What an amazing weekend! This conference was a beautiful space to spend time with my family and good friends AND a fabulous place to make new ones (friends, that is. . . no one married into the Hoos fam at the event. :))  It was a blessing from beginning to end—the teaching, the worship, the snacks, all the extras and most importantly, the sweet spirit that was there.  Because Jesus was present, and He was working.

So you can imagine, I have lots of wonderful takeaways—some pretty personal—that I’d like to reflect upon. They will seem random, but they are far more than that. They are purposed by God and His grace and my heart is full over each one.

~ Prayer matters. Not only was I encouraged to be at the feet of Jesus in my personal life during the sessions, but I was also reminded of the blessing of prayer together in service to God.  I attended the prayer meeting the night before the event started and let me tell you, prayer matters. Asking for God’s blessing and anointing on every woman and every part of the plan was powerful. As was the unity that prayer offered as we pulled together under the same banner of love and with a unique boldness to ask Him to come!

~ God is working in the next generation of young women.  This one deserves an exclamation point or two so I’ll add that here: !!!!  First of all, as I watched my daughter use and excel in her gifts, I was in awe of the Lord’s work and was so proud of her. He has done so much. And is doing so much—these younger women in their early twenties are not just “on fire” as we like to say, but better said, they are “in love.” They know their first love and they are clinging to Him and sharing Him with no fear. Wow! It’s what my generation of women, and those before mine, have been praying for. It’s an answered prayer and I’ll say: AMEN.

~ As I sought the Lord in preparation for my portion, which was a breakout session, I was able to reflect upon just how dependent I am on God when I serve others. I used to have to fight my flesh over and over again to not in some way make a little part of it “about me” and this time . . . not so much. I’ve learned through many a-hands-on-lesson that nothing about serving His people is really about the server. It’s all about the Savior and the recipients, His people. Therefore, there’s no room for worry, comparison, or doubt—God is who He says He is, He has called whom He has called, His purposes are divine and I am humbled before His Holy Name. It is my goal to lift Him up, make much of Him and little of me.

~ My notes are full of takeaway scribbles that I will contemplate for days to come: Make space, it takes time. Good things can be idols. Anointing involves a heart posture. I don’t have the right to cast off things that the Lord has gifted me with. My inheritance is Christ and I walk in Him. He is worth my surrender. Share His affection with others. Be refined. And one that might only make sense to me: Remove the boxes in my life. I put boxes around lots of things that end up being a false sense of protection and/or an unholy way to hold in all my expectations for certain people and specific things to happen. Removing the boxes is my next step and I know the Spirit of God will lead me.

~ And lastly—for this list anyway—is that God is faithful to open doors. Doors to new friendships, doors to strengthened existing relationships, doors to His Kingdom service, and most importantly, doors to His feet. Which is where I will find myself as I truly abide in Him. And, note to self: God’s open doors are meant to be walked through. (Heart emoji here!)

“I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” ~ John 15: 5