I have experienced many things this past weekend – more than I’ll probably remember to put in this blog. Isn’t that awesome? When you have so many blessings in three days that you’re not sure if you’ll remember to write them all down?
My amazing best friend Jammie gifted me with tickets to the Joyce Meyer Love Life ’10 Conference in St. Louis for my birthday. I expected to have a good time, but God went beyond my expectations. The Devil tried to play and he FAILED.
On the four hour road trip to St. Louis from Branson I had the opportunity to enjoy laughter and great conversation with a friend who at a point in our lives wondered if our friendship would survive. There was authentic, genuine, forgiving love in that car. I was reminded of how great God’s grace was and how blessed I am to have her in my life.
We arrived at the conference to learn that others from my hometown were there. What could have been awkward for me, God turned into wholeness and peace in my soul. The wife of one of the men who sexually abused me was sitting next to me. I could have made two choices: don’t make eye contact and avoid conversation, or embrace her and let her see Jesus in me. I chose the latter. I stood in the Edward Jones Dome with 17,000 women listening to Darlene Zschech praise God with her amazing voice and tears streamed down my face as I felt freedom – true freedom. At that moment I realized I was no longer tied down to my past.
Not only that, but the first night of the conference 2,143 women stood up and gave their lives to Christ. That’s more than the population of my hometown of 1200! I was seriously lucky enough to witness that. Joyce Meyer Ministries gave away a new van, a $20,000 home renovation, makeovers, gift cards, and more. Words cannot describe what I was blessed enough to experience. You must go next year and see for yourself.
Joyce brought conviction to me as she asked, “If you can’t overcome a piece of pie, how will you overcome the devil?” John Maxwell had me wondering if I should have worn a Depends. Natalie Grant brought me to a deeper level of praise than I had experienced in a long time. Dr. Caroline Leaf reminded me that I am in control of my brain.
A man standing on the street reminded me just how cruel the world could be. As he began speaking to me and Jammie, he couldn’t stop stuttering. Then he stopped and said, “Please don’t laugh at me.” No one was laughing. We had the privilege of praying with him and embracing him. As I walked back into the air conditioned hotel room he was still standing in the street. Oh how lucky I have it!
God has shown me lavish love lately. I haven’t deserved it, yet He’s given it to me anyway. Every good and perfect gift I got this weekend was made possible by my Father in Heaven, whom I am so grateful to know.
His Good & Perfect Gifts
