Please note I use a dictaphone app to enable me to complete entering text on to the forum, typing can be tiring for me after a while, although i do proof read there may be a few errors.
Discipleship to me means about learning about God, Jesus and a way to live life. It also means sharing knowledge where I can and also encouraging people to reach out and find faith for themselves in a positive way.
Limitations.
I have dyspraxia, and I will not let it stop me reaching my dreams or my potential. I intend to use it to show that being different is good and just because we learn in a different way and it may take a little bit longer to reach my goal. I will not let it deter me. I hope from my journey of faith and learning. I can show people around me that a disability doesn't mean being unable.
In the Bible there are lepers, people with epilepsyand other disabilities and God love them just as much as those without any extra needs.
Examples I can give is Mark 9. Verses 17 to 22. Matthew 17 verses 14 to 20, Luke 9. verse 42 they these all mentioned somebody with epilepsy.
Matthew Chapter 4 verse 24 talks about mental health and epilepsy and paralysed. Mark Nine, so verse 25. Talks about somebody being mute and deaf. Matthew 12. There's 22 talks about somebody being blind and mute.
I don't think that Jesus seeks to cover up our pasts. During Covid and lock down my disability started to show and through starting the readers course we discovered that i had managed to mask really well my dyspraxia and now it is a time to embrace it and use it to help others to access church buildings and to realise its ok to have a faith. I use my skills and knowledge to help those with additional needs to be able to access faith and be able to join in with worship.
Dear Claire
Thank you for sharing this.
My 30 yr old son also has dyspraxia and I have witnessed so many challenges that he has faced over the years; trying extra hard to do not quite as well as everybody else. He doesn't believe that God gave him the disability, he feels it is a result of the fall and the 'now and not yet' idea of The kingdom of God.
Despite his struggles he still loves the Lord and has had faith in Jesus since he was a child.
Thinking of characters in the bible, I love the story of Mephibosheth who was Jonathon's son, who had physical disabilities in the form of being 'lame in both feet' after a fall with his nurse at the age of 5 years.
King David wanted to honour his promise to his friend Jonathon, Mephibosheth's father, by showing kindness to Jonathon's family. Mephibosheth was invited and then for the rest of his days, dined at the king's table and was restored with land that had belonged to his father. King David also made arrangements for staff to tend the land and bring in the crops.
What a beautiful picture of God's heart for the poor and the marginalised who were more often treated as outcasts. Mephibosheth's experience was the exact opposite because of the command of the King who had a heart for the Lord.
Tracey
Hi Claire, thanks for sharing - one point that especially resonated was when you talk about how your skills and knowledge help others with additional needs which I think is so important - we all have different backgrounds, experiences and skills that we can use when working with others on their faith journeys. I would be interested in whether this has allowed you to make connections with others that others haven't been able to because of the skills and experiences you possess.
God loves us all, doesn't matter about who we are or where we've come from - embrace what you have and build upon it to help others.
Thank you Claire, I assume this reflection is for week 4 "Discipleship".
There are an increasing numnber of people who are doing what you are doing : not hiding aspects of their life that may make things difficult, which means when you and they still achieve stuff it is a real boost.
Dear Claire, thank you for sharing your experience, hopes and ambitions. Your commitment, drive and enthusiasm shine through. We all have different pasts, experiences, difficulties, skills and gifts, and I believe that God uses all of these to shape us for the purpose he has for us, and all are equally important. This defines who we are. It is clear that you are developing a deep understanding of your vocation and calling.
Amanda