Hello friends.

Last time I did an introductory, I was in a different vocation. I was a life coach. I wanted to share a bit about my journey as a life coach, what I learned while being a life coach, and why I’m no longer a life coach.

I was made to spread hope. Once I came to that realization, I searched for ways I could practically do that. Life coaching was suggested to me by multiple people I admire and trust, I came across an awesome certification program as I was finishing my two years at BSSM in the midst of the pandemic. As I started out, I was drawn to women, young women specifically who where still searching, unsure of their future and path, struggling with limiting beliefs and unable to see how they could make their dreams come true.

As I met with each woman, it became more and more clear, there are many names to describe what the need is: life coaching, teaching, mentoring, discipleship – I’m even reading a book right now called godmothers, in which Lisa Bevere that talks about this very thing.

Lisa says in her book:

“The godparent blessing confers fullness of life. This fullness empowers you to enjoy your life and relationships rather than imagine life is found in the collection of things. The blessing kisses our “little” and transforms it into “much”. Much joy. Much hope. Much faith and much love. It is more than an edit, it is an enrichment. Abundant life has always been far more than the abundance of things. (Eccles. 5:19-20)

Blessings are holy and cannot be corrupted because they come from to us from our Father. The blessing of God transforms all that is visible and tangible in our lives. Blessing are meant to be shared intergenerational. When we withhold what one generation was meant to impart to the other, there is loss on both sides. We are blessed to be a blessing to one another. And here is the beautiful truth: you can never lose what you have truly given.”

I’ve decided to coin the term Feminine Discipleship. We need one another, society pits us against each other, the temptation for competition and comparison is the traps that far too easily ensnares us. We use the excuse that we are in different seasons of life or whatever the excuse is, it’s a poor one.

Women, we need each other. Single women, married women, moms, grandma’s, daughters, sisters, young, old. We need each other. We need to hear each others stories. We need to learn and grow from one another experiences.

In the process, I wrote a book. It was so therapeutic, it did well and made me happy. So now, I’m a writer. I write with the intention of spreading hope through my writing. I also continue to disciple women and be discipled by women.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

When I talk to women, there are usually two categories I hear. Women who discount themselves from discipling others and women who don’t think they need to be discipled. Let me tell you now, both are wrong. Let me say it again, we need each other. No one has arrived, no one is beyond being discipled and everyone has something to offer, period.

In this type of relationship, you lay it all on the line with no expectation of anything in return. Discipleship is seeking to benefit the other person above ourselves and helping them grow in the Lord. 

Discipleship invites someone else into your life and says, “follow me as I follow Christ.”

Paul says it best, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

When it comes to discipleship we must throw everything we thought we knew about relationships to the side and learn how to create those relationships God’s way. This relationship is open and honest and without expectations. 

Discipleship is less take and more give. The purpose is to have relationships with other women in your life who need the truth of the gospel in front of them. Sometimes it means loving someone else right where they are, even if it is hard and messy. It can look like seeing a need and meeting the need of others when you can. Being a listening ear and an offerer of biblical advice. It can even be as simple as sharing coffee together and talking about our days.

Being women who make disciples, we must work to cultivate relationships, and there are only a few ways we can authentically do that. We have to be willing to be vulnerable with others, we have to be honest about where we, ourselves, are spiritually, and we have to be willing to invite people into the process of what it looks like to become more like Christ. 

Whether disciple-making is new to you or you have done this well for a long time, there are simple places to start to be a great disciple-maker. Remember to be yourself, be honest, and always go back to the Word.

I encourage you, as a first step to pray and ask God to show you one person you can start with. Ask Him for a name, pray about the person He puts on your heart. Ask God for a door of opportunity to meet with the person He put on your heart. He will do it.

We don’t have to make discipleship relationships complicated, they can be simple and life-changing.

Discipleship is a command from Christ himself. We get to enjoy it and be a part of God’s plan as believers.

We get to invite other women into our lives and our walk with Christ with the purpose of loving them and showing them how to walk with Christ. We may not get it all right, but the first step is the best step in the journey of being women who make disciples.

Dear Jesus, thank You that you’ve given us the gift of community. Today, help us see others through your eyes. Show us those you’ve placed in our lives to impact and to be impacted by. May we find our courage to love one another in a way that glorifies you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Email me at Kathy.branning@gmail.com how I can pray over you!