Well - yesterday I provided a recap from one of my favorite speakers at the Women of Faith conference this weekend. But I also had the pleasure of attending the conference with a wonderful girlfriend of mine. It was so refreshing to sit and be able to make eye contact with someone else and just talk (rather than chasing a two-year old around, cutting up food into tiny bits and pieces, etc.).
Tonya and I have known each other for several years through various church activities. But I think that we took our friendship to a new level this weekend. We were able to share parts of our lives that neither of us was aware of previously. It was nice to be able to open up and share freely about our own life experiences. I think the one thing that I took away from our weekend together was realizing that being vulnerable and open with others is so key to developing healthy, meaningful relationships.
Too often, I put up barriers because I fear being judged or let down by someone else. What I am slowly coming to realize is that when we are open and honest about our life struggles, we allow others the opportunity to come alongside and support us through those times. Will we never be hurt? No - there absolutely will be those who break our trust or gossip behind our back about our struggles. However, I believe that we will only be able to see the best in people if we give them the opportunity to help us along the way.
I have learned over the past two years that being open and honest about issues that I am dealing with has also helped me to minister to others. When I had a miscarriage 3 1/2 years ago, I had no one to turn to with questions about what to expect, what to do next, how to cope, etc. But, with God's help, I have learned that my openness and honesty about my experience has allowed me to help others in the same situation.
Although I don't yearn to experience difficult times in my life, my prayer is that I will continually use those experiences to first of all, be vulnerable and open with others about my struggles and secondly, be open and willing to minister to others in similar circumstances.
Thank you Lord for girlfriends and for Your grace - may I continue to show more and more of it to others each day!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
A Grand New Day
I had the privilege of attending the Women of Faith conference this weekend in Kansas City with a girlfriend of mine. The conference was really amazing - the theme this year was "A Grand New Day." Not only was it full of powerful praise and worship music, God-centered teaching, but it helped me to get a fresh perspective.
One of my favorite speakers was Patsy Clairmont. She is a tiny little thing, but she packs a powerful punch. She is so easy to listen to, and she has a way of making the word of God come alive for me. Her word pictures have really stayed with me even after the conference was over.
She related a story about her grandson this past Christmas season. She had Christmas trees set up all around her house but none of them had been decorated. When Noah walked into their living room, the largest Christmas tree was set up there. His reaction was one of awe. When Noah went home that night, he kept nagging his mom because he wanted to go back to his grandmother (Patsy's) house the next day to help her decorate the tree. His mom finally relented, and Noah went to help Patsy and her husband decorate the Christmas tree in their living room.
As most children do, Noah decorated the entire section of the Christmas tree that was at his eye level. He even placed ornaments on top of ornaments. As Patsy explained, when Noah left that day, she spent the next three days re-decorating the Christmas tree to even all of the ornaments out. When Noah returned to their house a few days later, he walked into the living room, and exclaimed, "I didn't know I had done all of that."
As Patsy went on to explain, when we are in the midst of the laundry, the dishes, the diapers, the appointments, the responsibilities, and the day-to-day tasks, sometimes we get so caught up in looking at the eye level ornaments that we miss the bigger picture. Her point was that that some day, we will be able to step back and say "Wow - I did all of that?!" That was such an encouragement to me. I DO tend to get so caught up in the details that I miss the big picture of what my primary role is - to raise two little girls into women who love Christ as their Savior and love others!
And to take Patsy's analogy one step further, she said that she envisioned that when we stand before the throne of God, it will be much the same. We will see all of that we have done for His kingdom, and we will say "Wow - I did all of that?!" I pray that is the legacy that I leave, not only for my children but for those whose lives I come into contact with.
More about the conference tomorrow! For now, I leave you with a verse - "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 Hope you have a great night!
One of my favorite speakers was Patsy Clairmont. She is a tiny little thing, but she packs a powerful punch. She is so easy to listen to, and she has a way of making the word of God come alive for me. Her word pictures have really stayed with me even after the conference was over.
She related a story about her grandson this past Christmas season. She had Christmas trees set up all around her house but none of them had been decorated. When Noah walked into their living room, the largest Christmas tree was set up there. His reaction was one of awe. When Noah went home that night, he kept nagging his mom because he wanted to go back to his grandmother (Patsy's) house the next day to help her decorate the tree. His mom finally relented, and Noah went to help Patsy and her husband decorate the Christmas tree in their living room.
As most children do, Noah decorated the entire section of the Christmas tree that was at his eye level. He even placed ornaments on top of ornaments. As Patsy explained, when Noah left that day, she spent the next three days re-decorating the Christmas tree to even all of the ornaments out. When Noah returned to their house a few days later, he walked into the living room, and exclaimed, "I didn't know I had done all of that."
As Patsy went on to explain, when we are in the midst of the laundry, the dishes, the diapers, the appointments, the responsibilities, and the day-to-day tasks, sometimes we get so caught up in looking at the eye level ornaments that we miss the bigger picture. Her point was that that some day, we will be able to step back and say "Wow - I did all of that?!" That was such an encouragement to me. I DO tend to get so caught up in the details that I miss the big picture of what my primary role is - to raise two little girls into women who love Christ as their Savior and love others!
And to take Patsy's analogy one step further, she said that she envisioned that when we stand before the throne of God, it will be much the same. We will see all of that we have done for His kingdom, and we will say "Wow - I did all of that?!" I pray that is the legacy that I leave, not only for my children but for those whose lives I come into contact with.
More about the conference tomorrow! For now, I leave you with a verse - "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 Hope you have a great night!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Sledding in March!
We got about 4 inches of snow this weekend which gave my brother in law and I the opportunity to take my nephew (Blake) and Lydia sledding on Sunday afternoon. Against our better judgement, we sent them down the hill on their own and together. Amazingly they did really well and as an added bonus appeared to love the thrill. Topped off by a natural snow cone and some hot chocolate we seemed to have a successful Sunday afternoon. Props to Aunt Brooke on the hot chocolate...
Have a great day.
Brian
Have a great day.
Brian
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