At one point during the Women of Faith pre-conference on Friday, Beth was totally undone. She staggered to the stage, hardly able to speak, so aware and amazed by all the God has done for her. I want to be undone like that--to be overwhelmed by the work of God in my life.
She talked about blessing. About barak blessing--the state of being blessed--and asher blessing--the feeling of happiness that sometimes come with the knowledge of being blessed. (And she pointed out through her tears that as women we often cry when we're the most happy. Weird, but true!)
It tied in some with last week's lesson in Jesus, the One and Only. At the end of the Christmas story in Luke, it says that "Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart." The idea is one of taking things one by one and then viewing them as a whole, from all different angles.
I love that.
The idea of counting my blessings--of naming them individually--"one by one" as the old hymn says--and then viewing them as a whole, as evidence of God's work in my life. Seeing them add up, tally marks of God's barak blessing in my life, overwhelms me until that feeling of asher blessing overtakes me and fills me with happiness. A "psychological awakening to the work of God" as Beth put it.
For those of you who weren't able to attend, I'm not sure that this makes much sense. But here's some good news: they filmed the pre-conference and the DVD should be available in time for Christmas from what they said. I'm assuming you can order it from the Women of Faith website. So, go get a copy!
Mmmm...wonderful and authentic and beautiful. I'm still chewing on it, aren't you?
Now I loved getting to hug your neck, but I find that is not enough! When can we get together on your turf? I hope it's soon!
I look forward to using your scheduling and printing your commission bookmarks! Thanks for doing what you do---you are a blessing!
Love,
Holly
Posted by: Holly Smith | September 23, 2007 at 07:21 PM