Here is another story from our Illuminate Women's Conference 2014:
Be Brave which has become a fitting and inspiring addition to our Real Women Blog.
I am not sure what I expected at my first woman’s conference – would it be too academic or theological for my understanding or enjoyment? Would it be just another “church service?” Going by myself did not help with the anxiety levels either but I need not have worried as the warmth of the welcome , passion for Christ and ‘womanly’ heartfelt joy of the room as I entered the building was overwhelming. I came, I worshipped, prayed, listened, acknowledged and processed the teaching and ministry much more than I anticipated and was prepared for and this refuelled my desire to seek and serve the Lord. Coming away from the conference I downloaded the theme song -“ You make me brave..” wanting to keep a lasting memory of those words and inspiration the words offered me un be known to me how often I would use the heavenly words in the month’ s to come.
My story isn’t as exciting perhaps as some. I am a wife, mum to four children – three 10yr olds and a 7 yr old (yes it is triplets – that is a completely different story!) I worked part time as a nurse in a handy wee nice number according me my family – things were routine and stable and then I visited Vineyard last summer!!!
Our first visit Tre Sheppard spoke about depression and I was moved to tears, physically streaming down my face overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit and the Lords message in that first visit. Over the following weeks Alan preached on using talents /skills to heal our communities and I felt the Lord speak to me, that he had a job for me, he was calling me out of my little comfort zone that I had so readily built for myself – I felt totally unprepared ! Family and children are my passion, have been my word and so inspired and full of God’s love I applied to train as a health visitor. I was shocked when I got an interview, even more blown away when they offered me a place – was this really happening? I was a wife, a mother, I had a nice wee job was I crazy, could I really do this? I would be making such a change to my life, my children’s life, my husband’s life – was it worth pursuing. Some of my extended family frowned had I really thought this through! I talked to a close Christian friend and asked her to pray with me for clarification on God’s calling and despite government funding problems for the course, and an uncertain time of whether it would go ahead at all the Lords plans for me where beginning to prosper and I commenced my full time training at University of Ulster in Jordanstown mid-September.
By the time the “Brave” conference started in November I had experienced tears, snotters, anxious deliberation as to what had I done, what was I thinking and was I utterly crazy for believing not only that I could do this at my age but the guilt at leaving my children daily to study and the added pressure of family life where all too familiar! God wouldn’t want me to struggle – why was I pursuing this! At the conference thee words from the song “you make me brave where like a light bulb – why was I making this so difficult for myself, God was challenging me to step out of my comfort zone but he was also there to share in my struggle I needed to be more faithful in His love for me, trust him more and believe better that he wanted me to do this and would be there every step of the way! That night when the preacher asked for those to stand for prayer to help women step out of the shadows, for courage to face the unknown I found myself standing to my feet filled with a new sense of trust, passion and a promise that God not only had a plan for me but he would walk with me on this journey.
So over the weeks and months I have been challenged beyond all expectation. I am thankful for my friend who has sent me words of scripture to bring me hope, encouragement and have found particular inspiration from
I am not sure what I expected at my first woman’s conference – would it be too academic or theological for my understanding or enjoyment? Would it be just another “church service?” Going by myself did not help with the anxiety levels either but I need not have worried as the warmth of the welcome , passion for Christ and ‘womanly’ heartfelt joy of the room as I entered the building was overwhelming. I came, I worshipped, prayed, listened, acknowledged and processed the teaching and ministry much more than I anticipated and was prepared for and this refuelled my desire to seek and serve the Lord. Coming away from the conference I downloaded the theme song -“ You make me brave..” wanting to keep a lasting memory of those words and inspiration the words offered me un be known to me how often I would use the heavenly words in the month’ s to come.
My story isn’t as exciting perhaps as some. I am a wife, mum to four children – three 10yr olds and a 7 yr old (yes it is triplets – that is a completely different story!) I worked part time as a nurse in a handy wee nice number according me my family – things were routine and stable and then I visited Vineyard last summer!!!
