I want to be like Simeon and Anna

The birth of Christ is so beautifully portrayed in the second chapter of Luke. At the end of that chapter readers are told of a man named Simeon and a woman named Anna. You can go to the scripture and read it for yourself. Simeon was said to be righteous and devout. Anna was devout, also. When I read about these two and their encounter with the baby Jesus, I picture two people who were lovers of God. Simeon had it revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he saw the Lord's savior. Anna loved God and spent all her time in the Temple praying and fasting. On the 8th day after Jesus' birth, it was time to bring him to the Temple and the sacrifice to be made. The Holy Spirit had directed Simeon to be there at the Temple. He was there, he saw the baby Jesus. He took the baby into his arms and knew he was seeing the salvation of the Lord! Anna, too, confirmed it. She was a second witness and she told everyone around that this baby was the Messiah. Lord, I want to be so devout...so in love with you that seeing you, seeing your salvation is what I long for, what I wait for and what I proclaim.

Targeted Prayer and Fasting

A TV preacher was speaking about praying and fasting for a specific, focused thing. It needed to be serious and it needed to be on behalf of someone else. So, today I fast and pray for a friend with a serious need for healing from cancer. I know that healing covers more than just the physical aspect. There is need for other aspects to be healed as well, I assume. I assume such because each of us who has lived this life for any length of time is tainted by Sin and the sins that so easily entangle give rise for the need of healing. So, for my friend, I fast and pray for healing. Thank you, LORD!

James 5:16

To Blog or not to blog?

Sara, my daughter of 18+ years, invited me to consider blogging. So, here I blog. I used to write an article for a church newsletter called "Thoughts on Discipleship." Since that is the jist of most of my thinking anyway, I have named this blog just that, "Thoughts on Discipleship."



Of course, discipleship is a broad topic. I can be a disciple, learner/follower, of anyone or any philosphy. Since God, the Father, has chosen me in the Lord Jesus Christ then when I speak of discipleship I mean one who is a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. I can say, I've been chosen based on Ephesians 1:3ff Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as he chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. I understand I don't deserve to have been chosen, it is grace (God's favor) that has allowed this and it leads me to gratitude and a desire to follow in joyful obedience the Lord who loves me and who I love in return.



There are many more "thoughts on discipleship" to share with readers of this blog. It is a subject that never runs out. I invite comments where you may share your thoughts on discipleship with me.