GO!

 

I returned Saturday from Women of Faith: IMAGINE in Indianapolis.  I could probably sum up the entire experience with one word: GO!  But that would leave you hanging a bit, so I'll give you a few more words....

This was my first WOF event and I want to say "WHERE has it been all my life!"  Seriously, WOF started 16 years ago!

7,000 women attended the Friday event.  10,000 on Saturday.  Yeah, that's a lot of chicks!  It was cool to see women from all different churches gathering together.  The WOF theme this year was IMAGINE.  It's based on this scripture...


          Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
          according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church
          and Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21


I was somewhat nervous and found myself hesitant as I walked into Conseco Fieldhouse and found my seat.  I was joined by thousands of other women...I didn't want to feel that I was somewhat feeling forced to feel a particular moment.  I quickly stopped myself and said a prayer.  I was there and willing to listen to God and the message that He had prepared for me to hear.  And there ended up being not enough room in my purse to stash enough kleenex's!  I was so amazingly moved by each heart that took that stage to share their story.  You just can't really put into words what it's like to share the love, the laughter, and the loss of these brave women who took those scary seven steps.


Sheila Walsh who is outrageously funny and tenderly loving. Spoke very openly about where her journey in life had taken her and how God met her there:

~ Nothing will make you more beautiful than the word of God.
~ You need to read the word, with the times as they are, you need to know what you can stake your life on.
~ You have not lived an unloved moment in your life.
~ I’m (God) going to take her to the very place she fears most but I’ll be going with her.
~ The Shepherd knows where to find you.
~ The Good Shepherd has a job and that is to make sure you get home. Let Him lead you.
~ Jesus is the good news, we are not.

Dr. Henry Cloud is just plain smart. Nothing else to say. Except this:

~ Your involved in some great things, BUT what does God really have in your heart to do?
~ When the co-dependant dies; “someone else’s” life flashes before their eyes.
~ If your gifts aren’t showing up in the world, you need to correct that.
~ Anything circumstantial only accounts for 10% of our happiness. Once that 10% peaks you’ll return to who are you as a person.
~ What really will bring you the happiness you want is a set of life practices and attitudes.
~Three things to put into practice: become a GIVER (not only $$ but with kind words, helpful tasks, etc.) CONNECT to others (Baby, be my monkey! You need a band of monkeys in your life), Goals (even if its two a day!)
~ Live life in the ZONE (getting pushed a little more that what you think you can do)
~If you begin to live in the ZONE of what GOD has called you to do what you don’t even believe is possible today will be your life.
~A good gardener prunes the rose-bush with the future in mind. Letting God remove the good from your life to make way for the best is sometimes necessary.

Angela Smith: Amazing testimony of God using her deepest wounds to touch thousands of lives. She really is a gifted communicator. Honestly, I cried so much during it – I didn’t take many notes. This is what stood out then and stands out now:

~ In life’s terrible storms you can choose to listen to man or Christ: The One to Whom I belong.

Lisa Harper: Incredible testimony of her life including her father’s salvation.

~ All addictions are a disorder of worship…a running to the wrong things for fulfillment.
~ He sees us. He sees where we are bruised, where we have been hurt. I have been there and He answered me. He will answer you.
~ You are marked by the King.

Nicole Johnson: Heart tugging dramas.

~ Do everyone in your life a favor and interview your anger.
~“Where does it hurt?” Deal with where it hurts. Trust that the tragedy will be made into something beautiful.

Lucy Swindoll: Live Now, Love Now, Give Now, LIVE today!
~ “I am NOT going to sponsor any children from World Vision” She went home with 14!
~ “I do things because nobody said I couldn’t”
~ Take the opportunity when it comes.
~ Don’t live out of regret because you didn’t walk by faith.
~ “Oh! You who sits with their cup overflowing…why aren’t you drinking?”

How exactly do I put into words the emotion of the women who got up on stage and shared their life story to thousands of people? Sharing their pain, their fear, and their failures? 

Sheila Walsh, who tightly grasps onto a lamb, while reminding each one of us that the shepherd will leave the 99 to save the one?  And her teaching her son to "come as you are"..."You don't clean yourself up to come to your mom...You don't clean yourself up to go to your Father."

 Or the hilarious moment of Lisa Harper running at a "nekkid man" on a mountain?

"What is in your life today that does not line up with your life of tomorrow?" explained by Dr. Henry Cloud as he spoke on pruning that sometimes needs to happen in our lives. "Rose bushes produce more buds than they can sustain. A master gradener will need to look at the buds and prune all but the very best and healthest. The other buds, while good, are not living up to the fullness of what a rose is and are taking up resources." Dr. Henry Cloud again speaking on needing to prune the things n our lfe that not fruitful, are broken and unhealthy, or are dead.

All the emotions that where stirred when Nicole Johnson talked about the broken pieces, and how they can be something beautiful.  Oh...sigh...or when Angie Smith openly shares her heart for the daughter who had weight in this world.

You really just want to become an advertising representative...“You’ll laugh! You’ll cry! You won’t want to miss…. Women Of Faith!”  But that’s just it. You WILL laugh, and you WILL cry. And you will walk away refreshed, and restored, and reaffirmed.

I never would have thought that I would be shedding tears and feel so moved by Elmo's "Sing A Song", which was performed by a mother and her child.  (Erica from Mary Mary and her daughter Grace)

Describe...how do you even begin to explain what it's like to hear 10,000 voices sing in perfect harmony with Natalie Grant to "It is Well"?   This particular moment leaves me weeping every time I reflect on it.  Experience it for yourself....  (and sorry about the ad at the beginning.  I hate those things!)

I know it's going to take a great deal of time to process everything from this weekend.  And catch my breath.

The good news is that Women of Faith is already planning their return for 2012!   Now that is something to 'Celebrate'!