Discipleship Small Group

900 Park Ave
Orange Park, FL 32073
(904) 379-6208
info@tscjax.com

Welcome to the class question and answer page. Here, you will find tips and helpful tools for your journey.

A. Spiritual Imagery

You can use these images and scriptures to focus on the Lord and bring you into His presence.

B. Journaling Guide

This audio file will guide you through a time of Journaling to hear from the Lord.

C. Submit Your Journaling

You can send a time of journaling to me using the link below. I will be happy to pray over it and give you feedback. You can type it in or upload an audio file ( the link to upload is found at the bottom of the page).
Send journaling

D. Spiritual Gifts Inventory

Please take this inventory to identify your spiritual gifts. I will give you an answer sheet in class. This link only has the questions. Spiritual Gifts Inventory

E. Prayer Line Information

I host a prayer line that meets every day, including holidays, from 5:30- 6:00 a.m. EST. The number is 951-981-7721, no passcode is needed.

My prayer is that you are blessed by this class. You can post your questions and comments here and I will answer them here and in class. There is no bad or wrong question to ask.
-Dr. Pam

by Dr. Pam

28 January, 2025

We are back and what an amazing trip it was:

June 24, 2024, ready to go:

We got to the airport, took off, and missed our connecting flight. We had to stay in Atlanta overnight.

June 26, 2024. We finally made it to Ireland. We settled into our sleeping arrangements and went to Wednesday Night Bible study.

June 27, 2024. Our first evangelistic outing was on the streets of Wexford, supported by Wexford Church.

June28-29, 2024. The next two days we were witnessing in Cork Ireland.

Day 1

Cork – Day 2

June 30, 2024. Service at Cork Church, Baptism after church at the lake.

July 1-2, 2024. Vacation Bible School

Beautiful Scenery

July 3, 2024. Going Home. I was honored and humbled by the trip and the people I met.

Two years ago, I used to say that the mission field was not something that I felt called to. However, since my trip to Nigeria, I have also gone to Korea and now I have the opportunity to go to Cork, Ireland.

This year on the prayer line, we have been studying Still Higher for His Highest. I am being transformed every day. I will no longer say what is for me and what is not. I am open to everything God has for me. I have learned through these trips that seeing God through the eyes of different cultures will broaden your understanding of Who He is. I long for more.

I am honored to have the opportunity to go to Ireland with the Springs Church. I will use this blog to share experiences during this remarkable ministry opportunity God has for me and to keep you updated on the progress toward my financial goal.

During this 10-day trip, from June 24-July 5, 2024:

• We are scheduled to do Vacation Bible School, Worship Services, Street Evangelism, Feeding those who are hungry, and any other thing God opens up for us!

• My personal goal on this trip is to:
  • Continue to allow God to work in my life through the personal enrichment that comes from missions.
  • Pray individually and collectively for all God puts in my path.
  • Submit myself for God to use me to open eyes and hearts to the message of Jesus.
  • Encourage local Christians by bolstering their spirits and supporting their work.
  • Provide ministry that will elevate each person’s relationship with and deeper love for the Lord no matter what they have or don’t have.
  • Develop relationships with the Christians I meet there.

Again, please subscribe to and/or keep coming back to this page as I will post updates on my financial goal as well as pictures of the journey. My goal is $3500.00.

The goal was met.

I’m excited about this opportunity and experience. Pray for me that I will fully submit to the task that God wants to accomplish through me. As I stated, I have chosen not to use GoFundme. However, you can donate through any of these platforms:

If you want to support my efforts and do not use any of these methods, please let me know. I am grateful for any help you are willing to give.

by Dr. Pam

3 April, 2024

You can listen to the teaching here:

or read the notes below.

Philippians 1:6 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

A great deal of human emotion arises in response to No.

