This past Saturday I had a small part in speaking at a Women of Grace (not to be confused with Women of Faith!...ha! ...maybe someday) conference. It was wonderful; a group of about 30 women (and one man...my friend, Pastor Tony, sat in on part of it). God was so intricately involved in it. Did I say it was wonderful? Hmmm.
Three of us spoke, one woman sang, and although we hadn't collaborated on a theme or what anyone was talking or singing about, God orchestrated and led each of us in a way that blended it all together quite beautifully. I was often moved to tears as I observed His hand in it all.
The first speaker, Dr. Kenya Ayres, shared a powerful message of authenticity, challenging us to "clean house" and get rid of the things we're holding onto (both physically and emotionally) that keep us bound in the past, maybe in our wounds, and keep us from moving on in the next step of the journey God has for us.
I spoke after lunch on "The Path to Freedom", acknowledging the natural ways we become hardened in a world that is hard on us. But Jesus calls us to something better, to having a soft heart in a hard world. I used biblical and personal examples, exhorting them to take their weariness and burdens to God daily and let him "ease and relieve and refresh our souls" (Matt. 11.28, AMP).
When the conf was over, as I was walking out of the sanctuary, I noticed two women who weren't there during the morning. One stopped me to thank me for what I had shared, saying that it was exactly what she needed to hear that day. She went on to say that her friend was right then getting my contact info from someone else b/c they want me to come talk at their church. She said I was "gifted, but just be confident." (Yes, not fully confident about the speaking thing yet, but God is growing me much!) When I mentioned not seeing her in the morning, she said she had just heard about the conf that morning, so she called her friend and they got ready and came from Inkster, just to be there for a couple hours in the afternoon.
I had so many people praying (thank you so much if you were one of them!!!). It mattered SOOOOO much!!! God kept me so peaceful through the whole event. He spoke through me, and He spoke to me. After the event, I went to a quiet place to think, pray and process what had occurred. The woman's comment about me being gifted in speaking resonated with me. There's much ambivalence in that thought. God gives me so much insight into things, ideas, His Word, life...that I want to share what He shows me. I've been given wonderful opportunities to do that through writing. But for some time now I've sensed a vocal message moving forward. In some ways that's exciting, and in many ways it freaks me out. Mostly, I want to move forward as He leads...and where He leads will be the perfect place.
