This week here at LoveGodGreatly, we are having a special time of sharing how God has been working through our study in our LGG community groups! It’s going to be a fun filled week of celebration and we can’t wait to share all our stories with you!
_____________________________________________________
We need others.
We need others. We do. Sometimes we think we are better by ourselves, but in these past seven weeks God’s Word has been showing us that He made us to live in community with others, to share life with other people.
I love the way women at LGG Spanish have displayed our need for others during this study. Here there a few pictures and testimonies:
Group “A los pies del Maestro” in Dominican Republic.
Group from Venta Grande, Mexico
I could tell you beautiful stories of women being encouraged by other women, of women praying for women, of women helping women…
But today I want to share with you the story of Juan.
Juan is a part of a whatsapp group in Barcelona Spain. Now, how can this be possible if our studies are made for women? This wonderful group was made of only women until one of them passed away in October 2014. She was Juan´s wife. Juan knew how important her LGG group had been for his wife during the months she was sick, how they prayed for her, how they supported her…how they loved her in every way they could.
And Juan asked to join the group instead of his wife. These women have been supporting him since then. They have helped him to go on. Some days ago the group gathered together to share dinner and celebrate their fellowship.
1 John 3:18 encourages us to love “in deed and in truth”. We are made to demonstrate our love in actions, not no merely talk about love.
We are made for deeds, not intentions; for facts, not ideas; We are made to display practical love.
1John 3:17 – But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
I know that God has spoken to your heart during this study. Maybe He has spoken to you in regards of your relationship with your family, with your church, with the unsaved. Maybe He has shown you new ways of stepping out of your comfort zone and reach others. Maybe He has asked you to welcome others in your life.
Whatever the way He has spoken to your heart, take action. Open your heart. Share. Live in true fellowship with others.
We can love because God loved us first. He demonstrated His love by sending Jesus Christ to die for us and to give us eternal life. How are you going to love others “in deed and in truth”?
Content in His service,
Edurne
AmaaDiosGrandemente.com
Necesitamos a otros
——————————————————————————————-
Necesitamos a otros. De verdad. A veces pensamos que estaríamos mejor solas, pero en estas semanas la Palabra de Dios nos ha mostrado que Él nos creó para vivir en comunidad con otros, para compartir nuestra vida con otras personas.
Me encanta la manera en la que las mujeres de ADG han mostrado nuestra necesidad de otros en este estudio. Aquí te dejo algunas fotos y testimonios:
Grupo “A los pies del Maestro” en República Dominicana
Grupo en Venta Grande, México
Podría contarte historias hermosas de mujeres siendo animadas por otras, de mujeres orando por otras, de mujeres ayudando a otras.
Pero hoy quiero compartir contigo la historia de Juan.
Juan es parte de uno de nuestros grupos de whatsapp en Barcelona, España. Seguro que te preguntas ¿Cómo es esto posible si nuestros grupos son para mujeres? Este hermoso grupo estaba formado solo por mujeres hasta que una de ellas falleció en octubre de 2014. Era la esposa de Juan. Juan sabía lo importante que el grupo de ADG había sido para su mujer, cómo oraban por ella, cómo la apoyaban…como la amaban de todas las formas posibles.
Y Juan pidió unirse al grupo y tomar el lugar de su esposa. Estas mujeres lo han acogido en su grupo desde entonces y lo han ayudado a seguir adelante. Hace unos días, se reunieron para compartir una cena y celebrar su hermosa relación.
1 Juan 3:18 nos anima a amar “de hecho y en verdad”. Hemos sido creadas para demostrar nuestro amor con nuestras acciones, no solo con nuestras palabras.
Hemos sido creadas para acciones, no intenciones; para hechos, no ideas; hemos sido creadas para demostrar amor de manera práctica.
1Juan 3:17 – Pero el que tiene bienes de este mundo y ve a su hermano tener necesidad, y cierra contra él su corazón, ¿cómo mora el amor de Dios en él?
Sé que Dios ha hablado a tu corazón durante nuestro estudio. Quizás te ha hablado sobre tu relación con tu familia, con tu iglesia, con las personas inconversas con las que convives. Quizás te ha mostrado nuevas formas de salir de tu zona de comodidad y alcanzar a otros. Quizás te ha pedido que des la bienvenida a tu vida a otras personas.
De cualquier forma que Él haya hablado a tu corazón, pasa a la acción. Abre tu corazón. Comparte. Vive en verdadera communion con otros.
Podemos amar porque Dios nos amó primero. Él demostró Su amor al enviar a Jesucristo a morir por nosotras y darnos vida eterna. ¿De qué manera vas tú a amar a otros “de hecho y en verdad”?
Contenta en Su servicio,
Edurne
AmaaDiosGrandemente.com
Week 8 Memory Verse
Week 8 Reading Plan
I have been blessed by any study I’ve done with this community. It has felt so good to feel like others are desiring what you desire, to grow closer to God. We have recently went through a hurt that pertains to our previous church. So right now, we go nowhere. It’s a little scary to think of opening up to others again so soon. We desire fellowship with a local body, but there is still some hesitance. Prayers would be appreciated that we would heal and go where God wants us.
Thanks for all y’all do! It’s amazing to gather each day with ladies from all over and study God’s Word!
Heather,
I am so sorry that you’ve had this experience. Praying for your family this morning — that God would bring healing and restoration and that He would give you courage to step into community again soon. Christ Himself felt the sting of broken relationships and betrayal, but He continued to press in and love well. He understands your hurt. Offer your sorrow up to Him and ask Him to help you to walk forward in faith.
Blessings,
Lyli
LGG Encourager
Heather, I agree! It’s such a blessing to be a part of a community with such amazing women after His heart! Sweet friend, I’ve been through a church split too. It was difficult and scary. It’s hard for us to open up to people, and for us while finding a new church wasn’t terribly hard – it has been hard to open our hearts to new people. Praying for you friend! The Lord will hold you through this new season, and always.
Blessings, Marlene {LGG Encoruager}
Is there a challenge this week?
Dede,
This entire week is “challenge week” where we ask you to think about how to apply the study in practical ways in your life. At the start of the study, we asked for members and facilitators to share how God is working in their lives/groups through Love God Greatly. We’ve had women sending in their stories for the past seven weeks, and we are sharing stories/testimonies this week to provide some inspiration.
Blessings,
Lyli
LGG Encourager
I enjoyed every week. Early this year, our church has began to move towards becoming a Missional Community church and formed Missional Community groups (like small groups) It was perfect timing for me and a few women at our church to go through this study. Every week was a stepping stepping stone on the church’s direction. It is a lifestyle process that God has been instilling in our hearts. Some people has the knack for it and others has to begin filtering out the old life-style we have always lived and funnel in God’s life-style to accomplish His purpose in and through us.
That´s awesome Lani! Thank you for sharing that. For some people it will be a longer process, but there is no greater joy than living God´s perfect will for our lives. I am sure that He will make it work for your chuch 🙂
Oh Edurne, I LOVED this post!!!! Just seeing these women together and hearing how they care for one another – ah, it brought tears to my eyes! Your words have spurred me on with your call to action… oh, that we would now LIVE this!! Thank you, my friend, for loving and leading by example. So very excited to see God working through LGG Spanish!!!!
So much love for you,
Whitney
Hey! does anyone know if the group in Spain is still active?