Vir die afgelope agt weke, het ons gelees, “soaped”, en “Gemaak vir Verhoudings” bespreek. Nou wil ons graag oor ons Lief God Grootlik gemeenskap van vroue deel! Ons skakel met ons Here en met mekaar deur die gebruik van ons selfone en rekenaars.
Die meerderheid van die span agter Lief God Grootliks het nog nooit in persoon ontmoet nie. Ons kommunikeer met mekaar via Skype, telefoon, e-pos, sms-boodskappe en privaat boodskappe. Elkeen van ons gebruik die gawes wat God aan ons gegee het om te werk as ‘n span om die Lief God Grootliks Bybelstudies te bring aan vroue in 70+ lande. Ons gemeenskap bestaan uit vroue wat ‘n tiende van hul tyd en geskenke, so genadiglik gee. Ons het mekaar deur geweldige vreugde en hartseer swaarkry gesien. Ons het ‘n unieke band gevorm deurmiddel van aanlyn te verbind met mekaar!
“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!” ~ Angela Perritt
Vandag, wil ons graag ‘n paar stories en getuienisse van ons fasiliteerders deel …
“God is using Love God Greatly by allowing me to do what I feel God is calling me to do and that is minister to and lead other women to a closer relationship with God, and also building and growing my relationship with God.” Jennifer L.
“It has truly been one of the best studies. It has given me renewed enthusiasm for some of the things I used to do for outreach into the community and shown me how to share God’s love in so many additional ways. As our group shares I add things daily that would be so worthwhile as a way of showing the Love of God to our community.” Ellen B.
“Loving God Greatly in the Scottish Highlands! We are a group of 10 ladies from various church congregations in our area. We were brought together by our desire for more of God and at just the right time for each of us. We have laughed, cried, shared meals, prayed and supported each other. We have been greatly blessed by the studies, challenged by the daily messages and by the accountability of the group. This is our first study together, but are looking forward to the next one! Many thanks and love to you all out there who are our sisters in Christ.” Fiona T.
Fiona’s Group
“I have grown so much in my walk with the Lord during the LGG studies. The encouragement and accountability in my group is such a blessing to me. I am thankful for the leaders of LGG who are real and genuine, sharing their struggles along with us. I also now have a great friend and accountability partner I met through one of LGG’s leadership mentoring program sessions. We have been co-leading a group together for over a year and I am so thankful for her!” Jennifer T.
This isn’t so much a story but a beautiful picture of the international community a study like this provides. The 18 women in our group span 4 continents, 7 countries of residence (USA, Japan, Korea, China, Kenya, Indonesia, and Austria), and 9 time zones (hence, no group picture!) Many of us are serving in international Christian education, and for several of us LGG provides our only option for participation in group Bible study. We are able to share with and pray for one another confidentially and freely. On a personal note, I have lived in local Christian community with each of the ladies in our group at some point over the past 15 years, but only 2 of the members live in the same country as I do currently. Our group provides a way for many of us to reconnect on a deeply personal, spiritual level, while welcoming new friends in the Body of Christ. One of my group members posted this today. She (along with her husband and two girls) made 3 international moves (missions-related) over the past 4 years. ‘I want to praise God again for this entire study and all of you. I have felt my desire to more willingly and intentionally engage in my new community here in Indonesia increase over the last couple of weeks. Some would say that is just because I am getting used to things. I would say not! I would say God placed me in this LGG group to remind me, reteach me, and teach me new things about His desire for his children to be in community. He is so good. Thanks to each of you for your insights and encouragement…I love how members of my previous day to day communities (and their friends!) continue to be part of God’s plan and provision for my spiritual good now.'” Jeanelle F.
“We were a group of strangers. We all have special needs children. I am the redhead on the left. My current group secretary/unofficial co-facilitator is Stephanie, on the right. This pic (with my son photo-bombing) was taken in NC where I had stopped on a vacation trip, for the purpose of meeting her. This once stranger is now one of my dearest friends.” Karen A.
Karen and Stephanie
“One of my email groups has been together for over a year now. They are at different stages in their lives, ranging from newlyweds and young mothers, to grandmothers. For the first few months, they did really well as posting their SOAP each day and encouraging one another. Then during a “break” study, I started asking for prayer requests on Monday and challenging them to type out prayers for the needs of the group. Wow! what a difference! We have connected in amazing ways as issues like weight struggles, prodigal children, raising grandchildren, and being Godly wives started being shared. Now they share birthdays, adoption days, baptisms, inspections, and tax headaches like true “Sisters of the SOAP” (their nickname for the group). This week they have set a time to pray for the group’s husbands, children, and other needs at 6:45. That’s local time for the member and each chooses am or pm – because really, 6:45am in North Carolina is 3:45am in Washington state and 12:45am the next day in New Zealand.
“Here are some of the members thoughts about the group:
‘We each have different posts each day which highlights something God wants us to learn – some things hit us more than others – it sharpens us, encourages us, gets us off our backsides, keeps us in his Word.’
‘This is God at work. He knew we would lift each other up, He trusted us to let go of what we thought others might think of us in this group. He gave us the courage to share with people we didn’t even know. We are a community and we love each other and we look out for each other. We pray for each other. He knew that we needed to connect with others that share the same concerns. This is all God!!!! There is no way this just happened. There is no way this is a coincidence. This is God!!!'” Amy A.
