A look inside: Becoming a Woman of Faith

Friday, October 12, 2007

Becoming a Woman of Faith

Today is a good day.

I am getting out of the house for two whole days!

Amazing.

I feel so blessed that I have the opportunity to attend the Women of Faith conference this weekend. I've never been before, but have heard good reports, and we are sitting only sixteen rows from the stage. Pretty nice! So what am I hoping to get out of this weekend other then a break from laundry, cooking, and dishes? Well, I hope to meet God in the midst of some awesome worship. I hope to hear God through the teaching of women who have submitted their lives to Him so they can be used for His glory. I hope to fill a whole notebook full of notes, so I can read back over them for months to come, and remember what God was impressing upon my heart. I hope to laugh. I hope to be convicted. I hope to be renewed. I hope to be changed. But most of all, I hope to be a woman who pleases God. How? By continuing to be a woman of faith. Because, "without faith it is impossible to please God" - Hebrews 11:6.

Oh, and I almost forgot, I will thoroughly enjoy going out to dinner without a two year old. Why would a mother say such harsh words? I will let these pictures answer that for you:

17 comments:

Ona said...: Have a wonderful time!!!; October 12, 2007 at 8:05 AM
Anonymous said...: Liz you have a wonderful time! you deserve it! Maybe next year we can go together!!
I think you took those pictures off my camera and put Oliva in them. The night before last we had the same situations at the same place.
Even the same side of the booth!; October 12, 2007 at 9:05 AM
Lindsay said...: Enjoy it sweet girl! It is a wonderful conference that inspires, encourages, renews & strengthens. I can't wait to see/read about what God will show you as you meet Him in a new way this weekend. Blessings to you -; October 12, 2007 at 3:12 PM
Glory Laine said...: I love how Auntie thinks this trick is amusing. And I love how you took the picture before putting the smack down.; October 12, 2007 at 3:49 PM
Sharon said...: I'm so excited that you get to go to WOF this year~it's so awesome! And your seats! We've always been in the nose bleeds. Your so close you might get spit on when the talk! Way cool! Have a fabulous time. You are now, officially, a WOFer (that's what Julie and I named ourselves at last year's WOF)!; October 12, 2007 at 11:12 PM
Jen said...: I love Women of Faith. Sheila Walsh is one of my heroes. She's the one who talksso openly about depression and anti-depressant medication, and her journey. She gave me permission to breathe back when I was in a pit in my life. Anyways, I know you're there now...so when you get back...I hope you had a great time!; October 13, 2007 at 8:39 AM
Rachel said...: I hope you have fun at your conference...and those pictures are exactly why going out with a two year old is funny for everyone else BUT the child's mother. AHHH!!; October 13, 2007 at 8:46 AM
Michelle said...: Liz... I will pray for you today! I hope that you are meeting God in a fresh way even RIGHT NOW! Blessings on you.; October 13, 2007 at 9:34 AM
Julie said...: Hope that WOF was a great time...I've always enjoyed going, and spending time with the "girls".

Those pictures are cute. Your daughter is adorable!!

Can't wait to hear all about your weekend!!; October 13, 2007 at 10:41 AM
Sharon said...: Whew~the typos in my last comment to you! So sorry! Should be ‘you're’ instead of ‘your’ and ‘they’ instead of ‘the.’ I was tired. : )

I'm here to congratulate the mighty Sarah for her fabulous volleyball game this morning! She really helped the Westies pummel the Southies! She's just too adorable. One time she successfully dug a serve and sent it back over the net in the middle of three of my girls who just watched it in wonder as it hit the ground. Sarah was so excited! She jumped and clapped. I loved it! Although, I have to toot Greta's horn, too! She learned how to serve overhand at Thursday's practice and she did it five times in the game today! I was SOOO proud of her! They're all such sweet girls~I'm having so much fun! (Even on crutches!)

I hope WOF is going well, but I missed you this morning. See you next Saturday between games!; October 13, 2007 at 12:45 PM
Unknown said...: I love those pictures of Olivia, although, I may change how I feel about them when I have my own two year old...what do you think? :); October 14, 2007 at 5:49 PM
Lindsay said...: So how was it??
Was Max Lucado there?
If so, I'm more than jealous!!
Can't wait for an update...; October 14, 2007 at 10:06 PM
Valerie of Momia said...: I was there, too!! I hope you enjoyed it!; October 14, 2007 at 11:21 PM
Stefanie said...: We should get our 2 year olds together - they would get along grandly.; October 15, 2007 at 12:07 PM
Kailin said...: Hope you had fun...I went a few years ago and LOVED it!; October 15, 2007 at 11:49 PM
Julie said...: Waiting to hear all about your weekend!! Hope that you had a fun time :); October 16, 2007 at 12:56 PM
Michelle said...: Where are you, Cyber Friend?!?; October 16, 2007 at 9:35 PM

