Relevant: A Love Story

I have a secret, but it’s a secret meant to be shared. I fell in love this week. I fell in deep love, real love. I fell in love with the Lord at the Relevant Conference. I fell in love with the women, with my sisters in Christ.

I have always gone to church and considered my self a true believer. One with great faith in the power of prayer, who has seen first hand the miracles He can do for us when we have absolute faith. But, I realize now that all that doesn’t mean you really get it. At least not for me.

I woke up this morning and read my bible for the FIRST TIME EVER! I’ve read scriptures before but every time I tried to actually “read” it like a book I got hung up on things I didn’t understand.  Amy from Mom’s Toolbox suggested that I just read, no matter what. Some things will sink in and other things won’t but what matters is that I just read it. I shared with her that my list of 25 things to do before I turn 25 includes reading the Bible from cover to cover. She wrote that on the back of my business card and said she’s going to help me and hold me to it.  I’ve signed on to join her bible in 90 days group in January. Accountability from our sisters in Christ is a good thing!

This weekend something changed. The shy and nervous me that walked in the doors of the Sheraton on Thursday came home a different person. I went from having warm and fuzzy feelings to being on fire for the Lord!  The conference was about so much more than blogging. It was also about joy and sorrow and happiness and heartache. About a mother’s loss and her daughters story. About putting God before everything else. About our role and calling as mother’s. About connections and lasting friendships. About answering our call as writers, to write for Him.

Often in the blogging community we can get hung up on the comments and the number of followers. In the closing keynote speech Ann Voskamp said “Jesus only had 12 followers, and even he lost one.” She reminded us that the numbers aren’t important, but it is our responsibility as writers to write for one follower. To write for Him and use our gift for good.

At the conference one of the quotes that stuck with me came from Kristen Welch of We Are That Family. She said “There is someone in the world waiting for you to say yes to God so that they can say yes.”  That really stuck with me. The idea that someone else is waiting for me to live a life for Him. Someone out there is waiting for me to answer the call before they can say yes. Powerful stuff! The kind of stuff so good that as it sinks in and brews for a few days, only gets better.

I came home wanting to protect my family, wanting to be the mother and wife He wants me to be. Wanting to know more about how I can serve Him.  Wanting my life to truly glorify the Lord. I am excited to find out what this looks like as I digest everything I’ve heard. I met women who were crazy in love with Christ and that love was infectious in the best way possible. Relevant was more than I could have ever imagined and I am so grateful to have been a part of something where lives were changed forever, mine included!