Driving Home

As we left the conference Sunday afternoon, we had ninety minutes to complete a sixty minute drive to the airport to drop off Katherine. It was difficult to find the way out of the city, so we were behind already when we got on the freeway and it started to hail. It was actually a huge storm, with five tornadoes going in our vicinity, but all we saw was hailstones the size of marbles (still pretty impressive to us California girls!). God provided, though, and we got to the airport in plenty of time for Katherine to catch her flight.

Sunday night we stayed at my grandparent's house in order to get an early start Monday morning. Our uncle, aunt, and cousin came over to visit, and we enjoyed a wonderful meal prepared by my grandma.

Down in the basement that evening, we girls had a calm evening of talking and sharing, starting to digest and apply what was taught at the conference. Well, mostly calm, but there were a few exciting moments, like when the foot-rest of the chair flipped open unexpectedly, and just about startled us out of our skin. We were a little edgy, being so tired:).

The next two days were too long when we thought about wanting to be home, but not anywhere near long enough to solidify the sweet friendships that the Lord began to build on Him. The Church is one of the most precious things in life, and that week was a taste of Heaven in the fellowship, shared prayer, and encouragement.

My younger siblings had prepared a special surprise for all of us at home. They not only put a welcome sign on the sidewalk, but made a special one on a poster with each girl's name decorated uniquely. We felt very loved. Then it was time to separate, each girl to her own home, hoping to bring the encouragment of the Lord to her family. May He be praised in what we do!

At the Conference

We got to the conference late afternoon Friday. After setting up our rooms and walking to dinner (some of us taking the longer route:), we went to the first session. It was a powerful teaching on repentance, God’s glory, and holiness. The lights were dim, and God sent a thunderstorm to back up the anointed teaching on His majesty. There simply are not words to describe the greatness of God’s character that was revealed to us that evening.

What we learned through the weekend-

Useful definition: Flirting is drawing attention to myself.

We have entered a covenant with the King of kings: He gave His life for us, and requires our life in return.

It is the life that has no time for trifling that counts. Amy Carmichael

No matter the outcome to us, even if it were hell, God deserves all the glory that comes from our full obedience and surrender.

Inactivity or entertainment is not rest and refreshment. These only come from Christ. “The times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19b

We may be able to get to Heaven without the extreme and full surrender asked of us, but that is not the point. Our Lord Christ deserves our all and everything. In the light of His sacrifice, nothing we give can compare to the glory He deserves. Our joy in giving back to Him surpasses any enjoyment we might get out of what we hold back.

We must trust God to fulfill the desires that He has given us, pleading with Him in prayer.

The Christian life is not about us. (So simple, yet so hard to grasp.)

God’s desire is the poor, hungry, sick and needy; what He desires is worth my life.

I have a claim to all of Christ; He has a claim to all of me.

Day Two

Friday morning wasn't quite so early a wake-up time. We didn't have to leave the hotel until 10am, so there was time for a nice walk along the canal. After reloading the luggage carrier, we were off on the remaining four hour drive.

The scenery kept getting more beautiful as we kept driving. There were so many chances for wonderful pictures, which kept those of us who were awake busy while the others rested.

Lap luggage

We were very blessed to be lent a luggage carrier for the top of the van, but with fourteen ladies in a fifteen passenger van there were still items needing to be stowed on laps. It was an adventure unloading and reloading the luggage carrier every evening and morning (one girl on top of the van, one on the wheel, and one standing on the rear bumper), but by the last day we had mastered it.

More beautiful scenery.

Part of the group of very excited girls who can't wait to get to the conference!

Where We Have Been

Last weekend the Lord took Momma, Nicole, Kayla, and I with a group of ten other ladies on an incredible journey. We went to Colorado for a conference on set-apart femininity, driving four solid days and receiving scriptural teaching that was life-changing. I was expecting a conference on ladylikeness, but it was so much more than that. The truths we heard were hard-hitting, challenging us to surrender everything to God, fortify ourselves against the enemy's attacks, and then stand in the gap for others. We received teaching on the glory of God, and were told that He deserves total and complete submission, no matter what the cost to us, and then received encouragement that joy does come through surrender. We left refreshed, having seen God work in marvelous ways.

Day One

Schedule for the first day: Get up at 4:00am. Well, we started out off schedule, but early! Our big dog decided that we needed an extra half-hour to get ready, so after our barking alarm clock, we got up and ready between 3:30 and 5:00. It ended up that we needed that thirty minutes, because with pictures, girly talk, and good-byes, it was 5:13 by the time we backed down our drive-way.
So we were thirteen minutes behind, but not too bad. The drive was beautiful the entire way, and cameras were clicking the whole time. We started chattering after everyone knew everyone else's name, and then stopped about two hours from home for breakfast.

At our first stop was were we started to see God's protective hand. When we stopped for breakfast, I locked the keys in the car. Mrs. Callis called Triple A, but instead of just waiting for who knows how long, we girls tried to do something about it. One of our windows doesn't latch shut, so we were able to pry it open, but it was a window that only opens three inches sideways. We tried to stick a couple things in the window to reach the lock on the other door, nothing worked until Eden reached in with a cord and lassoed the lock. After a quick yank, the door was unlocked, but we then faced another dilemma. That door does not open from the outside. God does still work miracles, though, as was proved by the fact that we opened that door (though we haven't for months, and cannot now).After that show of God's protection on us females, we had a fairly uneventful, though long, day. We drove through five states, switching seats at every stop in order to get to know all of the girls in the van.

At 11:30 that night we pulled into the hotel parking lot, tired, but excited. God had used conversation to begin to knit our hearts together, and encourage us in Him. And this was before we even got to the conference!

12 & 3

Happy birthday, Shauna and Audra! Our "little" girls are growing up. Shauna is close to joining the big girl group, and Audra insists that she is not baby Audra. May God guide your journeys to maturity.