(my niece, Lauren; sister, Renee; my friend, Vicki; and me, waiting to get in on Friday night)
We had church, y’all! God showed up in a BIG way over the weekend in Atlanta. Praise and worship were lifted high as 19,000 women gathered in the Phillips Arena for the Deeper Still conference. Ladies, I just can’t even describe how awesome this gathering was. It was a spiritual high, leaving us all with a sense of profound excitement as we gathered, worshipped and heard God’s word taught by three very dynamic women of God. If you get a chance to experience this, please do yourself a favor and GO. That’s all I can say…it will change your life profoundly. 
Beth Moore’s praise and worship team, led by Travis Cottrell, urged us into praise with wonderful Christian music. It was loud and stirring and completely filled this arena with the beautiful singing voices of our Christian sisters.
My camera totally did not capture these three awesome Christian speakers at all, but it was Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer, and Beth Moore. They all had different, but equally compelling messages to share with us and we all left with a sense of urgency to live out our Christian lives in a bold manner.
On Friday night when we arrived and found some great seats down on the floor, I immediately spotted two very popular bloggers in the Christian community, BooMama and Big Mama. These two are pals in real life and I’ve read about their escapades for months now. I went down and greeted them both and met Melanie (Big Mama) for the first time. They were both blogging for Lifeway at this event. It’s fun to watch them do their thing and I know they will have a lot to share from the weekend also. 
And I ran immediately into one of my very good friends, Ruby, who is the Women’s Ministry director at my old church in Kennesaw, where I went for many years. It was great catching up with her for a few minutes. She was one of the Atlanta coordinators for this event, so had a busy weekend. 
Again bad pics, but you can see how many women were here.
This was Pricilla speaking on Friday night. She’s expecting baby #3 in October.
And Mandisa showed up with some powerful vocals and inspired us with her great music.
Phillips Arena from the outside. 
The praise and worship team in action.
They are all great vocalists and really lead some fantastic praise and worship.
Kay Arthur got passionate bringing a stirring message about the downfall of our nation and how we are at a crossroads. I couldn’t agree with her more. We truly need to pray for our country with the election coming up and ask for guidance and direction for our country. Kay is 74 years old and looks great! I think we were all inspired to look as stylish and fit at her age. She is truly a warrior for the Lord, proclaiming His truth in everything she speaks. 
Beth was absolutely awesome, as usual and has such a powerful stage presence and speaks the truth with honesty, peppered with her own brand of Texas humor. We all love Beth! All three of these women represent a range of generations and it’s so refreshing to hear from all of them, their life experiences, how they are just like us in so many ways, and how they encourage us in our walk with God. They are truly annointed and bring God’s word to life for women in a way that I’ve never experienced before. It truly is such a blessing to sit and soak up the Word in a conference like this. It’s tiring, but wow, do you come away with a new determination to live out your life in a Spirit-led way, trusting God all the way to lead and guide your days, in the good and bad moments, on mountaintops or valleys, trusting that Christ is sovereign in ALL things. And I so much want to share that with everyone I come in contact with. What a comfort to remember that every single day!
I wish you could all have been there with me! Worshiping with all those women was such a great experience and I would have loved to share it with all of you. God is SO good!
P.S. While in Atlanta, I finally got to visit the HUGE IKEA store that opened up as we were moving 3 years ago. I tried to go when it did open, but it was so packed that the parking lot was full, so I haven’t been back since. Wait til you see this place…oh. my. gosh…it’s the biggest store I’ve ever seen, you could get lost in there. I’ll be sharing that soon!
Thank you for sharing your photos and text about your experiences at the conference. It certainly seems to have touched a great many people in positive and renewing ways.
Ohhhh girl..you described that glorious blessing so well, I felt like I was right there with you!!!! Ohhhh what a renewing of one’s soul!!!! reminded me of old camp meeting days and revivals that would run for weeks and you just couldn’t wait to get there to see What God would do next…what a way to start my day..ohhh glory girl…this has been a blessing just coming by to see you this morning..makes me want to shout sitting here at the computer…thanks for sharing this beautiful soul stirring event with us!!!!
It sounds like a truly amazing experience! Glad you got to go. Wish you got a pic of boo and Big Mama!
