Attending Conferences

Walking into a room full of people - some you know, others you don't - but you have that one thing in common. It could be the name of the business you are doing (if you're attending a work conference); or it could be having a relationship with God.

This past weekend I had the privilege of attending my 4th Kidmin Conference, put on by Group Publishing. I have only missed one conference (due to my husband's bout with cancer). Each year, I gain several friends and so it's always rewarding to return to see a familiar face - someone whom I have prayed for, and them for me.

The theme was abide. John 15:9 "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love." In other words, take root in His Word. Read it, study it, let it grow inside of you so it can become a part of you. Therefore when storms come (and they will), you will remain strong. It's when we don't nourish ourselves in His Word, that our roots begin to wither and sometimes die. And when the storms come, our foundation has crumbled and we are shaken apart. We can't stand up on our own.

I bought a new Bible over the weekend - it's called the Jesus Centered Bible. It has blue lettering in the Old Testament and red lettering in the New Testament. The blue lettering shows references to Christ, and the red lettering is Christ. I'm looking forward to reading it. I've read through the New Testament several times over the last 30 years or so; but have never read every book in the Old Testament. So now I have a new goal.

I purchased several other books including: Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker; Becoming Who You are in Christ by Allie Marie Smith and the Team at Wonderfully Made; God so loved the word...that He created Chocolate by Group publishing; and Big Dreams from Small Spaces - also by Group. The last two are devotion books. You can never read too many books. I'm mostly excited about digging deeper into God's Word and discovering all there is for me to know and apply to my life.

Some of the entertainment at Kidmin included the Skit Guys. And on Sunday evening they did their most popular skit called the Chisel. This is when God chisels away all of the extra things we have added into our lives that covered Him up. So that when we looked into a mirror, we no longer saw Him there. God created us in His own image. He wants us to be like Him. Yet He also gave us the right to choose what to do with our lives. Unfortunately, sometimes we choose things that aren't attractive to Him. We need to be willing to allow God to chisel us back into His image.

One of the other speakers, Steve Adams, from Saddleback Church, started his message from John 15:16 which reads "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain..." Steve said that "we need to be connected to Jesus. To abide in Him because without Him, we're just a twig - only good for a fire." This goes along with strengthening our roots - so that our branches will stay strong and our fruit will continue to produce. He spoke about comparison - and how the enemy deceives us through discouragement, doubts, and distractions. We need to remember that God invests in us and He created us to be His masterpiece. Steve says "we need to recognize our true identity. Release the burdens and pressure of being someone else. And then our impact will be different from others. We should just be the fruit God created us to be - then we will have fruit that remains."

We had a jazz night - complete with a jazz band. Amazingly the band was comprised of players from Colorado and Illinois - and they only had one rehearsal together. They said it was because they were able to practice on their own time. The speaker, Robert Gelinas, says "I see jazz in Jesus. Just like in jazz, where there is a sort of call and response time, Jesus is calling out to us but is anyone responding?" He said "if you're going to go after one thing, let it be God. And don't wast your pain - hold on to it. God will use you." He said, "God is the original Jazz Ensemble - the 3 in 1. Anyone can join the ensemble of God - just abide."
And finally, "Ensemble has an assumption and that is to practice, practice, practice. Be a practicing Christian."

Our MC for the weekend was Christine Yount Jones. She spoke to us on Sunday morning about Abide. Reading from John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser." She said the vinedresser does the pruning (similar to the chisel). Describing the four seasons, she said, "Spring is a time of waiting. Although that seem passive, it is not. It's a time of grappling with God." We need to be a watchman (Psalm 30), and keep our eyes on God (while we wait). "Summer is a time of nourishment. God is the keeper - he keeps the predators away." John 15:17 reads Hope does not disappoint. "Fall is a time for harvest. Beware, there are a lot of impostors, but there is only One True Vine. Quit looking on the outside of God for growth. Be plugged into God." And finally "Winter is where the pruning takes place. Pruning stimulates growth. It is said that 90% of the vine is pruned each year and always comes back with more branches, more fruit)." Chris ended with this, "In quietness, trust in your strength. because at the end of the rope, God is there."

On Sunday night, Jen Hatmaker was the guest speaker. She began with "sometimes God says no. When you go for a yes and God wants a NO, then it's a mess. Be believers first and foremost. Our identity is the interior work that must be done for the roots to be strong and anchored to God. Otherwise, you become prideful, depressed, and have a big ego. We need to switch our default from a yes to a no. We cannot make God known, when we know we are not known. (for Christ should live in us - if He is not seen, God is not there.) And be willing to tell others that they are a mess. God was satisfied with the cross and how it was finished. Why are we dissatisfied about trying to earn His grace? God is for us and with us, not against us." There was so much more but she ended with this, "Know the last fresh thing God did in your heart and then be willing to share it."

As you can read - it was a full weekend with great speakers, not to mention the worship by Shane and Shane, and the Christian Comedian Chonda Pierce. This is truly a great conference - each year it just gets better and better. Looking forward to the next one in 2017.