Have you heard of She Speaks…a womens’ conference connected with the Proverbs 31 ministry?? This is annual conference for women looking to challenge themselves and to better equip themselves as writers, speakers or ministry leaders. I had the priviledge to attend this conference two years ago and the impact from that weekend continues even today. In fact, the idea of this blog and the encouragement to start it came directly from the friends I met that weekend. I posted briefly about it soon after I started blogging. You can read that post here.
The friendships I made that weekend have been lasting and I am constantly blessed and encouraged by these women and what God is doing in each of their lives. Each of us are, two years later, involved in ministries and seeing God at work in ways that none of us had dreamed about. God used the She Speaks conference to encourage us to step out of our comfort zones and expect to see God’s leading.
I think that was the key to the conference. Yes, I made some wonderful friends and we try to keep in touch. However, it was our willingness not only to share our hearts and our lives but our willingness to allow God to use us however He would choose that had the real lasting impact. When I attended the conference, it had been less than a year since Tyler died. I was hurting and raw. Among those I met, there were two grieving mothers, a mother whose son was at the time battling cancer (and is now a grieving mom) and another mom who lives just a few miles from me whose son was undergoing cancer treatment at the very hospital were Tyler was treated. God knew. He blessed me. And He challenged me that weekend.
These past months, God has been challenging me again. Not only has He been growing me and maturing me, but also pushing me, once again, out of my comfort zone. It can be overwhelming at times but I am learning to be excited at what He can do and how He will lead. I would like to attend the conference again this year. I would like to see old friends, make new friends and, especially, make myself available for His using. A sweet buddy of mine (Tyler’s best friend) has a saying that I really like: Where God guides, He provides. I believe God can use this year’s conference to better guide me and I am trusting Him to provide the opportunity to attend. They are offering some scholarships this week which you can learn about here. Perhaps this will be the way God provides…I don’t know but it surely would be exciting. I promise to keep you posted.
Wow, it is so exciting,humbling and scary when God challenges us! But when we push though wonderful ministry and blessings flow. Prayers will be with you as you follow the leading of the Lord.
P.S. The polyester pants are modern! Nicely creased and classy!!
Oh Jennifer I find this soo exciting. I am so happy that you have been so blessed by this and pray that the Lord will use you in the ways He has planned.
I am glad I stopped by tonight. I am busy of course since Mel is here, but just had to visit my "favorites" and say hello. = ) Hugs, Debbie
Morning Jenn,
That sounds like a wonderful conference and it is obvious that God is using you, just by your blog posts. They are sincere and lovely.
How neat that you met 2 others Mom's who were in the process of going thru what you had already been thru.
God makes no mistakes, and there is no one that can comfort as well as someone who has been down the same road.
Will pray the Lord makes a way for you to go if that is his desire for you!!
Happy Spring Sweetie,
You are a blessing girl!
Nellie