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I can so relate to this post. I’m also a control freak, but am learning to let go bit by bit. God used Priscilla to get my attention last year at a Going Beyond conference, and these past 13 months have been a tremendous growth spurt for me, spiritually.

Trusting Him, while sometimes uncomfortable & unnatural, is totally worth it.

Thanks Melanie for sharing your thoughts and your heart. I really needed to hear/read this because I have been in the wilderness for the last few years too. God has just given me new hope through your post! Maybe someday soon He will provide for me to attend a Deeper Still conference in person; in the meantime though, thank you for sharing your experiences with us via the computer! GOD IS GOOD … ALL THE TIME!

Yeah, that fear and uncertainty is a biggie for me, too.

I can do the “what if” thing till I don’t even know which end is up anymore.

Anyway, regarding #2: A few months ago I read a blog that gave scripture after scripture of who we are in Christ. It was beautiful and something I greatly needed at the time. So I printed it, and everytime the enemy gets in my face with his condemnation now, I just pull it out and read it. Here is the link to that post if anyone is interested:

http://mybibleandacupofcoffee.blogspot.com/2008/04/who-i-am.html

I’m not in the wilderness, I’m in Death Valley. How do you keep your faith when you’ve been struggling for so long, years, and you just don’t see any end in sight?

I so wish I’d been able to attend Deeper Still. I had planned to but finances didn’t allow it. I really think it would have been the drink of water that I needed. I hope that a dvd or cd’s will be made available. I would love to hear all of it.

What an awesome time spent with the Lord! I would love to have Priscilla’s descriptions of God from each book of the Bible that she listed Friday. I think that she may have also done this in the videos from “Discerning the Voice of God”. Is this text or audio available anywhere?? Thank you Lifeway for all of your hard work in making this event a true blessing!! God indeed showed up!!

Ok I’ve been trying to find a christian blog for a while now to help me in my walk and growing in my relationship with God and today of all days I find your blog- God knew when to give me what I needed.

Anywho so I’m having ‘Ah-Ha’ moments today first when my Pastor was on the radio (he does what’s called The Daily Difference) he talked about baggage in our lives and how you know if you need to deal with a person is by the way they unpack (handle) their baggage, and now your post.

I’m what’s holding me back :-). Talk about someone who has control issues it’s a slow process but I’ve learned to let go and let God. Worrying wont get me anywhere.

Control, needing to learn how to forgive God’s way (not mine). I’m sure there’s more and I’ll have to do some real deep digging to find out, maybe that’s what this season in my life is for me (ok so I just had another ah-ha moment while typing on your blog, lol).

Stay Blessed, Tosha

This is just awesome stuff Melanie. I know my hangups and where I am still trying to control things and its just stupid!

I’m praying today for surrender of ALL things and some pouring out of His spirit.

Thanks for all the recaps Melanie. They have gone deep into my heart.

Blessings~ Fran

I can relate to the wilderness thing - I’m in one myself, and I often struggle with wanting God to pluck me out of it, and knowing that in His sovereignty, this is right where He wants me. I certainly don’t want to be here but I know He is working in me through it.

I also have to work on surrender. I just read a great book by Nancy Leigh DeMoss on the topic and I find that so many times, I just have to say, something out loud, Lord, by an act of my will, I surrender this to You and acknowledge that You are in control and I am not. It’s hard!

I so wish I could have been there, and I look forward to more posts. I think Kay, Priscilla and Beth are extremely wise, gifted women.

I could so identify with the wilderness Priscilla spoke about as I have recently emerged from one in my own life.

Please let us know if the messages can be ordered on CD. I was so blown away by what Kay Arthur was telling us concerning the lies we are told by the media, I neglected to take notes during that time. Now I want to tell others what she said and cannot remember some of the important details.

Also, would love to be able to do the hand motions for Beth’s scripture memory method. That was awesome!

Praise God for ladies in leadership who share their talents with those of us who are hungry for the TRUTH.

Oh, how I can relate to this post - surrending control I don’t have, wondering what’s God’s plan and purpose in this, growing in faith through it all.

Our pastor says the wilderness time also develops character. Sometimes I want to say, “God, surely I have enough character now. Can I move on?”

