Beloved Friend,
It has always been a privilege to do life with you, sharing all the ways God has shown Himself loving and sovereign. So I continue to ask for your prayers as God leads me into the next part of my life and so graciously includes me in His plan to glorify Himself. I just recently graduated from UNT in May 2009 and was faced with the question over and over again of what I wanted to come next. Maybe you can sympathize with the fear of that question, always drawing a confusing clutter of maybe’s and yet no answer. God really just led me to the understanding that my heart’s desire is to know Him deeply before I dive into my own world of ideas on how life should turn out. To grow deeper in knowledge and understanding of the truth of the gospel, of who God is, of who I am in Christ, and how to live that out well. Amidst all this prayer, God faithfully led me to a perfect place to do all that. I will be a part of the Denton Bible Women’s Program for the next 9 months (August 2009-May 2010). It is a discipleship program that will bless me with the opportunity of knowing God more through the study of scripture as well as being guided by wise men and women of God. I will walk closely with a small group of women as we all learn how God has created us to glorify Him. My hope is to find growth, not in knowledge alone, but in the ability to know the character of God and have it effect the way that I live and breath; seeking the direction that God wants me to walk in. I’m so excited to be a part of this program! As I walk through it I dearly want you to walk through it alongside me in your support. Your prayers for my time spent here would be so dear to me. Here are some specific ways you could be praying:
- Pray that God will prepare my mind and heart to receive and retain all that He will place before me. That He would be faithful to mature a heart in so much need of wisdom and grace. That I would listen, believe, and understand the majesty of a God so loving.
- Pray that the truth I learn will transform my heart and the way that I live, so that I might chase after His righteousness. That it will continually challenge my life and reveal those parts of me that I need to lay before the cross.
- Pray for the 15 ladies I will be walking alongside. That God would dig into their hearts and blow up their understanding of who He is to them. (as well as grace and patience to walk alongside myself!!!)
- Pray for the men and women who will be walking us through this program. A few are Jean Klughart, Anne Little, and Tommy Nelson. God has gifted us with great leadership and caring mentors, pray with me that they find strength and encouragement as they lead and teach us.
- Pray that our goal will continually be to know and glorify God all the more.
- Pray that God will begin to cultivate his direction for me as I go forward from this program.
Among other things, the program also requires a financial commitment for the books, retreats and facilities. Although, Denton Bible has really been gracious to reduce the cost as much as possible, so thankfully. If you would like to support me financially through this process you are able to be tax exempt. Checks should be made out to: Denton Bible Church and in the memo write: Women’s Discipleship Program 8155-01. Please send your checks to myself at: 305 Fry St., Denton, TX 76201.
Once again, I greatly appreciate you joining me during this time in my life through prayer and support. If you want to follow me on my blog and read what God is doing feel free: LydiaRuth.blogspot.com . Or better yet come visit or call or e-mail, I’ll still be in Denton!
I love you dearly,
Lydia Apple
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ- to the glory and praise of God.” -Philippians 1:9-11