What do we feel when God says no? I think most of us go through a series of emotions

• We go through shock and denial. We can’t believe that God didn’t do the thing that we asked Him to do. Maybe our feelings get hurt. After we process those emotions for a while then we decide God was not saying no. The God that I serve is faithful to me because… We start to list all of the things that we do that complies with God’s wishes. We tell ourselves that this is a trick of the devil. Satan is just trying to fool us into thinking that we’re not going to get the thing that we’ve asked God for. As time goes on and it still doesn’t come our emotion about it changes

• We start to feel pain, telling ourselves if God loved me, He would have done what I asked Him to do. Then the devil helps us dip into the guilt pool and we start to list all of the things that we should have done that God said do, that we could have done but chose not to. Our relationship with the Lord will dictate how much time we spend there. At some point you get past the feelings of pain and you get past the feelings of guilt.

• Then we get angry. We began to think about friends or even people that are not our friends who prayed and asked God to do something for them and He did it. They’re no different than me. I love God just as much as they do. We even tell ourselves that some of them don’t even go to church. Again, our relationship with the Lord will dictate how much time we spend being angry. Then we start to bargain with God. If You just do this thing for me then I will do… and we fill in the blank with whatever amazing, fantastical, thing that we think will sway God’s hand. We may even go on a fast because somebody told us fasting moves the hand of God. When all of those things doesn’t work, and we still don’t have what we asked for. Our mood changes.

• We may drift into a kind of depressive state. We may or may not continue to do the things that we need to do every day like going to work, going to church and fulfilling whatever duties or responsibilities we  have. But somehow that thing that God did not do is lingering.  We just can’t seem to let it go.

My purpose here today is to bring us all to the place where we change our view of NO. The Lord wants us to leave this time with an understanding that No has purpose in your lives. We have plenty of biblical examples of what happened when God said no. But the example He has given me to use today is the example of Jesus Christ left with us. I will call them Jesus’ Seven No’s.

What did Jesus do when He heard no?

The 1^st No
No, you cannot remain in heaven I need a sacrifice I need someone who is willing to save the world that I created

Philippians 2:6 Amplified Bible
6 who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it];

The 2^nd No
No you cannot be my sacrifice and maintain your deity you have to take on the form of man and experience everything that they experience yet without sinning

Philippians 2:7 Amplified Bible
7 but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man].

The 3^rd No
No, you cannot satisfy your flesh and do what feels right and good to you.

Matthew 4:3-4 Amplified Bible
3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But Jesus replied, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’”

The 4^th No
No, you cannot be consumed with pride because of who you are and what you have done or can do. No you cannot give in to your emotions.  

Matthew 4:5-7 Amplified Bible
5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city [Jerusalem] and placed Him on the pinnacle (highest point) of the temple. 6 And he said [mockingly] to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You [to serve, care for, protect and watch over You]’; and ‘They will lift you up on their hands, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written and forever remains written, ‘You shall not test the Lord your God.’”

The 5th No
No, you are not here to amass wealth and power. That is what the world wants. You are here to do what I have designed for you.

Matthew 4:8-10 Amplified Bible
8 Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory [splendor, magnificence, and excellence] of them; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written and forever remains written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”

The 6th No
No, I will not give you permission to forsake your purpose because it is difficult and painful

Luke 22:42, 44 Amplified Bible
42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup [of divine wrath] from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done.” 44 And being in agony [deeply distressed and anguished; almost to the point of death], He prayed more intently; and His [b]sweat became like drops of blood, falling down on the ground.

The 7th And Final No
No, I will not relieve you from the feeling that you have been forsaken  

Matthew 27:46 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
46 And about the ninth hour (three o’clock) Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?—that is, My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me [leaving Me [a]helpless, forsaking and failing Me in My need]?

What did Jesus do in response to the No’s He heard?

Philippians 2:8 Amplified Bible
8 After He was found in [terms of His] outward appearance as a man [for a divinely-appointed time], He humbled Himself [still further] by becoming obedient [to the Father] to the point of death, even death on a cross.

1 Timothy 1:15-17 Amplified Bible
15 [a]This is a faithful and trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance and approval, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost [of sinners], Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example or pattern for those who [b]would believe in Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King of the ages [eternal], immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

What do we do when God says no?

