Powerful.
Overwhelming.
Beautiful.
Breathtaking.
Spirit-moving.
Challenging.
Confirming.
Answer to prayer.
All of these statements have one thing in common.
They each describe my time at She Speaks 2014.
Powerful.
The more I seek you, The more I find you.
Kari Jobe’s song, The More I Seek You, has come to life in a powerful way for me. Truly over the last six years I have sought the Lord harder than I ever have and truly He continually shows Himself. My time at She Speaks 2014 was incredible for many reasons. Great speakers, wonderful women, delicious food, amazing music. But the most exceptional thing for me was the number of times God spoke to my heart and confirmed His words for me. I would sit and listen intently to Lysa TerKeurst and He would whisper. And each whisper would confirm His leading. Continually He was shining light on the Word and always clearly answering my questions.
Sitting at the feet of the Lord is never without result.
And the result is always drawing nearer to the King.
And my heart is always left overwhelmed by His great love.
Overwhelming.
A sea of women created a traffic jam when I first arrived and I initially felt overwhelmed, even breathless. Why am I here? Suddenly the sweetest face emerged from the crowd, a smile and a friendly greeting, all helped to calm me. Lydia was sent for this very purpose. I will not forget her. The entire weekend passed without bumping into her again until the very last moment. Just as we were getting ready to enter the prayer room for one last prayer there was Lydia. God has perfect timing.
Beautiful.
Proverbs 31 took care of all the details and made each lady feel loved. We were all prayed for by name in advance. Flowers and candles welcomed us and transformed the hotel space into a home. Everywhere…beautiful!
Beautiful women, all with loving hearts, all with a desire to share God’s love with others.
There was Nancy from New Jersey who desires courage.
Dorri, spelled with two R’s, who asks for patience.
Shanti, a beautiful mother of five. Lisa, who sparkles with the kindest smile.
Becky who has been stalked for years and refuses to stop living out loud for Christ.
Kelly who just stared a blog and has posted two times.
And many more.
All beautiful.
I now carry a “one-word prayer” for each one.
Breathtaking.
Each message spoken was powerful and each moved my heart toward prayer for more boldness. I have come back with a great desire to spend time in the darkroom while God brightens His light in me so that I may emerge a lighthouse for Him! (Thank you Christine Caine)
I plan to study more about the hidden face of God and his chosen people. I desire to GO and MAKE. To go into all the nations and make the name of Christ known…make Jesus famous! (Thank you Lysa TerKeurst)
I’m ready to continue pouring all of myself into whatever mission field the Lord plots before me and I find myself overflowing with joy and love that I pray will flow out and over to all that I meet!
Yes, it was Spirit-moving. Challenging. Confirming.
And one of the best gifts of all is that I get to come home and continue serving alongside my AMAZING ministry partner and friend!
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16
“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides so that in all things God may be praised<sup class through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 4:11
Hi dear Jodie! Loved your post here… it was so life changing for me too… in so many ways.. I am still reeling from all I learned and experienced there.. you are right.. it was breathtaking. I left there so changed.. just so changed. I hope to meet you there next year if you are going.. I know i will be there! I came home knowing without any doubt that God still had work in me to do.. and since then, I’ve been making a real effort to know more of Him thru His Word, the company I keep and the activities I do.. just discovered the Journaling Bible.. and oh so thrilled about that and that awesome fb group.. so much love and support there! Shespeaks changed my life.. all I want now is to be more effective for Him. Nothing else matters. xo
How sweet! Your heart, my heart in very similar places! Wanting to know Him more so I we can share and make Him known! More effective! What a wonderful way to say what’s on my heart! Thank you for sharing and yes to meet in future years would be amazing! For now…see you in our blog home!
Thanks for linking up.
Great post!! Keep ’em coming!
Blessings,
Jules
http://www.wholefullsoul.com/
Thank you Juli! I look forward to seeing how you are spreading the Word also over at wholefullsoul! Keep sharing the JOY!
Thank you for sharing. I found you via the SheSpeaks link-up and have added you to my Bloglovin’ readings. I am loving all these SheSpeaks even if I am a bit jealous and sad that I wasn’t there. Your overwhelming story is so me…too many people in one place makes me uncomfortable and my mind would just tell me to leave. Thanks for sharing some your notes…loved the one from Lysa…go and make Jesus famous!!!!
Ahh Toni! I imagine many women felt the very same way! I pray you will experience the She Speaks conference in the future. It took several years od prayer to get me there and many women who helped to raise money so I could attend. I look forward to seeing you here often!
It was definitely beautiful and overwhelming. I am looking forward to next year already.
I love when God makes it clear that you are where He has asked you to be. That is just what you sound like in this post. That is inspiring!
Yes! Many years and thoughts and prayers…I know this was the year He planned for me to be present!
I just loved this. GREAT summary of our experience! Thanks for linking up.
great summary of our experience. thanks for linking up!!
Love this. You leave me thinking about the personal challenge: what does it look like to seek God harder than I ever have? Thanks for sharing. I had a lot of the same experiences meeting wonderful women and having God speak to us. May God bless you!
Seeking the Lord with all my heart, all my mind and all my soul. It started with turmoil in my life, sin that broke me almost into and then a prayer over and over for the Lord to search me and know me. For Him to search my heart, my mind, my soul and remove anything that was not pleasing to Him. The more I seek Him the more I am left with an overflowing heart that is grateful for all He is and all He has done! Blessing to you also!
Wasn’t it an amazing time?!? I left with Lysa’s voice ringing in my ears-make his name known.
I’ll join with you in that prayer!
Oh Gina, may we all be joining in on that prayer! Her words have stuck with me in many ways! And so are Christine Caine’s! I am doing my best to be a lighthouse right in my own back yard! Blessing to you!