Let's do this…

So, I don’t even know where to begin.

Maybe with a disclaimer? Or a pardon for errors that I am certain can be found in this post due to sleep deprivation and new friends from all over the country and something to do with the fact that I would not SHUT. UP. We shared our hearts and coffee and contact info and pictures and hash tags AROUND THE CLOCK and it was MORE THAN AWESOME!

I was granted the privilege of traveling to Indianapolis on Thursday to attend The Influence Conference. Influence is a gathering of women who are desperately in love with The Savior of the world who came to seek and to save..Women who are PASSIONATE about sharing one heartbeat–MAKING MUCH OF HIM… Add to that an obsession for orphans and non-profit organizations..oh! and blogging strategies and social media and unbelievable hand crafted treasures all for HIM.

Can I be real for a minute y’all?

I didn’t know what to expect going into this…

J said to me the night before I left, “So, you’re gonna go to a city you’ve never been to, stay in a room with women you have never met or spoken to (in a real voice-like on the phone) and to do a whole lotta “you’re not sure” …”

“Yep. Because I KNOW that God is UP TO SOMETHING”

“my sheep hear my voice”

and y’all… I did.

I heard from Him over and over and over again..all weekend long.  In every session, in the lobby, at dinner, in the bathroom, in the elevator through the hearts of my new friends.  I saw Him in their tears and fears and smiles. I felt Him through their hugs and love pats.

So many stories. So diverse.  Single moms, divorced women, loss moms, BIG-time bloggers with large followings but lots of others with not so many. Some a decade younger than me. A few older..all of us..seeking HIS direction with our stories..

or rather

His story.

And it comes down to this…

If you have a story (AND YOU DO) and you are passionate about THAT STORY and you can’t stop thinking about it and you’ve prayed and you’ve laid it down and yet it came back and you could talk about it ALL. DAY. LONG

not to share THAT STORY

is quite simply: an act of disobedience.

We are called commanded to

FOLLOW HIM.

SEEK HIM.

SHARE HIM.

His call is simple…yet profound if our desire is to become “like Him”

Follow me.

His call for your life may be risky.

That’s okay.

His call for us may wreck us.

it’s okay.

Scare us to death.

That’s okay.

Because “every millisecond of your life matters…”

Lara Casey was one of the speakers.  She was great.  But more than she was great and sophisticated with her dress and cute shoes and adorable smile.  She was real.  Her heart was tender and gracious.  She had been lost and by His grace -found.

Her message was passionate.

Name the fear the cripples you (me)…

And remember that in HIM-I have influence

And so. Do. You.

“my sheep hear my voice”

Two of my very specific prayers over the last several weeks have been:

1. Lord do you want me to continue this blog?  Do you want me to use the stories here to write a book about Your relentless faithfulness? your goodness?
2. Do you want me to continue speaking/teaching?  Have I made those things about me? Because it’s SO NOT ABOUT ME.It’s Are others drawing nearer to You through my fallen efforts?

Can I take just a moment to testify?

HE has HEARD and ANSWERED my prayers.

Through His word, the encouragement of others and in circumstances that only He could orchestrate.

“my sheep hear my voice”

So now what?

I need you- FAITHFUL-DEVOTED-AMZAING readers more than ever before.

Need you to do what?

 

1. Pray with me for God to rise up a “Dream Team”.  And yes. I am very aware of how cliché’ that sounds. But I need you because I know me. I need prayer warriors, and people who will be “no-holds-barred” honest with me about my writing. I know the unorganized, spastic, forgetful, “glorify the busy” me.  So pray, ok? Ask God if He wants YOU to be a part of this team.
2. Pray that I will better steward my time and stop “glorifying the busy” To clear the clutter and LIVE more engaged with the life I write about here.
3. Share your heart with me.  Tell me what you struggle with…how you best relate to what you read here?  What stories move you or make you want to SCREAM OUT LOUD?!  I sincerely want to hear from you because after all you are the reader <3

Finally, can I just say THANK YOU! I am so full and crazy SOLD OUT to do this! Because I KNOW HE has GIVEN ME A STORY so that I MAY BRING HIM GLORY!

I sincerely thank God for you and your devotion and crazy steadfast encouragement as we do life together.  Sharing REAL STORIES about REAL LIFE encouraging, exhorting and INSPIRING each other along the way.

So, y’all ready?

we’re going to WRITE A BOOK!

Let’s do this!

#LOVEYOUSOVERYMUCH

:O)k