I want to take a few minutes to share with you something that happened to me at this year’s FPEA Leaders Forum. Let me begin by saying I was fortunate enough to get early check-in and to deposit my belongings in my room at 8:30 a.m. before the Leaders Forum even began. It was a relief to not have to rush to go do this later in the day and potentially miss out on a wonderful experience or opportunity with other leaders or on part of a lecture. Thank you kindly, Gaylord Palms Resort, for your thoughtful hospitality.
I’m always amazed at God’s ability to put me just where I need to be, whether it’s something I need personally or something He needs me to open my heart to, even when I don’t realize I need it. That happened twice for me at the Leaders Forum.
The first was when I attended Rick Andreassen’s “Ministering to the Heart of a Leader” workshop. To be honest, I didn’t even know who Rick was before that day and I choose his workshop only because none of the others seemed to apply to me directly. I didn’t want to “waste” the hour, so I sat in on Coach Rick’s. Wow! What a blessing. He gave us this little handout to follow along as he spoke. I have since neatly folded and deposited that handout in my purse to have with me whenever I need a little morsel of blessing. I left that room with swollen eyes from crying, with an encouraged spirit to keep going knowing that “God doesn’t call the qualified, but He qualifies who He calls,” and with the knowledge that being in that seat, right at that moment was just where I was supposed to be. If you are like me and don’t know who Coach Rick is, do yourself a favor and find out.
My other blessing that day was when I “accidentally” sat in on the “wrong” lecture. Let me say, though, that being there was no accident. I was supposed to be there — to be brought to tears over the children who need help to have their basic daily needs meet; to hear about Compassion International’s work with local churches across the world to help save the lives and souls of children; and to meet Sheyla, the beautiful 3-year-old girl from El Salvador who became the child I will be sponsoring through Compassion.
I’m looking forward to next year’s Leaders Forum and to the blessings I will yet again receive despite not even being aware I need them. Thank you, FPEA, for organizing such an amazing time with such amazing speakers and leaders to feed me when I’m hungry.
by Roberta Underhill, FPEA Ambassador
Roberta,
I love your statement “I left that room with swollen eyes from crying, with an encouraged spirit to keep going knowing that “God doesn’t call the qualified, but He qualifies who He calls,” and with the knowledge that being in that seat, right at that moment was just where I was supposed to be.”
God is faithful and has been to me, also, over and over again. I’ll never forget when I was freaking out at convention 1998 when my oldest was finishing 8th grade and I was embarking on those “dreaded” high school years. I wandered into a seminar, just to sit down and stop hyperventilating and God began to talk to me. He said to trust Him, that He’d lead me every step of the way, every test, every course, every club, etc. that she’d need. He was faithful, not once, twice but 3 graduates later (02, 06 & 09). Every step of the way. I am still homeschooling my 10yod, so I have many more years remaining and I know He will lead and qualify me to do exactly what He has called me to do.
And, by no accident…… that seminar I “happened” to wander into because I was freaking out, was none other than Debbie Strayer (my dear friend) and Ruth Beechik, talking about 1 Thess 5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. KJV
Marlene Baron
JOSH Support Group Leader
Tampa
PS I was again refreshed at this last convention, my 18th. It’s never boring! Thanks for your post.
Marlene …. I so agree with your comments here. I am so grateful that I have learned in life to take the time to be still and listen to the things the Lord will place on my heart, to notice the places that He has put me and the quests that He has me on. For many years none of those things would have been “God Things” , but now …. it’s ALL about HIM as far as I’m concerned.
I truly feel that there are no coincidences in life, just fate waiting to happen.
So glad you were blessed yet again at Convention. I’m already looking forward to next years.
Roberta Underhill