The buzz of women talking, buying, squealing with laughter and excitement in the air is what I remember about the Women of Purpose Conference 2009.   The dynamic worship and passionate speakers were not the only ones who ministered to me last year.  The whole experience involving many different people inspired and challenged me. 

First, it was a friend whom I hadn’t seen for a few months.  She hunted me down in the restroom to share that what I had spoken into her life had nudged her to make a life changing decision.  Her excitement was electrifying for me and started the conference off with a bang. 

Second, the Thursday night Prayer Walk proved to be a catalyst for what I would receive the rest of the weekend.  The Word was read as people felt lead and different people prayed as prompted by the Spirit or lead in a song or proclamation.  I came away refreshed and ready to receive.

Friday morning,  I went to one of the Refresh, Refuel and Renew sessions with Valerie Burton.  She spoke directly to where I was at the time.  If I received nothing else, I had heard from God then there.

Third, I went to the Prayer Room to help pray with people on Friday afternoon and I ended up being prayed for by the Prayer intercessors.  We exchanged burdens and inspiring stories of what God was doing in our lives.  Tears fell, burdens melted and hearts were lifted.  WOW!

Fourth, time praying during the altar times helped me to process what I had heard from the speakers and solidify it in my heart.  Plus, praying for other people was a real blessing as I felt the Lord praying through me for them.

Why should you go to the Women of Purpose Conference?  Simply,

• To meet with God away from the distractions of work, children, husband and the home. 
• To connect with other women and be blessed by them.
• To hear from the Lord for yourself
• To share your life with Christ with others.

There’s just something electrifying about worshiping with twenty-five hundred other women in the same room.  Its an experience you don’t want to miss.

To find out how to prepare to register go to the CAG website   www.calvarydover.org  and click onto the Women of Purpose banner.

To register for the event or get more info go to  www.penndelwomenofpurpose.org

Two weeks ago I was one of the speakers for a Women’s Retreat at Sandy Cove, MD.  Though our trip there took four times as long as it should have because of a flat tire, it was not a portend of what was to happen.  From the BonFire service Friday night to the round table lunch and testimonies on Sunday, God was at work in an amazing way weaving His Presence and Power in the lives of the women ministering and attending. Our Worship leader, Stephanie Peters set the pace  for the weekend with her sensitivity in moving with the Holy Spirit.  Below are a couple of testimonies she posted on her website.

“It feels like my lungs are balloons that are about ready to explode…”

That’s the description she used.  Normally, that might sound like a negative thing, but for this woman, it was an indicator that God had healed her! 

As I was leading worship at a women’s retreat recently, I sensed God wanting to bring physical healing.  After mentioning that, I saw one woman in particular that I knew God was healing at that moment.  I called out her name and said that the Lord was healing her right then.  She told me later that she started moving her ankle around to see if the pain had left from the tearing achilles tendon that she was suffering from.  She told me later that “it hurt like the blazes when I did that.”  She went on to say that in a few minutes she realized a strange phenomenon going on that she hadn’t experienced in years….she could breathe.  Of course she was breathing before, but it had been shallow and forced since an incident involving a kerosene heater 23 years before.  The doctor told her that her lungs would try to repair themselves, but in three years, whatever state her lungs were in, that’s how they would stay.  So, for 23 years she lived with shallow breathing, feeling like she was going to pass out at times because she wasn’t getting enough air, and literally gasping at times, scaring those around her.  She heard the doctor’s prognosis and said that she had accepted it “as a way of life.”  She became used to this condition.  (How often can that be said of us?)  In a moment, Jesus took away a 23 year condition…healing her completely.  She said that she couldn’t wait to get home and ride her bike!  How awesome is HE?!

Recently, I was struck by a statement that came from two women…

At a recent women’s retreat, I closed my eyes to pray after finishing a time of speaking.  When I did, I saw a picture of something that I had never seen before.  I saw a set of teeth!  (I know – you weren’t expecting that.  Neither was I.)  I knew that there was a reason that He gave me this picture, but come on, that’s a little weird, right?  I asked the Lord about it and knew in my heart that I had a question to ask.  So, with a bit of hesitation, I asked the question, “Does anyone here have problems with their teeth?”  A woman shot her arm into the air and said, “I do.”  We prayed for her.  The Lord touched her and later I got to hear this “teeth story.” 

She explained the on-going problems that she was having and the difficult, painful procedures that it required.  She said that she never thought to pray for healing for this; she thought that it was just “a way of life.”  I know that God touched her and believe that He will continue to do so.

The next afternoon, I talked with a woman that God had just healed of a 23 year lung condition that morning.  (Her story above)  In that conversation, she described the condition as ”a way of life.”  She used the same words that I heard the night before.  It struck my heart and made me wonder how many times I’ve accepted things as “a way of life – ” be it in my life or someone else’s.  

I did accept it when the doctors told me that I’d have arthritis in my foot for the rest of my life after an injury and surgery when I was 17.  I found out that when the doctor says “for the rest of my life,” he’s not taking into account God stepping into the picture and bringing total healing 4 years later! 

I’ve been thinking about this lately.  God doesn’t just repair…He restores!  He makes all things new!  Never in the way I imagine and certainly not in my time frame, but what a challenge came to me through those incredible women who shared their stories.

Those are just two of the testimonies of healing that happened that week as one of our own ladies experienced a healing in her back and another a major breakthrough spiritually.  His redeeming, restoring, renaming grace was evident all weekend.  God is alive and well on Planet Earth!!