“The Relevant conference exists to offer a gathering place for kindred spirits to connect, learn, grow, and be refreshed so they can persevere in being a people who bring hope to the world through the social media medium.”
As I’ve mentioned before I really haven’t been blogging very long—this is still very, very, new to me. I’ve kept this site as a family journal for several years. But over these last 6 months, the Lord has been birthing a Bloggy-Writing-Ministry-Vision within me. I want to write for His glory. Everyday I push hard against 10,000 reasons why I shouldn’t write. I could name them, but I don’t want to give the devil any glory. Just know every time I hit “publish” I’m literally doing an act of spiritual warfare.
I’m determined to use the tools that the Lord has put before me, a laptop in the corner of my old farmhouse kitchen, to lift up the Name of Jesus.
This Winter as I was researching blogging as a ministry, I stumbled upon a wonderful conference called “Relevant.” Relevant is a meeting place of woman who want to change the world through their blogs and writing, and that description is an understatement.
Through researching Relevant I was introduced to a wonderful writer who now grips my soul on a daily basis, Ann Voskamp. I devour her words and chew on them regularly. She has taught me about being an “Upside Down Blogger,” and that words matter.
Her words penetrate deep in my heart:
“The first person that any words ever heal — is the writer of those words.
Because our words aren’t wholly our words.
They are from the Word God Himself.” Ann Voskamp
I read Jolanthe’s post, on her experience from Relevant 2010, and I wanted to go more. I clicked the button on the Relevant website to order my ticket and sadly received a quick education that I’m not the only Christian blogger who thinks this is a wonderful, life changing, event. This year’s conference sold out in a month and I was sadly late.
That’s o.k.–there was hope. I learned about another ministry called In-Courage {are you getting the pattern here…I’m so new}, who was offering a scholarship challenge for 8 woman to win a ticket to Relevant 2011. It took me 6-hours to write my scholarship entry, I poured my heart out. I didn’t win, but the very act of my taking the time to write that entry pulled many deep things up from my heart—I liked it.
My prayer has been, despite the growing conference waiting list, “Jesus, if it’s your will for me to go to Relevant, I thank you that you make a way. You can open doors that no man can open, and shut doors no man can shut.”
I prayed that prayer again last Sunday morning, in the wee hours when the house was quiet. By Monday morning, only by God’s hand, I had my “anointed ticket” to Relevant! Praise be to God!!!
God can make a way, where there seems to be no way.
Sometimes we all find ourselves in seasons where we feel like God doesn’t hear us. I appreciate the reminder that He’s big, mighty, in control, and I {thankfully} am not. This experience has been another reminder that Jesus knows and cares about the desires of my heart. Thank you Jesus for the encouragement that my heart needed and thank you for the beautiful people that you orchestrated to bring this to pass.
Thank you Jesus!
I’m Going!
So. Stink’n. Excited.
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So what happened?! Did someone sell you their ticket? How exciting!!! This happened to me last year with less than a month to go before the conference. God is so amazing! You can read my story here. 🙂
http://joyfulmothering.net/2010/09/24/the-relevant-conference/
Congratulations! You absolutely deserve to go and I am so glad God saw a way (doesn't He always)?
Congratulations, Jammerill. I know God has great plans for you.
Yay! Im so excited for you! I've totally gotten LOST in your blog the last two days! What a wealth of information! I have a billion questions for you when you have the time. Perhaps it will be blogger fodder. 🙂
1. How are your Sunbaby pockets holding up? I've been using cloth a long time and want to try out these but Im chicken that they will fall apart. Have you tried Flats? I think you would love them! They dry super fast and can take a beating! I use them inside my pockets.
2. How on earth do you decide what to study each year for school? Do you have like a plan of some sort? And OMG Freeley Educate! I got lost there next! Thanks for linking!
Hi, Vicki!
Nice to “meet” you!!!
I used the Sunbabys exclusively for 6 months. I loved them for the price and they were a good 1st cloth diaper experience for me. However, I then fell in love w/ prefolds {pins & plastic pants too} and have been using those 99% of the time.
As far as planning our school year, I start w/ the basics–Bible, math, reading and writing. We use read alouds and incorporate lapbooks & projects for our history, geography and science. Of course, you know most studies overlap anyway. Last year I planned the entire you in advance, you can read about that here: http://www.holyspiritledhomeschooling.net/2010/07/2010-2011-free-or-nearly-free.html
Here is what we’re currently working on:
http://www.holyspiritledhomeschooling.net/2011/05/homeschooling-for-free-or-nearly-free.html
*Remember, this is just me–I’m cheap 😀 You go with whatever direction the Lord is guiding you.*
AND, if you really want your eyes to go crossed {snort} here’s our last year in review w/ links to many of the projects, trips and books we completed: http://www.holyspiritledhomeschooling.net/2011/06/our-homeschool-year-in-review-day-in.html
I also gauge our read alouds by our children’s interest. Right now, they’re really getting into the Civil War, which besides field trips we haven’t dived deeply into…so you know where our history studies are headed for this year. : -)
I sometimes wish my style fit neatly into a box to share with people, lol.
How exciting, Jamerrill! I hope to go someday. This year it wasn't feasible for me, but next year, perhaps? enjoy!
That's awesome! Congratulations! I'm curious how it came to be too! Do tell the story! 🙂
Yes, the way it worked is I have some sweet friends who have a friend that needed to sell her ticket. The Lord put me on their heart, they put me in direct contact with their friend who was selling her ticket, and I was able to snatch it up. I now have a Relevant ticket here with my name on it! WHOOP!
Thanks Jamerrill..How do you pronounce that anyway? Jamie-rill, Jam-a-rill, Jamril? LOL. or is it real at the end instead of rill like pill.. 😀
We are on a nearly free homeschooling adventure this year so Im glad to hear your thoughts all be it eclectic. 🙂
Thanks
That's so great!! I love to see the ways God works things out! 🙂
Thank You!
Vickie you pronounce my name Jay-Mer-L 🙂