Her Story: Tara Leigh Cobble
her |həː, hə| pronoun 1 used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a female person: You just want to be around her.
We had such a beautiful evening together last night at our monthly Equipped by Faith meeting. I love gathering with my spiritual sisters to encourage one another, laugh together and pray. Last night, my dear and beautiful friend, Tara Leigh Cobble, joined us as our monthly speaker.
There isn’t really a better speaker for a small group than Tara because, in recent years, her passion has led her to create and develop a network of discipleship groups called, D-Groups (Disciples Making Disciple-Making Disciples). These groups have grown to more than 200 men’s and women’s small groups meeting weekly in homes on six continents!!! She has developed a curriculum that encourages members to memorize scripture, study theology and pray together for specific needs. I have actually joined one of these groups myself, and have felt so encouraged, inspired and challenged by the weekly readings and meetings! Tara is my favorite Bible Study Leader ever!!!
Tara Leigh began her ministry as a singer-songwriter, performing her own songs and leading worship around the globe. After her first book was published, she added speaking to her repertoire. As a musician, writer and speaker, she spent more than a decade touring internationally before creating D-Groups and finding a home and community for herself in Dallas, Texas (where she has no pets, plants or children—or anything else that might die if she forgets to feed it.. *grin*).
I love the insight, wisdom, and faith that Tara shared last evening, and if you missed it, be sure to read her interview questions below and listen to the podcast here!
Q&A with Tara Leigh Cobble
1) What do you think you were put on this earth for? Biggest dream?
To know God, love Him, and spend my days advancing His Kingdom. My biggest dream is happening! I love watching God grow D-Group, and I hope to see more than 1,000 D-Groups someday!
2) What are some of the obstacles you have had to go through to get to this point?
Trying to do it on my own was my biggest obstacle. I needed to ask for help and learn to delegate. Another obstacle was my idolatry of people: I've held people in such high regard that I've sometimes cared more about pleasing them than about pleasing God.
3) What motivates/inspires you?
I'm deeply inspired and challenged when I read the stories of martyrs of the faith, people who have sacrificed everything because they truly trust God's love for them to be sufficient.
4) What do you want to be remembered by?
One of my favorite quotes is by Nicolaus Zinzendorf: "Preach the gospel, die, and be forgotten." I'd love for the legacy of D-Group to live on, but only as it serves to help people know and love God more, not as a tribute to me or my life. I want people to think more of Christ, not me, as a result of my life.
5) What advice would you give other women searching for their purpose, passion & faith?
Knowing God is the only place you're going to find what you're looking for. Read the Bible. All of it. Let your eyes fall on every word. Make it a part of your everyday rhythms. Let it fill your thoughts. When you don't think you have time to read, ask Him to carve out time for Himself in your schedule. When you don't understand what you read, ask Him for help. When you don't want to read, ask Him to grant you desire. The Word of God is what our lives as believers are built on -- He's where your hope and strength come from, and He's where the joy is! Get around other people who know this and live it out, because their joy will be contagious!
6) What has been your greatest achievement in life?
D-Group is my favorite one. Staying single is my least favorite one. :)
7) How does what you do reflect what God placed on your heart to share with the world?
I love that I get to spend my days doing ministry. It's the best job I can ever imagine!
8) What books are you reading?
I'm currently in the Gospels in my chronological Bible reading plan. And I'm also reading a biography of Katherine von Bora, but I'm terrible at reading things that aren't the Bible; it takes me forever to finish any other book I start.
9) How do you stay encouraged & faith-filled?
I stay in the Word, stay in prayer, stay confessing, stay meeting with other believers regularly -- not just to hang out, but to actually spend time talking about The Lord. This strengthens my faith in ways I can't replicate through any other means.
10) Favorite scripture of the moment (or ever)? :)
John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease." John the Baptist said this. Jesus called John the Baptist "the greatest man ever born" (Luke 7:28). We have this idea that "greatness" according to God means an easy life, but John lost everything for it. He was imprisoned and beheaded for preaching the Gospel. He wasn't content with building an earthly kingdom. He knew what was truly valuable in life, and he, like Paul, counted everything else as loss for the sake of knowing Christ and advancing the eternal Kingdom. I want to remember that and live my life according to that truth. If it's how the man Jesus called, "the greatest man ever born" lived and died, it seems like a good motto for me too.
Love you all, and can't wait to see you next month at Equipped by Faith!
XO-
Sabrina