This past week has been a challenge in so many ways. Spiritual attack grew stronger with each day, coming to a culmination on Thursday night. By Friday evening I was ready to throw in the towel and hide from the world for the weekend. But I had already signed up for a Beth Moore conference and at 7 p.m. that's where I was. If you've ever been part of one of her Bible studies or heard her speak, you know you're guaranteed to be encouraged and this weekend was no exception.

Exhausted and burdened I walked into the New Orleans arena and it felt good just to sit down and take a deep breath. There was amazing worship which in itself is such a renewal. To sing praise to our God of victory with thousands of other women and return my focus away from myself and back on the the Almighty, what a blessing.

Then Beth spoke about 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24. The initial session was about the meaning of holiness which, she said, is wholeness. It is having every part of yourself (spirit, soul and body) devoted to one thing. She also said that every single season in our lives has some input into God's purpose for us and asked how we would handle and respond to those seasons.

My life isn't riddled with abuse or addiction, it isn't plagued by deep loss or unbearable sin. But that doesn't mean that live isn't hard and that intense challenges don't present themselves. Ministry is messy. Living in community is messy. But like Beth said, "I cannot be a whole person without other people." We all need each other. We need to be in each other's business, meaning we need to look out for one another, ask the tough questions, encourage one another.

I left so encouraged and though I was still physically exhausted I was spiritually renewed.

Saturday she talked about making a personal commitment to joy and getting away from the human fire extinguishers in our lives. Those who quench what the Spirit is trying to do in us and the passion he ignites. We are supposed to be blazing with Him! Hard as it is, I know that needing to be very aware of these that intentionally or unintentionally extinguish the Spirit in my life is so important.

Prayer was also a huge emphasis of the day. "Pray continually" was the verse and she explained it is living in a God-conscious state. It is taking the intentional time with Him each day and then being in constant communication throughout the day. And it's also not just asking for the big things, but the smallest things. How often do we only pray about the major things in life and then wonder why we don't see God answer prayer?! He answers all prayers in His perfect timing but those big things may take a bit longer and if we were faithful to bring even the small things to Him how much more encouraged and connected would we be?

Part of these verses has an emphasis on giving thanks. This isn't something you can conjure up, either your grateful or your not. But we are to give thanks to God in our circumstances not necessarily for our circumstances. If we are truly paying attention, we have so very much to be thankful for. And if we value what God values, we'll be thankful people. In that, she gave the example of her grandchildren. Jackson is 3 and loves Hot Wheels. His younger sister is still a baby and the other day they were watching him try to pry open her little fist while she slept. When he finally succeeded he put one of his Hot Wheels in it as if to say, "this is important to me. Wake up! This should be important to you too!"

What a way to look at God. He is constantly trying to pry open our clenched fist to place in our hands that which is important to him and therefore should be important to us. How often do we miss that?!

I left Saturday with a lot to think about and with a huge turnaround in my spiritual and even emotional state. My focus redirected and realigned to where it should be. Oh how much I miss when I narrow my focus to only myself.

I heard a lot of great songs this weekend which I promptly added to my iTunes collection. Songs giving glory and praise to Him who is worthy. But this one stuck out. Download it and turn it up as loud as you can and glory in what He has done for us!

Jesus Saves
by Travis Cottrell

Hear the heart of heaven beating, Jesus saves. Jesus saves.
Hear the hush of mercy breathing, Jesus saves. Jesus saves.
Hear the host of angels sing, "glory to the newborn King."
And the sounding joy repeating, Jesus saves.

See the humblest hearts adore him, Jesus saves. Jesus saves.
And the wisest bow before Him, Jesus saves. Jesus saves.
See the sky alive with praise, melting darkness in its place.
There is life forevermore, Jesus saves.

He will live our sorrow sharing, Jesus saves. Jesus saves.
He will die our burden bearing, Jesus saves. Jesus saves.
It is done! Will shout the cross, Christ has paid redemption's cost!
While the empty tomb's declaring, Jesus saves!

Freedom's calling, chains are falling, hope is dawning bright and true.
Day is breaking, night is quaking, God is making all things new.
Jesus saves!

Oh to grace, how great a debtor! Jesus saves. Jesus saves.
All the saints who shout together, I know that Jesus saves.
Rising up so vast and strong, lifting up salvation's song,
The redeemed will sing forever, the redeemed will sing forever, the redeemed will sing forever, Jesus saves! Jesus saves!