Learning From Wise Women.

Sitting down on the first day of the Conference listening to Anne Bogel following the Emily Freeman session was the first time I had felt my head was clear since arriving. She offered some amazing advice and joked with the room about being in love with Anne of Green Gables. Woman after my own heart right there.

{Via}

I love Anne Shirley and her dramatic nature, her love for bosom friendship and the fun she and Diana have together. So right from that moment, Anne Bogel had my attention.
She talked about society and how there seems to be a right of passage to becoming an adult, you graduate college, then get married and have a baby. Then you buy a home and life continues through this pattern. When you don't meet the normal pattern, you feel as though you have failed.
Anne talked about how we don't have to be in a set place to be an adult, how life is about learning and growth, that the path is winding not linear.


She talked about real growth and how that can look a lot like being lost. That it takes time to put it all together!


She told the women in the room about how we should not please other people. That we shouldn't deal with the expectations of others as though we don't have God to turn to. As though we don't have value in His eyes.
She spoke about the importance of dealing with baggage. How we shouldn't ignore junk that is there but deal with it. Have a person we can talk to should the need arise from the events in our life  which have affected us. Remembering that we all grow through the hard times in life!

I learned about the importance of not being a complainer, which is why I am cautious about what I write on this little space. No-one really likes to hear complaints, I need to be careful with my words, to encourage not tear others down. I don't want to ever regret things that are written or posted. So my plan is just to not write them.
My blog should be a safe place for those who love me. So for that reason, I won't write anything that would hurt them or make them feel unsafe. Just throwing that out there for clarification.


I understand now what Anne meant by growth can look a little like being lost. Because that's how I started the conference off. And I am still processing and growing from all the events and speakers' messages. Hopefully I won't end up sounding like a broken record as I unpack it all slowly for you.


Let me throw some cake in.

Yep that was after lunch both days. Cake really helps when you are feeling sensitive and vulnerable from being trained and taught so much in a short space of time.

After Anne's session and an amazing lunch.....we had the life panel.

This panel was another one of the most influential sessions for me. Gather Jessi Connolly & her husband, Hayley, Emily Freeman, Sarah Matheny, Rachel Kincaid and there is such wisdom from so many different walks of life.
We had Jessi and her husband talking about how you can't really minister to others online if you aren't both on board. How we should invite our families into what we are involved in online, like the She Reads Truth community, its not an isolated thing when doing ministry through your blogging. Our families need to be on board and even involved. We need to protect them and make them a priority!
Emily reminding us that something it takes wrongly agreeing to do something in order to realise we need to actually say no. Saying a....

Brave Yes, Strong No. 

'If Christ is in You, then He wants to come out.

The Gospel is good news, no matter where you are!'

~ Emily Freeman

I have never wanted to quote anyone more than Emily Freeman whose every other sentence was said in a way I could only hope I might someday be able to communicate.

I have also never heard anyone talk and automatically want to be friends with as much as Rachel Kincaid, who is just an awesome woman! Her inside beauty just came pouring out as she answered questions in the session. Challenging each of us to live a poured out life with whatever the Lord calls us to.    

I walked in wanting to know more about strategy and how to build my blog.
But spent my entire first day meeting God in sessions about life and His Gospel. Encountering some amazing women with incredible God-written stories along the way.

The icing on the cake for me truly was dinner that evening which would take a whole other post to write about how it came into being by the Lord's hand. But I spent the evening eating, talking and sharing encouragement with Stephanie, Mackenzie, Megan, Brooke, Erin & Brittany.
Talk about bosom friends. I love these ladies. Definitely a God-ordained highlight.
I didn't get to spend anywhere near as much time with these ladies as I would have liked.
So you should head over and say hi to them for me, and let them know they are awesome! =)

Thankful//For Day One of the Influence Conference. 

Much Love,

L

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(At Checkout Use code: welcomejournal) 

Meeting Emily Freeman in an Overwhelmed Ocean.

