She Speaks Scholarship Contest For Bloggers...

"She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue."
~Proverbs 31:26~

Dear Readers, I am departing a bit today from the regular Friday Beautiful Life Goals hosted by Melissa of The Inspired Room to tell you about a wonderful opportunity. In a way it is not so much of a departure as one of my goals was to seek out a conference and hopefully be able to attend. I encourage you to visit all those who have been so faithful in posting every Friday. Lysa TerKeurst of Proverbs 31 Ministries has announced a She Speaks scholarship contest for bloggers. The 8th Annual She Speaks Conference will be held on July 31 ~ August 2, 2009 in Concord, North Carolina.

She Speaks is a conference for women that encourages, equips, and gives the confidence needed to make a greater impact in reaching out to a hurting world and offering hope. Speakers, Writers, Women's Ministry Leaders, Young Women, and yes, even Bloggers will benefit from attending this life~changing weekend! To see full contest rules and how you too can enter visit Lysa's post here. To review the She Speaks Conference information in detail visit here.

This past week a stranger had a profound impact upon me though three little words. These were not words I was used to hearing in reference to myself. The more I thought upon them and reached back in my memory as far as I could go I knew they had never been applied to me in the positive way she wrote them. For days I hugged them to my heart and whispered them to myself in wonder and awe that they could even include me. My heart literally jumped with joy at the very thought of them. This woman does not know me, we have never met or spoken, yet her words were a gift of encouragement unlike anything I have ever received save that of the gift of knowing Jesus.

With three little words, a short message indeed, she opened up a world full of possibilities of believing I am capable of being or becoming anything I desire to be. She planted the seed of potential and the possibility of growth into something not yet in existence. In that moment of realization an even deeper desire to pass along the cup of encouragement to others sealed itself in my heart.

What did she write to me? "...have the potential..." It is my estimation that we often believe what we hear about ourselves and more often than not what we hear is negative rather than positive. I thought back to early times in my life when the power of words gave me the potential to become exactly what was uttered. "You dumb bunny, your so stupid!" made me think I was not smart nor could I ever have the potential of being so. "Your as clumsy as a bull in a china closet!" made me think I only had the potential of being awkward and clumsy. A classmate who barked in my face and called me a dog took away the potential of ever feeling pretty. The wounds that these words inflicted have stuck with me all these years.

With three positive little words of encouragement, support, an expression of approval, and the act of giving hope poured forth into my wounded heart and made all the difference in the world in how I suddenly saw myself. Scripture says that, "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." (Proverbs 25:11 NIV) This suggests some kind of a decorative piece or centerpiece on a table or a carving done in gold over silver. Either way, the emphasis is on exquisite beauty, value, and artistry which our speech should resemble.

The increase of confidence that I gained from knowing that someone who doesn't even know me, yet believes in me, made me feel valued and was a gift of exquisite beauty. More than having someone know that I believe in them is sharing the message that there is One who believes in each of us. There is One who sees potential in us far greater than we could ever dream or imagine. We may not be able to comprehend what He sees in us but when we become His girl, He will change our world. My desire is to communicate God's love through encouragement.

Attending She Speaks would give me an opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge I need to hone a written message of encouragement, hope, and healing. I truly believe there is power in positive communication to break negative strongholds and to be able to effectively share with others what Jesus and this woman did for me is the reason I would like to attend the She Speaks conference.

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

She Speaks...He Speaks.....

“She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.”

Proverbs 31:26

Lysa TerKeurst of Proverbs 31 Ministries is opening up yet another wonderful opportunity, to win a scholarship to the 2008 She Speaks Conference. The contest rules are to post a bit about the conference and to write why you would like to attend.

Conference Director, LeAnn Rice, has this to say about the conference, "She Speaks is a life-changing conference for women of every generation seeking to explore the tug on her heart to reach out to the world for Jesus. Through She Speaks, Proverbs 31 Ministries encourages and equips women who are called by God to share our mission to bring God’s peace, perspective and purpose to today’s busy woman. Sharing God’s truth with love is not only a holy calling but a remarkable responsibility. We believe by equipping women to become more effective at sharing the Word of God, we multiply our efforts to reach a hurting world with the life-transforming hope of Jesus."

