Stacey, Lisa, Denise, and Debbie--are they not adorable???
Me and Lynn--she was our fearless leader and Proverbs 31 team member
Christy, me, and Lynn--precious girls
Marci, Amy, Lisa, and Sharon--they were just darlin' sweet gals
Here's our group! One of the gals, Suzie, had already left for Virginia Beach to go home. I had the privilege of having breakfast with her and her friends on Sunday morning. They were so kind to let me sit with them--I had just finished a run and was still in wet stinky running clothes and a hat!! Bless their hearts!When I registered for She Speaks, I thought that I would step out on a limb! Give something new a try! Last year, I focused on Women's Ministries. Most of the sessions I attended related to that. This year, I had a different goal in mind. I wanted to focus on speaking while facilitating Bible Studies at my church. Just making sure that I stay on track and don't deviate too much from the topic! When you enjoy chatting as much as I do, it's easy to move to another topic without realizing it! For example, if we were studying Mary and Martha, this could lead into discussion about Martha's cooking for Jesus and the disciples. In turn, we could ponder what would she prepare for the meal. That could lead to recipes, and the next thing you know, we'd be swappin' banana pudding ideas with each other!! See how easy it is to get off track??
Well, I gave it a try! These darlin' girls in the pics above and myself were in a room where we shared our testimony on Friday and a teaching talk on Saturday. Friday's talk was limited to 3 minutes, and Saturday's talk to 5 minutes. People, talking and being timed and staying focused was exactly what I needed!! Whew!! It's very difficult to share how you came to Christ in 3 minutes or less! You have to think of this as one photograph on a page...not lots of extra pictures that you really want to share. Focus and main idea was what we had to strive for.
These ladies were just so precious! Their smiles and nods of encouragement while speaking made it a little easier!!! We became extremely vulnerable as we let down the walls and shared our stories. No longer were we complete strangers, but sisters in Christ. We each had to critique one another with a wonderful checklist. I treasure the comments that they wrote. The one comment that made me smile--even though it was something that I needed to work on--was my earrings!! Several of the girls mentioned that my earrings were a distraction!! Y'all, I found these humongous, funky earrings last week while I was in Tennessee. We're talking long and dangly, people!! I decided to wear them on Friday, never thinking at all about them being a distraction while speaking!!
It made me think about what are distractions in my life that keep me from Christ? What shiny, pretty things keep me from meeting with Him each day? My to-do list? Phone calls or errands that simply must get done? Laundry? No--definitely not laundry!! That can always wait and just become a mountain!! Sometimes it's church related! But that quiet time with you and the Lord is something that He desires each day. We have to put away our distractions--whether they are pretty and shiny or dull and boring. As Paul said in Hebrews 12:1-3, "1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up."
Each time I now wear those earrings, they will be a great reminder of distractions that keep me from the Lord--sin that easily trips us up. They will also remind me of the great cloud of witnesses--those wonderful ladies in my speaking group who were loving and honest. Oh, how I appreciate that!
I'll post again on Friday about She Speaks and share more pictures (imagine!) and what God has laid upon my heart. I have a prayer request for y'all today if you don't mind!! I just waved good-bye to Hubby and Children #1 and #2 as they took off to go white water rafting on the Chatooga River with the youth from our church! A few knots in me--you Mama's know what I'm talking about! If you you would lift them up during the day, I would so very much appreciate it! I have loads to do which is why I am not going! We have a big Women's Ministry event on Friday at church, and I am focusing on that today! Bless you!! Y'all are just precious yourselves! Have a beautiful Wednesday!
Sweet Blessings!!
