Radiant 2013

I sat on my couch in the fall of 2010 reading my Bible and my eyes fell on a word in Ps 34:5 that I have not been able to shake ever since. The word was Radiant. 

“Those who look to him are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame.” –Ps 34:5

That word Radiant mid as well have been in bold italics and in ALL CAPS!!! It leaped off the pages of Scripture in a way that forever has changed my life. In that moment the Lord was telling me that not only was I RADIANT, No longer covered in shame, but also that ANY ONE who looks to him can become Radiant no longer covered in shame.

It was a few months later when the idea of a worship night came about while sitting with my friend Mary in her car. She and I had just finished a meeting w/ someone  about Seminary, and then she shared this idea she had for  a worship night, just for girls. I had also been thinking of doing something similar. So, about a week or so later I went and sat in our Girls Ministry Director, Candace, office and shared with her this idea.

She loved it and immediately jumped on board to help me see this vision come to life. The truth that we are called the Radiant Bride of Christ was burning in my heart and soul in a way that I cannot really explain unless you have experienced something similar yourself. But, I knew this had to happen.

I had NO idea what I was doing, I am still learning, and I had been on the Pillars Girls Ministry Team all of two months and suddenly I’m heading up planning an event!!

Glory to God, he brought the right people along side me who believed in the vision of Radiant and were willing to take this leap of faith with me. I had NO IDEA what the first Radiant was going to look like. I prayed, and prayed, and prayed with my face to the ground that girls would show up!!! That God would move, that He would be glorified, and blessed.

Glory to God, the first Radiant, May 14, 2011, was a success. You know who you are that helped pull that night off!!

But on August 2, 2013, I was sitting in the sound booth as my friend Nate played those first cords and I could have lost it right then!! Honestly, I didn’t even know if I had it in me to plan Radiant this year. But God quickly reminded me that RADIANT is not about me, never has been about me. It’s all about Him!!

God and his perfect timing, didn’t allow Radiant to happen when “I” would have liked. Again, not about me. I was learning I was just the vessel the Lord was using to accomplish His will. So therefore, I couldn’t get bent all of shape when things didn’t go “as planned.” I rested in the fact that there was a reason!!!

And there was…Finally on August 2, 2013 the 3^rd Annual Radiant Worship Night Kicked off with a BANG! Thank you, Judah Smith!!! 

When everything kicked off I immediately felt the presence of the Lord fill that place. That was what I prayed for. But I also thought back to the first Radiant and just in the course of 3 years how far it’s come. It made me thankful for the people who believed in me and were with me in the beginning. Who were willing to take a chance on me and just sit back and see what God does!  

As I sat there worshiping, I was in awe that almost exactly a year ago Nate and I sat over coffee and I presented this whole idea of leading worship for Radiant. Then almost a year later is was a reality, but not only that he was moving in 7 days! Just in the short course of a year life looked very different for both of us than it did in July 2012. God worked it out so that we’d meet last summer and become friends, and that Nate would be around just long enough to lead Radiant. I couldn't have planned it without him this year! God is good!

Seeing a room full of girls and leaders, and hearing my friend and fellow Pillars Leader, Katherine Nienow share what the Lord laid on her heart was such a blessing. Being in the presence of the Lord is refreshing. That we can come and bring all of who we are to Him; He knows everything about us and YET still loves us.

I’m not quite sure I can articulate enough how humbled I was by Radiant this year. By everyone who helped, by everyone who came, everyone who prayed, everyone who has believed in this vision and been willing to be apart in one way or another. But tonight I thought back to the first one. Oh, how I treasure that night, and I thank God for his grace and mercy.

I had a vision for tonight, but it didn’t have to do with decorations, or lights or songs, or videos...etc. The vision I’ve always had for Radiant has never been something you can see with your natural eyes, it’s always been something God would do in our hearts. My passion is to see heart transformation in this generation, because we will act out of what we believe. 

It was just such a sweet night, and I give God all the glory. Planning Radiant this year was a gift in so many ways. The Lord KNEW I needed to plan this. I needed to get my hands dirty again. But sitting in that sound booth tonight I defiantly got a little chocked up. Not being able to wrap my mind around why in the world God uses me. But, then again I guess that’s why he does! 

He uses the weak things of the world to confound the wise.

Thank you to everyone who was apart, and all glory to God that it was a success. Grateful the Lord was in our midst! It wouldn't have been much of a night without Jesus, but He was there! He poured out His Spirit on His Daughters. My prayer was that the Lord would be worshiped, that He would be blessed, and I believe we blessed the Lord heart that night.

But, one of the questions I got the most afterwards, and even Sunday, was about the opening video. Where did I find it? Well, here it is! :)

Thank you again for everyone who came out tonight, who helped out and who has EVER been apart of Radiant in anyway the last 3 years!! Without the first one there wouldn’t have been a second one and now a third one!