How lucky I was to had the opportunity to fly to Billings, Montana and visit another Women of Faith conference. Not just was it a phenomenal, inspiring, spiritual, happy and sad event, but I got to witness it with my sudo-family, the Pecks! What a blessing they are and an honor to know them and call them my friends and sisters Christ. Cyndi, Christi, Becky, Mercy, and Bethany were all there to greet me and spend time with me in the most loving and encouraging way. I was a little worried at first that I would have an emotional breakdown about how their brother left me last year, but it didn’t matter. I was only happy to see and spend time with them. We barely even talked about him and though I looked into faces that looked so much like his, I didn’t even think of him much. What an exciting feeling to have gained a set of such close friends without even having to talk or think of him.
The conference itself was very exhilarating! The stories that were shared, the songs we heard, and the plays we saw… I don’t think it can get any more real than this. I think the most important thing to take away is that non of us is alone with what they’re experiencing. Not only do most other women know exactly what you’re going through, but God is right by your side, holding your hand, and watching over you. The theme of the conference was “IMAGINE” and the bible verse to go with that was Ephesians 3:20 - “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” I don’t know what else there would be to wish for? I just feel very safe, knowing that I am a beloved daughter of the king of kings :-)
At the conference, I also found a new love for two female Christian artists: Natalie Grant and Nicole C. Mullen. I absolutely loved their music!
One other interesting speaker was Marcus Buckingham. He taught us that we are all blessed with gifts from God, which are our strengths. But he made us (or me anyway) realize that strengths and weaknesses are not necessarily things that you are either good or bad at. He said that you can still be good at your weaknesses, but they wear you out, they don’t get your excited, you just do them because you have to. Our strengths on the other side, are those parts of your life that get you excited. Things that you have a natural instinct in accomplishing. As such, we were all encouraged to take a test on his website to find out what our personalities are and how we can apply the strengths that come with it. After taking the Strong Life Test, I was a little surprised at first. At first I thought it was very clear to me that I was an “Influencer” first, and a “Motivator” second.
My results looked much different:
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Your Lead Role: Equalizer
You begin by asking:
'What’s the right thing to do?'
You are sensitive to how everything in the world is connected, how movement in one part of the world causes everything else to move as well. Alive to this inter-connectedness, you feel compelled to keep everything aligned.
Your best quality:
Your innate sense for what is right
Always:
Lead with your values
Be careful you:
Don’t become too obviously defensive when your values are challenged
Your smartest career move:
Any job where you’re paid to speak up for people who’ve been wronged.
Your Supporting Role: Caretaker
You begin by asking:
'Is everyone okay?'
You are acutely aware of everyone else’s emotional state, particularly if you sense they are feeling hurt or slighted. You are instinctively inclusive, always looking for ways to draw others into the circle and make them feel wanted, heard, and appreciated.
Your best quality:
Your open heart
Always:
Be willing to ask people for favors in return
Be careful you:
Don’t get so consumed with other people’s feelings that you forget your own
Your smartest career move:
Any job where you’re paid either to play on a team or lead the team.
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