She Speaks Conference Scholarship

One of the things I love about spring is my birthday.  There's just something about celebrating the life I have while watching life explode around me in colors that only God could have thought up.

And one of the things I love about my birthday is the shopping I get to do afterwards.

That's why it was a major deal when I was challenged to take a thirty-day "spending fast" a couple of years ago during the month of April.  The month of my birthday.  During that period of time, I only allowed myself to purchase what was absolutely necessary for my family's needs.  That meant no stops for Diet Coke at Mickey D's.  No three dollar shirts from the Kohl's clearance rack.  Not even a 25 cent book from Goodwill.  And I learned a lot about my lack of relying on the very Giver of Life to fill me with His real life.  I realized my propensity to find as many justifiable bargains as I could and then brag about them when someone admired them.  I learned that I found some of my worth in that.  I let that giddy feeling fill my need for true satisfaction and life.  The kind that can only be found in God Himself.

After the fast was over and I finally allowed myself to spend my birthday money, I don't even remember what I bought.  I do remember, however, that it did not take long to spend that money.  (I mean, c'mon, I learned some great lessons, I kept my vow to God, but I had some shopping to do!)  Because money burns holes in my pockets when I know I have it to spend.

Truth is kind of like that for me.  When I grab hold of a truth and God settles it inside me and grows it into some thoughts, I have to tell it.  I can't not share it.  It would burn holes in my heart, I think. 

That's why I write.  It's why I teach.  And it's why I got so stinkin' excited when I found out about the She Speaks conference. 

It's an annual conference by Proverbs 31 Ministries for women who want God to use them through writing, speaking, leading.  Seriously, the first time I read about this conference, I was almost dizzy with excitement just to find out that something so seemingly perfect even exists!  And I decided to make it a "prayer project."  So God could figure out a way for me to go.  In other words, when I excitedly told my husband about it and got to the cost details, we realized it's a little out of the budget that my husband and I have agreed upon for the "things that would be awesome but didn't plan on when we started saving" category. 

But if God wants me to go, He'll figure it out.  So I started praying about it.

Well, you might imagine my enthusiasm when I found out that Lysa Terkeurst is giving away a scholarship this month for the 2010 She Speaks Conference!  Because God answers prayer.  Through this scholarship, He will allow someone to go who maybe couldn't otherwise go.  And because I have no doubt that there are others like me who are watching to see how God figures it out for them to go as well.  And because this world of blogging is full of amazingly talented and gifted women who want to be used by God to help change lives with His truth.  So whether it's me or someone else, God will answer prayer.  Because He's good like that.

Always.

But, man, I hope it's me.  :)