Tag Archives: checkpoint

Checkpoint: Part one. Pre-conference.

Posted in God, Life by

[Originally published 13th March 2014]

Here I am again. For about the 6th time, on the eve of another Colour Conference.

I’ve been known to share a few thoughts at times like these (check here and here links below) so I thought I’d keep with tradition. Only this time, I feel we might have a two-part series on our hands. (If it were a three-part  you could start calling me Pastor Jess… #christianhumour)

So as I sit in the Sydney airport, please indulge me as I take stock of where I’m at today, to be compared with where I will be on Monday.

Since last Colour (in 2012):

Some things have changed…..

1. My marital status. Unlike another pre-Colour post, this time I have bling on my left hand and a new surname. I wonder if this will change the lens I see this weekend through? Probably.

2. My work. Two years ago I was about to go full time in a ministry role I loved. Now, I’m part time in a couple different roles as I recover from burnout caused by the aforementioned role. #irony

3. My priorities. These days I care a lot less about the social aspect of the days before me and instead hope to get some space.

4. My clarity. I have none. Well, maybe a little bit. Certainly much less than I wish I had.

Some things are the same…

1. My pre-conference nerves. You would be the same if you were as introverted as me and were preparing to be in a room with 16,000+ other women. #somuchoestrogen

2. My anticipation. Every time I’ve been at Colour I have always come home with greater understanding, clarity (here’s hoping!), and passion for what I’m put on this earth to do.

3. My desire for shoe shopping. Enough said.

4. My mum is by my side. I do love me some quality mumma-daughter time. Will miss my sister though, who I also love doing conference with.

My hope for the next few days is that I find some space to mentally and spiritually stretch out, work through a few things in my head that are bugging me, eat some yummy Thai food and not buy any of the merchandise that I know deep down I don’t need.

Until Monday….

Jess xx

 

Taking stock… A 12 month checkpoint.

Posted in Fun, God, Life by

[Originally published 15th March 2012]

I am sitting in the Sydney Entertainment Centre surrounded by thousands and thousands of women. It’s that time of year, again. The time when I brave my fear of large crowds, let go of my Hillsong skepticism, forget about my work emails and bask in the beauty of sitting still, being one of the many, and learning. Its time to plug in and soak it up!

This time last year I wrote this blog… And what a 12 months it has been since then! For the third year in a row I am facing significant change in work and I am bringing it to colour conference to lay it down, seek guidance, receive peace, renewal and restoration of the heart as I brace myself for a new level. (And a busier workload… Again!!)

As always, I am thankful for the journey that is my life, but I am particularly thankful for these past few years especially. I believe I have grown more in this time than any other season in my 28 years of life. For the third year in a row, these few days in Sydney will be a ‘marker’ in my year that launch me into the growth that lies ahead. Bring it on, I say.

It makes me wonder, what will I be writing about this time next year?

(For the record, I was battling identity issues last year as a single woman. I dealt with that at last years conference and met my now-boyfriend, Darren, a few weeks later… God has a wicked sense of humour.)