Hope In Love

As I said in my setlist post, this past weekend i went to a young women’s conference called KNOWN. It was so awesomtastic. From what I gathered from the talks and workshops and stuff, the conference theme was about knowing your true worth.

The conference was for girls aged 16 – 23. I went as a volunteer to help with serving during coffee breaks and stufff. Anyway, in between the serving we got to attend the sessions but I only went on one of the two days and I got there late on that day so I only attended 2 sessions.

The first one started out kinda bleh for me cos it was all on make-up tips and stuff – the lady who gave it is a make-up artist. Anyway, I don’t wear make-up so I was feeling kinda like it’s poitless to be there. Then after the make-up tips she played this song called “Save Yourself” by Sense Field…beautiful…awesome…wow. She then went on to talk about inner beauty, about self control and saving yourself, about how instead of relying on boyfriends we should be relying on God for our self-esteem/to tell us who we are, about how the only person who should define who we are is God, about how in our singleness instead of looking for Mr Right we should be working on being Mrs Right…wow again!

The second session I attended was by the main speaker of the conference. She started off by talking about the labels that get put on us and the labels we put on ourselves. for instance when you introduce yourself to someone you talk about stuff like your job, your marrital status, whether you are mother or not…stuff like that which don’t really say who you are…more what you do. And so we use these labels on ourselves and others and they end up defining who we are to the world. But the beauty of God is, he doesn’t label us and put us in boxes – because he knows who we really are…he created us…he loves us despite the labels we put on ourselves. She then used the story of the woman caught in adultery and showed how God shows grace first (“neither do i condemn you”) and then through that grace and love gives us direction (“go and sin no more”). She ended the talk by pointing out that change is a process. Learning to see yourself through God’s eyes is not something that’s gonna happen overnight. It takes time…it takes desire/passion…it’s a process…so don’t be discouraged if you don’t wake up feeling like a princess tomorrow. Believe that you are a princess, dare to live like one, and it will get easier as time passes to see yourself as one.

At the end of the talk this guy comes up and talks on behalf of guys – friends, boyfriends, ex’s, etc – and apologises for a whole lot of stuff. Then someone came up and apologised on behalf of chick friends – back stabbings, jealousy, etc. Then someone came and talked on behalf of mothers. Then someone came and talked on behalf of siblings. Then someone came and talked on behalf of fathers. Then gave us a blessing from The Father. At this point I was broken…sitting at the foot of the cross…being loved…and loving being known…loving being loved despite being known!

Mary Magdeline the second.

I didn’t go to TBV’s workshop, but from what I heard it was about judging others, and judging yourself – comparing yourself to others. Basically the whole labeling thing. If you get a certain label thrown at you a lot – sweet but quiet, shy but nice – that’s who you become. I know that one from personal experience. The more you are told you are shy, the more you become shy…because they all can’t be wrong right…Also, on the judging bit, we look at movie stars and celebrities and we classify them – she’s beautiful, he’s handsome, she’s clever, she’s successful – and we use them as standards, so because I’m not Angelina Jolie, I’m not beautiful; because I’m not Oprah, I’m not successful…etc. We do that with people around us as well, especially as girls. When really we should be looking at God to define that stuff for us. God uses me to bring himself glory – therefore I’m successful. God loves me, therefore I’m worthy of love. God calls me his and wants to be with me, therefore I’m desirable. God calls me beautiful, therefore I am beautiful.

I know this super awesome chick. I mean this chick is confident and smart and funny and wow. One of my favorite quotes ever is by her – “the guy that ends up with me is pretty damn blessed”…bam! Anyway, at the conference, after the last session she comes up and asks me to pray for her because she likes this guy and well, she’s friends with the guy and with the guy’s ex (they broke up on good terms so they are still friends). Anyway, the guy doesn’t feel the same way about her. So now everytime she’s around the guy’s ex she compares herself to her…like why her and not me…she’s prettier than me, that’s why…she’s smarter than me, that’s why…she’s this and i’m not…she’s that and i’m not…which sucks, cos as I said this chick is so awesome. And I know what she’s going through cos I’ve been there. I’ve lived there. Because I’m a girl…because we are girls, we do that…constantly compare ourselves to others and belittle ourselves. AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!

Anyway, dude, I was so blessed by this conference. I was so blessed by the stories that were shared. I was so blessed by the young women I met. I was so blessed by the way God just showed up and reminded me who I am and how much he loves me!

I am known! And I am blessed!