(I wrote this post on the plane on the way home from the Declare Conference this weekend. You can tell my heart was full…)
On Saturday morning, we had a #hellomornings meetup at Declare. About 15 women sat in a small conference room set up with candles and couches by the Seed Company. Some of my favorite people were there and I had another moment of God’s great love and attention that was overwhelming.
Yancy, my long-time friend and hero-even-though-she’s-younger-than-me had her guitar and purple pants to lead us in worship. We sang one of Yancy’s songs from Roots for the Journey,
There are new mercies
Every morning
There’s a new day
To sing of your praise
So with all of my heart
I’m gonna sing
The joy of the Lord it is my strength
You’ve turned my mourning into dancing
The joy of the Lord it is my strength
O Your joy, is my strength
There are new stories
Every evening
Of your goodness
They tell of your love
As we sang, my eyes filled with tears, my heart burning inside me, I thought about how good God is. My life. My whole life all I wanted to do was serve God in full-time church-type children’s ministry. That’s how I met Yancy, her dad is a children’s ministry legend and my hero. I interned at her church in college and God used that experience to form my husband and me and mold our ministry-hearts.
Then, when church-ministry was gone from me and I was mourning, God filled my ministry-heart with dancing in the form of blogging and the online community. And suddenly, it was all here together! I was in a room with someone from my children’s ministry life and all the girls from my online life. It was like another little gift from God as if He said, “Oh, Amanda, you always please me. I order your steps. I see you. I know you. I planned these good works, all your good works–no matter where they are before the creation of the world!” (Yes, he really said “Oh, Amanda”. Not really.)
The message of Declare, not the pre-planned message, but the message God dropped in the heart of all the speakers was to speak up, write the posts, use your voice, write the book. God has given each of us a unique voice and called us to a piece of His world to use it. It may be online, at home, in school or in business. It could be a small tiny sliver of people, it could be a whole church. But if we don’t speak up, if we don’t lift up our megaphones, holding them strong and straight, someone will miss the message God gave us.
Our callings are not to figure out this insane huge, scary, ethereal “God’s will”. Our calling is to just use our voice where we are, when we are, how we are. It’s not a hard mission–it’s the crazy awesome he designed just for us. Designed just for you.
What’s inside of you? What does your voice need to shout? Who do you need to shout it to? Is your megaphone ready?
So awesome! Can any blogger go to this conference? I would possibly be interested next time.
Yes! I met a lot of people who didn’t even have blogs yet!!
a
Great, thank you! I will keep this in mind for next time.
Loved your post – especially the reminder to voice “where we are, when we are, how we are”. I tend to overanalyze and worry but I don’t want to miss what He as called me to. And thank you for coming and sharing your knowledge with us. What a great weekend.
Can I just say “thank you?” My heart was full when I left and it was because you seriously made me feel so welcome and included. It took away so many fears & doubts I had about conferences, and I just loved spending time with you
What an awesome reunion God gave you!!! That totally made me tear up! He really is in the little things, not just the big things. He cares so tremendously about our hearts and does things like this to show us. It was so great to see and officially meet you, sweet Amanda! Raising my megaphone with you!
It was a great weekend! I’m so glad we got to catch lunch. I feel like there were so many of my favorite people there, and I didn’t get enough time with any of you!
“To just use our voice where we are, when we are, how we are…” Yes, Yes, and YES! I love how God brought that all together for your heart, and I wouldn’t be surprised if He really did say, Oh Amanda! I stand with you all in this and can’t begin to fathom all He will do as we are offering our very lives to Him! My megaphone is ready and I’m holding it steady in one direction, aiming at the brokenhearted, the hurting, the one’s who’ve failed, and the ones alone, aiming to DECLARE the hope we all have in the great mercy and grace of our God.
You are a victim of grace, sweet Amanda!!! Thank you for using your voice for God’s glory. It is beautiful and strong and I am constantly blessed by it!!!
I was so appreciative and humbled by how much time you spent with me that weekend. I really “look up” to you as a mom and writer, and I felt like you made me feel included and treated me like a true friend. That’s integrity, and I was so thankful for you!
Oh Amanda, how I wish I had met you at the conference. I didn’t know anyone walking in so I had a lot of work to do! I loved hearing your story about the why of your tears at the HelloMornings meet up. Such a sweet God and sweet message we have to declare!
your words. wow. so thankful God blessed you this past weekend. you have blessed and encouraged so many and I love seeing your reward for your service. love your heart, your voice, and just the whole you.
Sweet Amanda, you are a gem. It was so so great to meet you and so wish that I would have gotten even more time with you! Thanks for being such a welcoming hug and smile!
Amanda, you are amazing! Seeing you & talked with you just a little bit at the conference blessed me so much! Reading your post every time came into my inbox bless me a lot too!
Before the conference, I was lost in my motivation and purpose of why I write blog post. After the conference, I have LOTS to think about, pray about and process all of the stuff I heard and learned there. But YES, I am called to declare God’s glory through my blog.
Thank you for reminding me that ultimate purpose of blogging.
Blessings to you!