IF: Gathering

I was able to attend the IF: Gathering last weekend in Austin, TX.  You're probably wondering "what is that?" and I went not really having the answer to that question.  I had seen some different bloggers and writers that I follow talk about it and then my college roommate Ashley was going and volunteering--and offered for me to go.  And I'm so glad I did!  So what I knew going into it, is that it was designed for the next (my) generation of women.  The theme was, "IF God is real...then what?"  The purpose is: "We exist to gather, equip, and unleash the next generation of women to live out their purpose."

IF: Gathering- Day One

If I had to sum up the first day, it would be to RUN THE RACE!  Every speaker spoke of how it is our time to get back in the race.  (Hebrews 12).  Here are some of my favorite moments from the sessions:

Jennie Allen

"It begins by us throwing off our sin."

"We have prayed for a movement of God, that women who are afraid, scared, in bondage, would be set free.  That you would run your race because this is our time.  This is our leg."

"If we truly believe that God is real, then we have a job to do.  He has called us to do certain things.."

Christine Caine (Joshua 5:1-12, 6)

"The wilderness did not denote freedom, but deliverance.  It was for freedom that Christ set us free, but many of us settle for deliverance."

"Deliverance does not equal freedom."

"There is no next...no next hip thing, no next Beth Moore, no next great conference.  God says He is going to do a new thing."

"The manna has stopped, but like the Israelites, we want the old." 

"You came out of Egypt, but Egypt is still in you.  God wants to free you, not just deliver you."

"Freedom doesn't just affect you...it affects generations to come."

"You must learn to believe the truth of God's word over the fact of your circumstances, if you want to see the promises of God worked out in your life."

Ann Voskamp

"If the body of Christ becomes a business, doesn't it become prostitution?"

"Prostitution is only pretend passion.  It's only a transaction business model, to get what you want."

"What if the church has become more like a business than real passion? What if we only give ourselves to Jesus in exchange for the certainty of a good return?"

"What if we stopped this transactional model and broke all the measuring sticks? The world isn't a forest of measuring sticks. Everything isn't a marker to make me feel ahead or behind."

"They don't make a scale that measures value, worth, or the weight of a soul."

"We break all the measuring sticks because Christ broke the bread. As a sisterhood that is broken and made whole, we make all of these broken measuring sticks into a table."

There were also a few other speakers who gave testimony of what God has done in them.  There was time set aside to talk in small groups, answering questions like, "why are you here?" "what are you afraid of?" "what is holding you back?" "what are you hoping for?"  The IF team also went above and beyond for dinner plans.  They had made 1200 reservations at restaurants all over Austin, with the desire to create space to spend around the table.  They encouraged us to pick a card for a restaurant (by yourself or with the few people you came with) and then go there and give them your reservation card.  There would be a table ready--maybe set for 4 or maybe for 12 and you would fill that table with whoever.  So potentially you are eating dinner with other women at the conference who are strangers.  They asked that you "be all there".  And they gave some conversation/question cards for that time and asked that we start dinner with two things:

1. A toast--raise your glass; I see you; this is a moment worth marking 

2. A prayer--recognizing that everything comes from God

So that sums up day one.  It was refreshing for me.  I think I'm often wrestling with questions about calling and purpose, thinking about fears and hopes.  I needed the challenge and encouragement that was given.  Hopefully, I can write about day two soon!

(Worship was led by the Aaron Ivey Band, Christy Nockels, Melissa Greene, Melinda Doolittle, and Lauren Chandler.  There was a song I hadn't heard before and loved...look it up on YouTube. "Jesus is Better". Search in YouTube for Jesus is Better- Austin Stone Worship live at Austin Music Hall.)