This past Friday my sister-in-law and I packed our bags and caught an early flight for Seattle. We weren’t fleeing housework and husbands but instead were heading to the Women of Faith 2011 conference. I had never attended one before and didn’t know what to expect.

The speakers were inspiring and the music invigorating. My stalemate soul was quickly revitalized. Each speaker left me with nuggets of wisdom yet each was so different, making it hard for me to summarize the event. So instead of picking one, I figured I’d give you a highlight that stuck out to me from each speaker.

Andy Andrews – “Live your life with purpose. Inadvertent existence leads to disaster.” Many of us live in the state of “almost” - we almost become a nurse, almost overcame an addiction, almost achieved that dream – but didn’t make it due to not living purposefully. We have to make life happen. God feeds the birds but he doesn’t throw the worms into the nest. (I love that one)

I love the Bible story of the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. She’s one of my heroes. Jesus was leaving the area and walked by her. She was about to miss her opportunity but in desperation she reached out and touched the hem of His cloak, thinking to herself, “If I can just touch his clothes, I will get well.”

She didn’t whine, “I guess I wasn’t one of the chosen ones,” and give up on her chance to meet with God.

Nope. She reached out and grabbed Him before He left her. She seized her opportunity.

It gets better. He stops and turns around and then looks at her, “Do not to worry! You are well now because of your faith.”

There are times it feels as if I’m drowning in life and that God is passing me by, as if He’s moving on to more important things. However, this story models to me the importance of reaching out and grabbing for God – even if it requires being drastic. When we do – He stops and we are healed.

A few months ago I was in one of those spiritual ruts when I read of an opportunity to be a blogger for the 2011 Women of Faith – Over the Top conference. My heart was moved and felt led to grab for it. I wanted a chunk of time to reconnect with God.

When I received the email accepting me as a blogger, it felt as if God had stopped and acknowledged my desire to be refreshed spiritually – as if He were looking at me.

Okay – it may seem silly to compare a miraculous healing to a chance to go to a conference but I do need a form of healing. I need one in my heart and, for me, conferences like Women of Faith provide an opportunity for us to be touched and encouraged by God in our own personal way.