Our first visit Tre Sheppard spoke about depression and I was moved to tears, physically streaming down my face overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit and the Lords message in that first visit. Over the following weeks Alan preached on using talents /skills to heal our communities and I felt the Lord speak to me, that he had a job for me, he was calling me out of my little comfort zone that I had so readily built for myself – I felt totally unprepared ! Family and children are my passion, have been my word and so inspired and full of God’s love I applied to train as a health visitor. I was shocked when I got an interview, even more blown away when they offered me a place – was this really happening? I was a wife, a mother, I had a nice wee job was I crazy, could I really do this? I would be making such a change to my life, my children’s life, my husband’s life – was it worth pursuing. Some of my extended family frowned had I really thought this through! I talked to a close Christian friend and asked her to pray with me for clarification on God’s calling and despite government funding problems for the course, and an uncertain time of whether it would go ahead at all the Lords plans for me where beginning to prosper and I commenced my full time training at University of Ulster in Jordanstown mid-September.
By the time the “Brave” conference started in November I had experienced tears, snotters, anxious deliberation as to what had I done, what was I thinking and was I utterly crazy for believing not only that I could do this at my age but the guilt at leaving my children daily to study and the added pressure of family life where all too familiar! God wouldn’t want me to struggle – why was I pursuing this! At the conference thee words from the song “you make me brave where like a light bulb – why was I making this so difficult for myself, God was challenging me to step out of my comfort zone but he was also there to share in my struggle I needed to be more faithful in His love for me, trust him more and believe better that he wanted me to do this and would be there every step of the way! That night when the preacher asked for those to stand for prayer to help women step out of the shadows, for courage to face the unknown I found myself standing to my feet filled with a new sense of trust, passion and a promise that God not only had a plan for me but he would walk with me on this journey.
So over the weeks and months I have been challenged beyond all expectation. I am thankful for my friend who has sent me words of scripture to bring me hope, encouragement and have found particular inspiration from
Romans 8 v 28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose.
And
Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
In times of balancing kids,work, home and assignments or exams I listened to the words over and over again – “You make me Brave” and prayed for additional help, the words uplifting my spirit and passion in the Lords desire for me to succeed.
Well, I am now 4 weeks from graduating as a Health Visitor – I cannot believe the year and its training is almost complete. I have had many wonderful and not so wonderful experiences and challenges but this year has truly challenged my heart and soul, my faith and my trust in the Lord. I have had to be brave – step out of my comfort zone and called to ride the waves and storm of life that He has called me to. The Lord has a role for me to go out into our broken community and bring hope and love to women and their children and I pray that with the Holy Spirit encompassing me that those families that I will serve will know the love of the Lord and feel hope and compassion. I have not secured a job yet but I trust that the Lord will put me to use of his purposes and look forward with excitement to the next adventure He will call me to.
Thank you for your part – for refuelling my passion in the Lord and challenging me to become brave! To my friend who has been my listening ear, my praying back bone and the transcript reader of all my assignments, the Lord blessed me to have a friend like her to support me through this course! To my husband and children who have been supportive beyond measure and been brave in their own way to allow me the freedom to answer the Lords call and complete my training programme, but most of all I give my thanks to the Lord for giving me the opportunity, for giving me the strength, for giving me the promise of his unchanging love ….
I have heard You call my name
I have heard the song of love that You sing
So, I will let You draw me beyond the shore
Into Your grace, Your grace.
As Your love
In wave after wave
Crashes over me, crashes over me
For You are for us
You are not against us
Champion of Heaven
You've made a wayFor all to enter in
You make me brave
You make me brave
You called me beyond the shore
Into the waves
You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder nowThe love that made a way
Regards,
Jennifer
Our next Illuminate Women's Conference is November 20-21st 2015 INHERITANCE
What will your story be?
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