Women of Faith 2010 "Over The Top"

Just thought I'd share my notes from the conference.



The key verse this year is Romans 11:33 taken from The Message: "Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God..."



The first speaker of the weekend (and one of my absolute favorites) was Patsy Clairmont

* "Solomon has a heart of humility which pleases God" but having a haughty heart does not please God
* Don't marry a man to reform him... that's what reform school is for! (love her sense of humor!)
* If somebody is hurting me, ask God, who am I doing that same thing to?

Next came everybody's favorite, Andy Andrews, who Patsy lovingly referred to as Tigger on steroids!

* I read over the weekend his book "The Noticer". A lot of what he shared over the weekend was in this book. He bounced around all the time (physically but also in what he was talking about) so it was hard to take really good notes on him.
* He spoke about Jones, the man who turned his life around, Jones was the Noticer. He helped bring perspective to Andy's life. Perspective brings calm, calm brings ideas, Ideas are where God reveals His answers
* One of his 7 principles is to seek Wisdom: one way is by our associations - we should be just as concerned about who we hang out with as we are about who are kids hang out with. Another way is in our viewing - what are we listening to, watching, reading?
* He said the worse thing for you is to have friends who accept you for who you are. A true friend will hold you to a higher standard. They should love us as we are now, but push us to be better, to become who God wants us to be...
* He also shared what I consider his interpretation of the Love Languages:

1. The Canaray - is quality time, you don't have to talk to them, or pet them... they are happiest when you are sitting in the same room just listening to them sing.
2. The Puppy Dog - is words of affirmation, feeding isn't necessary, petting isn't super important, but when you talk sweetly and say "good puppy!" they are so happy their whole body tends to wag!
3. The Goldfish - is acts of service, talking to them doesn't matter, and neither does petting, they are the happiest when you clean their tank, feed them and straighten their castle
4. The Kitty Cat - is physical touch, they don't care if you talk, they don't need you to feed them (they hunt!) but if you pet them, their little motors start running (in fact they often go out of their way to touch you!)



Patsy spoke again Friday afternoon.

* She referred to wisdom as being skill in living
* God has designed us with a will stronger than any emotion we may have
* We need to create boundaries on our emotions so they don't rule us. She referenced Proverbs 29:11 A fool lets it all hang out; a sage quietly mulls it over.
* Sarcasm is Anger gone underground and come up in a clown suit!
* Next we need to Harness our thoughts. She referred to the 3 R's: Refuse (bad thoughts), Replace (with something worthy) and Repeat
* Next we need to minimize your words. Don't say too much to too many
* Lastly she said we need to take a first step: she gave an example of how she gave up caffeine, anti-depressants and smoking

Andy spoke again Friday afternoon

* Another principle is Anger resolution = forgiveness. Forgiveness is a decision, not an emotion. If we make good decisions our emotions will follow
* Forgiveness has to do with the past and us/Trust has to do with the future and them
* We cannot be who we want to be when we hold a grudge on ourselves
* A conscious choice is not a mistake. A mistake is covered by grace and can be reset. A choice causes true sorrow and forgiveness is the only thing that can reset things. Even with our kids, it is important to ask them for forgiveness when we make a bad choice that effects them.
* Another principle is chose to be happy/grateful. Hard to be grumpy when you are smiling
* He also shared a story about the Butterfly effect... how the actions of one person 150 years ago has saved the lives of 2 billion people and counting...

Friday night We had a brief introduction to all the speakers. Anita Renfroe sang her MomSense song. Lisa Welchel, Mandissa, Marilyn Meberg, Sandi Patty, Patsy and Andy were introduced.



Nicole Johnson did a drama about the best Christmas Present ever: her Label Maker... this drama shared how we label people to help us keep our lives in order, but those labels can hurt others... fat, ungodly, lazy, loud, etc...



Anita came back on. Hoping for more comedy than her singing, but enjoyed it all :)

* She showed her Wrinkled Ladies song,
* Her version of Romeo and Juliet by Taylor Swift
* She talked about Wabi Sabi. Pared down to its barest essence, wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity in nature, of accepting the natural cycle of growth, decay, and death. She referenced 2 Corinthiands 4:16 from The Message: Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.
* She has been doing comedy for 10 years, so she shared videos of some of her past successes... Any Kid of Mine, 50 Ways to Lose Your Blubber, are You Lonesome Tonight, Give me a vente Mocha, Her salute to Underwire, I can Smell You Breathe, Right now - before I eat
* Psalm 126:6 from the Message: So those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.

Mandissa sang some awesome songs, too... several of them brought us to tears...others made us dance! My Deliverer, You Wouldn't Cry, Broken Hallelujah... just to name a few



Saturday morning started with Patsy:

* She said the most important things during a crisis are Prayer and People

* God is enough - But he can work through his people. We can be His arms for a hug, His lips for an encouraging word, His ears just to sit and listen
* You have no idea the impact you make in others lives.
* Change can be good... it may not always seem so at first, that's where we have to trust God
* The greatest human need we have is connection
* NEVER GIVE UP

Lisa Welchel was so fun to hear! She shared a few video clips from The Facts of Life to explain to the younger ones in the audience who she was ;) And then she shared how hard it was for her to chose/make real friends.

* Be aware of their capacity for friendship... can they handle all the stuff you have to dump on them? Or are they the kind of friend that you would go shopping with but not share the deep stuff with?
* How do they talk about other friends when they are with you? That's how they would talk about you when they are with other people
* Run from those who appear to have it all together... NOBODY has it all together...
* We can connect better through our imperfections than through out perfections... she referenced Psalm 107... this whole chapter shares how God will fill the longings of our soul

Stephen Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth Chapman were next. His music was so moving... and their story so sad and yet amazing. A lot of crying and laughing during this part. Love "Cinderella"... but man did the tears flow!



We missed another drama by Nicole Johnson - she apparently did one about a woman who had an abortion but never spoke about it... all the shame and regret and sorrow... I bought her dvd so I can watch that one!



Sandi Patty came out and sang some more. Her vocal range is amazing! and I love how she includes the deaf people in the audience by using Sign Language on We Shall Behold Him



I love Marilyn Meberg. The more I hear her the more I love her wisdom!

* She shared the over the top solution to the "more" craving
* Life as it is, not as we wish it were... we will never have all our "more" needs met in this life.
* She shared a quote from Augustine: We are all restless until we find rest in God
* We've been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less.

I'd love to hear what you got out of Women of Faith... And I'd love for you to come with next year! :)

journaling

Just can't seem to get into this writing a journal thing... I have this site open every day... I look at it and think... maybe later... drama happens and I think I'm gonna write... drama is resolved and I still haven't written... I guess something is better than nothing...

...maybe I'll write more later...