Hey, linked you today in my post…
I’d never heard of Deeper Still and now I’m reading about it everywhere. My parents live in Atlanta and I wish I’d known sooner so I could have taken a little road trip and attended. So glad you had such a wonderful experience.
It really was an awesome time. I posted about it yesterday on my blog, too. I got to attend with both my mother and my m-i-l. What a blessing it was and such a powerful time. I was truly amazed at how God is raising up generation (Kay) after generation (Beth) after generation (Priscilla) of godly women who can teach the Word with effectiveness and boldness. We are blessed!
Christi
Sounds like you had a great visit to the ATL! And yes, Ikea is BIG, BIG, BIG. I got lost in there for like three days.
Wow, what an estrogen rush! Lovely pictures of your family…even those you don’t know, that large Christian Sisterhood!
hugs
Sandi
How wonderful! I would have loved to have attended! A spiritual retreat! To all tuck away like that and be fed the Word of God and worship…how wonderful indeed! :O) We will begin Beth Moore’s new study in the next couple of weeks and I really can’t wait. I always come away learning so much that has practical application.
I adore your blog and want to add thanks for posting about painting. I am viewing several blogs for help in this area and yours has been a blessing for me as I feather our nest. ~Tricia Anne
What an incredible event! Kijsa went to this last year and absolutely loved it!
Have a blessed and wonderful day!
smiles, kari & kijsa
Were you talking about the little letters that you have to type in when leaving a comment? If so I took it off… Smiles, Susie H~
Your welcome Miss Rhoda… I really didnt know that it was on mine… I hate having to figure out what the letters are. I always get it wrong about three times before I get it right. Now if only the rest will follow along it would be a better world… smile! Susie H~
Rhoda,
What a great opportunity for you and your family and friend. I too am glad to hear that the conference addressed the importance of the up coming election and the watering down of the Word that seems to be accepted by so many.
I have to add that you look positively radiant in the pictures.
Hugs,
Sue
Hi Rhoda, I’m about to leave for our cottage upnorth, but I will check into removing that letter verification thingy. If I get “stuck”, I’ll e-mail you for directions. You were sooo helpful in helping me with that background change.
Blessings & Happy 4th!!
Sher
Rhoda, sounds as if your conference was amazing…so glad you got to go and get together with old girlfriends,too!
I just recently visited the Atlanta ikea…I loved it, but my feet were killing me after I got out of that place (many hours later)! ha
Rhoda
when I read about your souhtern life, it seems to me what I picture a southern life to be (being a hard core New Yorker!)–genteel, loving, spiritual! Love it!
Rhoda thank you for stopping by my blog to say hello. I found your visit with Kim in your archives–she is such a kind hostess. She could not say enough kind things about you–but no surprise there. I’m sorry I missed you!
How I would have loved being with you at Deeper Still! I used to teach Kay Arther Precept courses. I see she still looks beautiful! I read BooMama regularly, and I think you may be the one who shared the first link to her site. So thank you! If you look on my blog for the June 5 post, there is a new author I really love–Leigh McLeroy. She has a wonderful Wednesday Words devotional she emails each week. I highly recommend!
Love all the yard sale finds….and let me say you look stunning in that lime green.
Hugs,
Lallee
Great post and comments! Julie Schaal-IA
I was at the Deeper Still Event and it took me an entire week to ponder over it and reread my notes just to be able to post on it.
It was a wonderful time and one of the things that was really neat to experience was when we all sang “Shout to the Lord” a cappella at the end. Wow.
Those ladies were fun, and insightful and anointed and I feel blessed to have been taught by them. They have so much to offer the Kingdom, yet they make me feel as though I do too! Ain’t that cool!
Good post and I enjoyed looking over your blog. I’ll be back!
It’s so good to be back home and reading all my favorite blogs. I so wished I could have gone to that conference. I’ve never heard Kay or Pricilla, but I have Beth Moore. It most of been moving for sure!
I was at this event. Saw where Mandisa died and was looking for information on the event I saw her at. Found your blog post. It was an awesome event in Atlanta. Thanks for helping me remember who all was there. RIP Mandisa.