I was having a Hannah moment. Well, maybe a Hannah month. You wouldn’t have known it from the outside, but on the inside I was snot-nosed, bleary-eyed and heartsick. Why had the heavens felt like brass? Did the Lord see me? Did He care? In my heart of hearts I knew He did, it just didn’t feel like it. So many dreams stirring in me, itching to get out. So many wet blankets suffocating them. I cried out to the Lord and He showed up. It was no magic bullet. Things were still very much undone but I knew He saw me, that He cared and that He is and will always be enough.
Not long after this encounter I met Jennie Allen. I loved seeing Jesus in her. I loved how she knew that with God nothing is impossible. More than just knowing it, she lived it. She has laid her “anything” before the Lord. Whatever He calls her to do, her “yes” is there.
I wanted in on that.
I read her book, Anything, in one evening. In it she shares this middle-of-the-night vision to gather and equip her generation of women. I will admit, it is a huge, scary, potentially messy aspiration, but from what I know of the Lord through His Word and my own experience, He is usually all over this kind of thing.
So, I personally invite you to IF:Gathering, a 2-day conference where women will get together to wrestle out how to live out the calling God has placed on their lives; so that, like Hannah, we may release the gift of God entrusted to us for His glory, the good of others and our immense joy.
Dallas, TX / wife to matt. mother to audrey, reid + norah. lover of God. singer of songs. writer of stuff.
LET’S CONNECT!
Over here in western Massachusetts wishing I could go! I can relate to that “brass heavens” experience lately, but learning to press in when my heart seems numb is effective in strengthening my faith. God bless and thanks for mentioning that book, I’m going to find it!
Jenelle Armstrong
Hey Lauren,
Will there be a podcast or recording of this? Sounds so great! Wish I could go.
I JUST wrote a post about Hannah…..so I know how you have been feeling!! I am so excited about this conference and am praying that I can make it a reality to attend!!
Lauren –
I am a covenant member at TVC, a sister who has felt the stirring of discontent, and a member of the tribe who is IN on IF! That thrills me and scares the pants off me at the same time – as it’s both what I have begged of Him and simultaneously feared He would call me into. So this me giving myself self to the cause. I’ll see you there and/or you can use me as you need (man that freaks me out awesomely!)
“Things were still very much undone but I knew He saw me, that He cared and that He is and will always be enough.” These words pierced my heart tonight. Life will always be filled with the undone, but God is always on His throne and working for His glory & our good. We are to just keep doing the next thing. I’m excited for what this movement could bring. Thank you for your words, Lauren.
I am just so beyond excited about this movement. I have a little group of girls up here in Washington state, and we are so hoping to join you all in Austin in February…..I am dying to see the church set on fire with the power of the gospel….thank you for being a part of the team that is facillitating this equipping event. I’m praying that it will launch women across the world into their mission fields, filled with the Holy Spirit, magnifying the name of Jesus.
I am thrilled at the “If” movement. Thank you for sharing your story here and for telling me about Jennie’s book. God is stirring up the women in my own church, too, and I am in awe to see he has a nationwide movement going to make something new in women’s ministries.