Wednesday, July 17, 2013

declaring His goodness


the Declare Conference is in 25 days. 

we've invited 200 women from all over God's green earth to come for a weekend of support and community. we have invited 19 incredible speakers to come share their wisdom and encouragement. the Declare planning team has been working hard behind the scenes on countless details to make the big picture complete come August 9th. this event, in it's third year, has grown from a 1-room 1-day conference, to a 2-day conference taking over an entire floor of a hotel.

y'all, i should be shaking in my boots by now.

but i'm not.

i have every reason to be a bundle of nerves, losing sleep, and anxious about all that needs to be done and what's to come. every day now in this event planning, it seems like there is another decision to be made, another puzzle piece to fit in, another task to add to the to-do list. we're down to the wire. i should be overwhelmed and stressed out. 

but i'm not. and here's why:

1) God is good. 

Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
for those who fear him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.
Psalm 34:8



2) the Declare planning team. those girls are amazing and i could not do this without them. i would not do this without them! we not only plan this conference together, we pray together, we laugh together, we dream crazy big together, we work through kinks together. we believe in each other. there is no doubt in my mind that God arranged this team on purpose. i just know He planted this vision in each of our hearts and then put us together to see it come to pass, and these plans are truly His. in every step of the way, we are careful to pray about everything and seek God first.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus..Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. 
Phil 4:6-7, 9


3) it's not about me. the Declare Conference (from it's humble beginnings as Mamas Write) has always been about using our blogs, photography, and social media to glorify God. the where and when of the conference may change, but the WHY does not change. so, yes, i want the Declare Conference to be amazing! i want every one and their mom, sister, aunt, niece, and best friend to attend! i want big-name sponsors and most sought-after speakers! but...if not? it's okay. i 110% trust that God will send who He wants to Declare. He will fill the seats with exactly how many women He wants there. He will provide perfectly, and it will be better than anything i do in my own might, and God will be glorified. God is the head honcho of the planning team. this is His "blogging conference." we want Him to steal the show.  

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 
Colossians 3:23

Be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
1 Corinthians 15:58

there are only 25 days until Declare. there are still lots of big decisions to make, and tiny details to pull together. but you know what? i'm not shaking in my boots. and it's a testament to God's amazing love! so God not only gets the glory at Declare, He also gets all the glory in the planning process. (God, You are so good!