Having arrived at the Influence conference feeling overwhelmed. I decided that even though I planned on attending most of the business sessions, I found myself drawn to the life sessions the first morning. I was desperate for some encouragement, something that would point me to the Lord and the whole purpose for being here.
I also wanted to hear from the author that wrote one of the books which probably impacted me the most in the past year.
Emily Freeman.


And given where I was with feeling overwhelmed....God met me in that Sheraton Conference room.


Initially I was skeptical at the topic Emily planned on talking on as I don't really consider myself an artist. But relevant it was. I'm sure not I can even begin to find all the amazing tweets which blew up my twitter newsfeed during this session.

"I'm not cut out for this"...you're right. you have been placed into this. Don't look to be confident in yourself." 


"Art can be work done in the present moment with willing hands. A whole heart, and a steadfast belief."

"Show up and be who you already are."


"What could be more dangerous to the enemy of our hearts than women with hearts that are fully awake?"


"Our critics force us to draw a circle around what we really believe." 


"Being small and ordinary is not a flaw, it's actually a prerequisite."


"A God who turns ashes to beauty can turn lists to lyrics, programs to poetry, and management to music."


"It might not be the first time it's been said - but you saying it might be the first time someone listens!"


"...Maybe our tears are tiny messengers of the most vulnerable kind." 


"I started small & I'm still small."


"You guys have been great! Thank you for not throwing rocks!" 

Listening to Emily was like a breath of fresh air in an ocean of sinking. Her talk on being in tune with what God wants and how its ok to feel out of comfort zone or useless was so helpful I can't even describe.
She spoke truths on a whole bunch of lies I had believed that have stopped me from moving forward with several visions I feel the Lord has given me for Influence in this little space.


As she spoke through each lie, it was as though the Lord was saying, this is a Lie child!
Don't believe these things. 


I could have never imagined a year ago that I would be a blogger. I don't even really know that I knew that blogging was such a big thing. I had a blog from the age of sixteen, which I kept private and shared with friends where life was taking me.
But the move to make it public and share my faith publicly with almost 300 followers, that was God! That was not my vision. I reluctantly obeyed about ten months ago.
There are days when I still want to delete the whole thing or move it back to being private because writing here means I am vulnerable.


But sitting in that conference room several weeks ago, I got a beautiful reminder from the Lord.
This is His, not mine. He reminded me that it is His to give and take away. That I shouldn't believe lies, but rejoice in truth. That I should keep writing to make much of Him, even if that is by sharing ways He is at work in my life. That by sharing my story, I may just touch lives for Him.


That I can get behind!!! 


My goal is to share my testimony through my everyday life and let others see Him in it. Emily reminded all of us, that our sphere of Influence looks different for each of us. But we should be more concerned with showing up and being who we are. We are daughters of the King and trying to make much of Him! So do it!

I have been much slower at picking up on how many times this message was spoken to me over the course of the weekend. I am also still trying to figure out which ideas as I'm usually a person who has many. But as I have been working through all the information, praying and brainstorming.....several ideas have started to seem possible.


I'm excited to see where the Lord takes us on this adventure!


Meeting this wise woman in a conference room in Indiana was incredible, mainly because through her the Lord spoke to me. So thankful for her wise words, beautiful heart,
honesty and hilarious sense of humor. I laughed so much throughout the course of the weekend because of things she said.

Photo credit: Sarah Koci Scheilz

Now how many of you ladies have read grace for the good girl? Because you really really should.

Much Love,

L

"God doesn't call the qualified, but if He calls you He will qualify you."

~ Mark Batterson ~

When God Provided: Africa Part 1

{Via} {Via}

Side note: I am raising funds for Influence through Paypal on my sidebar & through my Etsy store. 

Please prayerfully consider supporting me on this journey.

I have been thinking a lot lately about the Influence conference. I am trying so hard to trust the Lord with opening the door for me to go. I want to grow in learning how to make the most of the Influence the Lord has give me to share His love, the ways He has been at work in my life.

To share Him.

Some days I fully trust Him.

Others are harder.

When those moments come, I have found it encouraging to look back at times when God provided. 

Times where is was above and beyond my wildest expectations.

Africa has been on my heart a lot lately. I feel the Lord stirring my heart for that land again.

