I’m so excited and I just can’t hide it. I’m about to lose control and I think I like it.
Lysa TerKeurst with Proverbs 31 Ministries is sponsoring another contest. This time it’s for a
scholarship to the She Speaks Conference in June.
scholarship to the She Speaks Conference in June.
http: //www.shespeaksconference.com/
I would love to win this contest. I can tell you, I’m going whether I win or not, the money has already been earmarked, but I have a friend who is also writting a book. She has been through some rough times since her husband died , not just emotionally but physically as well. I would love to give her my earmarked money as a gift so she could come and experience this wonderful growing experience as well.
I would love to win this contest. I can tell you, I’m going whether I win or not, the money has already been earmarked, but I have a friend who is also writting a book. She has been through some rough times since her husband died , not just emotionally but physically as well. I would love to give her my earmarked money as a gift so she could come and experience this wonderful growing experience as well.
But whether I win or not I just can’t help but post my memoirs from last years conference in hopes that my story will help someone step out in faith.
Here goes:
2007 was the year that the Lord turned up the volume of my spiritual hearing aid.
It all began with what I considered a royal screw up. I’d made plane reservations to visit my friend Jackie in Naples Florida without confirming the date with her. Of course the week-end I’d chosen was the only weekend she wouldn’t be there.
As I rearranged my plans (with the help of Jackie this time) I was thrilled to find out that the new date coincided with her churches Women’s Conference. The speaker was a woman named Lysa TerKeurst from Proverbs 31 Ministries.
My life would never be the same after listening to Lysa talk about saying YES to God.
As the plane made its way down the runway returning me back home, I realized that my being in Florida for this weekend was indeed divine intervention.
Returning back home I was so fired up all I could think of was how I could raise the money to bring Lysa to my little area of the world to speak. I logged on to her website and as I maneuvered around I found out that Proverbs 31 was sponsoring a conference for writers, speakers, and women’s ministry leaders. The conference was called “She Speaks.”
My mouth began to salivate as I read the class descriptions. You see, for over a year I had
been attempting to write a book. God had instructed me one day to begin writing about something he was working on in me. I obeyed. The words began to flow rapidly onto the paper until I got to the ending…. I couldn’t seem to write a suitable ending to the story.
Listening to Lysa had inspired me and I had been revising and writing ever since I had gotten home, and finally I had the end! Now, maybe it was time to learn how to actually write a book instead of just flying by the seat of my pants!
But the price…how could I justify spending the money, not just for the conference but for a flight as well. Not to mention that I would need to take two days off from work. It became my daily prayer for God to provide a way if it was his will.
Every day I’d log on to the website and wonder what to do. A month later, I awoke on the morning of my 58th birthday to this message in my daily devotional,
“If you believe God is asking you to do something, you can’t wait for him to provide the means. Sometimes you have to step out in faith before he will provide. It’s called Trust”
And suddenly I began singing Happy Birthday to ME.
I placed a call to Proverbs 31 and began the registration process over the phone. The friendly woman at the other end of the phone caught me by surprise when she asked me if I would like to take advantage of meeting with a publisher. I froze. I took a deep breath and heard a little voice say “tell her yes”.
“No,” I replied I don’t think I’m ready.
That’s when God turned up the volume another decibel and I heard the words Lysa had spoken in Naples. “I can assure you, she had said. God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies those he calls.
I realized then, that God was calling me to take another leap of faith. Maybe it was to teach me humility when the publisher laughed in my face, or maybe it was to prepare me for something different. Either way, if I was going to follow God I had to follow his direction.
“Um, I think I’ve I changed my mind, I would like to meet with someone after all.”
Stepping off the plane in North Carolina I was a little frazzled as I began trying to find my way to the shuttle. Finally I took a deep breath and said, “Lord, you’ve gotten me this far, I will trust that you will guide me to the hotel as well.” I felt an instant peace. Then I spotted a lone female a few feet in front of me. “By any chance are you in town for the “She Speaks Conference.” “Yes” she said looking relieved. What a blessing to find a new friend to begin the journey with.
I only had one other item that was causing me a little discomfort. My roommate! This was another area that I was depending on God for. I would much rather have had a room to myself, but I felt a little nudge in my spirit when I tried to justify the extra cost of a private room. But more than the cost, God reminded me that this weekend would be about growing in Him and not my personal comfort.
