Let's just say we're packing out Chatanooga... so if you are there when we are- I apologize in advance!!!
National Conference Promo Video from CO National Conference on Vimeo.
The two speakers I am SUPER excited about are John Piper and Matt Chandler... (not to HATE on the others speakers, there are lots of love being sent their way I just haven't been introduced to them - minus Harry Reeder, who I am also excited about- the only man, in my opinion, who has business wearing a sweater vest)
You can hear some awesome Matt Chandler sermon's here (I particularly love his Ecclesiastes series)
Don't even get me started about how much Piper has helped me live out my faith. Ok i'm getting started: These two John Piper books have particularly been awesome to me:
You see on and off in my life I have struggled with depression. Before I read any of these books I assumed I was depressed b/c I wasn't a "good enough" Christian, which only got me more down. Piper was really one of the first people to help me understand that I wasn't ABNORMAL, and while some people don't struggle with depression, some people DO. Actually GREAT men of the faith struggled with it (the second book shown are testimonies of such men). His books are awesome in teaching you perspective on depression and how to fight it, or "How to fight for joy".
It was a process for me, but I don't experience depression as often these days or as intensely. I am not one to say that I have OVERCOME it. Many factors can contribute to my depression and some days it's like the perfect storm aligns and I have a bad day, but I have hope and I know how to fight it now, and as stupid as it sounds, I have accepted it as me, which I feel has made all the difference. If I KNOW it's something I struggle with rather than telling myself "I SHOULDN'T be feeling this way as a christian" or "I'm just making things too big of a deal" or simply just ignoring how I feel and making myself "try to be happy" I can now admit that this is part of my walk and particular struggle which helps me to try to understand why I am feeling this way and helps me to fight it rather than ignore it or pretend, and helps me to ask the Lord to help me fight it, which makes all the difference, b/c I honestly can't do it on my own.
I don't know if I will get an opportunity to meet Piper, but if I get the chance I will tell him what I just told you. I will try to sound eloquent (which tends to not happen, don't let me tell you about the time I met Tim keller... sigh) and I'll try not to tear up when telling him how God has used him in my life- in order to not freak out the dear Pastor.
Seeing as I have gone to this conference for the past 6 years- 3 while in college and 2 as the cute staff guy's wife...at least from my opinion ;) I always come away from this conference refueled and ready to start the year....
that is, after a day or two of sleep recovery...
B/c at 26 I'm getting a bit too old to keep up with the college kids these days....
No comments:
Post a Comment