TOFW Centered in Christ

Time out for Women was once again a beautiful event.
This is the second year that I went with Linda Wangsgaard, her daughter Madison, and Lexi.  We traded out Paula Carlsen for Baby Lady but Paula promised she would be back and getting us front row seats next year. There were so many speakers and messages that just spoke to me.   

All I got is this blurry pic...it's from a video of us dancing... but atleast  it shows us all...

 Laura C. Day spoke on having Peace with the unknown.  She told how the Savior knows our secrets.  The stuff we try to hide...he already knows and loves and engages with us anyway.  She spoke on the woman with the issue of blood from Luke 8:48 who moved close to Jesus, close enough to touch his robe and he healed her.   We need to move closer to Jesus.   We need  to rely on what we do know and trust that we are Known and Loved by the creator of all things, and he's got our backs.
 Singer Calee Reed continued with this move close and stay in the storm and Jesus will help and heal theme, when she  spoke about Cows and Buffalos and how they do storms differently.  Cows see a storm coming and turn and try to run away from it, which actually keeps them in the storm longer.  Buffalo just turn their faces to the storm and attack it head on...the storm goes past and leaves their lives quicker.  Which one do you want to be?
Gail Miller gave so many beautiful tidbits about her life and lessons learned.  She shared the not perfectness of her marriage and life in the gospel and how to just keep trying.  The Lord loves try-ers.
Mary Ellen Edmunds spoke about the power of Influence and what is personal influence.   Never underestimate the power of a hello, smile, phone call, text, note.  These little things make a big difference.  think of three significant people who have influenced your life and write a thank you note today.
Mercy River sang gorgeous songs about life and the Savior.  They spoke about angels and according to Elder Holland, how the importance of Angels in our lives grows as we get older.  Angles are the people who we are connected to.  Angles are all near and around us and love us even if we don't feel them.  Trust this is true.  They also shared the feeding of the 5000 with 5 loaves of bread and 10 fishes and if the Lord can do great things with a single loaf, imagine what  HE can do with a single life.
Tom Christofferson spoke on Perfect love in an Imperfect World.   He was my favorite.  he grew up LDs then left the church when he came out.  He said he was done being gay and mormon and left the church to see if he could finally be gay and happy.   He shared How his family adopted the motto of...we may not be the perfect family, but we can be perfect in the love we have for each other and nothing we can do will take us out of the circle of Family love.  This is exactly what I think.  He shared 3 lessons on Charity. 1.  Charity increases our faith but doesn't provide eery answer.  He had so many unanswered questions.   Tom finally arrived at a point in his life where it was more important to know God than to know Why.   2.  Charity provides inspiration  of what can do for others.  Not just check off boxes of what supposed to do.  3.  Charity allows us to be the conduit of Christ's love...even if we have sinned.  Nothing we could successfully hide for God...so be honest about who we are and our imperfections and LOVE anyway.     He counts being Gay as one of the great blessings in his life because  it was the catalyst of his coming to know Christ personally.
At the end of his talk he had the whole group sing my  favorite church  song, my testimony song and my family song...Love One Another.... I wept.
Zandra and Tamu of Sisters in Zion fame... spoke about Ruth and Naomi...and taking others in from different cultures and being kind and steadfast.  'Where thou goest, I will go....."    How women are the heroes of humanity. How it's important to share our stories and be vulnerable and real with each other.   Relationships with other women are important.    How we can't be truly whole or free until all women are whole and free.  AMEN.
Finally, Emily Freeman shared about finding His Grace where you are....  based on the scripture in 2 Nephi 25, "Grace received after all we can do."  She went through that whole chapter and it says "Believe in Christ" 6 other times...that is the what we can do.  We believe in Christ and trust and we will receive Grace.  She taught three things.  1. The Lord will meet you where you are.  2.  The Lord will accept you as you are.  3.  Lord will make up the difference.    Charity is How we manifest what we know about Grace.
  IF everyone is welcome into the Lord's church...which they are...then what do I need to do to make this true.
So much to think about.  So much good inspiration to now put into action.