We had an absolute blast at True Woman ’10 this past weekend in Fort Worth, Texas! We were challenged again and again by the beautiful high calling and design that God has for womanhood right alongside 3,800 other women attending. I was blessed to meet 7 lovely blog readers as well at the event. How fun! We helped volunteer at the event by running cash registers in the resource center. My sisters and I had so much fun meeting so many ladies and getting numerous, “Are you sisters?” inquiries. Apparently we look a lot alike. I highly recommend you check out all the sessions, which are available to download from the three conferences held this year. These messages will surely impact you and help build your marriages, strengthen your calling, and give you hope and vision for the future. I just wanted to highlight the main points of the conference that stood out to me.
Thursday night started with a powerful call to watch out for worldliness in our lives by Crawford Loritts from 1 John 2:15. He asked the question, “Aren’t you tired of the world defining us?” As women, we have been defined by outside sources for far too long. We find our satisfaction, our value, and position in what the world calls beauty, success, and the like. Crawford challenged us to see the world for what it really is. Worldiness is the celebration of self. It elevates me. Self-idolization. Don’t worship the world! This pursuing love belongs only to God. This is a fallen world with its system and will not bring fulfillment. He gave three challenging questions to help evaluate the things of this world.
1. The motive question: Why do I want this?
2. The worship question: Does what I want consume, control, or change me?
3. The purity question: Am I clean? Is my heart contaminated?
“You cannot be God’s true woman, without first being God’s.”
Nancy Leigh Demoss brought the next session with evaluating the question: What is a true woman? from Titus 2. I love this quote: “A true woman is tethered to the Word of God. Sound doctrine is the solution for the chaos of this world.” She is one who heeds the Word of God and her calling to love her husband, love her children, being devoted to her domain in the home, and seeking to mentor those younger than herself. It truly matters because if we do not follow God’s plan for womanhood, then we risk the word of God being reviled (Titus 2:5), the enemy will have something to slander us with (2:8), and we will not adorn the doctrine of God our Savior (v. 10). She left us with this question: Does your life adorn the gospel? Are you displaying a redeemed life so others can believe in a Redeemer?
I was struck by the challenge by many speakers throughout the conference by the important of God’s Word in our lives. We do not prioritize it enough. If we truly want to be women of God, women of influence, we must be anchored in the Word. Kay Arthur challenged us so profoundly: “What is your influence dear sisters? Is it for good, evil or nothing? Neutral is sin.” It is important for us to see if we just choose to not engage, not fight for truth, but rather sit back and go with the flow, we are walking in sin.
We must dig deep roots into His Scriptures. We must embrace God’s lifeline. It cannot be neglected. Even in the midst of busy motherhood, we must find God and moments of prayer in the midst of our day. Two way conversations should always be happening – between you and your children, and between you and God. While washing the dishes, thank the Lord that He is going to cleanse the heart’s of your children.
The final challenge that stood out to me was presented by Pastor James McDonald in his session on Suffering and Trials from James 1:1-5. He compared the difference between happiness and joy. “Joy is a supernatural God-given delight in the Person of God—who He is, in His attributes.” “A thimble full of joy will obliterate what the world calls happiness for a lifetime.” He opened my eyes to see the true meaning of enduring under trials. The Greek word for endure is hupomone: to remain under.
“But let endurance [perseverance, steadfastness, patience—let hupomone] have its perfect result so that you may be perfect and complete [check that out], lacking nothing.”(James 1:5) Hupomone is the funnel through which all Christian virtue flows. There will be no true women without hupomone. If every time trials come we lash out, bail, complain, despair and fold, God’s purpose is not accomplished. Some of us have been going round and round the same trial, not for weeks and months, but for years and decades because we haven’t learned what it is to quiet our hearts and to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand.”
By remaining under, rather than folding, running, or complaining, we be participants in displaying the superiority of Christ to a lost and helpless world.
