Today I returned from the South Texas Ladies Conference. I am exhausted - but refreshed. I went to the conference needing to hear from God, and I am excited to report He didn't let me down.
The conference was held in Sugar Land, TX. We stayed at the Marriot Hotel. The picture below is a view from our room.
The conference began on Thursday afternoon at 1:00. The first speaker was supposed to be Vonnie Lopez, but she was very sick and not able to make it. Ken Gurley was asked to take this session. He spoke about the bride being ready for the wedding - a very timely message in this day. Towards the end of his message, he said, "I saw Karla Holley walk in today and was reminded of the last time her Dad ministered in our church." He proceeded to tell how Daddy had preached about Heaven (is anyone surprised at this? LOL). Bro. Gurley told how Daddy sat down in front of the pulpit and "made a pact" with the Pearland church to meet him in front of the Throne! He said family by family people came by to shake Daddy's hand and make that commitment to him. Of course, I was bawling! I got to thinking about how MANY people are supposed to be in front of the throne - now I'm beginning to wonder if we'll be able to find Daddy!! LOL! I'm hoping he'll get it all figured out before we get there. Maybe he could step up a couple steps so we can see where he is!
On Thursday night Bro. Ewing spoke. THAT was MY message! I bought the CD so Gene can hear it - but I bought it mostly for myself, so I can listen to it as many times as I need to. God spoke to me DIRECTLY - it was awesome. I'm so thankful that He knows where we are and what we need, when we need it. After the service was over, I got to spend a few minutes talking with the Ewings. They are such sweet people. He was in tears as I told him how God used him to minister to me.
The next highlight came when Sis. Jerry Ann Guidroz sought me out in the crowd. She came over and said, "Sis. Ewing needs to see you." I went with her back to where Sis. Ewing was. We stepped out into the hallway so we could hear better (altar service was still in full-swing). She asked me if I knew this particular song. I did, so she asked me if I could sing it at a particular moment in her presentation on Friday. I was honored to be asked by Sis. Ewing to sing for her. As it turned out, God changed his mind in the middle of the night, so I didn't end up singing, but it was really awesome to be asked by her.
The rest of the conference was great. The theme was Generation to Generation, so there was much emphasis on equipping the next generation for the Kingdom of God. Lisa Marshall (UPCI prayer coordinator) spoke on teaching our children to pray. Sis. Ewing spoke about Heaven and getting our children there. Elizabeth Shivers (the Haney's 4th child) spoke about prayer, discipline, example - all to our kids. It was awesome. Friday night, Sis. Haney was the speaker. I always enjoy hearing Sis. Haney - it brings back many memories.
Today - we came home!
Sis. Donna Stephens from our church went with me. We had a wonderful time and were able to spend some fun times together and with several ladies from the Bernard's church.
It was a great trip - and I'm excited for next year. JANICE SJOSTRAND IS THE SPEAKER!!! (those of you from Wichita Falls will know how excited I am about that!!!)
14 comments:
What are the dates for next year maybe we can all go!!!!
Karla, I'm so glad you were able to go to the conference and I'm thankful God had a special message for YOU! I know He is taking care of you and the family. It sounds like you had a GREAT time, and I'm so happy for you! About meeting Daddy "in front of the throne"....it sounds like how they always were about having someone "living with them" so they could "help them out", and they would have to ask them to move out of one of the bedrooms because the "kids were coming home". You KNOW he will have it all figured out before we get there! :) He'll have a "SPECIAL PLACE" for us girls!! I'm sure of it! LOVE YOU!!!
Karla,
It was great to see you for a fleeting moment at LUV. I was so busy taking care of all the guest, getting people back and forth to the airport, and taking care of the hospitality room, and getting the vips to the restuarants.(not counting all the planning) I am sorry I did not get to visit with you. I was doing my job and Jan Madden was sick so I had to coordinate the platform, etc. too.