Here's what's in store for 2008:
She Speaks : (Speakers Track) Whether you feel led to speak in a large arena or lead Bible studies in your church, you will be equipped with the tools you need to effectively share your message, create a bio sheet, market your ministry, and jazz up your presentation.

She Writes : (Writers Track) Learn everything from basic writing guidelines to preparing an article or manuscript for submission, and everything in between. In addition, you will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with some of the top editors, publishers, and literary agents in the Christian market.

Or maybe you are a blogger and just want to learn how to more effectively connect with your readers and increase the impact of your blog. What better way than to sit in sessions taught by three of the most widely read blog authors: Boo Mama, Big Mama, and Rocks in My Dryer.

She Leads : (Women's Ministry Track) This track is specifically designed for women's ministry directors and facilitators. Learn creative ways to reach your community, organize small groups, select a team of volunteers, plan successful events, and network with other directors.

She Influences : (The Next Generation Track) This track provides 12-17 year old young women with the confidence they need to make a difference within their own sphere of influence, and equipping them with skills that will enable them to answer God's call on their lives to speak or write for His Kingdom.

For detailed Conference Information, Schedule, Session Descriptions, Registration and Payment, Speaker Information, Writer Information, Womens Ministry Information, and Next Generation Information, visit Proverbs 31 Ministries - She Speaks Conference here.

The team at Proverbs 31 Ministries has a sincere and heartfelt desire to teach, train, and equip women through this life-changing conference. It is their prayer that during this year’s conference, God will validate old dreams and inspire new ones.

He Speaks - "Come, go higher with me!"

This is the tale of the little Shulammite maiden and my reason for desiring to attend the She Speaks Conference. In the Song of Songs, the maidens lover comes, leaping across the mountains, and invites his beloved to go higher with him: “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me.” (Song of Songs 2:10 NIV) He does not get the answer he wants, she is content. She is camped out “in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places of the mountainside” (Song of Songs 2:14 NIV). She had gone so far with the Lord then she hesitated, stopped, camped out feeling satisfied with where she is and she refuses to go higher with Him, afraid of what it might involve. After her refusal he goes to the higher places without her. She is lonely, sad, and desperately begins to look for him.

For the past six years I have lived the life of a secluded writer, very content, in a comfortable camp keeping my words hidden away from public view. I knew without a doubt six years ago that God was calling me to a writing ministry and I was just as certain that He desired me to be faithful with the task at hand until His timing was right. I knew that I was to wait and listen in my safe hiding place in the cleft of the rock until He called for me.

I identify with the little maiden in that there is a temptation to stay where I am comfortable, content, and satisfied, to let fear rule and keep me captive. But greater knowledge rests in the blessings of obedience. I don’t want to find myself refusing His call, being lonely, sad, and abandoned because He moved on without me. The maidens story, however, does have a happy ending. Tenderly, her lover knows how much she can bear, so he returns to her after a short absence. She learns a valuable lesson, until she really leaves, she cannot fully cleave.

A few weeks ago I heard Him speak to my heart, “Come, and go higher with me!” He said. I was given the choice to stay or obey. I stepped out on faith by choosing an opportunity that opened up before me. I asked a question, made a submission, and received confirmation all within a few days time. More perfect peace cannot be felt than that of being where He wants you, doing what He desires you to do, and following where He is leading you.

My desire is to learn from those who have gone before me, just as I have learned a valuable lesson from the Shulammite maiden of answering His call, accepting His challenge, knowing that He is directing my steps. I am really ready to leave my hiding place and fully cleave to Him as I seek out my God given voice in the writing world. I realize the benefit of being well trained when pursuing any path and I feel that the Proverbs 31 Ministry – She Speaks Conference can be a valuable part of the foundation of the ministry God is calling me to.

Listening for His Voice,

Sandy Babb