There’s a new house going up at the end of my street. New houses are built all the time in this evolving college town, but this particular lot of land tells quite the story…
I’ll never forget the night when neighbors lined the streets, literally offering the shoes off of their feet for a couple who had just lost everything. Lightning crashed and in an instant, their house went up in flames. Every last bit of it. Years of investment and priceless memories gone… just like that.
The tragedy rattled our family and sweet little neighborhood. Things we’d spent years acquiring took on a more temporary meaning, and relationships grew out of a greater appreciation for life and what really matters.
An empty lot rebuilds the same week the stock market takes a significant plunge, and I’m reminded once again that all of this stuff of earth is so very, very temporary. Jesus in his wisdom and goodness has a better way…
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ~ Matthew 6:19-21
Investing in what really matters
Here at Love God Greatly, investing in what really matters has always been the driving force of what we do. But this September, we’re taking it to the next level.
Twenty crazy passionate women are stepping out in faith, hopping on airplanes all across the globe and we’re making our way to Angela’s home in Dallas for a week-long international training intensive.
We’ll eat, sleep, and share bathrooms together. It might even get downright cozy. Heh. But we’re not traveling from eleven different nations just because it’s the cool thing to do.
We’re women on a mission to reach the world.
We’ve been doing this ministry gig for a while now, and here’s what we know: Women are hungry for God’s Word, and they’re hungry for relationship.
They want real community that lasts even when stuff doesn’t.
They’re crying out for more – these women who are tired of the shallow and meaningless rat race of life.
They crave solid truth and hope they can hang their hats on in a world that is downward spiraling right before our very eyes.
Many of these women are from nations who don’t readily have access to Bible study resources in their own languages, so we’re gathering with our international translators for a time of intentional training. We’re keeping the main thing the main thing, and will spend time sharpening each other with the purpose of reaching even MORE women with the truth of God’s Word.
What we’ll do
Our week will be filled with encouragement, laughter, worship, and prayer. And my guess is we’ll even shed a few tears together. These women love Jesus, ya’ll. More than stuff. More than comfort. More than their name in lights. Time together with these sacrificial leaders will be such a gift!
Sally Clarkson will challenge us with Biblical principals from her recent book Own Your Life, plus she’ll share life-giving wisdom grown from her years of ministry experience.
Some training will be practical as we purpose to grow in things like international reach and technology skills. Some training will be inspirational – challenging each other to boldness and obedience in our calling to fulfill the Great Commission right where we live and beyond.
We’ll brainstorm and vision cast together as we strategize about the future, and we’ll get back on our knees multiple times throughout the week, begging God to lead us into a greater emptying of ourselves so that his name might be lifted higher.
We’ll worship with many of YOU at our Girls’ Night Out with Love God Greatly: a Praise & Prayer Concert! Seriously, I can’t think of a better way to spend a Friday night, so pull out all the stops and come hug our necks if you can!
And you guys, this is just scratching the surface of what we are believing God to do.
We’re investing in what really matters – not because it’s always easy, but because we’re living for more than just today.
By the grace of God, we’ll focus on building up people instead of buildings and stuff.
We’ll beg God to advance the gospel and not ourselves.
Because this world is just so, so temporary, and because Jesus is worth it.
We covet your prayers for this once-in-a-lifetime event.
At His feet,
*LET’S TALK: How is God challenging YOU lately to invest in what really matters?
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Want to get involved on a practical level? Purchase our brand NEW Galatians Study Journal in expanded format! We’ve done all of the work for you, and all proceeds support our International Training Intensive!
Click here to purchase our Love God Greatly Galatians Study Journal TODAY:
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God has been challenging me to cultivate deeper relationships with a few women I know, to be a positive and encouraging voice in this negative world with face-to-face interaction, not just online or texting. After lots of prayer, God has laid it only heart to host a weekly in-home Bible Study with a small group of ladies. I’m so excited! Some of them have done LGG studies before and some have not. We have decided to create our own group for the next LGG study, and will communicate daily, but the highlight of our week will be coming together for prayer, communication, sharing, encouraging…building relationships, spending time together, focusing on God’s Word! I can’t wait until registration opens for the Galatians study!!!!
Ohhh Angela!!! We love hearing how God is ministering to you challenging you and stretching you. You will be so blessed coming together with other women and digging into the Word. Thank you for stepping out in obedience and leading other women to the Word. ~Sheila, LGG Encourager
Angela W, that sounds a lot like the group I had over the summer. It was so amazing! We texted daily, but then met on Saturday mornings for fellowship, prayer and sharing our SOAP’s. It was a huge blessing, and I pray now, that it will be a huge blessing to you and your women!
My heart is so full for you all right now! God is moving and you are definitely apart of that. Thank you great women of faith for stepping out and giving yourself to Jesus! I am so in love with His Word and you have been apart of that LGG. The Lord is with the week of the training intensive. He has this.
Miranda,
Thank you so much for your encouragement! These are exciting times for LGG and everyone involved in it. I pray this encouraging message prompts you to step out in faith in your home, your community, your church…wherever you feel God is urging you to pour out your gifts! we’ll be praying for you!
~Terria (LGG Encourager)
I recently started a Christian blog and attended P31’s She Speaks conference. I left changed – ready and willing to do whatever it is God wants me too. Now, I continue to pray and wait as I see positive changes happening all around me, especially with my immediate family. God is SO GOOD and I can’t wait to tell the world!
Jan,
Congratulations on your huge leap of faith…blogging the heart of Jesus for women who are hungry to know Him! Women WILL be changed through your step of obedience, because when women seek Jesus, we are found and fed and nurtured….and we thrive! We will be praying for you!
~Terria (LGG Encourager)
Love the verses you’ve mentioned in this blog, Whitney, and so excited for you and all of those participating in different translations of this upcoming study of ‘Galatians’ seems like fun! and at the same time, talking and exalting Jesus name in different languages are awesome. May our Almighty God be with you all and blessings.