Fear of the unknown and impatience are the obstacles I continually battle. Luckily, the obstacles are no longer as big as my faith.

Thanks for this post.

Me—I’m holding me back—with all my stuff and need for security, need to know, and like you, need to control. And then God laughs, “Silly, Holly, just rest…and leave the rest to me.” Like Beth says, “There’s not a head in that leash.” Controlling air—and not realy even that.

Sounds like a wonderful message! I hope they do get it on CD. I will be first in line!

Thank you Melanie for the notes. I have been at that point Beth mesntioned in a teaching when you are so filled up with the impact emotion you cannot articulate the words to utter what was said much less describe the impact. Praise Jesus. I look forward to the notes on Kay Arthur that was so powerful and impactful to me I am sure it’s take a few days since she covered nearly all of Isaiah and Jeremiah…SMILE. This conference was so what I needed…I had a couple of confirmations that I was moving in the right direction with things in my life…and several convictions on excuses and lack of memorization of the word (being hidden in my heart…I got know it and locate it to share it effectively!)

Every part of the conference was awesome - the panels with the tree was awesome as well!

THANK YOU so Very Much!

Thank you so much for all the follow-up you’re doing. This was my very first women’s conference and I tried to take in (and write down) as much as I could (it was beyond awesome) but even if you aren’t able to find out about a cd or one will not be available, having the recap is helpful.

Melanie, I am so glad you’re going to give a recap of the event over the next several days/weeks. I would find myself captivated by a principle or illustration that Priscilla shared and then when I “came to” I realized she’d said so much more. Thinking so much about the wilderness—been there done that, currently walking with a friend through the wilderness. Priscilla shared about Moses and Job in the wilderness but then I got to thinking about it and remembered Jesus was LED BY THE SPIRIT into the wilderness right after his baptism before his public ministry (Check out Matthew 4) and John was in the wilderness on the Isle of Patmos when God revealed himself in a whole new way!! LOVE the thoughts—I am so encouraged.
I too loved Priscilla’s summary of Jesus in every book of the Bible and recognized it as an old Aaron Jeffrey song “He Is”. Download the song—its powerful or google the lyrics. They are awesome. Can’t wait to read more. THANK YOU!

In Genesis, He’s the breath of life In Exodus, He is the Passover Lamb In Leviticus, He’s our high priest In Numbers, the fire by night Deuteronomy, He’s Israel’s Guide Joshua, He’s salvation’s choice Judges, He’s Israel’s Guard In Ruth, the kinsmen’s redeemer 1st and 2nd Samuel, our trusted prophet In Kings and Chronicles He is Sovereign In Ezra, He’s the true and faithful scribe In Nehemiah, the re-builder of broken walls and lives In Esther, He’s Mordecai’s courage In Job, the timeless redeemer In Psalms He is our morning song In Proverbs, He is our wisdom Ecclesiastes, He’s the time and season In Song of Solomon, He is the lover’s dream In Isaiah He is Prince of Peace In Jeremiah, the weeping prophet Lamentations, the cry for Israel Ezekiel, the call from sin Daniel, the stranger in the fire Hosea, the forever faithful Joel, the spirit’s power Amos, the strong-arms that carry Obadiah, the Lord our Savior Jonah, the great missionary Micah, the promise of peace Nahum, our strength and shield In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He’s brings revival In Haggai He restores that which was lost IN Zachariah, He’s our fountain And in Malachi, He’s the son of righteousness rising with healing in His wings AND THAT’S JUST THE OLD TESTAMENT

In Matthew Mark Luke and John, He is God and Messiah In the spirit filled book of Acts, He is the reigning fire from Heaven In Romans, He is the grace of God Corinthians, the power of love Galatians, freedom from the curse of sin Ephesians, our glorious treasure Philippians, the servant’s heart Colossians, He’s God and the trinity Thessalonians, our calling King In Timothy, Titus and Philemon, He’s our mediator and our faithful pastor In Hebrews, the everlasting courage In James, the one who heals the sick In 1st and 2nd Peter, our faithful shepherd In John and Jude, He’s the lover coming for His bride

AND in the Revelation, in the very end, when it’s all over, said and done, when time is NO MORE. He is and will always be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, son of Man, Lamb of God, The Great I am, Alpha and Omega, God and Savior

He is Jesus Christ the Lord HE IS EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED!

