaninglessness of life;
specifically within the American dream. Yet, with Gods reputation to hover over and be on the move,
He pulled her out of the world’s parade to breathe His eternal air.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” ~Galatians 2: 20

You can find Mary Beth Anderson 
on Twitter @maryanderson312; writing @ www.mightyrighthand.com 

 

Mary Beth Anderson

maryanderson312@gmail.com
www.mightyrighthand.com
The Anderson Group
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When my first child was born 20 plus years ago, I envisioned taking just a few years off from my role as Pastor of Youth and Family. While that didn’t exactly unfold as expected, God used my gifts and skills in other ways. Read More…

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The seasons of parenting all have their variety of days. There were moments that felt long and dark. Sometimes the idea of getting up the next morning to experience another one felt overwhelming. But scattered throughout the years, were moments of joyful collaborative discoveries of the beauty of this life. Watching your child explore the world around them through their senses is magical. It refreshes any of our own that have grown stagnant.

I love living in an intergenerational neighborhood. Because I need it. Revisiting the seasons of life through new narratives brings me joy. I share in the excitement of the neighbor girl losing her tooth and laugh at her story about the tooth fairy forgetting her tooth. That happened in our house too.

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"Sometimes Jesus’s interruptions mean a reorient "Sometimes Jesus’s interruptions mean a reorienting with our whole being. Surrendering vocational plans and expectations. Using our finances,time and talents in ways that take us out of our comfort zones. Letting go of previously held assumptions about who Jesus is."

#Redbudwriters #Jesusinterrupts #Luke5 #followingjesus #discipleship
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s2thomp

#Christmas #Humanity #incarnation #allpeople #god #Christmas #Humanity  #incarnation #allpeople #godwithus #Immanuel
#Jesus #Christmas #hopes #fears #Christmaseve #Jesus #Christmas #hopes #fears #Christmaseve
Recently, I realized I’ve done a lot of travelin Recently, I realized I’ve done a lot of traveling with my young adult children. However, I’m not referring to family vacations or even the multiple trips back and forth to their current homes. The traveling I am invited to occurs via phone calls initiated by my big kids as they go about errands and work on homework.

Sometimes, I go to Target and virtually keep them company as they shop for items. Once in a while, I accompany them on a drive through line to their favorite fast food restaurant. Other times, I walk with them back from class to the dorm. There is no agenda outside of simply connecting and listening. And then there are moments where I am put on speaker mode and I sit in silence while homework is worked on. The reason? To simply sit in their presence.

These moments could easily be perceived as inconvenient and mundane. Truthfully, the calls sometimes interrupt my agenda. However, it is a blessing when your big kid initiates connection. It is something I never want to take for granted.

I wish we could have done more traveling together on vacations when my kids were young. Yet, traveling together and building bonding moments can look like a lot of things. I am learning to be thankful for all of them.

#herviewfromhome #Redbudwriters #parentingyoungadults
#Delicatedanceofparenting #parentingyoungadults #p #Delicatedanceofparenting #parentingyoungadults #parentingcollegekids #parentingteens
As I sit in the quiet with the windows open, the s As I sit in the quiet with the windows open, the sounds outside remind me of the changes in my sphere. My neighbor plays her recorder with abandon on this first day of the school year. Suddenly, my mind jumps back to several years ago in this same house. I listened to each of my kids happily discover the joy of exploring this instrument. They fidgeted around, like she does, trying to create familiar tunes and listening to the way their breath helpes create sound.

This is the second time the landscape changed next door since our family planted roots here twenty four years ago. Each time, the new life sprouts up in different ways. Currently, the sights and sounds of young children remind me of where I once was and where I am now.

The seasons of parenting all have their variety of days. There were moments that felt long and dark. Sometimes the idea of getting up the next morning to experience another one felt overwhelming. But scattered throughout the years, were moments of joyful collaborative discoveries of the beauty of this life. Watching your child explore the world around them through their senses is magical. It refreshes any of our own that have grown stagnant.

I love living in an intergenerational neighborhood. Because I need it. Revisiting the seasons of life through new narratives brings me joy. I share in the excitement of the neighbor girl losing her tooth and laugh at her story about the tooth fairy forgetting her tooth. That happened in our house too.

My children are now young adults. People say “the days are long and the years are short.” That feels true. But I am thankful to have the opportunity to relive some of those days with a new generation. It reminds me of the welcoming spaces created for life to bloom, theirs and mine.

#neighborhood #parentingyoungadults #herviewfromhome #Redbudwriters #stephaniejthompson
#humanity #compassion #imagodei #stephaniejthompso #humanity #compassion #imagodei #stephaniejthompson
Recently, I retraced the steps of my childhood. Ho Recently, I retraced the steps of my childhood. However, walking the territory with my young adult children by my side became a whole new experience. Something profound happens when your kids see, taste, and feel the places that shape your life.

This wasn’t the first time, we ventured into the town of my paternal roots When my children were young, we occassionally drove through the town. We drove past relative’s homes and I pointed out favorite destination spots. However, the questions grew deeper and the curiosity expanded as they grew older. Connections to itheir story have been formed.

We enjoyed stomping around the nostalgic grounds together while recognizing how our family’s story fits into a bigger one. I whirled around with my kids on the same carnival ride seats that I once shared with my parents and siblings. We munched on the same tasty comfort food that I delighted in as a child. And watched, with wonder, the twinkly lights of a magical place, lighting up a dusky hot summer night. We walked in the footsteps of those in their personal narrative.

The deeper thoughts and questions came as we winded through the small town, retracing the paths of my youth. However, this time around, their ears longed to know more. How is this person related? Who was the relative that was known for…..? The visual unfolding of a story gives you a context for understanding what has shaped you. It is both formative and yet allows for questions and discerning what you will do with it. What will you embrace and how will you respond to it’s influences?

These are the moments that I do not want to take for granted. Navigating our story together is a gift.

#familystories #parentingyoungadults
#whoami #ancestorsspeak
#familyroots #stephaniejthompson
#Redbudwriters
"Sometimes Jesus’s interruptions mean a reorient "Sometimes Jesus’s interruptions mean a reorienting with our whole being. Surrendering vocational plans and expectations. Using our finances,time and talents in ways that take us out of our comfort zones. Letting go of previously held assumptions about who Jesus is."

#Redbudwriters #Jesusinterrupts #Luke5 #followingjesus #discipleship
Load More Follow on Instagram

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  • Easter
  • five minute friday
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