Wow...

I really don't even know how to begin this post. I have been bowled over and swept off my feet so many times this past weekend. It was joyful...it was inspiring... it was heartwrenching... it was hilarious... it was every single emotion all rolled into one. God showed up and man did He show off. I love it when He does that. :)

I looked at the faces of the women as they arrived on Thursday night. I studied them. I saw the fear, the apprehension, the worry, and the extreme amount of burden they carried. I don't think I have ever seen that much burden in one place. Over the course of the 72 hours, I saw those expressions change. From a spark of interest, to an opening up, to a breaking down. I witnessed as they lay those burdens down at the foot of the cross and I am praying today that they never pick them back up. I stood in awe as COUNTLESS women - I lost count - confirmed or reconfirmed giving their lives to Christ. We were so very priviledged to watch these women's eyes be truly opened for the very first time to the incredible love and grace of Jesus that he has for each and every one of us. It was a humbling experience that I shared most intimatley with my asst. table leader and the 5 incredible ladies at our table. Man did He know what He was doing when he put all of us together. We all belong to Him.

Sharing this experience with my Ya-Ya's was beyond words. We have prayed over this weekend for so very long, then to finally be there and live it was more than I had ever imagined. Laying (yes I said laying) at the alter in prayer for these women with my dear sweet Christy and then seeing those prayers answered was a blessing I will cherish forever. Watching Susan go about her duties with such a pure heart for God blessed me in a way she will never quite understand. The times I got to see Annette in passing and give her a squeeze and an I love you were priceless. Seeing Andi in her tinkerbell jammies shuffle into the bathroom every morning is forever etched in my mind :) Sitting across from Shirl at the amazing meal on Saturday night and sharing that with her was humbling. (even tho our husbands did not include us in the Hot Wives club :) And Tami...wow. As she led us through this experience, when I looked at her I saw Jesus. Towards the end of the weekend she stood before us all and gave THE most amazing talk and then sang a song that perfectly conveyed her feelings for everyone there. She raised her hands at the end as she sang and I think it may have been one of the most powerful things I have ever seen. All the praying, and the hard work, and the organizing, and the hundreds and hundreds of hours she had put into this weekend all came to fruition in that moment. I loved it.

I spent the better part of my life searching for something to fill the void in my heart that kept me in depression and misery most of the time. I thank God for those that interceded in prayer on my behalf until my own eyes were finally opened on my Walk. I owe that experience to the prayers of my big brother. I remember vividly one day riding in the car with him and he was listening to a christian radio station. It freaked me out. I asked if he had become a religious fanatic. He laughed and said "define religious fanatic" I said "someone who reads the bible everyday" he laughed again and said "well sis... I guess that makes me a fanatic" Wow... to go from that to the relationship I have with the lord now has been quite a journey. It's far from over...and I am loving every minute of it.

I would love for everyone to have this experience. Pray about it. (If you have been on a Walk pray about someone you may be able to sponsor.) If you know someone who has previously been call them up and ask questions. If you don't know anyone who has been drop me an email. I would love to talk to you about it. And it's not just for women you know. There are men's weekends also. I got a different husband when Aaron returned from his weekend up in Indy. I hear the men cry more than the women do. :)

I leave you with a verse that struck a chord with me during the weekend... it is from John 15:5 "I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing." Just like a branch that is cut from a tree and later withers and dies, so will we if we separate ourselves from Christ. Food for thought...

SIDEBAR...AFTER posting this, I read the verse of the day to your right... (which at the time I posted was this)... "I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you keep growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns." Phillippians 1: 9-10 That is nothing but pure confirmation my friends straight from God to me this morning. Man... here comes the ugly cry.