Words to Remember

"Christ's followers cannot expect better treatment in the world than their Master had. Let them not promise themselves more honor or pleasure in the world than Christ had. Let each live a life of labor and self-denial as his Master, and make himself a servant of all; let him stoop, and let him toil, and do all the good he can, and then he will be a complete disciple."
~Matthew Henry,
English Pastor 1662-1714

"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all. But whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."
~Martin Luther King

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
~Jim Elliot

"I am a missionary, heart and soul. God Himself had an only Son, and He was a missionary and a physician. A poor, poor imitation I am, or wish to be, but in this service I hope to live. In it I wish to die. I still prefer poverty and missions service to riches and ease. This is my choice."
~David Livingstone

"I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others do the same. "
~C.S. Lewis

"I want Thy plan, O God, for my life. May I be happy and contented whether in the homeland or on the foreign field; whether married or alone, in happiness or sorrow, health or sickness, prosperity or adversity - I want Thy plan, O God, for my life."
~Oswald J. Smith

songs with meaning

If you hear one of these songs playing while visiting my blog, here is why it is so special to me:

I Will Be Here by Steven Curtis Chapman: I would listen to this song as a young teenager and dream about finding a love like this song describes. Guess what? God gave more then I ever dreamed.

Any Song by Keith Green!!! I first heard Keith Green as a young child and knew all his songs by heart. As a teenager, I loved his music because he is so honest and authentic. I also read his autobiography when I was in my teens. He is one of my all-time heroes! I remember my friends laughing at me when they were in my car, wondering why I would be listening to songs from the 70's. Yes, the music is cheesy, but the lyrics are simply amazing!

How Could I Ask For More by Cindy Morgan: My senior year of high school I was on homecoming court with four other girls, who were all good friends of mine. We all picked this song to be played during our ceremony. I still love this song!

Have I Told You Lately by Rod Stewart: The song Jon and I danced to at our wedding. I smile every time I hear it.

I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me: This song was played at Brian Ditchen's memorial service. Brian was Jon's cousin who he grew up with, and who I went to school with, and he was a dear friend. He passed away in March of 2004 in a tragic plane accident, he was only 28. It shook the core of our faith. The only comfort came from knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, who Brian lived his life for: Jesus Christ. He was a dedicated believer, and we can't wait to see him again. Every time we would hear this song, it touched us deeply, it still does. Heaven has become very real to us.

The Scientist by Coldplay: My younger brother, Ben, sang and played this song on the piano at my brother Jeremy's memorial service. Jeremy passed away suddenly in September of 2004, he was only 31. Once again our faith was shaken (see next song)....

Cry Out To Jesus by Third Day: Whenever I hear this song I am reminded of my brother Jeremy...."To everyone who's lost someone they loved, long before it was their time, you feel like the days you had were not enough, when you said goodbye....cry out to Jesus" I am reminded to turn to God in the midst of my pain and loss, and it's OK to go to Him with my questions

We Will Dance by Steven Curtis Chapman: My current love song. It so beautifully describes mine and Jon's relationship.

I'm Not Cool by Scott Krippane: This is Daniel's song.Not in a mean way. He absolutely loves this song and sings along with it every time. The funny thing is, it describes him perfectly.

She's a Dancer by Phil Keaggy: This is Sarah's song! It so sweetly reminds me of Sarah...."she's a dancer, she loves to dance, she's a singer, she loves to sing, she's a lady, walkin' round in mama's shoes, standin' tall in mama's shoes" Sarah has also been caught singing into the bathroom mirror. And when she was younger she put on many "dance performances" for us in our living room.

Olivia by Phil Keaggy: Obviously Olivia's song! I've sang this song to her since she was a tiny newborn. She knows the words and sings along now. Whenever I put this song on, she stops what she's doing and gets a big smile on her face, and says "my song!"

Beautiful by Bethany Dillon: OK I'm 32 now. And sometimes when I look in the mirror, the depression creeps in. I don't look like I did ten years ago, I don't see a beautiful young woman looking back at me. And that can get you down sometimes. This song reminds me that true beauty is who I am in God's eyes. I could be perfect in every way on the outside and yet not be beautiful in the eyes of God, and when it's all said and done, my life would have been lived only for myself. I want to be beautiful in God's eyes, I want Him to look inside my heart and smile, and most importantly, be pleased.

Who Am I?, The Voice of Truth, and Praise You In The Storm by Casting Crowns: All three of these songs are very special to Jon. These are three of his all-time favorites. These songs brought him close to God when he was going through a hard time in his life.

I Am by Nicole Nordeman: The first time I heard this song was at a Women of Faith conference. She played it live on the piano. It was so beautiful and moved me so deeply. God is truly my "I Am", He has been my one firm anchor through every season of my life.