Dear WCPC family:

 

Once upon a time a young father walked past his five-year-old son’s bedroom. The door was ajar and the father heard his son’s pathetic sobbing. Entering the room the distraught dad asked his son what was wrong. The boy replied, “I learned to tie my shoes today,” as his sobbing increased. “Why son, that is great news. I am so proud of you. But I don’t understand why you are crying.” Almost breathless from his tears the boy replied, “Now I’m going to have to tie them for the rest of my life.”

 

Discipline often is perceived negatively.  I understand.  No one likes to be “disciplined.”  Yet the reality is without discipline, not much happens.  As disciples discipline is essential.  Unless we are intentional about our journey of faith, it may not be uneventful, but it will not be as full and abundant as God desires. 

 

Lately, as I shared on Sunday, I have to discipline myself at night.  I’m using a CPAP to help with sleep apnea and the mask is still very uncomfortable.  This morning I worn up and at some point in the middle of the night I must have pulled it off and tossed it.  Yet I know that with discipline I will adjust and I also know the end result will be a far more restful night of sleep which will translate into more energy the next day.  It’s worth it, but hard, at first.

 

The same is true for our growth as disciples.  It’s not easy.  We live in a broken world and our lives are daily impacted by not only our brokenness but the brokenness of others.  It’s our continuing commitment to spend time daily with God, as we pray, read the Bible, study, and engage regularly in worship and service that we grow into the people God longs for us to be!  Sometimes, particularly as one begins, the process is a bit uncomfortable.  This is particularly true if you’ve never engaged daily and regularly in spiritual practices.  But the witness and testimony of so many is that over the long haul they become essential and so much a part of our living we can’t imagine doing without them.

 

Getting back to my mask issues, I had breakfast this morning with a member of WCPC who has been using a CPAP for over a decade.  He confessed that at first it was uncomfortable, but now he can’t imagine going to sleep without it. 

That’s my prayer for each of you in regards to your spiritual growth.  Hang in there with it.  Don’t give up. 

 

Hebrews 12: 11 – 13 really spoke to me about what I’m going through physically and my prayer is it will speak to you maybe about what you’re going through, either as you are more intentionally about your diet, your exercise, your finances or your spiritual life.   And remember, as we talked about Sunday, everything about us, body and soul, is to bring glory to God.

 

“Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.  Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed”.

Hebrews 12:11-13

 

Your pastor,

 

David Jones