It was sooooo disappointing to have to leave early. We were supposed to fly out of IAH at 3:55 and our plan was broken down and we did not leave until 7:30. We had a Marriage retreat for the W. Monroe church, Mark and Paul Foster. It was in Jackson, Ms. We had a short session last night since we were late, but a wonderful day today. Ron will preach there tomorrow and we will fly home on Mon. I'll look forward to see you in San Antonio.
Maybe we will have a little more time to visit. It was so great that you could be there at LUV. It is always such a blessing to me.
MY LOVE TO YOU!
Oh, Karla, thanks for sharing your conference with us. I'm so glad you were able to attend and be blessed.
Karla,
Glad you had a great conference. Ladies conferences are always so refreshing!!
Isn't it amazing how God ALWAYS knows what we need and is ALWAYS on time? We saw your family Fri pm in Magnolia. I sincerely prayed you would be blessed. I remember those early years of home missions when I needed those spiritual uplifts so I could minister to others. Home Missions has a way of "draining" you BUT God ALWAYS haw HIS way of "filling". Love you, girl!
I too am glad you were able to go! It sounds like a wonderful time. I know you will enjoy the conference for a while as God continues to speak to you through things you didn't even realize you needed at the time! And yes I am jealous/excited for your next year's speaker! love ya
Karla, so glad you enjoyed yourself! It sounds like a wonderful time was had.
When you said that he mentioned from the pulpit that he saw you walk in, for some reason I just knew he was going to say he was remined of how precious and lovely your mother was! But of course that probably would not have been too appropriate! lol O well, you and Sis. Elms are both lovely to me!
I can still hear your father preaching about Heaven. There is one message he preached in particular that I will never forget. I am sure when he was a young man he would preach about Heaven with all sorts of force and volume. I only really knew him at the end of his ministry and he always seemed to have more excitement about Heaven then his physical body would allow him to show.
Your parents were great people.
"Heaven, happy home above. Heaven, land of peace and love. Oh it makes me feel like traveling on. Heaven, eternal. Heaven, supernal. I'm so glad that it's real". I can hear Mother and Daddy singing that right now. Or..."For the next million years you'll find me sitting at the feet of my Lord. I've got so many things I want to thank Him for. It will take me a million years to praise the Lord". I could go on and on. Like Daddy's sermons about Heaven, it seemed like just about every song Mother and Daddy sang was about the same subject. I hope I look forward to Heaven as much as they did. :)
I'm also glad that you had a specific word spoken to you through Bro. Ewing. I'm so thankful God knows exactly where we are and what we need. He's so good.
And...How awesome to be invited by none other than Joan Ewing to sing. WOW! You go girl! Love it!
Thanks to all of you for all the comments! Below are a few specific comments - but please know that every comment is appreciated!!!!
Julie K. - March 5, 6
Linda - I agree, Daddy will have a place picked out just for us.
Sis. Guidroz - It was great to see you for those "fleeting moments." I'm sure we'll have a few extra minutes to spend together in June!!
Tracie - I'm sorry I missed getting to visit with you in Magnolia. Looking forward to y'all coming to Austin sometime soon.
Mandy - you would be welcome to come next year!! See dates above. ;-)
Joseph - yes, Daddy preached about Heaven in almost every sermon - even when he "wasn't" preaching about Heaven. I'm glad you got to experience their ministry even in the latter years.
Ronda - I can hear them singing when I read these words. Of course, "It'll Take me Million Years" makes me laugh - remember Daddy's resignation in Humble? LOL!!
I love you all!! Thanks for sharing in our lives!!
Karla, LOL! I'll never FORGET that in a million years. :)
Karla, what a blessing it has been to read about your attending the ladies conference. There is definitely something special about these meetings.
I also enjoyed reading all the comments--some people I know, others I don't.
Just tonight, Jerry and I were talking about you girls and the loss of your parents and your brothers, and how sad that is. You're such great people, and I loved your parents tremendously.
I wish you every blessing and joy in the Lord.
Shirley Buxton
www.shirleybuxton.wordpress.com
...sorry...one brother, I know. :)
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