Still basking in the ambience of She Speaks, I find myself thinking of all the women I met and all the ones I didn’t. Some have stepped off the computer screen and into my life becoming more than just a cyberspace friend. Others have unknowingly impacted my heart with their own.
Melanie and Rebecca were my traveling companions and our time together was sweet. These sweet girlfriends encouraged, strengthened and challenged me every minute of our 7 hour road trip. I love these beautiful women who radiate the love of Christ.
My roomie, Kathy, clearly became what I knew she already was…my friend. I think if we lived in the same state we would spend a lot of time together. Drinking coffee (lots of coffee) and sharing our hearts for God, His Word, our families and our future. I love this beautiful woman whose love for Christ and others is not only evident but inspiring.
The women in my speaker evaluation group were all beautiful women who are willing to use their often times not-so-beautiful stories to glorify God and speak hope into the lives of other women. I sat there and marveled at how the same passionate heart can beat in women who are so diverse.
Wendy Pope was our fearless leader and she certainly is a beautiful women, inside and out. Her heart for God and the women He places in her care is not on encouraging but contagious.
I had the privilege of meeting with Terry Behimer from David C. Cook and I can’t tell you what a blessing she is. “Don’t ask me what the trends are – I don’t know and I don’t really care. Tell me what God has put on your heart. Tell me what you wake up at night wanting to write.” That was music to my ears! I’m such a newbie in this wide world of writing and there’s so much info out there that tells us publishers really only stick to who and what is popular. Terry’s heart for God and for developing writers who truly want to impact this generation confirmed why I wanted to meet with her in the first place. What a beautiful woman.
The beautiful women of the She Speaks team. Everyone of those ladies has a heart for God and a heart for others. Conferences like that don’t just happen; they take a lot of work. I’m so grateful to each one who had a part in making She Speaks an event that changes women’s lives. They truly are beautiful women!
Then there was the sea of beautiful women who stood there praising the Living God. Some face down, some hands in the air, others just still as they quietly prayed to the One who gave Himself for us all.
When I’m in a room full of women like that, I often find myself looking around and talking to God… “Do you see that, Lord? An army of women who long to be used by you! Beautiful women with a passion to know You and to make You known!” These women have a wide variety of backstories, but they all long to change the world one heart at a time.
I know God saw us in that room that day. I know He sees us now. He sees the deepest desires of our hearts; He sees the struggles we face, the trials we are going through. He sees our broken hearts and shattered dreams. He sees the visions we have to make much of Him and to impact this generation for such a time as this. He sees every beautiful woman…not only in that place, not only at She Speaks…but every beautiful woman…every one of us are a Divine design…a unique masterpiece, cleverly created by a Loving God.
My prayer is that the army of beautiful women who filled that place will touch the lives of every woman who didn’t. That we would fulfill our God-given destiny to be voices in the wilderness of this world, in the wilderness of women’s hearts, in the wilderness of women’s circumstances for such a time as this.
I pray that in our quest to make Him known, we will never let our voice be louder than His; we will never let our message become more than His; we will never let our stories supersede His…because we only have one shot at this thing called life…and it really is all about Him.
Tell me about your She Speaks experience. Did you go? What did you learn there?
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This was my first year at She Speaks. I didn't go to learn more about speaking or writing, I was asked to be a volunteer for Proverbs 31 and work at the recourse table.
Upon arriving, I gave my cell number to Samantha, who is LeAnn's assistant, and told her if she needed any help anywhere, call me.
She never hesitated to call or text, letting me know where she needed help. I was glad and was willing to do whatever she needed.
While at the conference and since I have gotten home, I have received little notes from the P31 women thanking me and telling me about having such a servant's heart.
This was a huge conformation for me. Right before attending She Speaks, I finished a Bible study at my church, and the last question we were asked to think about was…”What is our purpose? What is it that God is calling us to do?” I sat there thinking to myself, “I don't have a clue.” But it is something I began praying. I know we each have a spiritual gift but I didn't know what mine was.
I never hesitated to respond to Samantha's request and was glad she knew she could call me. And I was happy to do it.
A servant's heart…..I don't know what will be my next act of service or when it will be. But I know that God confirmed something for me last weekend and I am excited to see what He has next for me.
Angie ~ you certainly lived the life of a servant this past weekend and I felt so honored to have finally met you. Maybe one day we can find ourselves in the same town again and spend some time together. 🙂 Sounds fun to me!
What a beautiful post! I've heard nothing but wonderful things about SheSpeaks and I've never attended. Perhaps 2011.
Blessings to you!
Hi Lisa,
You're so right. The conference was a wonderful experience. If you're a speaker, writer or ministry leader, you'll want to make plans to be there next year.
Thanks for popping in and visiting. Hope you'll come again.
I popped over to yours and see you have a ministry and a heart for ministering to others. Love that!