EQUIP'13

Yesterday I went to EQUIP'13, a Christian women's conference held annually at Darling Harbour. I haven't been to a women's conference before, and don't usually go to many women's events at my church. I feel they aren't really for me. However, this particular conference hooked me with their conference theme, 'Women who met Jesus'.

For some reason, this theme really piqued my interest. I found a friend who encouraged me to go and said she would come with me.

So, here we are with over 2,000 other ladies:

EQUIP'13. Women.

The first talk, looking at Jesus' mother Mary, was the best of the day. I have never heard a good sermon preached on Mary - actually I have never heard any sermon on Mary. And yet there is so much to be learned about God through her eyes!

The way that Mary understood how spiritual prophecies would be physically fulfilled in her, and how that all seemed so natural to her was something I really learned from. It was also eye opening to discover that Mary had to be saved through faith in Jesus just like everyone else.

We also heard about a woman who showed Jesus OTT love by pouring expensive perfume over his feet, and using her hair to clean them. Another woman reached out to touch Jesus' cloak and was healed from terrible illness. I got a lot out of these stories - about Jesus' kindness to outcasts, and about how it's okay to show extravagant gestures of love, even if it makes others around you feel uncomfortable. And how the gesture itself isn't the important part - touching the hem of Jesus' cloak - but their love inside and trust in Jesus.

EQUIP had an all-ladies band, even a chick drummer:

Women rocking.

and I must give an honourable mention to the ladies who did the Bible readings. They can read! These women really made the words jump off the page:

Women reading.

But the highlight of the day was definitely an item by this very talented woman:

Women singing

She sang a hymn in a classical style (opera?) and blew everyone away! I was absolutely riveted by her powerful voice, her performance, and her sparkly dress. I felt so blessed by her song and let me just say, she was seriously singing for Jesus. I'm very thankful I got to hear her.

We capped off a great morning with an equally great lunch. My friend and I headed to the other side of the harbour, cockle bay wharf, where one of my fav restaurants, Adria Rybar and Grill were doing $16 lunch specials. I reckon that's an excellent deal, especially considering the lovely service and harbour views. We both ordered this very hearty chicken caesar salad (complete with poached egg and anchovies!):