“‘Woman of Faith – Builders of Community’ was the name our group selected for this study. Our group of ladies has been together since last Easter – at least 5 of us. Then about 10 more joined us last fall. We have formed great bonds of love and trust amongst ourselves. We’ve seen illnesses, job stress/loss, personal battles, and even miracles over our year together. In our prayer requests, we all grew to know this was a powerful God-filled place to ask to be remembered. If you asked, you knew that you would be prayed for until something happened. The government paperwork that had been stymied for months came through. The job that was in such discord became a place of peace and accomplishment. The illnesses were given a reprieve and hearts were mended from pain and doubt. Not once, not twice, but multiple times did we see God’s hand at work in our lives. We all knew, with no doubt, that we gathered in His name, thousands of miles apart, but as close as a whisper in prayer.
“This study brought a financial issue that touched our hearts – the need for extensive oral surgery for the teen daughter of a member. We read a mother’s hurting heart plea for comfort for her child. For wisdom to know what to do next when it appeared all options had been taken. But, out of faith, we just decided we had to do something. And so, we asked for $5.00 if possible and along with the request, another to share the email about Abbye’s need for the oral surgery to our own personal friends outside our study group. We prayed about it, we shared God’s love and our request, and we waited… expectantly. In less than 10 days, the full amount of $2400.00 had been received, and God even supplied more, as He always does! By now, Abbye has had her surgery and is doing much better. Her mother’s faith never wavered and neither did ours. God tells us to bring our concerns to him in prayer and faith. To wait patiently and to be expecting his response. He certainly brought to each of hearts and minds His living power to still work miracles in 2015! And through the studies, we have become the hands and feet of Christ. What a joy! The mailman may have brought the envelopes, but God himself moved the hearts and hands of each person who read our messages and responded. We shared with family, friends and then they in turn shared. Checks were from people known only to God. In summary, ours is but one of the many wonderful communities with LGG that God has blessed. Just had to share this awesome handiwork of God! All praise and glory to Him!” Sheila M.
Sheila’s Group –Paid Bill
“The Love God Greatly Bible study for women has helped me and encouraged me to study God’s Word in such a way that is easy, and amazing. I have been with them for a year, sprouting from a group member to facilitator. It has and still is an awesome way for women from around the world to learn about God and His word that is freely given to us. The free online materials, and easy study groups have helped me to have a daily accountability to study God’s word, and change habits, thoughts and actions. Through this ministry I have been able to grow into God’s love, His forgiveness, and seek His help on a daily basis. My faith has sprouted through answered prayers, His promises, and encouragement from others. In addition, through Love God Greatly, I have become a better wife, a better mom, and a better sister in Christ. Anything is possible through Jesus Christ, it’s an indescribable joy, peace, and patience in my life. Because now I know God’s got this!” Stephany C.
“This study has been such an inspiration! The ladies seem so excited about what they are learning, being real with how they have been in the past, and their need for real community in their lives. I believe this study has been God’s perfect timing to kick off the year and get everyone’s focus on what is truly His heart… people. This world screams “everyone for themselves,” which has put people in “survival mode,” but this study has slowed us down, and made us see the Father’s heart for us – it was never one against the other but together, in unity, one body – loving one another as He has also loved us. This study is truly empowering us all to take what we learn and go out and reach people, connect, build relationship and see a community develop. Life isn’t about what we can get but what we can give… Jesus came for people and this life is about community. Thank you LGG for this eye opening study! God bless you all!” Sheila M.
Sheila and Keri
“The LGG study has made a huge impact on my life, helped me stay focused on God during hard times, and helped push me out of my comfort zone. We were homeless in November 2013 and the LGG study sure kept me focused when we were going through the hardest time we have ever faced. I logged in regularly and still kept up with the study amidst our tough time; I even included my family in the study. Also, the LGG study helped push me out of my comfort zone and I am now leading a group of teens through these studies, including my kids as well. I absolutely love these studies, and am so grateful for them! I have also been able to interact with other women through these studies and that is awesome because I lost a lot of friends when I quit drinking, etc, and became a Christian. Thanks again for all you do, and God bless you all!” Jaime M.
“This is a picture of me (and my daughter) running with a group member, Ruth. Last year, I introduced her to the Intentionally Focused study. When she went to register she asked about joining a group, and that’s how our group started. Six studies later, and more than a dozen ladies are getting into His word daily!” Brandi C.
Brandi and Ruth
“We scheduled a Girl’s Day Out, getting tickets for a matinee theater production in the city (an hour away). Two of us work and are full time caregivers for our moms with dementia. During the performance received a call that her mom had taken the car keys and driven off. Although her daughter was orchestrating things at home, we all walked out, two minutes before the curtain call, and headed back. Thankfully, God brought her back home safely. We laughed on the way home that it really does take a village, whether you’re raising kids or your parents! We are also planning what we’re calling Homemade Community. A gathering to invite friends, to share their talents and make homemade items and gifts.” Barbara HS
“Thank you for your awesome Bible Studies and the online tool! I am a pastor’s wife, home school mom, women’s ministry leader and caretaker of my mom (who lives with us while battling pancreatic cancer.) Love God Greatly has been a great blessing to the women in our church to help us stay connected during this season in our church when we are not meeting face to face in Women’s Bible Study. The group has allowed us to stay connected in the Word and also in sharing our lives and encouraging one another! Thank you! I feel like I know each one of you, you are precious! Thank you for taking the time to pour into the lives of women, it is greatly making a difference! I also pray for your families!” Heather R.
“My real life LGG group from my church! We gathered for brunch at my house last Saturday. Oh, how I love these girls and the accountability and pure joy they bring to my life!” Whitney Cain Daugherty
Whitney’s Group
This is my personal LGG group! We’ve been together since our oldest were babies! I have been so blessed to have these sweet friends in my life! We have weathered many storms of life together from the loss of parents, cancer and divorce. I love doing life with them and am so thankful for the community God has given to me! We are not meant to do life alone….and I’m forever thankful!
Angela’s Group