Trusting God paid off again. My roommate was wonderful and a real blessing to share a room with.
And finally the Pièce de résistance was the conference itself. At the registration desk we were given a notebook chocked full of valuable information, outlines, and resources, maps, and anything else we would need.
From the pre conference opening to the closing speech and worship service we were inspired challenged and entertained. I have never seen so many wonderful, compassionate, funny and inspiring leaders all in one place.
Although I crashed and burned in my first attempt at having my book published, the experience was phenomenal. The two women I met with were professional, and seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say, despite my dismal failure at a book proposal.
I have been to many women’s conferences in the past, from business to spiritual growth, but this was by far the most amazing. When so many women are gathered in one place, estrogen permeates the room, but I can honestly say not once did I hear a single grumble or complaint. It was truly an encounter with the Holy Spirit.
For three days I walked around in awe. Each day exceeded my expectations. But sadly all good things come to an end and soon it was time to head home.
I wasn’t heading home alone. I now had new friends to hold in my heart, mentors from the Gather and Grow group to light my path, and a sense of God smiling at my obedience.
In my bible is a beautiful reminder of my weekend and what serving God is all about. It reads:
2007 was the year that the Lord turned up the volume of my spiritual hearing aid.
It all began with what I considered a royal screw up. I’d made plane reservations to visit my friend Jackie in Naples Florida without confirming the date with her. Of course the week-end I’d chosen was the only weekend she wouldn’t be there.
As I rearranged my plans (with the help of Jackie this time) I was thrilled to find out that the new date coincided with her churches Women’s Conference. The speaker was a woman named Lysa TerKeurst from Proverbs 31 Ministries.
My life would never be the same after listening to Lysa talk about saying YES to God.
As the plane made its way down the runway returning me back home, I realized that my being in Florida for this weekend was indeed divine intervention.
Returning back home I was so fired up all I could think of was how I could raise the money to bring Lysa to my little area of the world to speak. I logged on to her website and as I maneuvered around I found out that Proverbs 31 was sponsoring a conference for writers, speakers, and women’s ministry leaders. The conference was called “She Speaks.”
My mouth began to salivate as I read the class descriptions. You see, for over a year I had
been attempting to write a book. God had instructed me one day to begin writing about something he was working on in me. I obeyed. The words began to flow rapidly onto the paper until I got to the ending…. I couldn’t seem to write a suitable ending to the story.
Listening to Lysa had inspired me and I had been revising and writing ever since I had gotten home, and finally I had the end! Now, maybe it was time to learn how to actually write a book instead of just flying by the seat of my pants!
But the price…how could I justify spending the money, not just for the conference but for a flight as well. Not to mention that I would need to take two days off from work. It became my daily prayer for God to provide a way if it was his will.
Every day I’d log on to the website and wonder what to do. A month later, I awoke on the morning of my 58th birthday to this message in my daily devotional,
“If you believe God is asking you to do something, you can’t wait for him to provide the means. Sometimes you have to step out in faith before he will provide. It’s called Trust”
And suddenly I began singing Happy Birthday to ME.
I placed a call to Proverbs 31 and began the registration process over the phone. The friendly woman at the other end of the phone caught me by surprise when she asked me if I would like to take advantage of meeting with a publisher. I froze. I took a deep breath and heard a little voice say “tell her yes”.
“No,” I replied I don’t think I’m ready.
That’s when God turned up the volume another decibel and I heard the words Lysa had spoken in Naples. “I can assure you, she had said. God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies those he calls.
I realized then, that God was calling me to take another leap of faith. Maybe it was to teach me humility when the publisher laughed in my face, or maybe it was to prepare me for something different. Either way, if I was going to follow God I had to follow his direction.
“Um, I think I’ve I changed my mind, I would like to meet with someone after all.”
Stepping off the plane in North Carolina I was a little frazzled as I began trying to find my way to the shuttle. Finally I took a deep breath and said, “Lord, you’ve gotten me this far, I will trust that you will guide me to the hotel as well.” I felt an instant peace. Then I spotted a lone female a few feet in front of me. “By any chance are you in town for the “She Speaks Conference.” “Yes” she said looking relieved. What a blessing to find a new friend to begin the journey with.