Ooops! That last post was a total mistake…

Anything holding me back - fear of making a fool out of myself?

Fear or disapproval, shame, past guilt… IDENTITY CRISIS - it all applies. I live in moments and seasons with God but find that we still have stuff to sift through to get to the good place again! I want Him so desparately - it is all worth while.

I find that subjecting myself to many teachers, sitting under teaching often and being a student of God’s Word for myself have brought me to places of deep meaning - I identify with Him more when I begin to flesh it out…

Thanks for sharing, I am looking forward to a future Deeper Still yet to be named!

Blessings.

You know, that feeling of being in the wilderness is so overwhelming. I talked to a friend yesterday who was in her own personal wilderness and we talked about how important it is to be still and let God speak to you. I told her, if He leads you to it, He’s going to lead you through it.

Thank you for posting your experience. It was a blessing to read.

Melanie, thank you so much for the thoughtful recap. I’ve never wanted to be at a conference so much as I do right now! Hopefully I’ll make it to a future Deeper Still conference. I’m just now realizing that I’ve been traveling through a wilderness of sorts. This should be the happiest time of my life (just got married last year), but I struggle a lot with wondering if anything I do really matters. This feeling of ineffectiveness holds me back. I can’t help but think, “Why bother trying? It’s not going to work out anyway.” In many ways, I feel invisible. But I guess that I just need to press forward and leave the results to God, because I know that He sees me.

Thanks for sharing the wealth from the weekend. I hope I’m there next time!

So I live in south GA. and I don’t get to attend as many seminars and conferences as i used to when I lived in a big city. Just being able to hear someone share all the richness and goodness of God from one blesses my heart. I have been stuck and in a pit within my relationship with God for a very long time.

I realize that I need to know who Christ/ God really is. I need to know Him and then I will know myself. Reading this helped me to see that in my personal, current wilderness, God just does really want to change me and love me. I think that as children of God that is all He ever wants to do. He loves us beyond anything we could ever comprehend, but that same love is available for us on a second by second basis. We just have to trust that in our wilderness, God has not left us, He just waiting for us to step foward and say “Ok, I’m ready.” Thanks for your blog, it blessed my heart.

Good morning ladies! God is so amazing! I have been so blessed by this blog & it’s many comments. I also am walking thru the wilderness with God & have recently come to a point where my feet hurt too much to walk anymore. I was just hurting too much everywhere: my heart, my soul, my mind etc. God has been determined to shake every aspect of my life & I pray that He finishes soon but you have given my hope. Thank you.

My journey began about 2 yrs ago when I went thru a series of bible studies which may help some of you struggling. The first study is: Breaking the Cycle of Hurtful Family Experiences. The second is: The Search for Significance. Both are published by Robert McGee & the links are below. http://www.mcgeepublishing.com/catalogue/searchforsignificance.htm

http://www.mcgeepublishing.com/catalogue/breakingfamilycycle.htm

You will learn to overcome the fear of approval, the fear of rejection. These studies have revolutionized the way I feel about myself & how I feel about God.

Yours in Christ, YEY

If you’re interested in learning more about Priscilla’s message, it’s going to be the topic of her next Bible study, and Lifeway is offering it to an online test group at lifeway.com/openaccess right now! Thank you for the wonderful recap. :)

Jessie (LW copy editor)

Melanie, I loved hearing the recap! You are doing an excellent job here at All Access. I can relate to your feelings of being in the wilderness. I am so glad that we have a travel guide that never leaves us!

Thanks so much for this- I wish I could have been there, it sounds AMAZING! I love this teaching about the wilderness…very relevant and helpful and encouraging!

I have found God in the wilderness. I will never be the same.

He allured me there to speak tenderly to me, to take the door of sorrow and turn it into a door of hope, to take me from calling Him Master to knowing Him as Husband (Hosea 2:14-16). It’s in the wilderness that we come to know Him by heart.

Her teaching is truth. I have found what she has said and can confirm..it’s the truth.

It’s amazing how He shows up in the wilderness…so amazing.

It’s also interesting to me that you are talking on surrender as God had me write about it on my blog. I love when a theme emerges. That lets me know He’s talking.

Thanks for sharing the notes. Julie