Hi Friend!
Today I have a devotion running on the Proverbs 31 website titled, “I Have No Idea What I’m Doing.”
It’s all about the importance of mentoring and our need to be connected with others, no matter what age and stage in life we’re in.
You can read it by clicking here.
Over the years I’ve developed several mentoring relationships and I’m still in touch with these precious women on a regular basis. Weeks may go by – sometimes month – when we haven’t talked. But when a fresh conversation starts we pick up right where we left off.
You may be in a busy season of life where a mentor isn’t high on your priority list. I’ve experienced those seasons too.
Even so, I’d love to introduce you to a group of women who have become my closest mentors in this season of my life. Each are on the writing team with me for the First 5 App.
Now, if you haven’t downloaded the First 5 app yet, you’re missing out on a wonderful community! Women (and men) are growing deeper in their relationship with God by giving Him the first 5 minutes of each day. Digging into God’s Word before hopping onto social media sites or checking emails.
The community comes into play as subscribers share comments and connect with each other through the app. We’ve also got some fun weekend-wrap up videos that are quickly becoming subscriber favorites.
So, how many people are using the First 5 app? Well, the latest numbers are over 350,000!! Yes, and those numbers are growing every day. Our incredible analytics team has told us that First 5 is already reaching 170+ countries and sharing God’s Word around the world!!
What is our goal? To reach all 204 countries and eradicate Biblical.
I know, it seems like an impossible task. But with God all things are possible and as of today First5 has already reached 199 of those countries!
Only God could do something so astounding in our midst and you can bet He’s getting all the glory! The response to First 5 only confirms the truth spoken in Isaiah 55:11
So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 (ESV)
Check out this video and you’ll see why I’m so crazy about these gals that I get the opportunity to work with each week. God certainly is teaching me and stretching me in ways I never thought possible. And He’s given me the gift of these amazing woman, so I’m not on this journey alone.
Since I can only capture the most recent First 5 video from You Tube, our fearless leader, Lysa TerKeurst is missing in this particular video. But you can bet she’s played a HUGE part in my life when it comes to mentoring me through God’s Word.
You may be asking, “How can I get the First5 app today?” Well, it’s super easy. Just go to www.First5.org and download the app from there. It’s available on iTunes and for Android users.
We’re also on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest –> @First5app
If you’re already using First 5, I’d love for you to leave a comment below giving me your feedback on the app. What do you like about it? How can we make the First 5 app a better experience for you?
I’ll make sure I take your comments back to our team. We’re always open to making First 5 better for you!
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Before I sign off – here is some details about the women I mentioned in my P31 devotion.
Mary the mother of Jesus
She nurtured Jesus from the moment she found out about His conception. Through the toddler to teen years Mary lovingly cared for Him. She painfully watched on the sidelines as Jesus was bullied and ridiculed during His ministry years. Only to have her heart torn to shreds as she witnessed the unjust persecution and brutal death of her firstborn Son for a crime He didn’t commit. (Luke 1:26-38, John 19:25-27)
Mary of Bethany
Mary set aside her to-do list and daily distractions to be with Jesus and learn as He shared spiritual truths. She gave up her expensive perfume (worth a year’s wages) and was ridiculed as she anointed Jesus’s body just days before He was crucified. (Luke 10:39-41, Matthew 26:6-13)
The Samaritan woman
She encountered Jesus in the midst of her mundane chores, accepted His grace along with the gospel, and began sharing her personal story (which was quite scandalous) with others in her community. (John 4:4-30)
Susanna
After being healed, she followed Jesus on His city-to-city ministry travels, supporting Him and the disciples with her financial resources, time and energy. (Luke 8:1-3)
Pilate’s Wife
She risked her life in the face of opposition by pleading with her husband, begging him to release Jesus. (Matthew 27:17-19)
The widow with two mites
She had a generous heart despite her great poverty and loss of loved ones. Sacrificially giving all she had to the kingdom of God. (Mark 12:41-44)
Women at the crucifixion
These women served, supported, traveled with and even ministered to Jesus. Risking their lives, they stayed at the crucifixion site, helped removed Jesus from the cross and prepared His body for burial. (Matthew 27:55-61)
Mary Magdelene
She never deserted Jesus when He was rejected and beaten by others. She was the first person to see and speak to Jesus after He resurrected and she told the disciples He had risen from the dead. (John 19:25; 20:11-18)
Women with issue of blood
Despite years of disappointing medical reports and doctors who had no answers, this woman risked her own life by entering a crowd who considered her ceremonial unclean. Pushing through and crawling on her knees, she finally touched the hem of Jesus’ robe and received the miraculous healing she had long waited for. (Luke 8:43-48)
Pam says
Hi Leah!
