Women of Joy

Last weekend I was blessed to attend the Women of Joy Conference in Branson with an incredible group of women from Covenant. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time! As my friend Sherry said, "What happens in Branson, stays in Branson!"

Some specific things I want to remember from Priscilla Shirer:

• What have you stopped expecting God to do in your life? As God to make Himself flesh to you in this part of your life.


• Unconfessed sin is like putting the veil back up in the temple.


• If I don't "get anything" out of a passage of scripture or a lesson, what does it teach me about the character and personality of my God?


• Priscilla Shirer calls her grandparents "Twodaddy" and "Twomommy". Precious!

The next speaker was Liz Curtis Higgs:

• Her story of falling out of the airport bench/seat. Make-you-cry-hilarious!


• Liz spoke on the passage in Mark about the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. That is 4,380 days of being considered unclean and untouchable.


• Touching Jesus would have meant she was breaking the Law. Perhaps she was healed the moment she reached forward so she wasn't actually bleeding by the time she touched Him - thus not breaking the Law.


• Jesus had his "back" to the woman, but He still healed her.


• When a person is trying that hard to find joy [by using drugs/alcohol, etc.] and settling for fun, that person is a seeker on the path to God.

Kay Arthur brought the house down, in my opinion, and she looked INCREDIBLE!

• She spoke for probably 15 minutes and quoted scripture after scripture. I was again convicted of my laziness in regard to memorizing God's Word. I was also energized about teaching Bible study.


• I actually got within a couple of feet of Kay while she was signing autographs and taking pictures. She was RIGHT THERE! It was a big moment, I'm telling you!


• She recommended a book by David Bossie about Hillary Clinton. If Kay Arthur says to read something, by golly I'm going to read it!


• My favorite quote from Kay: "Believe the Word, obey the Word, and eventually you'll wear the enemy out."

The Jeremy Camp concert was incredible. If you were there, you know what I mean. Indescribable.

The last speaker was Karen Kingsbury, who is incredibly tall and very gracious.

• I had a book autographed by her and we spoke for just a few seconds. She is my favorite Christian fiction author of all time.


• My favorite quote from Karen: "A vibrant, joyful life always puts priority on the people God has placed in your life."


• Click the link for the videos she referenced on YouTube: old lady and the airbag: http://youtube.com/watch?v=cAQiu9i_Wpw and the one about anencephaly: http://youtube.com/watch?v=aB8Ti-Dhpco


• The entire auditorium was one blubbering mess when she finished by reading her children's book, Let Me Hold You Longer. I don't even have kids and I was a total wreck!

What a weekend! My prayer is that the Lord will enable me to put what I learned into action in my life. Otherwise, it was just an expensive shopping trip. I want the experience to be much more real than that. I can hardly wait until next year!