Deeply Searching

In December, I attended a two-day women's worship conference at my Mother's invitation.  I had been to Deeper Still twice before and thought this might be overkill.  Same speakers, same music, same message.  But the Bible is a big book and my life seemed to be taking unexpected turns everyday.  Off we went with my sister and Mom's best friend in tow.

Kay Arthur spoke first.  Older and wiser of the three and radical to some.  Certainly plain speaking and certain of her beliefs.  She said something I hope I never forget, "Jesus is not something you can add to your life like salt and pepper.  Jesus is your life!"  I dialed in on her definition of 'repent', and it is especially fitting for how I find myself looking for change in this new year.  She simply said to repent is to turn around, change your mind, seek God.  Up to now repent for me was tied to failure and remorse.  How wonderful to think that at that very moment all I had to do was turn around.  Imagine Jesus laying his hand on your shoulder as if to say, "I've always been here.  Where have you been my friend?  Follow me."

What is it about the human race...women especially.  We really do make things so complicated.  In my quest to follow John 15:17 and simply love each other, I am beginning to realize that I have to be comfortable with loving myself first.  Only then can I truly thank God for the simple fact that I woke up today.  Only then can I be vulnerable and come into that "faith place" where miracles can happen. 

The reality of this message was delivered by Priscilla Shirer.  Married and Mother to three young boys, she spoke of the realities of trying to find that "faith place" in our busy lives.  I can relate.  How do I step into that place and stay there?  I'm in one minute and wondering how I got so far away the next.  I'm tired of starting over.  I want to stay in that "faith place"...but how?  It goes back to using this day, this gift God has given me.  Not what's past or future, but what is at my disposal today.  On those busiest of days, it may not seem like much.  But, Priscilla shared, "if I trust that God has his hand on it, it can become so much more than I ever thought it could be."  I've tried this in the last week, and I can honestly say that its working in my life.  And because of this effort, I can see it changing the lives of the people I treasure as well.  It is becoming evident that God is waiting on me to get into position so miracles can happen.

Beth Moore capped off the event by asking us to repeat this sentence, "There are treasures out there."  Interestingly it sounded more like 14,000 women asking the question...Are there treasures out there?  She said it again and we repeated, "There ARE treasures out there!".  We made this exchange several times until we all said it with belief. 

Indeed there are treasures out there, and we will miss them if we look past the hardship and the pain.  If we are looking for the next easy streak, we will miss the treasure.  This stuff defines us.  It's who we are.  Battle wounds...signs of courage.  I loved the way, Beth, described that we can live with pain a lot better than we can live with purposelessness.  Go find your treasures.  Lay claim to them!  I treasure this journey I am on.  I treasure that my heart is awakened.  I treasure my husband and my daughter even though being a wife and a mother is not always easy.  I don't want to look past the tough times.  I want to embrace them and use it to come out on the other side with purpose.  I will paraphrase her closing because she tied it all together so well.  "When you feel like you've lost the treasure, look for Jesus.  In Him, in Christ are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Jesus has the other puzzle pieces, you only need a few.  The whole portrait will come together and it will all make sense--your whole life. In Christ we live happily ever after, but right now we walk in faith."

Amen.

Pictured here:  Alice and Mom.  A testimony to treasured friendship.  A real gift for me and my sister to witness.