You wrote this in the devo above – ‘What is our goal? To reach all 204 countries and eradicate Biblical.’- Could you tell me what you meant by eradicate Biblical?
Thx!
Linda says
Leah, I have so enjoyed the First5 app. Most days I feel as if you and God wrote it just for me.
Joy says
Hello Leah, I think the First5 app is fantastic, simple and easy to use and the content is beautiful to the eye and food for the soul. There are a couple of things that might make it even better, for me at least. I am in the UK and the new day’s First5 doesn’t load until a couple of hours after I wake up – so not the actual first five minutes of my day at all! I can set the alarm to go off when I wake up, but it just shows yesterday’s First5. I don’t know whether this can be changed or not. The other thing that would be really nice is to be able to reply to comments directly beside what that person has written, rather than at whatever point up the page it has got to by the time I comment.
Thank you and the rest of the team for all you do at First5, you truly are a blessing.
Leah DiPascal says
Joy, thank you for taking time and giving your feedback on the First5 app. If you click on the picture of the person who leaves a comment (it’s the circle located left of the comment) a window pops up and you can send them a message from there.
I’ll be sure to pass along your comment to our development team about the time difference. Hopefully they can adjust the time launching so you can receive each new day’s F5 when you wake up in the morning.
Leah DiPascal says
Joy, I heard back from one of our F5 development team members and here’s what she said:
“I’m so glad you are enjoying the First 5 app! Currently all of the teaching must be released at the same time. We have set it to release at 12 AM Pacific, so it should release to the UK at 8AM. Sometimes it takes a few minutes to update across the server, but it should be there by 8:05 each morning. We are hopeful that future updates to the app will allow you to customize the time based on your timezone. We are in the process of an update to the comment section that will allow you to both see all comments as well as reply to them within the app. Be on the lookout to see those changes within the month.”
Joy says
Thank you for finding out about these things Leah. I’m looking forward to see what little things get tweaked as First5 grows and developed. I can’t stress enough thoug, that those things are just window dressing, the thing that matters, that impacts lives, is the way you ladies faithfully obey God in bringing his word each day. Thank you so much for your faithfulness, and may God bless you abundantly.
Linda says
Hello Leah,
I received your devotional entitled, “I Have No Idea What I’m Doing” in my inbox today. This was a God sent devo for me. Yesterday afternoon, our church had it’s first meeting about a mentoring ministry our church is wanting to start for married couples. My husband and I just celebrated our 48th anniversary, but I was totally overwhelmed w/ this whole idea. What do I have to offer? How can I help someone else? It will be a major commitment of at least a year; and I’m definitely not a retired woman. I work 8-5 Mon-Fri.; we have 8 grandchildren (ages 17-8) that live close to us and we are very involved w/ all their activities; we are working to get an interent business started; plus our church activities. How do I fit s/t else into my life? The P31 devotional is the first thing I read in the mornings as I start my quiet time. I’m still totally overwhelmed by God’s direction. It’s been a long time since s/t so obvious has been directed to me.
Truly, it was written and sent to me.
Thank you,
Linda
Leah DiPascal says
Linda, it sounds like you have a lot going on right now. It could be that in this season of your life, your mentoring will be more focused towards your grandchildren. After all, they will one day grow up to be 8 godly young men and women. How wonderful it would be for them to one day say, “My first mentors were my grandparents.”
Linda says
Itmay be. My grandchildren are so very important to me and I know they enjoy being w/ us and for us to come see them participate in all their activities. But, my husband feels very called to participate in this mentoring endeavor. I’m just not sold on it, but I’m trying to be open. I’ve sent this devo on to several of the ladies in the class yesterday.
Thanks for your input.
Linda
Carol says
I LOVE #First5 app! Not just the incredible thoughts and words to start my day with Jesus, but the circle of women around the world that I’ve connected with through First5. Almost everyday I can relate to one or more of the women by their comments, and I’ve established prayer partners with several already. Oh, how God is using this beautiful process to keep me focused on God and to encourage us to start everyday First with Jesus. And I love the alarm on the app that wakes me up to #First5.
