Babbling about the women's conference (draft that needs to be edited when I'm not so sleepy)

I went to a women's retreat at our church this weekend. It was incredible. Little Nathan's (www.caringbridge.org/visit/nathanmclean) momma, Amanda, sang a verse in a trio about trusting God's goodness in the dark times. Right after the testimony of a girl from Iran who was saved out of Islam against her parents' will and against incredible persecution from her own family. Through those circumstances, God saved her mother years later, too. We talked about holiness in my small group--about how one amazing thing about being a Christian is being able to personally and tenderly be able to relate with the God of the Universe...but there's also the need to recognize our place--this is THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE--not our penpal. And the teaching, from my good friend Char-la, was just what I needed to hear about being content and trusting God. (I don't even think this is coherent, but I'm mostly just getting down the basics so that I won't forget later.)

I wish I had a quiet day to myself to process and pray through the many truths that have been impressed in a new way on my heart this weekend. Unfortunately, it seems that life just keeps on pulling; keeps on demanding. Life was never promised to be easy for the Christian.

God is good, though. On the mountaintops or in the valleys, He's good. Remember all those times He's proven faithful, even just recently? That's so we don't forget, I suppose. He's more than enough to meet each need, and bigger than any of the dragons or dark clouds. I'm so grateful for the opportunity this weekend to draw closer to Him and to enjoy fellowship with other believers who teach me so much by their own transparent testimonies.