Class Photo

Discipleship Class Level One

Journey Church

Fall 2010 - Spring 2011

(photo taken by Julie Schuler)

Crossing the Finish Line

Do you remember more than nine months ago when I shared that we would be taking part in a discipleship class through Journey? You do? Well, that class came to a close last night, as we celebrated with a wonderful meal prepared by Scott's (our teacher) wife Julie (our friend). We came together no longer as strangers or friends, but as a family who made it to the end. We spent nine months of intense studying, being challenged and transformed, learning more about what it really means to follow Christ.

Last night we were given a key to remind us of this passage of scripture, Matthew 16:13-19:

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Just like Peter was given authority to admit entrance into the kingdom through preaching the gospel (ESV Study Bible), we also have that same authority in Christ to bring the kingdom of God into the lives of other people. We, too, can be used as instruments by God to open the door of faith to the world. We have the power to stop the work of the enemy (bind) and to engage (loose) the power of the Holy Spirit. I don't know about you, but that is some authority!

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I am so glad God called me to this class, with these people and at this time in my life. Upon coming to the final class, we were asked to write out our testimony. Not the sort of testimony that tells of how we came to know Christ, but the story of what God has done in our lives during the last nine months. I don't think it's a coincidence that what I wrote about nine months ago, right before the start of the class, and what I wrote for my testimony looking back on the class go hand in hand. You might think I went back and read what I posted in the fall of 2010. But I didn't until now. That's the power of God and only Him. He is the one who orchestrated my story.

In short, I wrote about how I have learned more about being obedient to Christ and simply saying "yes" to the next thing that He asks me to do. Looking back over the last nine months, I can see a progression of steps that the Lord has brought me through. First, it was saying yes to Discipleship Class. Then, once class had started, it was saying yes to becoming a small group leader. This was certainly not on our time either. While Matt and I knew that we were headed in the direction of becoming leaders of a small group, we didn't think it would require us to step down from serving in the Student Ministry, nor did we think we'd step into the position before class was over! (And to think that I was worried I might lose this small group!) After saying yes to leading small group, at the end of January, I said yes to resigning from my full-time job. This was a huge leap of faith because it would mean that we would become a one-income household. While I didn't know how it would all work out, God did, and He has provided for all of our needs since then and continues to do so. Finally, after coming out of the workplace, I said yes to being a part of the team from Journey that will go to Uganda in July. Never in my dreams would I have imagined that I would be in Africa this summer. Sure, I had a goal to go on a mission trip, but I was headed to Honduras. It would be a good "warm up" trip for a first-timer, right? Right. But that's not what God had in mind for me. He brought me to a place in my walk with Him where I had to choose to follow Him and be obedient or say no to Him and stay in my comfort zone. See, I'm missing out on a tradition with my family this summer: vacation at our favorite place, Sunset Beach. But, I knew I had to say yes to God. After all, had I learned nothing through this class? Had I not been changed at all? I felt the tug to go, and so I am going. 45 days from now. While I don't know what the next step is after Uganda, I am confident that God will fully reveal it to me in His time. And when He does, my only job will be to say yes and allow Him to work through me for the rest.

The funny thing is that God isn't calling me to say yes to a hundred different things at the same time. He isn't asking me to do this, this and that right now. He isn't asking me to do everything now and everything well. He is only asking for me to do one thing now, and then allow Him to bring me through it. Once I have followed in obedience, He then starts to reveal the next step, and usually before I've completed the current one! As a human, I make it so hard on myself, thinking that I have to do many things at the same time as a follower of Christ. But God has shown me that's not how it is if I can only let go of the control.

My Subgroup

I don't know yet if I'll move on to the Level Two class that starts back up again in September of this year. While I would enjoy remaining with the same family of people that formed a unique bond that only we will share, I don't feel the pull to move forward at this time. Honestly, it was a little hard to do both class and lead small group and do them well. But, I'm certainly praying through it. If God wants me to be a part of it, then I will go.

Regardless of my next step, I hope and pray that I can live out Matthew 22:37-39 for the rest of my life:

Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Thank you, Jesus, for carrying me through.

Young Couples Marriage Retreat 2011

This weekend, we spent time with other young married couples from Journey in Wilmington at the 4th Annual Young Couples Marriage Retreat. We are so thankful for the passion and love that Mark and Teresa Harvey have for young people. Each year they have led this retreat and poured out their lives and 29 years of marriage experience into us.

This year, we enjoyed the special treat of Pastor Jimmy and his wife, Beverly, coming along with us to do the teaching. They covered everything from what husbands need, to what wives need, to how to handle conflict and have a Christ-centered marriage. We had great fun listening to stories in a very casual and laid back setting, but we also were given great reminders of what marriage looks like from God's perspective.

On Friday morning, Matt and I drove down to Wilmington for an early start to enjoy some time together. After checking in to our hotel, we ventured off to lunch at J. Michael's Philly Deli, a hot spot that was recommended by the men at the barber shop that Matt goes to. Then we headed downtown to find a new cupcake shop called Hot Pink Cake Stand. They were delicious! We spent a little while on the Riverwalk before heading out to sink our feet into the sand! The beach was cold and windy, but we enjoyed walking for a few minutes and, of course, taking pictures. After that, it was back to the hotel to get warm before heading out to dinner at Hieronymous Seafood Restaurant with some friends. We joined back up with the rest of the group at 9:00 p.m. for introductions and weekend instructions before turning in for the night.

Saturday was filled with four sessions of teaching, each one followed by a time where we could get alone as couples and talk about what we had just learned. This was a sweet time because it helped to keep things fresh in our minds and talk about the topics right then, rather than waiting for dinner that night or another time, hoping to remember all that was said. Our homework assignment for Saturday night was a date night with our spouse. The rule was that we could not hang out with anyone else. We found a different cupcake place near the coast and indulged in another sweet treat before trying to figure out where we wanted to eat. We ended up at Front Street Brewery where the appetizers were 1/2 off! It was a very frugal date night, costing around $20. That's our kind of dinner out! And our good friends, Jennifer and Russell, went there too, and were sat at a table right next to ours. We definitely didn't ignore each other! And, we did break the rules after dinner and went to Port City Java together. Oops! It sure was fun!

On Sunday morning, we gathered together for a final time to listen to a devotion that Mark and Teresa brought to us. Then, with the car packed up, we headed back to the coast to have lunch at The Oceanic with Jennifer and Russell before heading back to Raleigh.

I am so thankful to have had the chance to get away with my husband to learn more about God's picture of marriage and to get the reminders that we need about what God wants our marriage to look like.

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.


Ephesians 5:22-33