“The reason I get to draw another breath, the reason why you and I are here, is so that we can display the superiority of the life lived in God. That’s why Christians get cancer. That’s why Christians have prodigals. That’s why Christians go through painful financial times.”
Overall, my heart was stirred, challenged, and blessed, and I have much to ponder. I pray you would take advantage of these sessions by listening or reading them, and allow God to work and change you as well into a True Woman!
Listen to the True Woman sessions here.
Thanks for sharing about the conference. It was encouraging to read about what you learned there.
I’m going to head over and listen to those sessions now. Thanks for posting the link.
“I was struck by the challenge by many speakers throughout the conference by the important of God’s Word in our lives. We do not prioritize it enough.” <–So true, and a reminder I needed to read today.
Hey Lindsey- So fun to meet you and you look awesome in your pink apron!
I have a lovely pic of you and I. Not sure how to link it or tag you on Facebook. Thought I’d let you know.
I, too, really, really needed True Woman. As a pastor’s wife, I too often sit in a service thinking, “I hope so and so is listening.” or “I should really share this with so and so.” INSTEAD of listening to the Holy Spirit prompting my very own spirit to give up my control over money or the perfect home or the perfect body.
Thank you to you and your sisters too for helping us in the check-out lane!
Tell Christa hello. (I think we may be kindred spirits…)
Thanks for posting…very encouraging and a great reminder!
Sounds like a wonderful conference. I am glad you were able to enjoy it. I can tell by your face that it stirred your soul.
Wonderful! Glad you enjoyed your time down here in Texas – wish I could have met you girls. And yeah, you do look alike, haha.
Thank you for sharing the good word you received.
I was there too and it was a wonderful time! I spotted you and wanted to come say hi but it wasn’t a good moment to be able to. I’m glad you had a great weekend in Fort Worth! (I’m a local, so I’m kinda partial hehe)
Ah bummer…It would have been fun to meet you. Glad you were able to benefit with us from the awesome content.
I was so encouraged this morning reading this post! I see that many were, thank you for sharing your heart and what the Lord is teaching you! We have six months before heading overseas for our first term as missionaries and the Lord is growing me so much right now it hurts but its humbling to think its all that some might come to know Him!
Thank you for sharing what you learned, those words stirred my heart. I’ve been folding under the pressures of life, I need to let God be God in my situations. Thanks so much sounds like it was a great conference!
There’s no doubt you girls do look so much alike! The points definitely reached my heart.
WOW. Man, I needed to read that. I’m DEFINITELY going to be listening to those sessions. Probably tomorrow evening after the girls are in bed.
Thank you for sharing!!
All I can say is WOW!!! You know when you are searching for answers and God shows you straight on. WOW!! Thanks so much for posting this!!
these are some words I needed to hear. thank you for sharing.
I was blessed to attend the TrueWoman10 conference in Indy. I walked away a changed woman. I only thought I had been walking close to the Lord. I have three daughters 10 and under and feel renewed in my mission to raise them to be “True Woman of God”. I think every Christian woman should pray for the opportunity to attend a conference such as this. The only thing you forgot to mention was the power and uplifting praise team of Keith & Kristen Getty. I have both of their CD’s and listen to them continually in the car. My three year old knows many of the words to many of their songs. I love to hear her sing the chorus of Creation Sings the Fathers Song.
Now is the Time!!! Yes, Lord!!!!!!
I would have loved to have been there. I listen to Nancy Leigh DeMoss on the radio and I love Fern Nichols. I heard she was going to be there too. I’m a Moms in Touch mom so Fern is close to my heart. Glad you were there.
♥ Joy
Aw, wow! I LOVE the True Woman movement..so glad you got to experience it! Sounded so uplifting and wonderful!!
huGs ~
Oh how awesome that you got to go. My mom and I got to go the first night when it was here in Chattanooga. But my water broke and I ended up giving birth to my third child the next day so we missed the remaining sessions. We were blessed to watch the videos though. It was an amazing time with the Lord!!!