Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

Celebrating 4 Years with my Friends!

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Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble. Proverbs 17:17 MSG

October marks four years that I have been “officially” blogging. I’ve always written, from my childhood diary with lock and key, to high school journals, to prayer journaling. I’ve never NOT written. But blogging? That’s a huge commitment of time for anyone, much less someone who works full time outside the home – like me. So why do I continue?

Well, like I said. I can’t NOT write. I love putting pictures with words. I love that God led me to this hobby, in this season. Most of all, I love the friends He has brought along the way. Let me introduce you to some of them:

Carmen. Carmen and I met via Compel Training for writers. Turns out, we live in the same state, Carmen in the north, me in the south! We got to know each other online, and finally we arranged an in person meeting in the middle of the state. Her daughter was a tad bit concerned about Carmen meeting a total stranger for lunch, as was my hubby (What’s her name? What’s her phone number? What does she look like? She could be a mass murderer!). As it turns out, we are two peas in a pod. We became fast friends, “talking” almost daily via e-mail, and an occasional Skype call. Although Skype is a bit technical for us. Carmen is a women’s hope coach, and you can get to know her here.

Sabra. Sweet Sabra and her hubby write a blog about living married life following the principles of the Bible. She has a heart for Jesus and for people. I also met Sabra via Compel. Finally, in 2016, we met in person. Sabra is beautiful inside and out! You will love her insights and her online home, Simply One in Marriage.

Betsy. Another Compel friend, Betsy encouraged me to begin blogging weekly. When I first started, every other week was all I could handle. Or so I thought. Thanks to Betsy’s encouragement, y’all get to read a post every week. Betsy encourages her reader’s to get God’s Word in, so their faith can spill out. Look for her here .

Melanie. Mel Mel (as I like to call her) and I met at my very first She Speaks conference. I fell in love with her instantly. Melanie is not afraid to look hard truths in the eye, and share them with us. She is hysterically funny, honest to a fault, and you will love her. Hop on over here and get to know her.

There are oh, so many other writer friends that I have fallen in love with and who encourage me beyond measure. Here is just a sampling:

Kristie, Encouraging Women to Walk Deeper with God
Abby, Finding the Hope of Christ in a Messy Life
Christa, Do A New Thing
Susan, Helping Other Find Calm in the Chaos of Life

These ladies are not only friends, they have become my family. I love them dearly, and I think you will too!

Grace be with you,

 

He Met Us at She Speaks

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I had the honor and privilege of attending the She Speaks Conference in North Carolina this year, for the second time. She Speaks is a speaker/writer/leadership conference hosted by the wonderful women of Proverbs 31 Ministries.

My friend Carmen and I traveled together. We would also be roomies at the conference. She and I met on Compel Training, a membership site for those who want to learn writing and move people with our words. This would be the most amount of time we had ever spent together. How would it go?

Turns out, we are two peas in a pod. We discovered we’re both rule followers. On the plane, we tsk-tsked together when the gentleman in front of us didn’t put his seat in the upright position before take off. We laughed until we cried one night at the blinking light on the TV, which we both knew would keep us awake. Yes, even with our eyes closed. We’re like that. Could God have found a more perfect roomie for me – old me – who is set in her ways? I think not.

Scripture SS2015

At the conference we found out that the P31 staff had been bathing us in prayer. I was so humbled that these busy women, organizing a conference for 700 or more women, had taken the time to pray for each of us – by name! Humbled and honored.

But of course, when an older (ahem) writer is placed in a room full of younger more experienced writers and speakers, the insecurities do kick in. Not to worry, our faithful God had us covered. At the opening session, we each had a scroll at our place setting. As each woman slowly unrolled her scroll, you could hear gasps, tears and shouts of joy. The P31 team had given a unique scripture to each of us.

Mine was 1 Corinthians 1:26-30:
“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,”

God chose me – foolish and weak – to proclaim the truth of His word through writing. How did He know I would need that very verse? Not only at the conference, but each time I ponder this question: Why bother writing?

She Speaks

God showed up in a big way at this conference. And that should be no surprise.

“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” Matthew 18:20 (NASB)

Here are a few more inspirations and take-aways from She Speaks 2015:

  • We must be with Him before we are sent out by Him.  Lysa TerKeurst
  • Trusting God is THE most important thing. Liz Curtis Higgs
  • The key to boldness is knowing God is with us. Our greatest need is the power of the Holy Spirit. Micca Campbell
  • You can only go and tell if you have seen and heard. Liz Curtis Higgs

Until next week,