So allow me to share with you and journey the Lord took me on back in 2006, I wrote about some of the ongoing effects of that trip here. This was a journey which blew my mind about how sovereign the Lord is. How He is more than able to provide, when there seem to be so many obstacles in the way.

A story about how I found myself in Africa without knowing I would be there till six days before.

I had just finished a challenging year working for the first time, for an internet based company. Alongside this job I also worked part time as an intern with our church's youth group. I was pushed and stretched throughout many challenges that year.

My 19th birthday came and went toward the end of the academic year, I shared it with so many precious friends and several younger girls I had been able to invest time in that year.

I was also attracted to a godly young man from our church. He was the worship leader at our youth meetings, a surfer, and quickly became my best friend.

You know the type.

At the end of the year we had been challenged by his parents to let go of our friendship, as we were both very young and heading in very different life directions. To surrender the whole situation to Christ and trust Him with our hearts.

He left for the states about 2 weeks after that conversation to go to college.

I had no idea if I would ever see him again.

I was getting ready to head off to college myself in England. Then my family announced they too were England-bound. An unexpected change of plan. There would be no returning trips to see them during vacation-time. No trips back to the land where my friends now were and where I felt there was a link to this guy who had left.

I began to fall apart. 

Early that year in January I had planned to go on a mission trip with our church for 2 weeks to India. So a few weeks after my best friend left, I headed out to India.

I felt the Lord speaking to me throughout that trip, showing me His presence, comfort and love in ways I had never experienced before.

I became quite close to the older girls who were leaders on the trip. One in particular shared my struggles with my singleness and heart brokenness over the lost friendship.

As our time was coming to a quick end, they started talking about their upcoming trip to Tanzania. There were two trips organised that summer and they were all going on both trips. All the leaders had raised support months in advance to be able to afford both these trips.

Then one of them asked me why I wasn't going to Africa.

I probably mumbled something about not having the money. Then I was frustrated that I wouldn't get to go to a place that had intrigued me for a long time. Over something like money. Then I felt a nudge.

What a silly reason to not go and do something so life-changing.

I felt the Lord challenge me about whether I thought He could provide.

I secretly felt it was hopeless, there was only six days between landing and leaving for Africa.

But I chose to trust. Thinking I had nothing to lose.

I talked to my parents almost immediately after returning, convinced they would say no. I had already been gone for two weeks. I asked their permission to head out if I could get the support, flight and visas in time.

They said yes.

I was stunned.

I then called the region coordinator of the organisation about the trip. I explained how I felt the God had challenged me to go and I had some of the money in a savings account (money I had earned from my job to go toward college). He told me he would make some calls and see what he could do. But he made no promises, except to call me back asap with an answer.

I waited all day.

By the end of the day I had pretty much lost all hope. I felt so silly for thinking that something that big could just happen.

Then the phone rang.

The organisation running the trip had agreed to fund 2/3rds of the cost for me to go. He had taken so long calling me back as he had been talking to the airline booking my ticket.

Within 24hrs I had my support.

Then I needed visas. I was told to get to the Kenyan and Tanzanian embassies asap. Both of these were located in the capital city of the country we lived in. Which was several hours away. I called one of my friends who lived there, one of the team leaders from India. She invited me to come and stay with her and then head to the embassies with her the following day while she returned to pick up passports which had been there for about 4 months waiting approval for visas.

My heart sank.

My mother, being the incredibly supportive parent she is, drove me to the capital city and agreed to come back and get me when I had my visas.

The following day I entered the Kenyan embassy and explained my urgent need for a visa, that I was due to fly in about 3 days time.

He stamped my passport and I had my visa in about 5 mins total.

(My friend also collected all the visas they needed there too)

We headed across town to the Tanzanian embassy. We met the region coordinator there as he had come to appeal for the remaining passports they needed for those already scheduled months ago to go on the trip.

I was so nervous.

Once again I approached the window and explained my urgent need for a visa, that I was due to fly in 3 days time. They took my passport and told me to wait. About 40 mins passed. I thought for sure this was where this mind-blowing series of provision was going to come to a swift end. 

