True Woman 2010 Recap

We had an absolute blast at True Woman ’10 this past weekend in Fort Worth, Texas! We were challenged again and again by the beautiful high calling and design that God has for womanhood right alongside 3,800 other women attending. I was blessed to meet 7 lovely blog readers as well at the event. How fun! We helped volunteer at the event by running cash registers in the resource center. My sisters and I had so much fun meeting so many ladies and getting numerous, “Are you sisters?” inquiries. Apparently we look a lot alike. I highly recommend you check out all the sessions, which are available to download from the three conferences held this year. These messages will surely impact you and help build your marriages, strengthen your calling, and give you hope and vision for the future. I just wanted to highlight the main points of the conference that stood out to me.

Thursday night started with a powerful call to watch out for worldliness in our lives by Crawford Loritts from 1 John 2:15. He asked the question, “Aren’t you tired of the world defining us?” As women, we have been defined by outside sources for far too long. We find our satisfaction, our value, and position in what the world calls beauty, success, and the like. Crawford challenged us to see the world for what it really is. Worldiness is the celebration of self. It elevates me. Self-idolization. Don’t worship the world! This pursuing love belongs only to God. This is a fallen world with its system and will not bring fulfillment. He gave three challenging questions to help evaluate the things of this world.

1. The motive question: Why do I want this?
2. The worship question: Does what I want consume, control, or change me?
3. The purity question: Am I clean? Is my heart contaminated?

“You cannot be God’s true woman, without first being God’s.”

Nancy Leigh Demoss brought the next session with evaluating the question: What is a true woman? from Titus 2. I love this quote: “A true woman is tethered to the Word of God. Sound doctrine is the solution for the chaos of this world.” She is one who heeds the Word of God and her calling to love her husband, love her children, being devoted to her domain in the home, and seeking to mentor those younger than herself. It truly matters because if we do not follow God’s plan for womanhood, then we risk the word of God being reviled (Titus 2:5), the enemy will have something to slander us with (2:8), and we will not adorn the doctrine of God our Savior (v. 10). She left us with this question: Does your life adorn the gospel? Are you displaying a redeemed life so others can believe in a Redeemer?

I was struck by the challenge by many speakers throughout the conference by the important of God’s Word in our lives. We do not prioritize it enough. If we truly want to be women of God, women of influence, we must be anchored in the Word. Kay Arthur challenged us so profoundly: “What is your influence dear sisters? Is it for good, evil or nothing? Neutral is sin.” It is important for us to see if we just choose to not engage, not fight for truth, but rather sit back and go with the flow, we are walking in sin.

We must dig deep roots into His Scriptures. We must embrace God’s lifeline. It cannot be neglected. Even in the midst of busy motherhood, we must find God and moments of prayer in the midst of our day. Two way conversations should always be happening – between you and your children, and between you and God. While washing the dishes, thank the Lord that He is going to cleanse the heart’s of your children.

The final challenge that stood out to me was presented by Pastor James McDonald in his session on Suffering and Trials from James 1:1-5. He compared the difference between happiness and joy. “Joy is a supernatural God-given delight in the Person of God—who He is, in His attributes.” “A thimble full of joy will obliterate what the world calls happiness for a lifetime.” He opened my eyes to see the true meaning of enduring under trials. The Greek word for endure is hupomone: to remain under.

“But let endurance [perseverance, steadfastness, patience—let hupomone] have its perfect result so that you may be perfect and complete [check that out], lacking nothing.”(James 1:5) Hupomone is the funnel through which all Christian virtue flows. There will be no true women without hupomone. If every time trials come we lash out, bail, complain, despair and fold, God’s purpose is not accomplished. Some of us have been going round and round the same trial, not for weeks and months, but for years and decades because we haven’t learned what it is to quiet our hearts and to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand.”

By remaining under, rather than folding, running, or complaining, we be participants in displaying the superiority of Christ to a lost and helpless world.

“The reason I get to draw another breath, the reason why you and I are here, is so that we can display the superiority of the life lived in God. That’s why Christians get cancer. That’s why Christians have prodigals. That’s why Christians go through painful financial times.”

Overall, my heart was stirred, challenged, and blessed, and I have much to ponder. I pray you would take advantage of these sessions by listening or reading them, and allow God to work and change you as well into a True Woman!

Listen to the True Woman sessions here.