Sweet Sisters

Over the last couple of months, I have had the great honor to speak for several different groups of ladies at various events. While I always pray that God will provide me with the words He would have me share that will meet the needs of the women present, I quite often come away from these gatherings feeling as though I am the one who receives the greatest blessing.

The way God works in the hearts and lives of those who love and serve Him never ceases to amaze me. Women often feel a strong connection with the guest speaker at a retreat or conference, and as such, I have heard a multitude of stories from the women God has called me to minister to ... stories of salvation, of joy, of pain, of sorrow. So many lives that have been touched by the Master's hand; so many lives that are in desperate need of His healing power.

All of those women, each and every one of them, have left a mark on me ... whether it be sharing laughter or tears ... they have all had an impact on me. Gals who are now a part of me, a part of my heart, a part of my soul ... Kathy, Vicki, Charlene, Elaine, Angi, Karen, Doris, Kari, Susan, Stephanie, Pat, Cindy, Becky ... and so many more true blessings in my life.

The older I become, the more I find myself contemplating what heaven will be like one day. I like to believe that will recognize on some level those who meant so much to us during our time on earth. If that turns out to be the case, I can't wait for the reunion that will happen one day with all my sweet sisters in the Lord!

Beyond Belief

Each time I participate in a women's conference, I come away wanting to do so much more in service to my Lord. This weekend was no exception; in fact, I feel the calling on my life growing deeper and stronger than ever before.

The theme for the weekend (every women's conference has to have a theme!) was Beyond Belief. The keynote speaker focused on the life of Peter in her messages, beginning with his failures and ending with his victories and depth of faith that grew out of his adversities. As I listened to the words that God had given her, I felt God calling me to grow deeper in my own faith, to stretch in my trusting of Him, to go beyond my belief in Him and step out of the boat and onto the rolling waves, to take His hand and follow Him wherever He may lead.

I've been speaking for women's events for quite a few years, and I was asked to lead a session this weekend entitled "A Heart Beyond Belief." As I prayed and prepared for the session, as is often the case, God spoke to me about the condition of my own heart. As I studied about what it truly means to have a pure heart, a heart that follows hard after God and His will for my life, I realized that I needed to ask God to wash my own heart, to scrub me clean, to make me pure.

It is so easy to let little things creep into my life that cause a shadow to fall over my relationship with my heavenly Father. It is so easy to allow being too busy to keep me from spending the time I should in God's Word. It is so easy to make excuses as to why I can't step out in faith and follow God wherever and whenever He calls. The very morning I was to lead this session, I found myself on my knees by the side of my bed crying out to God to wash me, clean me, and make me the woman He wants me to be.

I think I would do well to learn from the example of David and cry out, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."