I only had one other item that was causing me a little discomfort. My roommate! This was another area that I was depending on God for. I would much rather have had a room to myself, but I felt a little nudge in my spirit when I tried to justify the extra cost of a private room. But more than the cost, God reminded me that this weekend would be about growing in Him and not my personal comfort.
Trusting God paid off again. My roommate was wonderful and a real blessing to share a room with.
And finally the Pièce de résistance was the conference itself. At the registration desk we were given a notebook chocked full of valuable information, outlines, and resources, maps, and anything else we would need.
From the pre conference opening to the closing speech and worship service we were inspired challenged and entertained. I have never seen so many wonderful, compassionate, funny and inspiring leaders all in one place.
Although I crashed and burned in my first attempt at having my book published, the experience was phenomenal. The two women I met with were professional, and seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say, despite my dismal failure at a book proposal.
I have been to many women’s conferences in the past, from business to spiritual growth, but this was by far the most amazing. When so many women are gathered in one place, estrogen permeates the room, but I can honestly say not once did I hear a single grumble or complaint. It was truly an encounter with the Holy Spirit.
For three days I walked around in awe. Each day exceeded my expectations. But sadly all good things come to an end and soon it was time to head home.
I wasn’t heading home alone. I now had new friends to hold in my heart, mentors from the Gather and Grow group to light my path, and a sense of God smiling at my obedience.
In my bible is a beautiful reminder of my weekend and what serving God is all about. It reads:
It’s about Personal Growth ~ Not Perfection
It’s about Experiencing God ~ Not Exposure
It’s about Helping ~ Not Hoarding
It’s about Obedience ~ Not Opportunity
It’s about a Calling ~ Not Comfort
It’s about God ~ Not Glory
It’s about Experiencing God ~ Not Exposure
It’s about Helping ~ Not Hoarding
It’s about Obedience ~ Not Opportunity
It’s about a Calling ~ Not Comfort
It’s about God ~ Not Glory
As a footnote let me tell you that just a few days after I registered for the conference we received a purchase agreement on my Fathers estate. It had been on the market for 6 months. The transaction was closed just prior to the conference.
We Serve an Awesome God.
13 comments:
Luanne, Great post. I loved going through those memories in my head with you. Last year's conference was incredible. Hope to see you there this year.
I have entered the contest but your post has made me really want to go! I am scared to fly by myself but hearing how you found someone right off the bat is comforting! Maybe everyone who goes can wear something so we can pick each other out!
Thanks for encouraging me to go!
Your post echoes all of my sentiments from last year. It was so beyond my expectations (even if my book proposal flopped too!) and I would encourage everyone interested to figure out a way to go.
Luanne,
Thanks for your comment on my blog. I appreciate it!
Elaine
Thank you for visiting my blog. I also was alittle unsure about the roommate thing. But God created us,knows us and my roommate was alot like me.
I enjoyed reading your post.
Tammy
Great post. I really enjoyed it and the encouragement to go to the conference.
Praying for God to make a way.
Have a great day!
Luanne: Thanks for the comments you left on MY blog which led me to read YOURS!:) What an inspiring testimony. You have really made me want to go to the conference even more than I already did. Thanks for all that you shared! God bless you!!
PS to earlier post....Do not be discouraged with the rejection you received from the SHE SPEAKS publisher you spoke with. I heard the other day that Max Lucado (one of my favorite authors) was rejected 14 times before he had anything published!!! So hang in there...if God is in it, it WILL BE!!!
WOW......I am in awe. First, my mom's name is Luann....and she is from Michigan, she has a boy and girl (me) and three grandaughters!! =) I got so much just from reading your profile!! THEN, I read this entry....whew....wow, do I want to go to this!!!Thank you for this...it was very touching to my soul.
What a wonderful story, Luanne! I also went to your other website, and it is wonderful to see how you are stepping out in faith to help others!
Everyone has such a great story to tell of what God has done in their lives. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all go to the conference? Or, at least, create a blogring to encourage one another in our writing efforts?
What a great testimony and inspiring story of your journey. I really hope to able to attend also.
Thanks for sharing your story! It makes me want to go even more now than before!
I was over at your either site, too, which sounds like a wonderful ministry to widows, which is very similar to one that I have that is web-based. You can check it out at www.theruthproject.net.
Blessings on you,
Elisa
www.extravagantgrace.net
I loved your story. I have been praying over attending this conference and after reading this post, I am going! I'll be back to read more of your God Spots!
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