on the treadmill

Well, look who's here! Me!

I put in long hours on the revisions of Return to Me and got the file sent to my editor on Wednesday, October 11. Later that afternoon, I packed my suitcases and prepared for my trip to Portland, OR, to attend the Women of Faith Contagious Joy Conference.

My friend and I departed Boise around 9:00 a.m. on Thursday. Counting rest stops, lunch, and shopping at the Gap outlet store, we arrived at our Portland hotel nine and a half hours later. After dinner, we checked out the route to the Rose Arena so it wouldn't be a surprise to us in rush hour traffic. Then it was back to the hotel and prepare for bed. I got six hours of sleep that night.

The WoF conference was an awesome experience. I still haven't processed everything. I was blessed by the teaching and the music and being with 15,000 other women who were there to praise the Lord.

My take-away on Friday's pre-conference teaching on the story of Gideon by Patsy Clairmont is the phrase: "The sword of the Lord and [Robin]!" When I am obeying God, I move in His power and strength. He can bring victory out of horns, cracked pots, and a torch.

Sandi Patty was phenomenal. Not just her singing which is so glorious I had to remind myself to breathe at times, but also her story which is such an example of what God's grace and forgiveness can do in a life.

By the time the evening session ended, it was almost 10 p.m. Back to the hotel and into bed. Six hours of sleep again.

My take-away on Saturday is from the New Testament: "And then Jesus came." Those four words make all the difference in the world. No matter the trials or troubles, when Jesus comes into the midst of it, healing and deliverance happens.

The heartbreaker and encourager of the day was Carol Kent. I listened to her book, When I Lay My Isaac Down, a year ago and said then that it is a book everyone should read. Even though I knew her story, hearing her tell it brought on the tears. Each one of us has to "lay an Isaac down" in one degree or another, probably more than one in our lives. My friend is doing her book as a Bible study with another friend. I'm thinking I need to buy the hard copy so that I can do the questions at the end of each chapter. It is so powerful, those lessons of trusting God and surrendering our all to Him.

Kathy Trocolli was another musical high point. She sang what I believe is a new song, at least one I hadn't yet heard: Talk to Jesus. That was another song where I had to remind myself to breathe.

Finally, I would say that Patsy Clairmont is a pistol. She made me laugh and laugh, and yet her teaching is deep and meaningful.

The conference ended around 5:00. We stopped at Red Robin and ate juicy burgers, returned to the hotel, packed, and fell into bed at 8:00 p.m. I was up at 3:00 a.m. and we were out of the hotel by 4:00 a.m. Eight hours later, we rolled into Boise.

Now for the downside. All the air blowing on me (arena, car, and fan in hotel room) gave me something. The glands in my throat were swollen and hard by late on Sunday, so I was at the doctor's on Monday and am now on penicillin. Pretty much slept away Monday. Feeling much better today.

My edits should arrive later this week, so I will soon be back to work. Oh, and thanks for those who emailed me to see if all was well.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

Comments

[Katy McKenna]

Phew!! What a whirlwind few couple of weeks you've had! I am so glad you finished your work in time to enjoy the WOF, and being with your buddy. Bless you, dear lady!

[Cathy West]

Glad you had an awesome time, but sorry you got sick afterward...hope it won't last long!

[Susanne]

Those W of F conferences are great, aren't they. I went to the one in Calgary in August although the round of speakers and singers sounds a little different. It was Calgary's first conference so they didn't have a pre-conference. Bummer. But on Friday night they had Max Lucado. And Avalon was the musical guests all weekend.

I can hardly wait for your new book to be on the shelves!