She Speaks...

My friend Lysa is having a contest for a scholarship to this year's She Speaks Conference. She and information about the contest can be found at: http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com.

Now... let me tell you about the time I attended a She Speaks Conference. I had longed to go ever since I first heard about the Proverbs 31 ministry and the ladies behind the ministry. I had at one time dreamed of maybe writing a book about the loss of our son or even just the trials we had gone through as a family. My wonderful Dad passed away a few years ago and when I found out each of us kids would be getting a small inheritance check, I prayed about what I should do with my share and immediately the words "She Speaks Conference" came to my mind. I presented this desire and the desire to get a laptop to my sister's and later to my husband. At first he agreed with the laptop idea and eventually he agreed that I should attend the conference as well. When I first arrived I was rather overwhelmed... there were so many wonderful women there and they all seemed far more accomplished than I was. At first, I wondered why God would have wanted me to come to this conference. As the conference progressed, however, God crossed my path with my wonderful friend Tammy at: http://www.tammynischan.blogspot.com/ and her story was similar to mine... she had lost a child and had another child walking through cancer. As we shared our stories and our tears a deep friendship grew and I suddenly realized why God had brought me to this conference. Finally, Renee Swope at http://www.reneeswope.blogspot.com/ spoke on the Shadow of the Cross. At the end of the message we were to write down our doubts and fears and take them to the cross. Once we released them we were supposed to pick up a card and take it back to our seats. As I sat down and read my new card... the word CHOSEN was written with the verse from 1 Peter 2:9 - "For you are a chosen (woman). You are a royal priest a holy (daughter). God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light." The Lord began to speak to my heart about how HE had Chosen ME to not only come to this conference but to speak HIS words and to share my story with others. When I returned home after this amazing weekend I did two things.... I sat down and created this blog and then went and enrolled in an English class at our local community college.

I would LOVE to return to the She Speaks Conference this summer but since I'm not working full-time and I'm currently taking more college classes... the money is not available in our already stretched budget. The opportunity to win a scholarship has been presented and I would see it as a total miracle of God if I won!! Thus... this post is to enter the contest. If it would be the Lord's will that I would win and be able to attend... it would be for His Glory! I would love to develop this little blog into a platform where I can share God's word with other hurting mom's or weary wives or lonely daughters. I would love to be able share even more what God has done in my life and the lives of other women I know.

Lord, I give this desire to You.... I place it in Your Hands and allow You to determine the outcome. Even if I am not selected for this scholarship, I pray that You will deeply bless the women who do attend and may their lives be as deeply impacted as mine was!

AMEN!