Women of Faith

I attended my first Women of Faith event this past weekend. I am still 2 inches off of the floor. Between the women in our personal group that attended and the speakers, oh my goodness! Luci Swindoll, Lisa Weltchel, Mary Graham, Patsy Clairmont, Marilyn Meberg. The Worship team was soooo good and Aiesha Woods and her brother sang and really made the walls shake with worship and praise!

I know that some women did not or could not attend. They had other commitments, children at home, too much on their plate and not enough help to be able to take 2 days and refresh, refill, rejuvenate. Or maybe there was a darker force that made it really hard for them to do something for themselves (yes, I truly believe that happens!!)

I am putting the word out that I would love for us to do this again next year. I will not push or prod, I will not make anyone feel guilty to go. It was so hard to get a group together this year.

But, I have to say...LADIES, it is your turn! It is your turn to get rest, to get refreshed. It is your turn to bond with like minded women and just be YOU for a couple of days.

I felt the same pangs of guilt...should I leave my husband with the children for two whole days? Should I have my son miss a day of homeschooling? Should I leave the animals in the hands of my family and think they will be taken care of and fed? Should I leave the laundry and dishes that will ultimately pile up while I am gone.

My answer to me and to you is a big "YES"

We have a year to plan. We can do this!!

Can you spend the night? "YES" Of course, Anaheim is close, but by the time the Friday night event is over, you will be darn tired!!! Yes, you can drive home..but there will be a driving urge to stay home the following day. I say stay. 4 to 5 women to a room brings the cost down drastically. The Women of Faith organizers will have discounted hotels for us. Or, Priceline.com was our saving grace for this event. We decided to stay at the very last minute and most of the hotels were already booked. We stayed at a Hilton not too far and 3 of us shared the cost. It was wonderful. We ate dinner there and didn't need to drive around town in traffic for food. AND, by the time Friday night was over and we were at our hotel...our heads hit our pillows and we were out!!!

We were blessed tremendously!

We all sometimes feel that someone like Sheila Walsh, Luci Swindoll, or the rest of the speakers much have it all together, right? Why else would they be asked to speak to us?! Well, let me tell you sisters, that we are "ALL" broken!! We all have the same problems!! We all put our pants on one leg at a time!! We are all equal in God's eyes! You would not believe what these women shared with us!! The trials that they have been through..AND JUST RECENTLY!!!

Sometimes we NEED to hear the testimony of others, so that we know we are truly all connected! That we ALL face the same challenges and that trials come our way! The difference between us and someone that doesn't know God is that we have the tools to ride the storms and the peace to know that the outcome will be a blessing and will create a blessing in us and for our future. (We just don't see that right now...but with sister's in Christ...we have that encouragement to be reminded of and to hold on to)

When you walk down an aisle at a grocery store and you come across that woman that looks all put together and perfect... honestly, you have no idea what is going on inside of her. She may have an abusive husband, a child addicted to drugs, a special needs child, a horrible employer, an abusive past that she has stuffed down to her innermost being that has not been healed. The makeup and clothes do not make the woman! It is our soul and our devotion to our Lord that gives us the glow and the strength to carry on!!

We are all equal in God's eyes and we are all here for "each other"

Praise God, that He has given us each other!! Let's celebrate that! Let's really seek each other out and get to know each other. He doesn't have us cross paths on accident. There are no accidents with God. We are all on the same journey, and right now, on the same path for a reason. Before He moves you on to another or different path, I want to know you!

Please, if I have not introduced myself to you yet, please come to me. I really want to know you!

God Bless you all... Big Hugs and Big Blessings to you and Yours.

As my new friend Liz would say...

"In His Grip"

Oh, and I forgot to add.. Steven Curtis Chapman was fabulous!!! I will forever be a fan now!
What a special man of God!