We grieve
Psalms 120:1 In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.

When we are forced to let go of something we really long for — whether it’s taken away, or it seems it will never be given — grief is a natural response. The weight of disappointment is crushing. It can be overwhelming and take time to process.

He is not afraid of the pain we feel. His sovereignty is not dependent on our emotions. He will not try to invalidate our hurt with quick and temporary fixes. We are free to express a sense of lack and sorrow in the moment. He lets us feel the void so that he might satisfy us with himself. He wants to draw near.

We see what is in our hearts
Jeremiah 17:10a “I, the Lord, search and examine the mind, I test the heart,

Disappointment often reveals what captures our affections. Even though the disappointment is not always wrong, it does give us a gauge that shows us where we have invested our hope. Lamenting through our discontentment forces us to carry those desires back to God — even if just to question why he hasn’t given these things to us. It sheds light on the idols we have created in our lives. We dig up our biggest frustrations and unleash our rawest emotions.

We are forced to see He Knows best
Jeremiah 29:11 New King James Version
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

God always has our ultimate good in mind, He doesn’t say no because he is cruel or depriving us. He knows better than we do, and his “no” is always merciful, even when it hurts. He is for us, fighting against what will keep us from him (Romans 8:31). He knows our hearts can only be truly satisfied with himself (John 4:14). He will not tolerate being second in our lives, because he wants us to have something so much better than what the world can offer.

When God does not grant us something or takes something away, He creates space in our lives to fill us with more of Him and His blessings.

There are many reasons that God says no but accepting God’s “no” can be tough because we have the bible that seems to indicate that whatever we ask for in faith we receive (e.g., Mark 11:24; Matthew 21:22). If we isolate those verses and build a theology around them, we are shattered when things do not happen as we anticipated. We have to learn to step back and consider the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).

GOD SAYS ‘NO’ WHEN HE HAS A BIGGER PERSPECTIVE
“He knows about everyone everywhere. Everything about us is bare and wide open to the all-seeing eyes of our living God; nothing can be hidden from Him . . .” Hebrews 4:13 (LB)

GOD SAYS ‘NO’ WHEN HE HAS A BETTER PLAN
God: “This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are My thoughts the same as yours! For My ways are higher than yours.”  Isaiah 55:8-9 (LB)

GOD SAYS ‘NO’ WHEN HE HAS A GREATER PURPOSE
“The purpose of these troubles is to test your faith as fire tests how genuine gold is. Your faith is more precious than gold.” 1 Peter 1:7 (GW)

What should we do when god says ‘no’?

TRUST THAT GOD DOES EVERYTHING OUT OF HIS GOODNESS AND LOVE
“All the ways of the Lord are loving . . .”  Psalm 25:10 (NIV)

EXPECT GOD TO GIVE HIS GRACE TO HANDLE HIS ANSWER
(Paul) “Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. But his answer was: “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.” So, I gladly boast about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power can flow through me! . . . For when I am weak, then I am strong!”  2 Corinthians 12:8-10

ACTION PLAN: List or journal some past prayer requests in which God answered differently than you had hoped for. Think through what we have discussed and write about how God’s perspective, plan, and purpose may have been revealed through His answer.  

by Dr. Pam

10 April, 2021

Disciple Me

This blog is attached to the book “Disciple Me” it helps the reader walk through the path of self-study that will help identify scriptures that hold the answers to many questions about salvation and share insight into things that you may not have even thought to ask yet. The blog helps with the commitment to study and prayer. It helps you know better so that you do better. This book and blog will change your life! 

Being discipled is just like going to relationship school. You go from level to level, getting closer and closer to the Lord. You learn who God is. You learn how to align yourself with His wishes, not because you have to, but because the relationship is so amazing you want to align with Him. You learn to seek the Lord for yourself, so you know what pleases Him. There is something that happens when you begin to seek the Lord for yourself; when you spend time with Him, and He allows you to see yourself as He created you AND as you are. There will be a difference. Most of it because of choices you made. But don’t be alarmed. After He helps you identify those things you have changed in His creation, He will fix them. You don’t and actual cannot fix them . You have to submit to Him to correct the flaws you created. What that means we will discuss further in the book but ultimately it means coming to a place where you are no longer in control of your life. You are looking for and waiting patiently for Him to speak to you and direct you.

