Life on Life Discipleship

When you hear people talk about Titus 2 discipleship, what image comes to mind? Do you picture an older woman standing next to a whiteboard, instructing a small group of women? Do you imagine an older woman sending out weekly emails to her mentees with Bible passages to read and memorize? Do you see it as being like a Bible study, just with fewer women?

Titus 2 discipleship certainly involves instruction, Bible study, and possibly even memorization. It’s not less than that. But it’s also more. A lot more.

When Discipleship and Real Life Meet

Two Christmases ago, my husband tripped over a piece of furniture and fell, breaking his ankle. Any broken bone is problematic, but a broken ankle almost always requires surgery. And his did.

At the time, I was in a Titus 2 discipleship group. I shared with my group what happened and requested prayer. My group leader and spiritual mentor was a nurse. She checked in with me during the weeks leading up to my husband’s surgery to learn how she could pray for him and for our family. She used her knowledge as a nurse to advise me in his care... 

To read the rest of this post, visit Revive our Hearts.

Leaders Need Mentors

Have you ever heard children argue with one another? One says, "You started it!" The other says, "Did not!" The first child responds, "Did too!" And on and on it goes until a parent intervenes.

I had a conversation with an older woman in my church that started out with a similar back and forth exchange where she said, "You are a leader." I responded, "No, I'm not." She said, "Yes, you are." Thankfully, it didn't require a grown-up stepping in to keep us from going on forever like that!

A Leader Isn't Alone

What do you think of when you think of the word leader? Do you imagine someone who has it all together, who naturally knows just what to do in every situation? Do you think of someone who takes charge? Someone who is independent and can handle everything on their own?

Though some leaders have such qualities, the truth is God did not create us to be independent and solitary...To read the rest of this post, visit Revive Our Hearts.

Faithfulness in the Seasons of Ministry

I often say that I learn just as much during our home-school lessons as my children. And that has been just as true this year in our study of Botany.  Learning all the unique ways that plants grow, bear fruit, and scatter seeds is nothing short of amazing. The wonder and glory of God’s creative hand was magnified as I looked at the road map etched into the veins and midrib of a maple leaf and as we carefully dissected the carpel of a lily. Indeed, the plant kingdom is a testament to the power of our Creator God.

In exploring the plant kingdom with my children, I’ve seen many parallels to our lives. The seasons of waiting for growth, the seasons of fruitfulness, the seasons of scattering new seed, and the seasons of quiet and rest that occur in flowers and plants are found in our own lives as well. More specifically, such seasons are seen as we live out our call in ministry.

Whatever our ministry, whether it is to other countries and cultures, women in our church, children, our neighbors, our family, or wherever God has placed us, we will all experiences seasons in ministry. There are three main seasons I’d like to explore in this article...to read the rest of this post, visit enCourage, my writing home today.