The Heart of Titus 2

Originally posted September 11, 2011

“Have you ever been discipled?” my friend asked me some 12 years ago.

Honestly, I did not even really know what that meant. “Discipled?” I’ve been in the church since before I was born and received Christ as my Savior when I was about 10 years old, but I had never heard of “discipling someone”. To be honest, I felt a bit embarrassed that I had never heard of this before, but God had a plan even then for what you are about to read.

So what is this exactly? Well, the best way I know to explain it is that it’s a friendship similar to the friendship Jesus had with His disciples….thus the name. There is usually one person who may be further along in their walk with Christ who sort of leads the other person(s) in various ways to grow in their own spiritual walk. They just have a friendship where they intentionally use their time together to grow closer to Christ.

That’s the heart of Titus 2:4 Women! It’s a place where ladies of all walks and seasons can come every week. Everyone has experiences that can help others grow.  Everyone can encourage someone else….with a hug, a note, scripture or a kind word. We laugh together; we cry together; but above all else we grow closer to God and one another. This isn’t a class about homework or a particular study. This is a class about relationship! Primarily it’s about growing our relationship with Christ and secondly growing our relationships with one another.

The verses around Titus 2:4 speak about investing in the lives of others by example and teaching so that we may live Godly lives. This is the core of discipleship.

My heart’s desire for this class is that God would allow one-on-one discipling relationships to form within the class so that ladies are meeting outside of class to grow together and encourage one another. We live such fast-paced lives taking some time to “be discipled” or “to disciple” may not be familiar to us but it is the most basic command that Jesus left with us…….”go make disciples”(Matt 28:19).

Just yesterday, I had a conversation with that same friend who said, “You know when we started a discipling relationship some 10 years ago, I had no idea what God would do with your life, but it is amazing to see that the Holy Spirit is the one discipling and leading you now and that’s always the goal”. I can honestly say this relationship has been the catalyst for real spiritual change in my life. In a sense, it is what awakened me to the excitement and thrill of my own relationship with Christ.

So I ask you friend, “have you ever been discipled?” or “who are you discipling?”

We welcome you to Titus 2:4 Women where we are learning and growing together!

Blessings,

Amy

Welcome! Come on in!

(originally posted August 29, 2011)

I sat in church a few weeks ago looking across the sea of faces in the congregation around me. A thrill ran down my spine as I took a minute to really appreciate what a blessing God has given us with the women in our church.

Oh, what a variety He has created among us! Some of us have logged a few more years of experience than others. Every chapter of womanhood was represented from those who are on chapter 1 and may be unmarried and starting a career to those young wives raising families (or maybe not), to women experiencing empty nests or the joys of being a grandmother. There are women who do or do not have careers, do or do not have families, have lived here for years or are new to the area. Some are extroverts and some introverts, each are talented in different areas, and each has their own fears and temptations, joys and blessings.

BUT we all have some very important things in common - GOD LOVES EACH ONE OF US - so much that He sent His one and only very precious Son to die a very brutal and horrible death on the cross for each and every one of us. For, you see, we all have that in common, too - we are all sinners and needed Him to pay that price for our sins so we can have a daily relationship with Jesus. He desires to have that relationship with YOU! If you have any questions about this and want to talk to someone about it, you can email titus2women@valleydale.org, and we will be happy to discuss it with you!

Not only does God love us, not only did He send His Son for us, but He has blessed us with each other. Titus 2:4 says, "so that they (the older women) may encourage (train) the younger women to love their husbands and to love their children." (NASB) Wow! He knows our needs, and He has blessed us with Godly women who can walk with us through every chapter, teaching, learning, growing, encouraging, interceding, and loving us ... every step of the way through every age and every stage!

That is what the Women's Ministry of Valleydale is all about - and this blog is just an extension of that ministry. It is our prayer that you will be fed and informed, encouraged and loved, welcomed and embraced through this arm of this ministry. And remember, YOU ARE a part of the BLESSING of Titus 2:4 Women God has gifted us with here at Valleydale. We want to hear from you. Feel free to comment on any blog you read here  or email us at titus2women@valleydale.org.

Check in often to see what is new.  There will be blogs about current Bible Studies, Women's Ministry activities - well, you'll just have to stay tuned to see where God leads us!

I look forward to getting to know all of you... both here on this blog and in person at the Women's Ministry events. I am excited about what wonderful things we are about to experience from God's blessing that is the Titus 2:4 Women of Valleydale!

God is soooo Good!

Robin Kelley