A lady then came out and handed a stack of passports to the region coordinator, mine included.

He handed it to me, I opened it and I saw a visa for Tanzania.

I could have cried.

My mom was able to come and get me that evening. I spent a total of 24hrs in the capital city and left with both visas and not a single glitch. I then spent the remaining two days gathering items I needed for the trip (like long skirts) and found myself boarding a plane bound for Kenya only days later.

If God is able to take a broken, doubting, selfish young girl like me and open doors providing in a way like that...why is He not able to do it for you too? Are you also waiting on the Lord for provision for something? Know that He has provided in the past.....He will provide again. 

Its always a wonderful reminder when I am discouraged about the Influence conference.

More to come on the actual trip while in Africa.

Much Love,

L

Being Content with your Life.

Today was one of those super scorchers, like in the high 90s and super humid.

One of those days where I totally wish we had AC in the house, or hey the car would even work.

But since we don't and since I have the privilege of caring for two beautiful girls, I spent the day hanging out in the sprinklers, shrieking joyfully with a four year old and enjoying myself.

There's something so sweet about hanging with children.

They are content with little things.

They don't worry about being things, they know they are cared for.

I loved being reminded that even if I'm hot, I can run through a sprinkler.

Yes, my hair might get messy, but who's watching?

I can lie back in a hammock with two precious girls who share their thoughts and ideas, as we munch on blueberries and other good fruit.

I can enjoy brushing their hair and reading to them.

(Even the book I've read at least 20+ times already)

We tell stories over lunchtime, yes I have made up an entire series based around a strawberry called Sally.

We play Wii when it starts to pour with rain outside and enjoy the shelter of a house.

We take naps.

Then at the end of the day before heading out to be with the hubby, I get to lie in the grass and see what shapes the clouds make and laugh at silly jokes like:

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Because he was running after a mouse......

(no idea)

I am learning that being content with life is a choice.

Although that day sounds just plain awesome.

There are moments in between which could be seen as difficult or negative.

Choosing what to take away from the events in a day can help you feel content or discontent.

It really is a choice.

I could choose to focus on what I don't have in life right now.

Like wanting to own a home, or a decent car that doesn't need regular work or 

even has working ac.

We don't have health insurance or even steady income sometimes.

But you know what. 

God provides.

If its something He has taught me since we got married (almost two years ago, can you believe it!) its He provides above and beyond our needs.

Always.

Although I could choose to focus on what I don't have......

I can also choose to focus on what I do have.

A year ago we moved into our first home together.

We had no furniture. Like literally.

Now, I'm wondering how in the world we are going to get all the furniture which was mostly given to us into a truck to move it elsewhere in a few weeks.

Just over a year ago, I was living in a different country to the hubby.....since then I think I have only been apart from him for a handful of nights.

I have no idea what your life is like girl.

I haven't walked your path.

But know that I care, God cares more.

I don't know what you are waiting on Him for or what you have been dreaming of since you were a little girl.

But I know that the Lord hears us when we cry out to Him.

That He has not forgotten those dreams you shared with Him.

But I also know several things the Lord shares with us about contentment:

'Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.'

{Hebrews 13:5}

'Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.'

{Philippians 4:11-13}

'Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.'

{1 Timothy 6:6-8}

'Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.'

{Matthew 6:31-33}

I have much to learn about being content.

I am sure a lot of the hardships in life are to bring about riches in our spiritual life. 

Even though those trials are so hard, they usually reap the most rewarding results.

I may not have any control over the trials in my life.

But I can choose to be content.

To be wholeheartedly where the Lord has me.

To trust Him.

Want to join me?

If you have burdens and need prayer for contentment.....

I would love to be able to pray for you.

You can email me (allgloriouswithinblog@gmail.com) or find me on twitter.

I would love to hear from you.

Much Love,

L

Sponsor Spotlight: SweetnessItself

Given the wonderful surprise coming later in the week, yes keep an eye open this friday...

It only seems appropriate to introduce you to a wonderful sponsor of mine & a dear friend.

