It is Well...

There's something about women.  We love.  We get angry.  We fuss and fight and quarrel.  We have passion... not that men don't, but let's just say we're the more emotional of the two genders.  And that passion is none the truer when all united to worship One God.  I had the priviledge of joining around 9000 other women at the Woman of Joy conference this weekend in Sevierville, Tennessee.  All different denominations and age groups, joined in one common purpose, praising and glorifying the Creator of the Universe, the Lover of our Souls, the Redeemer and Savior.  It is well...

Well with my soul.  Tonight, I'm full of joy.  I'm on the "mountaintop".  Sometimes we need a little time with women... time of laughing, crying, praising.  The weekend started out right Friday night... as those sopranoes and mezzo sopranoes and altos and those who couldn't carry a tune in a bucket raised their voice to the Most High God, some with hands upraised and others sitting weeping quietly, the echoes of the old hymn It is well with my soul echoed off the rafters and floated up to Heaven.  Something about that harmony made me think of my longing for Heaven...

It is well with my soul... My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It may not be well with me... I may have a headache or a bad hair day or Caleb may be getting on my nerves or the house may be dirty or its finals week or I have what seems like 50 care plans to grade. On Earth, we will have trouble... but my sin is gone and is nailed to the cross.  I am made for an eternal home, and my soul can be well, even when everything is topsy-turvy. 

From lessons on imperfect progress and praising through the battle, to dancing on the battlefield, to being seen by a very visible God when we feel invisible.  Holding hands with women that I didn't even know, watching tears of joy as we sang Amazing Grace with Christy Nockells and knowing that Grace... free, precious, full... is real, and that I am so undeserving yet it is mine.  Laughing at Anita Renfroe and sharing time with three of my favorite aunts and a dear family friend... Chris Tomlin's How Great is Our God... Yes, tonight, it is well with my soul. 

Lord Jesus, thank You for this opportunity.  May I remain changed, and may it always be well with my  soul.