Preparing for their class time has given me opportunity to reconsider many aspects of discipleship. What is God calling us to do? How does the Spirit empower us? How can we really, truly be Christ - like in our living? What does Jesus mean when Jesus instructs us to carry our crosses daily? And what about dying in order to live as a disciple? These are the questions that should guide our living. Discovering and re - discovering the answers should be a daily focus for we who have claimed the name of Christ. What I am learning is, that while we go through the process of confirmation in our church membership classes yearly, God is consistently,

constantly in the process of confirming us and making disciples out of us daily. The Apostle Paul writes, " Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for God's good pleasure " ( Philippians 2: 12b - 13 ).

The journey of discovering who we are as people of God is just that: A journey. We have not yet realized the completion of our salvation. We are not done becoming who God wants us to become. That's why Paul commands us to work. Work hand in hand with God, relying upon the grace and power of God at work in Jesus and the Spirit to change our living and to transform the world. David Watson writes this about discipleship, " If we were willing to learn the meaning of real discipleship and actually to become disciples, the Church would be transformed, and the resultant impact on society would be staggering. " We still have much work to do.

Over the next six weeks Molly, Kaitlyn, Lisa, Zach, Cole, Brandon, and Daisy will be brought to face what God is calling them to do. Pray for them. Pray that they will embrace the call of Christ to transform the church and stagger society. Better yet, show them how.

Grace and peace,