So for the last several days I've been taking an antibiotic that leaves me feeling slightly on the side of foggy and muddled and dazed. I don't know what it is about this particular medicine, but I can't concentrate. Can't stay on a train of thought for longer than about fifteen seconds and then suddenly I'm all, "LOOK, Y'ALL! SOMETHING SHINY!"
And then: "Well, now I'm exhausted. I think I'll go take a nap."
Anyway, this blog post is going to be perfectly suited for my current state of mind, because I just need to share several completely unrelated bits of information. Which is ideal for me right now because, hey, IS THAT A PENNY?
I attended a Bible study last week and they opened worship with this song. I've heard it a million times, but it really spoke to my heart at that moment and I've had it on repeat ever since.
Congratulations to Angey Wolken! You won the FREE Friday Giveaway of Esther!
Please email me at kris.seidenkranz@lifeway.com with your address so we can send you the kit. LifeWay Women looks forward to seeing your Facebook pages of interaction with the Esther Bible study.
As a reminder, Angey was chosen using random.org. She was the 12th person to comment.
Thanks everyone for playing and don't forget to post a comment this Friday for the next FREE Giveaway!
It was almost a year ago when Paige Green mentioned the .MOM conference to me for the first time. I very specifically remember our conversation because I was circling the Walmart parking lot looking for a space while we talked. And I guess the detail about Walmart doesn't really add great meaning to this post, but I'm all about telling you way more than you need or care to know. I like to think that it's one of my spiritual gifts.
Anyway, when Paige explained the concept of .MOM, I was intrigued, mainly because I'm such a believer in cross-generational discipleship. We may get comfort from being in a room of people who are the same age as we are (and there is definitely value in that), but I'm at a point in my life where what I crave more than anything is wisdom. It's so important that all of us reach out to the generations ahead of us and behind us so that we can encourage each other and strengthen the body of Christ for His glory.
Last week, as part of an article that I'm writing for HomeLife, I was privileged and blessed to get a small preview of what .MOM will be like. I got to eat breakfast, hang out and talk with four precious women who are leading breakouts at .MOM - Esther Burroughs, Jean Castille, Dedra Herod and Heather Platt. All of us are in different stages of life: Esther is a mom of two and grandmother of five; Jean is a mom of six and grandmother of one; Dedra is an almost-empty nester mom of three teenagers; I'm the mama of a first grader; and Heather is the mom of two pre-schoolers. Truth be told, I was a little concerned beforehand about how well all the ages and stages would mesh, but oh my goodness - I need not have worried.
Because it was seriously one of my absolute favorite days ever. EVER.
I don't know when I've ever been a part of a group where the Holy Spirit enabled us to share our hearts so quickly and so openly. There was a transparency and a candor that only the Lord could have orchestrated, and our conversations were honest and heartwarming and convicting and helpful and healing. It blessed Heather and me so much to soak up wisdom from women who are a little bit farther down the wife and mama road than we are. It blessed Dedra to be able to voice her concerns about a whole new phase of life - and be met with encouragement. It blessed Jean and Esther to be able to share with us what, by God's grace, they've learned along the way.
I walked away from our time together with a renewed commitment to be intentional about the kind of wife I am to my husband and the kind of mama I am to our little boy. To stay grounded in the Word. To be faithful in prayer. And to laugh and live well through it all.
My morning with those four women was just a small glimpse of what .MOM will be. Just a teeny, tiny glimpse. And y'all, I am so excited about what's going to happen here in Birmingham on September 23-24. Because when you put women in a place where they have the freedom to share their hearts - and when you combine that freedom with God's Word and real-life wisdom - well, you get real community. Honest community.
*WARNING: This video is not for those who get motion sickness due to the shakey camera moves. I won't name names.
CLARIFICATION: While we love and esteem Lisa Harper, she will NOT be at the Going Beyond event in San Antonio next month. We wish, but other Bible teaching calls.
The ALAMO: No we did not go in, but we had a moment out front.
WHY: Lisa and I were scurrying around down town San Antonio last October when I accompanied her on one of her Women of Faith fun weekends. (She was awesome by the way). Loved that event and getting to meet the amazing women of faith themselves.
I'LL BE BACK: Not to the Alamo, (well maybe) but definitely at Alamo City Church on Feb 25 and 26 for our FIRST Going Beyond, Priscilla Shirer event of 2011! Anthony Evans will be leading worship. AND Melanie has promised to take me for fabulous, authentic Tex Mex.
Melanie
Melanie
Sophie
Sophie
Paige
Paige
Kris
Kris