Invitations are so exciting aren’t they?  Weddings, birthday parties, bridal or baby showers, or even the request of your presence at a simple gathering with friends can bring excitement and delight.  It means an opportunity to celebrate, get out of the daily routine, and to be with family and friends. But have you ever received an invitation to stay in your own house?  Or to eat dinner at your own table?  Probably not.

This backwards seeming invitation is the one I received a couple weeks ago. I wonder if, like me, that’s the invitation you need the most.

Many of you know I recently attended the  She Speaks Conference put on by  Proverbs 31 Ministries in Charlotte, North Carolina.  It’s a Christian women’s conference for speakers and writers (or speaker and writer wannabes like me).

I couldn’t tell you how or when I first heard about this conference,  only from the moment I knew of its existence a few years ago, it has been a dream to attend.  And it definitely felt like a dream – not the close, in reach kind, but the once-in-a-lifetime-if-only-someday kind.  For some reason, I gave it actual consideration this year and continually felt God was telling me to go.  Even though in a lot of ways it seemed like a crazy idea to entertain, I kept feeling the nudge.  My hesitations and indecisiveness meant I was within the last 100 women to sign up for the 800 attendee conference.  And at the time of the conference there were 1000 on the waiting list!  I am incredibly humbled I was able to attend.  In the months following, I received several confirmations and provisions, continuing to make it clear this was God’s leading for me.

Y’all. (I can say that.  I was just in the south.)

It was SO GOOD.  (Which actually just scratches the surface describing this incredible experience.)

My number one prayer going into She Speaks is God would give me direction/confirmation in my calling and I would hear his voice clearly.

Oh my.

Was he ever clear.

I am impressed with God’s ability to speak the same message to me over and over throughout the course of 3 days and numerous different speakers and session subjects.  He’s clever like that isn’t He?

Here is just a sampling of the wisdom spoken with God’s prevailing message for me:

“Build a life that is slow, durable, and beautiful.

You get to determine the SIZE of your life.

We too often buy into the myth that image matters more than content.  That what you put out there is more important than what goes in your heart.”

1 Thessalonians 4:7  God hasn’t invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and beautiful—as beautiful on the inside as the outside. (The Message)

Shauna Niequist

“Your yes today unleashes God’s yes for tomorrow.

Ask God what his definition of ministry is for you.”

Whitney Capps

 

 

“The tweaking of us by God in the quiet is the saving of us in public.”

Lysa TerKeurst

“God used a woman (Ruth) who made a commitment and stuck it all the way  through to fulfill a great promise. (being part of the lineage of Jesus)”

Nicki Koziarz

 

“Chase the Dream maker, not the dream.

Exchange growing your influence to growing your obedience.

Focus on your daily assignment.

Embrace your season and trust God’s timing.”

Alicia Bruxvoort

 

“What can I do to bring you joy today Lord?”

Suzie Eller

See the common theme?  What I expected was firm direction on next steps.  What I received was affirmation to lean in where I already am.  Instead of coming home with a desire to run and do and create and push (like I was anticipating), I returned with a quiet steadiness fully content to live my daily life well.  I feel a renewed call not to expand my ministry, but to expand my soul. Now is the time to build firm groundwork for my heart and family that will translate to a sturdy foundation for future ministry.  I can’t grow healthy branches without healthy roots.  My current assignment is to cultivate my relationship with the Lord and minister to my family in ways that matter most.

Yet at the same time, I feel more sure of this call to speak and write than ever .  Even though I felt way out of my league at She Speaks (so many incredible and accomplished women!), I still felt God’s voice saying “this is what I have for you”.  However, the intended path is long and the scheduled movements will be slow and deliberate.  And I am rejoicing in that.  I so look forward to what God is going to teach me in the days, weeks, months and years to come.  I’m excited about being refined and growing.  I am hopeful my best ministry can be to my family and raising godly sons.

God has a lot of work to do IN me so he can work THROUGH me.  He is so gracious to remind me that my most important work is the work directly in front of me and to give me incredible passion for staying put to do it.

Let’s look again at the verse Shauna Niequist used in her message:

1 Thessalonians 4:7  God hasn’t invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and beautiful—as beautiful on the inside as the outside. (The Message)

He is inviting me into his precious presence and offering more of Himself. I am invited into a life that’s beautiful on the inside – to the very deepest places of my soul. I can’t imagine a greater invitation.

 

This is a Blog Hop!  Click the link below to read about other She Speaks attendees experiences and recaps of what God taught these amazing ladies.

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