I LOVE these girls…
I’ve had the pleasure… no, the blessing of being their DG Leader (Discipleship Leader) for five years!
I have seen them grow from adorable pre-teens in the seventh grade to beautiful teenagers now in the eleventh grade…right before my eyes.
Time is going too fast.
And I cry just thinking about them heading off to college soon and only having one more year left of them coming into my home one night a week…
I have so treasured our time together…
And so have my own daughters… they look forward to “DG” night in our home and can’t wait to see the girls.
Five years ago I set out to be a blessing to them and here my family and I are the ones blessed.
It has been wonderful for my own daughters to see their mom and my discipleship girls open God’s Word together, pray together and witness the importance of sharing life’s ups and downs… together.
Years of tears and laughter have been shared around my kitchen table and I wouldn’t have it any other way… along with all kinds of yummy treats their moms would send with them each week.
It has been a joy.
There are many things in life that I’m passionate about… God’s Word, translated Bible study resources for our sisters in Christ around the world… and THIS… reaching the next generation.
We need each other.
The older generation mentoring the younger generation… sowing seeds of faith and wisdom for the future… trusting God with the harvest.
We see this relationship in our text for today between Moses and Joshua.
Moses invested in Joshua’s life and when the time came for battle… and as Christians we are always in a battle, whether seen or unseen, Joshua responded with obedience and action.
Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands”…so Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered… Exodus 17:9-10
The importance of the Body of Christ comes into view as we begin to read this story further…
To win this battle, it was going to take more than one person.
More than just Moses.
More than just Joshua.
It was going to take a whole community.
EACH person was equipped to play a very important role to win this battle against the Amalekites.
And the Amalekites were not an easy group to go into battle against.
They were the descendants of Amalek, a grandson of Esau. They were a nomadic tribe who made part of their living by raiding other tribes and carrying off the plunder. My Bible commentary states that these people killed for pleasure… not the sort of group you’d want to go against if you know what I mean.
But here in this story, we see the beauty of the Body of Christ in action.
Joshua physically goes into battle with his chosen men.
Moses spiritually goes into battle praying.
BOTH are needed to win this war…
One without the other and the Israelite nation is doomed.
And as Moses battles through prayer… his arms grow tired… that’s when Aaron and Hur step in.
As faithful friends, they both come along side Moses, each holding up one of his arms.
Without them and the support they offered their tired leader… the battle would have been lost.
Ohhh friends… we need each other. We CANNOT win these battles alone! We need God and we need the Body of Christ to help hold up our arms. We need men and women who will go to the hill top and pray over us. We need friends who will come along side us and hold up are arms as we grow weary…
We were not made to do battle alone.
We were made for community…
We were made to work together…
We were made to be the Body of Christ…
We each have an important role to play. No one’s role is more important than any one else’s.
We are a team and we need each other!
Let’s Talk:
Who has been a Moses, Joshua, Aaron or Hur in your life? How has God used them to help you endure and win some of your battles? How have your LGG groups helped you as you’ve went through your own personal battles in life?
Love God Greatly!
Week 4: Video
(Click here if you can’t see the video)
Week 4: Memory Verse
Week 4: Reading Plan
Week 4: Challenge
Oh Angela this was just BEAUTIFUL!! Thank you so much for sharing with us your DG girls. It is inspiring to see them and hear what they shared about being in community and investing in others lives. This was awesome 🙂
Ohhh so happy to share them with you all! It truly is an honor!:)
Angela, thanks for sharing about the discipleship group you are leading. Would you share with us what if any materials you use for this, to make it pertinent for this age group, and what maybe the structure of a typical meeting looks like?
Hi Cendrine,
Oh we’ve done a mixture of things over the years! We’ve went through our LGG studies, read an assortment of books together and even watched a video series on Apologetics from Matt Chandler on RightNowMedia….I try to draw from a variety of sources for them. But since they are heading to college in a year I really want to make sure their Biblical foundation is solid so right now we are going through a book called: 30 Days to Understanding the Bible. Another book we read a few years ago that I know they loved…and I did too, was You Were Made to Make a Difference by Max Lucado and his daughter Jenna.
Our meetings last between an hour and hour and a half. They all have a lot on their plates with school, homework and activities so I try not to add to much extra on to them. 🙂 I also try to be flexible….sometimes they just need to talk…I try not to structure it to much…its a balance of getting them into God’s Word, teaching them and building that relationship. 🙂 I think the biggest thing is that they know you are for them, you treasure them and your door is always open. 🙂
Hope that helps!!:)
I teach teenaged girls Sunday school….. I would LOVE some information on how and what you have been teaching these girls. Please share anything you have that would help me mentor and pour into young girls. They are my passion!!!
My husband and I just hosted 14 girls in our home for our D-now weekend…. They are so open to God’s leading right now. I need to take advantage of this special time right now!! Any help would b appreciated!
Ohhh Connie! I just love hearing the excitement and passion in your comment! Honestly, I think the first thing to do is just get your girls into God’s Word and learning how to “feed” themselves spiritually speaking! How to have a quiet time, why it’s important to read the Bible….how to dig in to God’s Word further…etc. I don’t really do a lot of “Hot Topic” things with my girls because I feel like they are getting that at our church….my focus has been more on them having a solid understanding of God….who He is….what He has done…..what He calls us to do…..and that we are loved. I’ve listed a few books and topics I have gone through with my girls over the years…..