Meet Erin From Sweetness Itself.

Image Property of {SweetnessItself}

If you have yet to visit her blog. Well it is a must! 

No seriously!! I am not joking....go check it out right this instant and stop listening to me.

You back already? Well ok...I will continue =)

There are girls you meet in this life whom you may not see very often. She and I have never lived in the same place (It is one of my dreams to someday). She is a beauty living on the west coast. The very first time I ever saw the Pacific Ocean (or the West coast), it was with her and because of her. 

If I were Anne living in Green gables....it is quite possible I would want her to be my Diana. She is one of those girls. The ones you know you don't need to talk to everyday to know that if you call them, they will still understand you. Even if life passes for a few months, nothing changes between the 2 of you.

Sweet friends. She is one of them.

Image Property of {SweetnessItself}

 So I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce you not only to her AMAZING blog. 

Which you really should visit quite frequently, because her heart is just amazing and she shares it over there in her virtual living room (aka her blog). 

But also to share the sweet story of how we met.

Image Property of {SweetnessItself}

Picture 18 yr-old Erin & L. Both living on opposite sides of the globe. 

Both with hearts for purity, a love for the Lord & committed to allowing Him to show them the one they would someday marry.

A few months after I arrived at college, a friend introduced me to the puritygirls website. I can't link to this site anymore as it no longer exsists due to personal conflicts with the people running it. However, it was a site dedicated to encouraging young men & women choosing to wait on the Lord to bring His best into their life in a spouse. 

I had surrendered my relationship with A to the Lord at this point in my life. We were not corresponding and living in different countries (again, I apologize more on this story another time).

I decided to join this site and hopefully find encouragement from like-minded girls choosing to trust God with this area of their life.

Once I was a member of the purity girls website, I filled out my profile details and then it moved to the next step (which was optional) of choosing an accountability partner.

So I scanned through the pictures of countless young women all of whom looked awesome in trying to live their lives for the Lord. As I scanned through them I thought well I will choose someone later...then I came across the profile of a girl called Erin. 

I felt a huge nudge, like a voice said to me 'Pick her!'

It was not an audible voice, just to be clear.

As I read through her profile, the nudging happened again.

I was unsure if this was the Lord or just me thinking she looked sweet, so I clicked the button requesting accountability with this sweet californian girl. 

It.Was.The.Lord.

Who nudged me.

A friendship this sweet, was definitely a gift from the Lord.
As we began correspondance that year, I met this incredible girl with such a sweet heart for God.

She encouraged me in my pursuit of Christ, in my loneliness of being single, in so many different ways.

The more I got to know her, the more I found out how similar we were.

We were both the oldest of 2 girls in our families. Both love vintage things, both have blonde hair & blue eyes (in fact her mom mistook me for her when I later visited her), both in love with girly things (I blame her for this change in me haha). 

Image Property of {SweetnessItself}

The Lord has given me this precious friendship & taught me so much from her wonderful heart.

She has been my friend through so many exciting changes in my life.

From loneliness in my first year of college, through exciting courtship with A.

Through engagement to A right after I went to visit her and we actually got to spend a week together in sunny California.

She has been such a true friend to me. 

She was my long-distance bridesmaid as last minute she was unable to make it to our wedding.

I am so thankful the Lord nudged me that day in my dorm room, to pick an accountability partner from SoCal. Just another girl in a bunch on a website. 

She is not just another girl!

This girl has a heart of gold.

She is so precious.

I pray that someday I will be able to witness her earthly prince arriving to sweep her off her feet.

To share in her joy, like she did mine.

And I totally plan on naming a child after her (of course that decision will be made with A)...

because I love her name & because if I someday have a daughter who turns out anything like her....

Well that would be one of the biggest blessings in my life ever!

I was going to describe our trip to see each other.

But that might have to wait.

Praise the Lord for sweet friendships & for ordaining our meeting!!!

Go call or email those wonderful women in your life for no reason other than to say hi. 

You know who they are.
They are a gift from the Lord.

Much Love,

L

 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17 

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

Proverbs 27:9
 

 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12