The Truth of Knowing and of Being Known... a Five Minute Friday post.

Last week, you guys!  Oh man. 

I was laid out sick... 

I'm feeling so much better, even though my voice is still not very convincing of that fact.

But what I really want to talk about today is Unveiled - the women's conference I attended over the weekend.  

No sickness or lack of voice could keep me away from worshiping live with Rita Springer, y'all! Seriously - what little voice I started out with in each session was long gone by the time the last song was sung!

* The theme of the conference was all based around knowing your identity in Christ.

If you're not new here, then you know that this is my jam.

(I know... I need to quit saying this... and yet: I. can. not.) 

Seriously though... knowing who you are and Whose you are could be the two most important truths you need to know for all of your days.

So often we think this is because knowing who we are will help us to know what our destiny and purpose is.  

True.  

There is that.

That will help!  That, combined with paying attention to what makes you cry and to what brings you joy and to what (re)fills you back up! All of these things are super powerful and empowering to live the life that He has planned for you.

But our greatest call is simply this:
To bring all of who you are to the table, wherever you go.

You do you, boo!
That's it.

Ultimately - that is it... 
He has made only one you and no one else can be you.  No one else can explain things the way you do, or create things the way you can. No one else can laugh and love and link arms with the people you are called to laugh, love, and link arms with, like you!

Our God is big... His perspective is from heaven... from eternity... there is no beginning or end, really... it goes on and on and on and on.

And yet...
  And yet, the truth is, He is well aware of every tiny little detail!  He is so intimate and observant in how He creates us... in how He loves us... in how He guides us... in how He partners with us - in big and small ways.

So - the conference...

This conference was all about removing veils that keep us hidden from each other and that create distance between ourselves and God. This conference was about standing tall, being authentic and vulnerable, and showing the way.  This conference was all about being willing to go first.

We were able to bring nearly a dozen women from Dad's House and the entire weekend ministered to them, from the travel time and shopping, to the worship and messages, to the prayers and laughter... God was at work --He's at work still, sowing this message down deep until it takes root: You are Loved! You are Enough! You are His (and that's plenty!)

Here are a few quotes from the speakers:

"The Veil has got to go! Wearing a veil takes a toll on your soul because it becomes safe."

"Whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away! 2 Cor 3:18"

*

"To remove the veil, we must do two things: 1. Turn to God... this is a daily decision.

2. Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal God's Truth about who you are."

"There is no fruit in faking it!"

                                                                     ~Meil Lindseth

"Fear and Faith are neighbors."

"The message of the Cross is that our goodness doesn't get us in, but our badness doesn't keep us out!"

                                                             ~ Joanne Portmann

And listen: Rita Springer not only brought it for worship in each session, but she also taught a message from Luke 1 about Elizabeth and John and how Promises come in different packages and about how God doesn't miss a thing... He doesn't miss a Promise... but honestly I couldn't even take notes.  I have no quotes, but I have hidden her words in my heart! It was so powerful!

Here's the thing: 
This is my life message... this knowing who you are! This is what I encourage, speak into, and release over all who will listen! 

I have been living in to this whole Knowing your Identity and not wearing masks for years now.  So I sat and heard these amazing, powerful messages that where hitting home and hearts all around the room and I was asking the Lord to reveal veils or walls that I needed to let go or let down, even picking around a bit in old familiar hiding places... 

As I said, this message is my Jam... what I found this weekend for myself is that not only do I love this message, but He has taught me how to live it, too.

Sure - there are veils that feel familiar and safe or that tempt me to pick back up and put on again. But overall, I know who I am, and now --decades into learning me, if (read: when) I ever forget or question, I know Who HE says I am too, so I'm quick to recognize a lie or a veil. Praise God!

None of us are immune, but it's so encouraging to know that we grow in the knowing... and that we have the capacity to hold on and let go... to grow in boldness and in grace!

So the truth of knowing and of being known is that when we truly grasp this, that is the moment when we fall freely back into His embrace and find, as Rita Springer sings it, "all (we) ever needed was to be loved whole!"

"I'm Okay" from Battles                                        

I'm healing this week... and getting ready for a glorious house full of family this holiday weekend!  

I'm praying for each of you, sweet readers... 
I pray that He is teaching you who you are... and that He is reminding you that He loves you completely, just the way you are... that He made you on purpose, with purpose... and that is ultimately to bring all of who you are to the table, wherever you go!

Praying we all continue to grow and stretch and stand up tall in who we are!  May we remember that ultimately, who we are is His!  

We are His!

* = My Start and Stop point for Five Minutes.

Linking up with Kate Motaung and the #fmfparty Community today.  Five Minute Fridays gives us the chance to dive right in and share what He puts on our hearts! Click HERE to read what others have to say about: "TRUTH"

The FMF lowdown: The gathering happens on Twitter on Thursday nights & then we write our hearts out & hit publish all over the interwebs on Thursday & Friday (& sometimes on Tuesdays!) It's where we encourage & uplift... where we share prayer requests & praise reports... where we talk food & friends & we find support & kindred hearts. It's where we are reminded that life is good & God is good & we're not alone... & then we all write for five minutes flat, a flash mob of wordsmiths letting our hearts & our fingers do the talking tapping & we hit publish before we can second guess it all away. We'd love to have you join us!

I'm also linking up with the lovely writer communities linked below:

#FreshMarketFriday...

Kelly Balarie for #RaRaLinkUp

LORI SCHUMAKER FOR #MOMENTSOFHOPE

Barbie Swihart for #Glimpsesofhisbeauty

Jennifer Dukes Lee for #TellHisStory

Holly Barrett for #TestimonyTuesday

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE LORD SPOKE TO ME AND THROUGH ME REGARDING SABBATH REST AND I TURNED MY 31 DAYS SERIES INTO AN EBOOK ON AMAZON.  IF YOU ARE FINDING YOURSELF IN NEED OF REST (WHICH --WHO ISN'T, REALLY?) CHECK OUT THIS SHORT, DAILY DEVOTIONAL  31 DAYS OF RESTING IN GOD ...IT'S EASIER/HARDER THAN YOU THINK!  

YOU CAN PURCHASE IT BY CLICKING HERE OR GRABBING IT FROM THE SIDE BAR TO THE RIGHT IF REST IS SOMETHING YOU KNOW YOU NEED, BUT JUST KEEP PUTTING OFF!