You can read the blog and share here.

by Dr. Pam

15 October, 2020

Teach My Hands to War

The purpose of this blog is to help the reader understand that we are already engaged in warfare, whether we fully understand spiritual warfare, have a cursory understanding of spiritual warfare or no understanding at all. The devotional and the blog use the word to equip believers to fight more strategically.

I encourage you to:

• Read the devotional with an open heart.
• Meditate on the scripture.
• Allow the text to help you see the hand of God in and on your life.
• Take time to evaluate what position you have taken in the battle.
• Pray.

You can read the blog and share here.

by Dr. Pam

11 October, 2020

I recently watched the Matrix again and I believe the Lord shared some new insights with me because of where I am in my life right now.  God gives each Christian the desire to want increased faith and to want to believe on a Deeper Level.  He has brought us out of the darkness (Matrix) into the light (Outside of the Matrix). We have to understand that the devil is our enemy and is continually setting traps for us (The Agents, sentinels etc.) We must live in a place where we have enough faith to show the world that the devil fears us because we are believers. We know the future. We know how it ends. Because we do, we can show the world that every believer can live without borders and boundaries created when the enemy is in charge. We must walk by faith, so the world sees that with Christ all things are possible.

Mark 9:22-24  If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!”  23 Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.” 24 No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, “Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!”

This is the particular scene that stood out for me when I watched this time.

Neo is on top of the roof and he has to jump from one rooftop to the other rooftop. I am not sure what the distance was between the rooftops, but it had to have been a good 20 feet. He stood on the rooftop. Morpheus says to Neo, “you have to free your mind. Then he jumps and makes it. Neo stands there on the roof, bobbing back and forth like a prize fighter ready to jump into the ring. He’s saying, “free my mind, free my mind, free my mind.” Neo didn’t make it. When he asked why he didn’t make the jump, Morpheus told him that he had residual image and that was hindering him. Even though he was no longer in the Matrix, he still saw (thought like) he was. When the Neo went to see the oracle she said, “Sorry kid(..) in the next life maybe.” In the movie it wasn’t until Neo died and was revived when he realized who he was.

I felt this scene was so representative of us as Christians. We have the Bible; we have the Holy Spirit so why don’t we walk in the level of faith available to us. We want to, we quote the scriptures, we Go through our lives just like Neo on the top of that roof. Instead of saying “free my mind”,  we say “I can do all things through Christ”, “I’m the head and not the tail”, “I’m above only and not beneath” , “God is good all the time and all the time God is good”.  But how is that when most of us make the jump, we fail.  How do we have spiritual success like ultimately Neo did?

There are two things that stood out for me, as I was in a place where I had to believe God at a deeper level.

• I have been changed and transformed by the blood of Jesus, I have to live like it and stop thinking and acting like I used to.
• I have to die to self, if I am to live in the power Christ bought for me and created me to live in.

If we die to self, we will be made alive in Christ. Walking and reborn again into the person God created us to be. That death to self is an ongoing process, but we have to step into it so we can get the victory that is on the other side.

by Dr. Pam

9 January, 2020

Genesis 25 : 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. KJV

Whenever reflecting on this passage, I always thought about Jacob. His deceit, him being a trickster, not caring about his brother. I did not really give a lot of thought to Esau except he was just crazy for exchanging his birthright for food. But today I looked at Esau. Not crazy but contemptible.  He just did not care. There had to be some kind of food in Isaac’s house. What was the deal here? Esau was not about to die. Was his desire for that stew worth his birthright? Amazing what we give away for a moment of satisfaction.  Always keep in mind, don’t make a permanent decision on a temporary problem. Remember who you are and what God has planned for your life.  It may not be here right now, but don’t forfeit God’s plan for some temporary pleasure.

by Dr. Pam

11 October, 2018