Let me introduce you to my friend, Joanne Kraft. This is one woman who never ceases to amaze me. When I first met her at the Mount Hermon Writer’s Conference in 2009, she was already widely published in parenting magazines. At that time, she was working on her first book—Just Too Busy: Taking a Radical Sabbatical. I think she’d be okay with me admitting that the title and cover still make her cringe. That’s what happens when a publisher doesn’t allow the author veto privileges. Since then, she’s had a second parenting book published, The Mean Mom’s Guide to Raising Great Kids, available at Amazon, Focus on the Family, and Barnes & Noble. I only wish she’d written her books sooner—like twenty years sooner. My children would have benefited from her parenting wisdom! For you parents of teens out there, you’ll want to read her article, Turning 18—How to Know When Your Child is REALLY an adult.
Joanne has been very influential in my life. She introduced me to my first critique group, Inspire Christian Writers, encouraged me in my writing and became a life-long friend. Yes, 
my life isn’t over, but you know who those friends are. And it’s because of her and her husband’s gracious hospitality that my husband and I now live in Tennessee. But that’s a story for another day.
Joanne’s heart right now is discipleship—more specifically, helping women learn to disciple other women. She is a speaker, podcaster and is in the process of writing a Bible study all while parenting four kids. You see what I mean? Amazing! I’ve included her video on discipleship and a link to her website (below). Get to know this woman and she will be a blessing to you, too!
LIVE LIKE A DISCIPLEMAKER
Ally’s walk with the Lord was raw after going through a divorce and being “burned” by her church family. She was feeling alone, and Taylor was the one friend willing to make time for her.
After a few minutes Ally opened up. “I’m not going anymore. There’s no place for me there. Where does God say I have to attend church?”
Taylor listened as she poured her heart out.
She let her friend go on and on, and when Ally finally seemed out of words, Taylor spoke. After the long-winded diatribe, Taylor’s words were tender and kind. While she validated a handful of Ally’s hurt feelings, she spoke truth in love with a heap of grace that Ally hadn’t experienced in quite a while.
“Feelings are a gauge but never your guide, Ally. That’s God’s job. His word can show us how you can respond to your hurts.” When her friend was ready to listen, Taylor took the time to open her Bible and share where she had been encouraged when her feelings had been hurt.
After months of weekly time together, Ally was back in church, although still skeptical about relationships there. When feelings of being “not enough” crept in and made her want to run out the large oak doors and never return, she was reminded of Taylor’s assurance that church was a hospital “full of sin-sick people” and stayed planted in her seat.
It wasn’t long before Ally was back serving in ministry and spending her own intentional weekly time with a younger woman of faith.
This is discipleship—one person giving their time to help another trust and follow Jesus.
This is what restoration looks like, one person taking time to pour into another with grace and truth.
DISCIPLEMAKING
Women are wired to nurture others to learn and grow and we do it exceptionally well where our family is concerned, but, how about with other women?
Technology fools us into believing we’re spending time together. We see images and pithy quotes and think that’s relationship. Social media is nothing more than Satan’s way of playing with smoke and mirrors.
People are incredibly lonely.
There’s a shortage of those willing to invest a little deep face-to-face time with other people. Sure, we make a coffee date here or there, but deep fellowship, where we break bread in one anothers’ homes or just push aside a date on our bulging calendar to connect in person with someone on a regular basis, seems to be lacking. I know it used to be with me.
There are so many women who have a heart to disciple but their head gets in the way. They feel they need to be perfect to serve the only perfect One—Jesus, when all along, He never says that or asks for that.
Grace is the balm that covers the most imperfect of us all. The Lord is looking for a willing soul and a heart that beats for Him. Reading pithy articles or colorful blog posts whet our appetite but fail to deliver the goods. Growing in our faith is relational. Living a life full of grace and truth are lessons that can’t be taught but must be caught.
Modeling discipleship is a rich ministry with eternal dividends. This is how we change the world one person at a time.
Visit Joanne at Grace and Truth Living (soon to be Discipleship for Women).
