i.e. girl (inspire excellence) is a program that is run by Women Alive and was designed to encourage girls between the ages of twelve and twenty. It is run by teen girls and women mentors. Their mission statement is:
“To RESCUE young women from the evil and deceit in today’s world.To RESTORE their hearts with Truth and purpose.To REBUILD each young woman with a rock solid foundation, resulting in a true identity.To RELEASE them with new worth.They in turn, being confident of their own “loved, honored and precious lives” will inspire excellence as they reach out to rescue others.We are raising the bar of excellence through the power of example with REAL TRUTH and TRUE LOVE.”
November 11th and 12th they are having a conference for teens, teen moms and mentors and I have been asked to be the keynote speaker. At the last conference they had, the video I was filmed in a couple of years ago sharing some of my story was shown and since then the leaders have been praying and feel like I am the one who should speak to the girls that attend this year.
I was really surprised when I was asked but was very honoured too. I shared with them that I had never done something like this before; I have spoken to youth groups and shared my testimony at different churches, but when I think of someone speaking all weekend to a crowd I think of my Dad. I know that if God wants me to do this then there is a reason and I am open and willing. Though it may be out of my comfort zone I know that God is right there with me when I am speaking and He will be my strength and my voice when I am speaking. He knows who is going to attend this conference right at this moment and He knows exactly what those girls need to hear.
They have already provided me with the topics I will be speaking on and they are Fighting Fear, Overcoming Obstacles and Finding Hope in Christ. The last topic is something I love sharing so I am super excited that is one of the topics I get to talk about.
So, could you please pray for me as I start to prepare these messages? Please pray that God would speak clearly to me on exactly what He wants me to share and say to these girls. God is so good! I am so glad that we have the Bible and that God gives us numerous stories to use as examples to teach others.
As I was preparing to speak to the youth last month I read about when God asked Moses to go and talk to Pharaoh to free the Israelites from the Egyptians. What got me were the words that Moses used to respond to God.
“But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”Exodus 4:10
I love God’s response and it is a good reminder when I feel insecure about getting up and talking in front of crowds.
“Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” Exodus 4:11
Did you know that when I was in high school there were times I would choose to get no grade on a project if it was a presentation because I absolutely hated getting up in front of people? I had such a fear of it, but God has helped me throughout the years to be able to speak in front of crowds and I know that He will continue to do so. This verse reminds me that it is Him that will give me the strength to speak when I feel I can’t and if He wants me up there to use me to speak into other peoples’ lives then He will be there with me as I speak. 🙂 Isn’t it awesome that God never changes?