Here Is Our God

Several months ago in the spring, my mom asked me if I'd like to attend The Gospel Coalition's national women's conference this summer in Orlando, FL.  My church in Tallahassee was taking a large group, and my mom graciously offered to pay for me if we wanted to go and make it a mother-daughter weekend as well.  Since I love both great Biblical teaching (which TGC is well known-for) and quality time with my mom, it didn't take me too long to say yes.   While I was very much looking forward to those aspects of the weekend, I was a little wary of being around almost 4,000 women in one large hotel (seemed like too much estrogen).  However, the conference leaders said from the beginning that this was a conference "for women, but not about women," and they were right.

This was a conference about the Lord.  Period.  "Here Is Our God: God's Revelation of Himself in Scripture" was the theme for the weekend, and it truly epitomizes what it was all about.  Eight plenary session speakers walked us through Exodus 19, I Kings 8, Isaiah 6, Psalm 40, 2 Corinthians 12, Matthew 17, Revelation 4-5, and Revelation 21-22.   I loved how each conference speaker always pointed to the Gospel and to Christ.  But it's not just because the "gospel"is a part of their name though--it's because Christ really is preeminent in all of Scripture.  As the Jesus Story-Book Bible says, "every story whispers His name."  And so what I came away with from this weekend was not so much lots of practical challenges and inspirations (although I did receive some of those especially from the workshops I attended), but simply a bigger picture of who God is.  A more all-encompassiong understanding of the fullness of our HOLY, MAJESTIC, GLORIOUS GOD who also came to dwell and die among us as the incarnate God so that we might live with Him forever.  Hallelujah!

The week following the conference was a difficult one--some of the challenges I was expecting, but one was a complete surprise and the kind that can really "shake your world."  In each circumstance though, the Lord gently yet strongly brought back to my mind the truth from that weekend.  He alone is our Anchor, and He is unshakable and greater than I could ever imagine--a Rock worth trusting.  Even now, I can't fully articulate or explain it.  I'm simply grateful for how God enlarged my faith through that weekend.

Another wonderful aspect of the weekend was the corporate worship time, led by Keith and Kristyn Getty.  Their band hails from Ireland, and they are incredibly gifted.  From both a musical and lyrical standpoint, their songs are a blessing.  Here's one of my favorites ("Still, My Soul, Be Still") that I've been listening to a lot lately:

Lastly, the weekend really was a sweet time to share with my mom.  Not only being there in the moment, but also now since then as we reflect on the conference, it's been neat to share and process that together.  It was also special to spend time with Kate and Cassidy, two of my favorite Tallahassee friends.  Since Kate's heading to the mission field soon, it was especially a treasure to spend time together.  Here's a pic of all four of us: