Meeting God on the Mountaintop

The Lord speaks to us using so many "voices." I learned that through my experiences at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference this past week. Worshipping, praying, rejoicing, and sharing my heart and my writing with other lovers of God ushered me into the throne room of the Lord. He provided opportunities for deep thought. He helped me wrestle through some painful issues, and He provided healing. He also bestowed on me a fresh appreciation for the beauty, compassion and care of the body of Christ as it is TRULY supposed to function - in unity and with grace. C.S. Lewis said that the distinction of the Christian faith - the element that sets it apart from all other belief systems - is GRACE. Lord, make me an instrument of your grace!

Humility and teachability were the watchwords of the week, as I had the privilege of interacting with so many excellent writers, teachers, pastors and speakers. I was blessed by the kneelers, the questioners, the weepers - those who weren't afraid to get real with God.

Particularly compelling were author and speaker Mary DeMuth's classes on Inner Guts: How An Extreme Makeover of our Hearts Enlivens, Deepens, and Betters our Prose. Mary speaks from a wellspring of love for the Lord, a place of wrestling with Him and refusing to stop until she has received His blessing. Her authenticity and transparency inspired me this week. And I gained so much TRUTH, so many solid principles that I know will help transform my spiritual life as well as my writing. 

I also left the conference with many new friends - friends walking the same daily journey with me as writers, artists, musicians, poets and followers of Jesus. I look forward to a new year of possibilities with God, starting now.  

If you're a friend from Mount Hermon or a friend from elsewhere wanting to weigh in on this discussion, please post a comment here. Thank you!