Praying for the First5 gang that is committed to sharing Jesus everyday with us!
Leah DiPascal says
Carol – thank you for the prayers and yay!, I’m so glad you’re enjoying First 5 and connecting with prayer partners. That’s awesome!!!
kathy satterfield says
Hi Leah,
Loved this devotion. I have a question – I’m trying to download the first 5 app on my smartphone but I just can’t seem to accomplish it. It’s a new phone for me and I’ve traded in my old fliphone for a smart phone and I’m still learning how to use it and don’t know how to do it. I need a mentor to help me figure this out! Any suggestions?
Leah DiPascal says
Kathy, I’m sorry you’re having trouble downloading First5. Try going straight to the app store (icon) on your phone and type in First 5 app. It should pull up automatically. If not, maybe someone at the phone provider store can help you with it. Once you get First5 installed you can read through the archives section to see previous content and our weekend wrap-up videos. 🙂
kathy.satterfield says
Thank you very much Leah – I’ll try that later today. God Bless you!
Linda says
I love the First 5 app. I am learning so much from it. I wake up before the alarm sounds and am ready to be with God every morning. My days are so much better. I am looking forward to Genesis to see what I can learn there. I did not use the Experience John book. I could never quite figure out what to do with it. I shared on line, was that what I was supposed to use it for. I am hoping that the one for Genesis is easier (for me) to figure out.
Leah DiPascal says
Linda, I’m so glad to know you’re enjoying the First 5 app! It’s amazing how starting out our day with the Lord – in His Word – can truly transform our entire day! The Experience Guide is designed to give you a place to record your thoughts and write down what God is teaching you each day, as you read through the book of John. Plus, we’ve added extra content that isn’t available through the app. Sometimes, God will remind me of a past experience as I read through a very familiar verse, which brings a fresh new perspective to it. The Experience Guide is where I write down those thoughts, feelings and memories, but with a change of attitude, because of what I’ve read in First 5.
Linda says
Thank you for the explanation. Now I understand it better. I’ll have to go back and look at it again.
Linda says
I love your devotion today about mentoring. I am a retired teacher and for the past 3 years I have mentored new teachers. This year the school division did away with the program (money cuts). Today I am looking at a different kind of mentoring and asking God to lead me where he wants me to be. Thank you!!
Malia says
Hi Leah,
I am a recent subscriber to the Proverbs 31 website. I’m enjoying reading the testimonies that all of you are posting on the website. Mentoring or rather discipling as I prefer to call it, is one of my passions. I struggle with it, because I don’t feel like I really know what I’m doing. I’m mostly trying to be a good example for the young women that I minister to in a church setting. Would love to have more details of how you go about it. Thanks for encouraging this valuable ministry.
Leah DiPascal says
Malia – over the years of mentoring and being mentored, I’ve discovered that it’s not a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all experience.I believe mentoring should definitely include prayer, encouragement, support and God’s Word. If you’re mentoring someone in another state, you may not have the opportunity to meet together on a regular basis/ But you can talk over the phone, send encouraging notes or keep in touch via email. If you live close by, meeting for coffee or lunch is a fun way to connect on a regular basis. Decide what the expectations and desires are for you and that other person, then establish a plan that works best for both of you. Don’t be afraid to change things up when life’s interruptions come your way. Knowing someone else cares and is available when you need prayer or a word of advice goes a long way.
Malia says
Thanks Leah for your reply, some good thoughts that will help me reflect on the time that I am spending with women. I think what is lacking in my encounters is God’s word. The girls come over for a meal and because they are in accountability groups, we don’t do Bible studies together. However, I really want to know the Word more, so I’m trying to be consistent in having my quiet times. Thanks also for mentioning the expectations/desires for a particular person. I struggle with this as well but have always felt that this should be a part of discipleship. I see 3 or 4 different girls a week but not necessarily to “disciple” because not very many of them are interested in being discipled, I “visit” with most of them and hope to disciple one or two. “Visiting” is seeing how they are doing, seeing where they are with God and just being available to encourage them. Thanks again.
Krista says
*devotion
Krista says
Leah! Loved your Devi on mentoring and love this post! You are a treasure! So thankful God has brought us together!