Two weekends ago, I had the privilege of hearing the fabulous and funny Glennon Doyle Melton, creator of Momastery and Together Rising, speak at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville. I had been invited to this event by my cousin and friend, Brooke, back before Christmas and I jumped at the opportunity to go because I’ve heard what an amazing person and vulnerable speaker Glennon is, and I love to be inspired and learn from women like this! (Don’t we all?) I put it on my calendar and then decided to pick-up her New York Times Bestselling Book, “Carry On, Warrior,” to read before going to the event, and I am seriously so glad that I did. It was the perfect book to read at the beginning of the new year, with its real and raw truth-telling and laugh-out-loud funny insights and stories. (Seriously, if you’re looking for a new book to dive into, check this one out! You’re welcome for the recommendation. You can thank me later. wink)
Today I thought I’d share some of the awesome things I took away from that time spent with Glennon, to provide a little inspiration for us in the middle of this week and as we kick off the month of February …
- Relationships are all that matter. They are beautiful, but brutal at times. (“Brutiful” is the term Glennon uses.) And just because they can be brutal, doesn’t mean we’re failing in them.
- It’s okay to love God madly and still be all jacked up. (What a relief!)
- We become truth-tellers when we can stand and speak and live naked, shameless, and unafraid. Being “shameless” is a direction – we are forgiven, therefore we are to go out and be shameless. We need to be okay with being human.
- We shouldn’t be so preoccupied with keeping things on the surface that we miss getting to the heart of people and the heart of our lives.
- Every day we make a choice: to live ‘perfect and admired’ OR ‘ real and loved.’ (REAL and LOVED is where it’s at, friends. I don’t know about you, but I need that reminder.)
- The way of Jesus was living wide open and vulnerable to BOTH those who loved Him and sought to persecute Him. (Do we live this way? Because that’s how we’re called to live too.)
- ‘Rock-bottom girls’ – the ones who fall, get back up, and live to tell about it – are the BRAVE ones. And the crises / valleys in life are where we often experience God the most. Our rocky roads end in redemption BECAUSE OF JESUS. (Amen.)
- We should see every person as their own masterpiece – a unique creation of the Master Artist. NOT as a mirror of us or anybody else.
- Being BRAVE is being still enough to hear the ‘still, small voice’ within us and really listening to and following that voice (the Holy Spirit).
- Our difficulties / challenges can be used to do AMAZING things and connect us to God and to people. The fire (the good and the hard) within us should be used to LIGHT UP THE WORLD.
- Jesus wants us to be BRAVE and be KIND. We are told several times in His Word to ‘fear not’ and the Kingdom of God comes to earth when we come together as one.
It was truly a blessing to get to be a part of such a special night of learning and growing alongside other women. I’m so glad I said “YES” to the invitation from Brooke and thank Glennon for her witty words of wisdom, her heart for women and children, and the value she places on community and unity. I look forward to more of her stories and hopefully hearing her speak again in the future!