As a newbie, I didn't really know what to expect. I only knew a couple of the speakers even though some of them have been teaching the Bible and speaking to women for over 30 years. I expected to have a good time with my mom and my aunt Kathy and to learn about God's love for me (This year's theme is LOVED), but what I didn't expect was to be blown completely away by the beauty of God's family and His work in our hearts.
I didn't expect to cry and to laugh simultaneously. Tears of beauty at the redemptive work of God, tears of laughter as we completely cracked up, tears of solidarity as the speakers shared their stories. Tears of overwhelming amazement at the intense and tender love of Christ, who went to the cross to show us the width and the depth and strength of His love.
I didn't expect to be enamored with the team of speakers. So much so that I kept stealing glances at the side of the stage where they were all seated together and just watching them. I have never seen such beautiful, radiant women in my life.
These women of faith ranged from ages 40-84. Not one had a supermodel figure or perfectly symmetrical faces or airbrushed makeup. But I am telling you, they were stunningly beautiful. They laughed and danced with complete abandon, they embraced the hard parts of their stories and shared them with such grace and courage. Each one of these women spoke to the crowd and you saw them-- completely themselves, each her own, not one like the other, secure in who God made her to be and owning it. Loving it. Lit up from the inside out, enjoying all of the ups and downs of life, together. It was obvious that these women were the deepest kind of friends. Not competing or condemning or subtly envious of the others accomplishments or gifts -- but true FRIENDS.
These women are just like you and me. Ordinary women in love with an extraordinary God. What was special about them was HOW MUCH Jesus shined in their lives.
His Love,
His Grace,
His Redemption,
His Righteousness,
His Compassion,
His Joy ...
all spilling out everywhere.
The speakers sat together on a part of the stage where a make-shift porch was constructed. Part of the conference involved "Stories from the Porch" where the ladies shared funny, heart-warming stories from their everyday trials and triumphs. I laughed until my sides split, and rejoiced and grieved their ups and downs with them. I just watched these ladies in amazement because "This is clearly family."
I left the conference with a fire in my heart for the family of God. A desire to let loose and be real and allow God to use who I really am in the messiness of life. I left with a desire to build my porch...
A place where I can sprawl out with a cup of coffee on some pillows and just be Rachel and allow my friends to just be who they are. A place to invite weary women to come as they are and be real. A place for those who love Jesus to encourage each other in the mundane and lovely and hard of life.
The messy of life is not nearly so overwhelming with a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold in prayer, a little belly laughter over the irony in life.
Life is too hard to go it alone and too beautiful to experience in isolation.
Invite someone onto your porch this week. We need each other. More than we know, I think.
May God bring us each porches right where we are, full of His beautiful people to help us stay faithful to Him and who can make this journey home more full of kingdom life than we could ever dream.
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