Orlando has blessed me

I'm currently in Orlando. In fact, I've been in Orlando for a few days now for the fall staff conference. Its been a while since our region has done this, certainly not since I've been around. Our spring conference is a bit more celebratory, a time to reflect on the year and celebrate what God has done. This fall conference was implemented to fill a felt need to align vision for our region and connect with one another as we go about doing ministry together, as the body.

Convinced, thats the theme. Its been moving to hear the heart behind it. Convinced that the time is near of Jesus' return. That statement alone is not something we often think and worse than that, believe. More times than not I find myself doubting that Christ's return is near. It reflects in the urgency I go about in my life. If I believed Christ's return was near, I suspect my life would look different. Thus the conference is centered around being convinced in the trustworthiness of the time being near, when every knee will bow and tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. That time is near, how will we respond? 

There have been some further details regionally, but I won't bore you. If you wanted those details, perhaps I should challenge you to be filling one of the seats next to me in the conference room. We need laborers and if your heart beats to know more, all, we'd love to have you ;) The irony is, when I sit there listening to the vision, our calling, the stories, the worth of it all, I think...why aren't there more people in this room with us? Is God calling people that are ignoring Him? Is this all He is calling? I just don't get it. Just something I've been reflecting on.

The rest of the time down here has been catching up with friends on staff. Good convo, sorta good coffee, and lots of laughter. I always enjoy staff time. Its overwhelming for me for sure but I really love it. I love knowing that there are girls in my life that really dive into how things are going and wanna know how I'm doing. As a result they pray for my life and every last detail. What a blessing. Orlando has blessed me.