It's An Investment

My guest this week is Melissa Longval. She writes transparently on her blog called, Taste and See That the Lord is Good. 

Her words to us are both encouraging and a challenge. Because investing in lives is what Jesus did...what He calls us to do. Click to Tweet

Welcome, Melissa!!

As I am now in my forties, hindsight is long and indeed useful for showing me how the Lord has been with me all my life. Circumstances, choices, and “coincidences” reveal His love, care, and provision over and over again. But none more than the godly people He has placed in my life to mentor, invest, and guide me in His ways.

These people loved the Lord and saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself. They saw value where I saw deficiency. They saw potential, gifting, and talent where I saw average, plain, and ordinary. These people didn’t view me higher than anyone else, but because of their love for the Lord, they valued me. Because of the wisdom of the Lord, they were willing to foster the potential they saw to help bolster my faith.

With encouraging words, quality time, and listening ears, these people…these precious gifts instilled in me a desire to know their God…this Jesus that they loved so much. Why would they care for me? What made them invest in me?

Feel free to share this image by Melissa Longval

Friends, never underestimate the power of a kind word or gesture! Click to Tweet

Something small and maybe insignificant to you, can literally change the course of someone’s life. A small, “how’ve ya been?” and then really listening. Truly wanting to spend time with another person can be such a gift.

We see this with Paul and Timothy. As Paul writes his second letter to Timothy from prison (some experts say this was his last letter), we catch an intimate glimpse into how much time Paul has invested in Timothy.

"You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,  persecutions, sufferings…" 2 Timothy 3:10-11

We are all busy. I get it…truly. But busyness in NOT godliness. I feel so strongly about being intentional with investing in others. God brings people into our lives every day. Now, with internet, we have more exposure to people than ever before. How are we loving other people? Are we investing? Are we willing to spend time with people? Can we teach and encourage?

The people the Lord used to mentor me were not scholars, counselors, or professionals, but ordinary individuals willing to let Jesus love me through them. 

Are you willing?


Melissa

Hello! My name is Melissa Longval from New Hampshire. I am married to my childhood sweetheart. We have a two children, a daughter and son, who make us laugh and help us grow in the Lord every day. Keith and I are blessed to do ministry together.

The Lord had impressed upon my heart a desire to share my life with others. So I have very recently started my blog. “Taste and See that the Lord is Good” at www.melissalongval.wordpress.com . We all have hardship, but our Lord and Savior is good and kind through all of life’s messes.  My heart’s desire and prayer is that through the stories of my life, you would see the goodness and kindness of Jesus in your own.

Check out this mentoring resource just published in April:

Images courtesy of Morguefile.com unless otherwise noted.

Need Encouragement as a MOM?

Stephanie Shott encourages moms through her ministry called, The M.O.M. Initiative. I remember being a mom of young children--the exhaustion--feelings of inadequacy--and the desire to be the best mom I could be. Stephanie shares about an event coming up next summer you won't want to miss...
Enter the drawing for a  free ticket to this upcoming conference--just leave a comment for Stephanie and your desire to attend. Also, be sure to get your free resources from The M.O.M. Initiative.

 

The M.O.M. Initiative...because we are BETTER TOGETHER

I understand how hard it is to be a teen mom and a single mom who is struggling to be all and do all - because I was one. 

Each day held its own basket full of burdens for a girl who wore too many hats and didn’t realize the significance of her role as a mother. I was a single mom without Christ, without a clue, and without a mentor. 

As the years passed, I married, and not long after that I became a Christian.  

Everything changed except that I still didn’t have a mentor and I barely had a clue. 

That was twenty-five years ago and as I reflect back on the seasons of my life, I can’t help but wonder where all the mentors were when I was raising my children. I remember looking up to several women in the church but was somehow unable to wiggle my way under their wing. 

I couldn’t help but wonder where all the mentors were. Where were those women who were willing to step into their Titus 2 shoes and pour their lives into other women? 

After becoming a ministry leader I discovered that mentoring tends to intimidate even the most courageous women. They wonder what they’ll talk about, what they’ll do. 

Many mentors lack the confidence to enter into a mentor/mentee relationship because they lack the resources and support. 

In January of last year, I started The M.O.M. Initiative to change all that.  

The M.O.M. Initiative is dedicated to help the body of Christ make mentoring missional...to not only mentor moms within the four walls of the church, but to reach out in the community and mentor moms in crisis pregnancy centers, homeless shelters, prisons, juvenile shelters, low income apartments and wherever young moms can be found. 

The ministry has snowballed and women are coming out of the woodwork to change their communities and this culture through the power of mentoring. 

I’m super excited to share with you about a conference coming to the Southeast for MOMS, MENTORS, and MINISTRY LEADERS!  

It’s BETTER TOGETHER, a conference by The M.O.M. Initiative and it’s for women of ALL ages and in ALL seasons! 

It’s a conference for you...and for those you minister to!

With powerful keynotes from moms and ministry leaders just like you, and over 40 breakout sessions that are taught by experienced leaders and include a wide range of topics such as:

  When Motherhood Should Come with a Training Manual

  You Can’t Be 1/2 a Mom (for moms in blended families)

  Social Media Wise Parents

  Bully Proof

  Balancing Life and Ministry

  Fight for Your Family

  The Making of a Mom

  Lord, Help My Marriage

  Reaching the Hard to Reach Child

And MANY MORE BREAKOUTS that will meet you right where you are! 

To register CLICK HERE Save $10 if you register before December 1st. 

Seating is limited so you will want to get your tickets now and invite your friends! 

You’ll be empowered, encouraged, refreshed and refueled...ready to fulfill your God-given calling with the confidence of knowing you don’t have to take your mom journey alone. 

Don’t miss THE Southeast’s MOM conference of the year, BETTER TOGETHER by The M.O.M. Initiative... 

Because we are ALL better together!

 

Thanks, Stephanie for sharing this wonderful ministry and upcoming conference with us. Remember readers, be sure to leave a comment, and include your desire to be entered to win a free ticket to the MOM conference.
 

Are you part of a mentoring relationship? I would love to hear how you are being encouraged to become all that God wants you to be.

 

                                          Jeanne

Free Resources for Moms