Hope that helps, sweet friend!!! 🙂
Thank you! I loved this today. I have read these verses many times, but sitting down to study each person’s part was really beneficial. I see that we can PRAY, we can BE AVAILABLE, and we can be PHYSICALLY present to strengthen and encourage those in the family of Christ. I loved your blog today and really appreciate how you related it directly to the passage. We all have important parts to play and we need each other! That includes me. I need to be active and pursue those in my church family. I can’t always sit back and wait for the church to serve me. That is not God’s design for his people. There are times when that is needed, then there are times for me to be the one helping others fight their battles. Thank you for today! I really learned a lot 🙂
Amen, Sara! Thank you so much for sharing your words with us and for taking the time to stop by today!
Blessings, Marlene {LGG Encourager}
Ahhh you got it, girl!!!! We so need each other….we all have an IMPORTANT role to play…..we are not meant to do this alone…..and yes, we need to be actively serving the Body of Christ! That can be done in a number of ways….but as long as we’re breathing…..God has a purpose for our lives and we can make a difference for the Kingdom!!!!:)
i just wanted to share that alittle over a year ago I had gone through a really rough time and there have been three amazing woman who stuck with me, encouraged me, pointed me to the Word of God, prayed with me and sometimes just held my hand while I cried and I am so thankful for the part they each played. But it was during this time that God began showing me he important of building relationships with other woman. Before this I spent time with woman but kinda had a wall there and I would only take the relationships so far and then I began to see how much we need each other. I began seeking to build relationships with woman in my church and then I came to LGG. I am so thankful for these groups it has opened up opportunities for me to build relationships with woman all over. It’s so amazing seeing each of us bond, pray for each other and grow together. Knowing there is a group of woman who are committed to each other gives you such a sense of real care and concern. When things go on I can’t wait to share with the ladies in my group and even when it comes to needing prayer in a tough situation I turn to them. I’m very thankful for all the ladies in my life.
Shiela,
Thanks for sharing your story! It’s a blessing to be in community, and your story encourages us to “put ourselves out there” and not be scared to extend the hand of friendship to others. Sometimes, we make it harder than it is — rather than “over think” it, we just need to jump in to community and see how God will bless that and knit our hearts together.
Blessings,
Lyli
LGG Encourager
Sheila- and you my sweet friend, have been a huge blessing out our LGG community! I have seen you in our leaders group love on the other women, share a word of encouragement….thank you for how you have given back to us! We so appreciate you and are thankful for you!:)
Oh Angela,
The timing (God’s of course) of todays devotional couldn’t be more perfect. And the challenge to reach out to the “Moses” of our lives, brought me to tears.
Just yesterday, our church announced that our Senior Pastor and his wife were leaving our church. They had really turned around a church that was “in the wilderness” for some time, and I bonded with the Pastor’s Wife. The Lord used her to help me through some of the most difficult times in my life over the past 3 years. And I wept at finding out that they were abruptly leaving. While the “service” was still going on, I texted her to let her know how much she means to me. How thankful I am that God used her to not only draw me closer to Him, but to open my heart (and my home) to other women. I now have a Womens Bible study at my house on Saturday mornings, with the most amazing, beautiful, strong and encouraging women. I had walls up all my life. And never let anyone get too close. It is truly God’s anointing that these women are in my life and in my home! And now, we are bringing our families together, to be in the Word of God on Friday nights! Amen! Glory to God! And thank you Lord, for a Pastor’s Wife for prayed this very thing for me, and encouraged me to take the next steps.
Thank you LGG also. Your studies have been instrumental in opening up that channel of community for me, and so many others.
I pray God’s blessings on all of you who work tirelessly for this ministry (from the contributors, to the translators, to the enrollers, to the encouragers!)
Netty,
Thank YOU for being here and sharing your story and heart with us. Praise the Lord for your Pastor’s wife and how He worked through her in your life. Love!!! So awesome you have Bible study in your home on Saturday mornings, I love how God works! All the Glory to God, indeed!!! Thank you for your prayers for the team of women that devote their time to this ministry.
Blessings,
Martha, LGG Encourager
Ohhh Netty! Always a blessing to hear from you! Thank you so much for sharing your story with us….I just love hearing about how God has worked in your life through your pastor’s wife! And how sweet of you to already reach out to her and let her know! Sometimes that’s all we need is just to know that what God is doing through our lives truly is making a difference. 🙂 I’m sure your text meant the world to her!:)
And yes….thank you for thanking all our teams of women who work so hard behind the scenes and love you all so dearly!!!! We are so so so blessed to have each and everyone of them volunteering their time to help love and encourage women to be in God’s Word!!! 🙂
thank you so much for your words. when i look back, i am very thankful for all the women who attended me. i feel connected with them over all the years, also when some of them are fare away. in the different periods of life god placed someone beside me. a big present. thank you for remember me! and i have to think of one 77 years old woman who touched my heart when i was 16 years old and it is time to write a letter to her!
thank you for lgg, thank you for this study! i feel blessed to be a part of the community although i live far away at the baltic sea in europe!
Ohhh thank you so much, Kerstin, for sharing your story with us! Love how God places just the right people at the right time in our lives!!! 🙂 Thank you for joining us and all the way from Europe!!!! How cool is that!!!:)