Love

  

Love- Extraordinary Women’s Conference 2013

 

10,000 women in one room-most men would say “what a nightmare!”  After standing in line for the bathroom, the shuttle to park, the lunch line…even the women were saying that!  Even worse that 10,000 women in one room, think about it as 10,000 children in one room.  That’s what we had yesterday-all weekend.  We were in Gods Day Care,  All of his children in one place.  We were told basically when to sit, when to stand, when to eat, when to go to the bathroom-and we did it!  And it was a miraculous event.  And we did this all in the name of Love!  One little 4 letter word.  First of all we came because we love God. And we love our girlfriends, sisters, mothers, daughters- so we took them with us.  To get away from the obvious- men, husbands, brothers, sons.  All in the name of love.  Our theme verse was:

 

1 Corinthians 13:13 for the weekend

 

And now these three remain; faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love

 

It was on big screens, t-shirts, bookmarkers, coffee mugs…everywhere!  But it was also at the civic center, on the shuttle bus, in our car ride, at our hotel, at our restaurants, even with us as we crossed the street.  We banded together all weekend as a group for everything.  You know us women- we can’t even go to the bathroom alone.  And trust me this weekend that was not a problem. We stood in lines that wrapped around buildings to wait…and wait…and then wait some more.  But do you think God didn’t use even that!  Absolutely not!  We saw friends we haven’t seen in years- our own neighbors living in the same community- but God takes an event where there are 10,000 women- to a different state and puts us in the same hotels, on the same bus ride, in the same line!

 

We of course went in the name of love because we love God. And as we were there that first night we start to hear how God loves other people.  Our speakers tell of experiences of how Gods love has transformed their lives.  In 1 John 4:8 the Bible says “God is Love” and John 15:12 &13 This is my commandment love each other in the same way I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this.  That one lay down his life for his friends.  Out of the whole weekend this one sentence spoken that first night by speaker Kasey Van Norman is what I will remember and carry with me.  “I don’t know how to not love you” And that is so like God.  He just loves us.  There is no other way.

 

In Ephesians 5:1&2 Follow Gods example, therefore, as dearly loved children.  And walk in the way of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  

 

Her parting words for us were “God’s love is gracious, sometimes painful and always redeeming” Everyone has a “story” of how Gods love has been gracious.  For some their “story” may be painful, but God always gets the last word.  You will be redeemed!  1 John 4:11 Beloved, If God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

 

If I didn’t learn anything else from this weekend, I learned we need to love our fellow man- our neighbor, our classroom buddy, the person sitting next to us on the bus, the person sitting beside you on the church pew!  Not just tolerate that person-but just as God loves us- we also have to love one another.  As you go about your work, school, home- As you go about life- this week- this year!  Remember this one verse:

 

John 15:17

 

Love One Another!