I’m not gonna beat around the bush. Here’s what’s on my heart:  I want to see your pretty face at Priority’s Glo Girl Conference next month. And I want to hug your neck, too. I want to meet you, worship with you, get into God’s Word with you, and have a blast fellowshipping with you next month (September 23-24) at my home church here in Houston. Okay? There. I said it. So, are you comin’?

We’ve never had a Glo Girl Conference before, which means we have no idea who’s coming and no idea how many are coming. But girl, we do know this: it’s going to be a GLO-rious weekend! After all, my husband, Bill, is leading the praise and worship, and he’s amazing. Lisa Pierre – one of the most godly and gifted singers ever – is our featured soloist. My favorite female Christian author, Jan Silvious (who is also way FUN), will be our speaker. And God has given me a message that I’m so excited to share with you. So, are you comin’?

And here’s another reason why you need to come: your teenage daughter/granddaughter/niece/neighbor needs her mama/nana/aunt/godly next-door-neighbor to bring HER to the conference with you. Today’s culture is bombarding our girls in so many dangerous and damaging ways. More than ever before our girls need spiritual encouragement, biblical truth, and Titus 2 role models. So, are you comin’?

Do you live kinda far from Houston? Hobby Airport is just 10 minutes from the conference. Need a hotel? We’ve got a great one within 5 minutes of the church. Don’t want to come by yourself? Bring a friend or two and make a girlfriend weekend of it (Galveston is just 30 minutes away). Worried it might be too expensive? The conference is just $30 – a real DEAL! So, now are you comin’?

Okay, I know I’m probably wearing you out, so I won’t go on and on any more, but you DO get my message, right? I really, REALLY want you to come to the Glo Girl Conference next month, and now’s the time to get registered. So sign up today because as you can tell, I can’t wait to hear that YOU’RE COMING! See you in September!

Your sister,

Email Laurie

The first ever Glo Girl Conference is just around the corner, and Laurie’s not the only one who’s hoping you’ll come! We all are! You’ve seen the lineup. You’ve felt the excitement. Now is the time to sign up!

Remember, there are a limited number of seats available, so reserve your spot today!

Change of Scenery
by Emily Ryan, Executive Editor 

Last month, my husband and I each took time off work for a “staycation.” Since my husband works at our church, we decided to attend a completely different church for two weeks instead. It turns out, a change of scenery was just what our souls needed, and I was reminded how refreshing it can be to take a small break from your religious routine and experience God in a different setting every now and then.

If you feel yourself hitting a plateau in your walk with Christ or growing numb, apathetic, or even resentful to church life in general, a temporary change of scenery may be exactly what you need to rekindle the fire. Here are four benefits I found from worshipping outside of my typical Sunday morning routine:

1. No Distractions
   Sometimes our duties at church are so demanding that worshipping God becomes something we try to squeeze in between making coffee, greeting visitors, rocking babies or promoting activities. At a different location, you’re not distracted by your obligations. You’re free to focus on God and God alone.

2. Heightened Senses
   No matter how wonderful your preacher or how dynamic your Sunday school teacher is, if you listen to anyone long enough, his voice can become monotonous. You’ve heard their jokes and stories before and you know their style, so you can easily tune them out without even realizing it sometimes. But when you hear someone new speak, you’re more likely to listen to what he or she is saying simply because it’s a fresh voice. And because you’re listening more closely, you’re more likely to hear God’s message through that person.

3. Familial Worship
   Even when you attend church together as a family, you don’t always get to worship together. Husbands go one way; wives go another. Parents go one way; kids go another. Even friends get split up because of varying routines. But sometimes when you get outside your normal venue, you get to worship with those who are closest to you. Nothing builds friendship and intimacy more than experiencing God with someone.

4. Creative Thinking
   Your response to God can become just as routine as the order of service on Sunday morning. But when you’re outside of the norm, your response to God becomes a blank slate. Since there is no precedent, nothing is expected; since nothing is expected, anything is possible. Suddenly you find yourself confessing sins you haven’t confessed before, seeing ministry opportunities you’ve never noticed before, or simply coming under that exhilarating conviction from the Holy Spirit in which God not only shines a light on a problem, but places the tools in your hand to take action!

Our typical worship and church routines will always be important and necessary for our spiritual growth. They should not be ignored or replaced. But their impact can be enhanced by those handful of times that we step outside of the everyday and experience God in a change of venue.

So go ahead. Go to camp with your kids. Go on a marriage retreat with your husband. Attend the Glo Girl Conference with your friends. Whatever opportunity presents itself that is outside of your normal worship routine, consider taking a chance. The change of scenery may be just what your soul needs right now.

What memorable experiences have you had when you’ve experienced God outside of your normal worship routine? I’d love to hear about it!

Emily

Click here to email Emily

Here's where Laurie will be going and glo-ing soon.  Please pray.  Thanks!

Priority Prayer Points
by Nancy Campbell, Prayer Director

July was an awesome month of sales for Priority workbooks which means that hundreds of women are gearing up for fall Bible studies! Pray for the leaders and the women’s ministry directors who will be facilitating them.  Pray for the teens in your church who have strengthened their walks with Christ this summer. Pray that God would use the next few weeks to deepen their commitment even more so they will be bold and unshakable when school begins.  Pray specifically for the Glo Girl Conference speakers and singers: Laurie, Jan Silvious, Bill Cole and the Sagemont Praise Tem, and Lisa Pierre. Pray that God’s hand would be upon every detail of their lives as they finalize preparations for a glorious weekend! Do you have a prayer or praise? Share them with Nancy Campbell, Priority’s Prayer Director, and let the Priority staff join with you in prayer. Email your request to Nancy

Gotta Glo

Your Priority sisters,

Laurie Cole, Pam Henderson, Shanda Stiles, Jan Hart,
Stephanie Cole, Nancy Campbell, Emily Ryan, and Mary Burnett
Priority Ministries Staff