This weekend I had the amazing opportunity to speak at the RISE Women’s Conference at Temple Church in New Bern, North Carolina, alongside one of my all-time greatest role models, Beth Moore. What a beautiful weekend. I told my girlfriends I had not been that excited since I gave birth. Let ‘s be real, maybe more.

We planned and prepared and prayed, and when the time came, WOW did the Lord move. The theme verse was Isaiah 60:1,

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.”

The speakers were not told specifically what to speak or preach on, only that this was the theme verse. We were asked to seek the Lord and see what He would have to say.

When I think about a women’s conference my mind goes to the array of women who will attend en masse, yet each carries with them a singular and unique set of life circumstances and burdens. Each woman is so different and so sacred to the Lord. That is the weight of ministry: each soul matters so dearly to the heart of our Father. 

The Lord gave each of the speakers different and yet overlapping words that became a loud and powerful message. With each speaker, we saw the thread the Lord had woven through the weekend, unplanned by us but known by him. We quoted similar verses and echoed the Father’s heart throughout the conference.

Themes of His power and might to accomplish what we cannot.

His desire for us to know our identity and lay down the shame and lies the enemy hands us.

The importance of listening and knowing His Word and His Voice.

The calling we have to RISE UP and walk as ones dearly loved and chosen.

What a beautiful thing to see the Lord orchestrate a weekend that somehow ministers to the specific need of so many.

Someone asked me my favorite part of the weekend, and it was without a doubt getting to bring the Word the Lord had given me. Teaching the Word of God is like a breath of life to me. I got up on that stage, the same one Beth had graced a few minutes before. As soon as I began to speak, a supernatural calm came over me and I was overjoyed to get to talk about the thing I love the very most: the Lord and His Word.

A close second favorite was getting to drive Beth and her beautiful assistant Kimberly to the airport to fly home. It was a beautiful hour together I’ll cherish forever.

Do you have that thing in your life that feels life-giving and yet as natural as breathing? The thing that brings life to your bones, excitement to your heart, and breath to your lungs. Later this week we’ll talk about the journey to finding that thing and what the Bible has to say about it. Don’t miss it! Subscribe below.