Oh, my where do I start? My weekend was so blessed and such a time of growth and fellowship. Let's see if I can do it justice in writing about it.
We had a nice dinner with my mom on Friday night, and then her and me headed off for the conference. Our church is literally about a two to three minute drive from our house, so we were there pretty quick. We got there early because we like to sit toward the front. If I sit too far in back I get distracted with the movement and such of people, I do better up front. We got a nice new book bag, bible study notebook, pen with a highlighter, a small devotional, and some candy mints. I got to introduce her to all of my friends, and they were all very nice to her. I had my friends from my bible study praying for how my mom and I would be together (just like I asked you ladies).
They had a guest speaker, a pastor's wife from a Calvary Chapel in Texas (Calvary Chapel is the church we go to). I had heard she was very sweet and loving, but wow, I couldn't have even imagined. My mom and I were just sitting in our chairs, chatting waiting for things to start and she came right up to us, having never met us before, gave us a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Stared right into our eyes and said hello. I'm not doing it justice, but the love she showed and the acceptance of us was such a blessing. It still brings tears to my eyes. She chatted with us for a few minutes, then went and said hi to other ladies. The conference started and we had such a blessed time in worship.
The topic of the conference was God's love for us, and believe me, I needed to hear every word of it. The first night she was talking about Jesus in a way of us wanting to show Him off like we do a new boyfriend or husband. It was so very sweet, and such a great visual way she described it. The Lord had started to show me months ago that my walk with Him wasn't out of my love for Him, but out of obligation. I read the Word because I was a Christian, and I was 'suppose' to. I prayed because I was a Christian and I was 'suppose' to. Things like that. Well, after the great teaching on God's love, I knew I needed to go up and have some prayer with the ladies that were available for prayer. The issue was, my mom was there. And it's always been a kind of attitude that you don't need to go up for prayer and make things 'public'. I will tell you ladies, I was physically shaking, I was so nervous. I knew, I mean KNEW, the Lord wanted me to go up for prayer, but I kept thinking "What will mom think?" And will she want me to tell her since I told someone else (she doesn't like friends knowing more about me than her). But I also knew the Lord wanted me to go up for two reasons. I needed to make what He has been showing me 'public' in the sense of getting it out to someone else and having prayer over it. And I needed to get past this fear of what my mom thinks. So, shakingly, I stepped past my mom, out into the aisle and went up for prayer. The prayer with the woman up front was so very sweet, and I felt such a weight off of me after that prayer time. Things were fine with my mom and me when I got back to my seat, and she never gave me a 'look' or asked any questions.
We had a great time of fellowship after Friday evening's session, with some desserts they had prepared for us. We also went to the bookstore our church has, and my mom bought me a couple of new books. I always like new books. We also got to talk one on one with the conference teacher after most ladies had left. It was such a blessed time and she encouraged me greatly. Plus I met the pastor & assistant pastor's wives that night too. Then I went home and shared all of it with Paul.
Saturday morning was an early one, and surprisingly my family was up before I left to say goodbye. This time I met my mom at the church, and I got there before her. They had some different breads out for us to munch on. Plus we had met up with one of my friends on Friday night, and she sat with us on Saturday morning. Again, a nice time of fellowship before the conference. The two sessions that day were so great and encouraging, I can't even put it into words. We had a blessed communion time, and truly, I sat and cried for such a long time. I'm not sure why I cried, just a cleansing I guess, but I cried and cried. It was so good and refreshing.
After the whole conference ended, my mom and I were sitting there just chatting a bit. I brought up some of the things the Lord was showing me (that I 'knew' she might have issues with) and how I need to not worry what others will think (not saying her but included the word family). She agreed with me completely!! Yes, I was shocked (though I didn't show it ) but completely blessed at the same time. Though at that point even if she didn't agree with me, it wouldn't have changed anything. The Lord had brought me through some things by then, and her agreeing with me or not, wasn't going to affect me anymore.
Mom decided to stay one more night and hear the teacher's husband speak at church. So we all went out to lunch. Then my nephew, who just moved up to our town, stopped by, and Paul and him did some work on his car. Mom and me went out and did some shopping then she went back to her hotel and rested. We all met up at church that night, and had a blessed evening. I got to introduce my family to the speaker and she just kept encouraging me with all the words she said. Plus we met her husband, who is a great teacher. So all in all it was a great weekend.
I know this entry is so very long already, and I didn't do the conference justice. But just know that the Lord touched me in such a mighty way there, and I am so very blessed I went. Thank you for the prayers. I'm sure I will talk about it more off and on throughout the week. But now it's time to get caught up on all of your blogs. Thanks for sticking through this long entry.
Hey JoAnn, I am so glad and even rejoice with you on getting spiritually fed and renewed. We had an equally wonderful time at the homeschool conference. Very encouraging and renewing. Blessings for your week, Tammy, reelmom
Sounds like a wonderful time! I'm so glad you and your mom did well together.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could all learn to be as loving as the speaker you described? I wish I wasn't so shy around new people. You have encouraged me to try harder at it. I think I will practice at the Ladies' Tea this Saturday. I'm "hosting" a table so it is the perfect opportunity.
Sounds like a great time and BREAKTHROUGH as well. I loved reading this, this morning. It is encouraging. Thank you Jesus. I hope you have a blessed day today. I was gone all weekend too. That's why I haven't been around so much. I'm back now.
HUGS,
Christy
Oh JoAnn, it sounds like a wonderful conference. I really like how the speaker encouraged/challanged that we should all be so proud and outspoken about Jesus and a boyfriend. I'm glad all went well with your mom too. Perhaps this will be the start of something new & good. Thanks for sharing it with us. ~ Blessings
Wow, what a nice post. So nice to hear the good report as to how well the conference went. I really like it when the speakers go out of their way to show hospitality, in my opinion it shows she has a lot of class, a very confident person.
I like how you put, a crying = cleansing.
((((hugs))))
Katia
This blog is so I can share my journey with the Lord, my journey as a wife and mother, and my journey as a homeschool mom. I pray that you will see the Lord in my life through happy and sad times, and that this blog glorifies the Lord.
This is an award and tag free zone, thank you.
I read the Word because I was a Christian, and I was 'suppose' to. I prayed because I was a Christian and I was 'suppose' to. Things like that. Well, after the great teaching on God's love, I knew I needed to go up and have some prayer with the ladies that were available for prayer. The issue was, my mom was there. And it's always been a kind of attitude that you don't need to go up for prayer and make things 'public'. I will tell you ladies, I was physically shaking, I was so nervous. I knew, I mean KNEW, the Lord wanted me to go up for prayer, but I kept thinking "What will mom think?" And will she want me to tell her since I told someone else (she doesn't like friends knowing more about me than her). But I also knew the Lord wanted me to go up for two reasons. I needed to make what He has been showing me 'public' in the sense of getting it out to someone else and having prayer over it. And I needed to get past this fear of what my mom thinks. So, shakingly, I stepped past my mom, out into the aisle and went up for prayer. The prayer with the woman up front was so very sweet, and I felt such a weight off of me after that prayer time. Things were fine with my mom and me when I got back to my seat, and she never gave me a 'look' or asked any questions.
We also got to talk one on one with the conference teacher after most ladies had left. It was such a blessed time and she encouraged me greatly. Plus I met the pastor & assistant pastor's wives that night too. Then I went home and shared all of it with Paul.
Yes, I was shocked (though I didn't show it 
) but completely blessed at the same time. Though at that point even if she didn't agree with me, it wouldn't have changed anything. The Lord had brought me through some things by then, and her agreeing with me or not, wasn't going to affect me anymore.
