To Live the Life of a True Disciple

The Act of Listening

by Rev. Michael Brandon Bussey

Young Billy, age 8, had just gotten home from school and was very excited about the events at school that day. He had made a new friend and couldn't wait to tell his father when he got home. His dad arrived home about an hour later. He had a long, busy day at the office and was still not done. He unfortunately had to bring some of his work home. His wife wasn't quite done with dinner so he decided to go finish up the work while he was still awake enough to focus on it. So he went into his study and got right at it and was already getting into the swing of things when his son runs in to tell him of the wonderful day he had had at school. As most kids his age due when they are excited he started talking at about a hundred miles an hour. His father was soo engrosed in his work that he may the occassional "uh huhs" and "yea's" that he appeared to be listening, but was really still into his work. When the son was finished with his story he asked his father if it was ok if his friend came over to play after school the next day? That caught him off gaurd and was like "what kid?". The son was astonished that he had just gotten through telling his day all about his friend and was soo excited about it, but his dad didn't even listen.

That same situation happens all the time in our spiritual lives as well. God tries to tell us His way and plan for our lives. You know the perfect way and will that he has for our lives and has laid out for those who just simply take the time to listen and obey.

"Be still, and know that I am God,

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalms 46:10 (NIV)

When we slow down and take the time to listen to God is when we find out the way God wants us to life our lives. His way that is good, pleasing and perfect. The way that will exalt His name throughout the earth.

Dear Lord,

We pray that we will finally be able to be still and to take the time to listen to you and to hear your voice. We know that you have our paths laid out ready for us to follow all we have to do is listen. We thank you for your son dying on the cross for our sins and then raising again 3 days later to conquer death and to lay out the path to your kingdom. It is your name we pray, the name of Jesus.

Amen

 

 

His Perfect Will
by Rev. Michael Brandon Bussey

Do not conform any longer to the patterns 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 12:2 (NIV)

Think back to your childhood days.  Do you remember how you wanted to be like everyone, have everything, and do everything? When we see children doing this, we laugh and say, "They're just being a kid."  We might think it to be cute at the time, but when that behavior is not grown out of in adulthood, we begin to have problems.  Sadly, some adults are still stuck in that mentality.

The world today is all about the "more" factor.  Each game system, computer, car and house;everything now has to have "more" to even be considered for our attention.  We live in a world of debt because we believe that we need more when all we really need is God.  Do we really think He will provide us with less than we need?  Where is our faith and trust?  Conforming to the world and making other things more important than God only hinders our relationship with Him.

It's as if you're sitting down to have an important conversation with someone.  As you sit down, you reach over and turn on your stereo system with the volume turned up all the way.  You still see the other person, but they do not have your full attention because of the loud distraction; you definitely cannot understand each other.  That's how it is when we are trying to live the Christian life.  We need to have God as our top priority and have the worldly distractions out of the way and"turned down".  It is during those times of appropriate priorities and focus on God that we can know His perfect will for our lives.

Dear Loving, Holy God,we come before You praying that You would help us shed our worldliness and strive to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, allowing Your holiness to shine through our lives.  We want to know You more, love You more, need You more. Only by this do we have any hope of being able to focus on the path that You have set for us.  Please forgive us of our imperfections and guide us to Your perfect will.  Amen!

This past week I lost my dear great-aunt to Sarcoma cancer and a stroke that occurred during surgery.  I miss her dearly, but I am glad that she has gone on to the Lord for she would have been going crazy due to the paralyzation the stroke would have caused.  She was 80 years old but acted like she was only 40.  She was the definition of a hard-working ranching woman who was strong in her faith.  During the service the pastors gave a perfect example of the legacy that she left behind.  They explained the hard-working devotion she had and how others-oriented she was.  The importance of her family and friends.  It made me start thinking, what is it that I am going to leave behind when I go to meet with the Lord.  What are the things that people will be able say about me.  What is your legacy?  Does your life model the life of a disciple of Christ?  Are you others-oriented?  Let that be your prayer and your strength in the days to come.

Dear Lord,
I want to thank you for the life of my great-aunt Colene.  She was a dear woman who loved you and loved your creation.  I am thankful that you took her from the pain and she is now resting in the arms of your love.  I pray for my family and their grief.  I also pray for all those who read these words that they would be challenged to improve their lives as I am being challenged as well.  I pray that when you call me on that I will leave behind a legacy that reads your love all over it.  Please be with our brothers and sisters who are ill and those who are dealing with trouble times and bad weather.  You are our Father, Savior, Friend and Provider.  Thank you for your son dying on those cross to save us from our sins.  Its in your name we pray. AMEN

A Strong Conviction
by Rev. Michael B. Bussey
      I am an individual who surrendered to the life of vocational ministry 11 years ago at the ripe yound age of 13.  So you would think that someone like me would be secured in his faith and have a strong foundation in the principles of his belief, but to tell you the truth I really didn't until the past few days.  Now don't get me wrong I have always believed in Christ and believed that He is the Messiah that he died on the cross for my sins, rose again 3 days later to walk on the world for 40 days and then ascend into the skies.  I do truly believe that there is one and only one God, the Great I Am.  But the one thing I have a problem with is the church and its use of God's word as a women of hatred and prejudice against His creation.
    You see people take His word and use it to promote hatred and prejudice.  They use "selections" to justify means, when if it was used in its entirety you would see the true message and meaning behind the selection.  Over the course of this journal I am going to be writing my beliefs, my messages, and my stories that God has placed in my life.  I want to challenge anyone who decides to read my journal to not just read and belief, but to challenge.  Every Christian should challenge their preacher.  Don't take what he/she says for gospel just because he/she is behind a pulpit, but take notes and then go home and do your own homework.  Read the passages around the text and understand the rest of the story and challenge your beliefs.  Don't believe something just because someone told you, but believe it because its in the foundation of your soul and you know that beyond a doubt that it is GOSPEL.
    I love you my brothers and sisters and I encourage you to encourage yourselves as well as each other and myself to truly become true disciples.

Dear Lord,
   I give to you this online journal that it may be used as a tool and a discipline in my life and in the lives of those who read it.  I pray that you will give us the dedication to know you as much as the prophets of old.  You are a wise and mighty ruler  and teacher and we blessed to call you Savior.  It is in your name we pray.  Amen.