I’m still reeling and reveling in my experience this past weekend…a Women of Faith, over-the-top arena event, with thousands of women joined together in worship…
- To learn, and cry, and laugh, and be inspired together…
- To sit in the midst of so many who love our God, and to pursue together…
- The richness of His grace…
- The redemptive power of His mercy…
- The restorative healing of His great love…
- And to sense our love of one another, and to feel the connection it brings.
What a rich time it was!
I continue to be moved and changed by being there, and I am still processing all that I heard and experienced…
From Andy Andrews, a message full of energy, enthusiasm and inspiration, with lingering concepts begging for action…
“Tear a page of your Bible off and put it in your pocket if you have to…let’s CHOOSE what goes into our minds!”
“Every good thing comes to us because of how we act (not feel)…Every GREAT thing comes to us because of how we act (not feel) when things aren’t fair. God has created us with a will stronger than our emotions and we can CHOOSE how to act, and how to be grateful.”
“When we choose to be grateful, BIG things happen, inside and out…”
“Forgiveness is a decision. Asking for forgiveness, in humility, with sincerity, is a reset button for any relationship.”
From Patsy Clairmont, a message with spunk and wit, with great depth, from a heart who has walked a broken path and emerged brightly shining, with her stained-glass heart reflecting Him…
“The word is YES!! Yes to Him who redeems our brokenness for Higher purposes…a God who can do the impossible with the ridiculous!”
“Change can accomplish a greater purpose if we would just receive it…never, NEVER give up!”
“God has given us His Word not to indulge us, but to develop us…”
“Get a circle of friends that help you grow…we need our girlfriends, those who nurture us AND those who challenge us…they give us an increased ability to love and extend mercy that expands us, and leaves stretch marks on our hearts.”
“Read books…lots of books…if you learn just one thing, it was worth it.”
From Marilyn Meberg, a sincere and challenging message, speaking to our hearts and to the things in this life that we ultimately crave…
“You Oh, God, have created us for You, and have made us restless…we will never find our satisfaction until we find rest in YOU.”
“God will never, ever, keep any part of His love from us…He will uphold us…and loves us so…”
From Katharine Everett, moving drama, written by Nicole Johnson, pushing us to the deepest parts of our hearts…and her piercing portrayal of the many different and simultaneous hats we wear as women, and the invisibleness we feel as we wear them all…
“Lord, make me more invisible-more invisible in You-that I might love others so well, that they would see YOU in my life…a monument to a GREAT God…the God who sees this invisible woman.”
And her encouragement to examine the heavy and burdensome luggage we are carrying, that we have accumulated over our lifetime, and the urging to surrender it at the very foot of the cross…and the song …
“…Now I can…trade these ashes in for beauty, Wear forgiveness like a crown, Coming to kiss the feet of mercy… I lay every burden down, at the foot of the cross.”
From Brenda Warner, a gut-wrenching message of hope and inspiration…rom the realities of the depths of her loss and hardships, to the triumphs of her overcoming…
“Your circumstances don’t determine who you are…let your past strengthen your future…”
“Slow down to see and hear all those special moments around you.”
“Live with honor, courage, and integrity…when no one else is watching.”
From Lisa Welchel, an authentic, warm, and transparent message, about the importance and significance of friendships, conveyed with beauty and unmatched grace…
“I used to think Jesus was all I should need, but He made us as His body…the body of Christ…to be His hands and feet to one another. We need each other!”
“It is worth the risk to let someone close to your heart…”
“When you look for a real friend, look for an imperfect friend…a person who has blown it BIG time! Someone who has needed the grace of God, who has received the grace of God, and who will give the grace of God.”
“Live by giving grace to yourself, and grace to others…”
From Mandisa, a beautiful concert, with so many amazing and wonderful songs! This one in particular , inspiring a previous blog post, was so very moving to me…
From Sandi Patty…her poignant presence and astounding voice…from singing a moving rendition of God Bless America, this weekend of 9/11, to blessing us with her classic, We Shall Behold Him. And then, her sharing of a testament to dreams coming true, with a powerful message of hope…
“God isn’t saying no to you…He’s saying yes to a dream you don’t know yet…”
“Tell your story!! When we see God’s faithfulness in the past, we can see He will be faithful in the future.”
“Know that you are enough…and may you see your circumstances through God’s eyes.”
“In life’s circumstances, we are not on the edge of disappointment or disaster, but we stand on the edge of something divine.”
And from Amy Grant, the pioneer who paved the way for the artists of Christian music…a moving, transparent and soul-baring concert…with her songs, lyrics, and message all reflecting, to us, the beauty and grace of our sweet Lord and Savior…a beautiful time she led! A simple rawness of beauty, grace, and reflection, for all He does and for who He is…our Sovereign Lord and God of all.
And this song, which she has never recorded, was so very moving for us all…and here a performance of it on a Michael W. Smith cruise, several years ago…
You made me, you know me, you’re able to show me, Who I am and what you made me for. So, I turn off the tv, my cell phone, all the screams, The little things that fill my world with noise. I know there is more to living life than what I see, on tv, And you know in the quiet I might find you and believe. You say be still, and know that I am God, Be still, be still and know… Be still and know that I am God… Be still, be still, be still. For I’m not used to listening, I’m curious wondering can I really hear your voice? I know there is more than living life than what I see on tv, You know in the quiet I might find you and believe. You say be still, and know that I am God, Be still, be still and know… Be still, and know that I am God… Be still, be still, be still.
What an amazingly moving weekend, and I am so grateful! Grateful for friends, mentors, and speakers…and my God, and His GREAT love for me!
My faith continues to be inspired, as I reflect upon my time in that place. The time spent with all of those amazing Women of Faith…
I am so very blessed!
What is it that has been faith-inspiring to you lately?
[…] I’ve been to Women of Faith every year for the past 5 years in a row. And I knew they were taping a Live Webcast at Saddleback because I had signed up to watch it on Lysa’s blog. But to attend live? I didn’t think that was possible … what an opportunity. […]