ENCOURAGED IN HEART

“A Tear’s Journey” – that’s pretty much the title of my weekend.

I’m writing to you from the comforts of my hotel room, in a land that’s not far from my residence. A promised land of sorts; a land that flowing with coffee and billowy pillows…they have milk and honey here too.

Oh yeah, and no makeup. I figured, after yesterday, what’s the point? More about that a little later…

I’m on my annual get away weekend… (Can I get a whoop-whoop?)

I attended the Priscilla Shirer’s “Going BEYOND” conference at McLean Bible Church with three precious sisters from my hood and church, Joann, Lynn and Leslie. Jo left her hairnet at home, Lynn got out of her sexy minivan and into her hubby’s sedan to taxi drive us and Leslie was able to fit it the conference before a black belt ceremony and hosting 14 people in her home!

Women rock!

Speakin’ of rockin’ women, Priscilla Shirer was a power-packed-faith-filled-no-non-sense kinda gal. Her brother, Anthony Evans led worship – don’t even get me started – when 2,300 women get together to praise God! All I can say is, what was formerly used to groove in clubs is now used to praise the Lord!

The conference started Friday night and ended at lunch time Saturday. While Priscilla’s a gifted teacher and Anothy a gifted singer, my favorite part of the conference was Saturday morning before the “event” began – the prayer time. Priscilla asked for women that have seen God move in their finances, to step into the aisle, to testify to God’s faithfulness. She then asked women that needed a financial break through, stand up out of their seats. She asked the “aisle women” go to find a “seats woman”, and pray. And so this went, for infertility, addiction, marriages, singleness, family, health…little huddles of women throughout the enormous room, praying, believing, crying. As powerful prayers went up, cleansing tears came down.

Adios makeup, thanks for your efforts. I won’t be needing your services today.

I was both an “aisle” and “seat” woman. Tears came when I prayed for, because God reminded me the pain when I was in my sisters’ shoes. Tears came when I was prayed for, because Gods love was poured out onto me. And, whether in or through the journey, a tear’s journey has purpose…which leads me to my favorite Priscilla statement of the weekend, “All things aren’t good but all things work together for the good.”

I’ll be back into the real world in just about four hours from now. I’m grateful for this precious time away, the reality of a purpose driven tear, all because I do want to go beyond what and where I am today.