We live in such a fast-paced world! Every day we make countless choices of how we use our time. Often, we can feel these choices are made for us and that we don’t have time to think or choose. We can feel we are a “jack of all trades but the master of none.” Two women who were dear to Jesus were Martha and Mary, Lazarus’ sisters. In a way they represent most women – they too, had many things facing them. Martha worried and got upset over those things, but Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet to learn from him (Luke 10:38-42). Jesus said, “Mary has chosen what is better” (Luke 10:42). It is our choice to be constant learners – first, learning from Jesus and his word and then learning from each other as we help each other become more like Jesus.
As we continually learn, we are to share and teach the things that we learn. Titus 2:3-5 gives specific direction for the older women to teach and train the younger women, but as we all grow in our “one another” relationships we will all be both learners and teachers.
Giving all we have and doing what we can calls for a sensitivity to God’s Word and to His direction. Jesus was a learner (Is. 50:4-5) as well as a teacher. He learned obedience (Heb.5:8), he asked questions (Lk. 2:46), and was careful to say what God taught him to say (Jn. 12:49). We, as women, all need to take responsibility for ourselves to learn how to grow as women of God. It takes effort to learn and to grow.
Philippians 2:12: Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
1 Peter 2:2: Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation
1 Timothy 4:7: Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
The Women’s Service Committee and leaders in God’s Kingdom pray continually for every sister around the world to be a strong, vibrant woman of God. We struggle and wrestle with ideas and ways to help as many women as possible know God and grow in His grace. Yet we realize many times that our efforts don’t often keep up with the needs of the women we serve.
With God’s help and a renewed focus on Titus 2, we can find those ways to help more and more women stand strong in the Lord. However, we can’t do it alone; we need every sister to do her part. As leaders, we want to be more united and to train women in everything God wants women to be so that every woman can turn around and train other women. That is God’s plan and it works. We are to be trained and to train.
A subcommittee of our service team created a valuable website on Disciples Today. This website offers many articles, studies, and lessons to help us grow in God’s word and in understanding our role as Godly wives and mothers, as single women; as grandmothers, or as teens. Other lessons are designed to help us stay focused on God when our spouse is not, or to help inspire us to find our value as older women, young mothers, young professionals, or students.
The site also contains inspiring stories of women in our fellowship who are demonstrating faith in challenging circumstances. It also references books and other websites that can help you grow in your walk with God. In the future we desire to provide links to classes we see needed for every woman of God and to also highlight more ways you can serve in God’s kingdom.
We can and should use the technology of the world to communicate God’s will and love. We need the help of those of you who have skills and knowledge in these areas. We will be soliciting more ideas, workshops, classes, lessons, etc., to share on our women’s website in a more concerted way. Our unity will enable us to strengthen more women more quickly.
On a local level we need older women to train the younger women. If we don’t, the world will. We must work together and initiate from both sides. God has structured His church so that we can train each other.
Our vision for the future is to more strategically build training for women into our ministries and to build a curriculum for women that meets her needs in the stage of life she is in, and for where she may be in the future. We all want to become more like Jesus, but we need each other to accomplish this.
Our prayer, as the Women’s Service Committee, is that each women’s ministry, in each congregation, will bring glory to God and that each woman will be in a ministry that values them as God does. We want you to open your eyes and heart to the endless possibilities before you. We don’t know if you have a jar of perfume that cost a year’s wages, two copper coins, or something in-between. What we do know, with certainty, is that God knows! And he has given you what you have – your talents, gifts, and wisdom – to glorify Him. LET’S DO IT TOGETHER!
