Saturday April 6, 20133:30 pm Est.

Coretta Scott King

Women, if the soul of the nation is to be saved, I believe that you

must become its soul.

Philippians 4:13I can do everything through him who

gives me strength.

Lord, thank You for that great promise. Thank You for the promise that You will give me all I need to do

whatever You call me to do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A special thank you to everyone involved in making this event happen.

Stong Women’s ConferenceProgram

WelcomeEcorsha

SongJuiceDaTruth1979

SpeakerMinnesotaCoco

Inspirational ReadingEve0070

SpeakerLaylaMossVancouver

SpeakerMrsChancesKaVaciea

Closing Remarks

Trying to be Strong

By Tracie Miles

"For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?" Psalm 18:31 (NIV)

To someone else, it may have been just a simple two-letter word. But to me, it was a divine message from a holy God.

During an activity at a women's retreat, we were to pull from an en-velope a specific name of God from Scripture. We were given time to journal about it, and what that particular name meant to us person-ally in that moment.

Snuggled up on a comfy couch, I opened my envelope and slipped out a piece of paper with the word El, meaning "The Strong One." I looked up the Bible verses at the bottom of the paper, which included today's key verse Psalm 18:31.

As I prayed, my heart began to stir as this name of God sunk in. Words poured into my journal: "Jesus, I'm tired. I confess that I always try to be the strong one. Strong for my mom ... my dad ... my sister and brother ... my husband and children ... my friends. Trying be strong for everyone is exhausting and stressful."

I jotted down the names of loved ones I felt obligated to be strong for and the reasons why. It was as if justifying why I tried to be their rock made it okay. I also journaled about being strong regarding my own circumstances ... relying on my own strength while wearing a mask that I could shoulder the weight of everyone's burdens.

Exhausted, I turned to God for help. It was then I felt Him assure me I didn’t have to be strong all the time-because He is “El,” The Strong One. I realized I had tried to be the rock for those I loved, instead of leaning on the Rock who is the true strength they need.

In Psalm 18, David praises God for being his source of strength. He looks back and reflects on all God has done, thanking the Lord for not only de-livering him from the hands of his enemies, but for giving him strength to overcome them. In Psalm 18:31, David acknowledges the only reason he experiences victory is because God is his Rock. His Strong One. His strength.

I felt my heart lighten. With a sigh of relief and gratitude I journaled words of praise. Just like David, I thanked God for being my strength and my Rock.

Although He didn't deliver me from the hands of physical enemies like David faced, God helped me find victory over the habit of being strong on my own. He reminded me I needed to rely on "El" for strength, whether I am carrying the weight of other's burdens and hurts, or just making it through another stressful day.We can offer support, prayers and a listening ear to others, but we can't be someone else's rock. It is God's job to be the Rock. He's capable and willing if we give Him room to be.Dear Lord, forgive me for thinking I can live in my own strength or that my strength is sufficient to support those I love. Remind me to fully lean on You. Thank You for being "El", our Strong One, while paving the way for victory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Reflect and Respond:What would it look like if you stop trying to carry the burdens of others and allow “El” to be their Rock?

Spend time journaling your thoughts about this topic of the Rock, and how God’s Name “El,” The Strong One, might be applicable in your own life.

Power Verses:Psalm 28:7, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” (NIV)

Psalm 18:1-2, “I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (NIV)

http://www.proverbs31.org/devotions/trying-be-strong-2013-03/

I joined the IMVU Community in November of 2010. I have evolved over the time I’ve been here on IMVU. I am now a Mom, Sister, Auntie, Bes-tie and Significant other. I am also the owner and founder of MNCoco Products. I create Rooms, Furniture and Pictures. I am part of the team that represents INSPIRIT Magazine, a magazine focused on Health and Wellness. I have developed a strong support system of family and friends here on IMVU.

I enjoy reading a variety of subjects, creative writing, movies(tear-jerk-ers are the best), all different genres of music,( Gospel, Jazz, R&B and Classical. I play several instruments, including the piano) and Dancing. I am a sport fanatic, especially football!! GO VIKINGS!!!

Things I love on IMVU, an evening sipping coffee in a great conversa-tion with my little Sisters, Ecorsha and DeeThickness, other family and friends makes for a great evening. I love Sunday morning service at 1st Church of Praise. I enjoy creating while listening to Pandora and also spending a Sunday evening at Slow Jams with my family, Chances and Kavaciea. I enjoy dancing the night away and chatting with my special guy, Booky3.

In my real life, I am the proud mother of 4 boys ages 23-a recent college graduate and living independently now, 20-a current college student and college 2-time football champion, 17-high school senior and future chef, and 8-my blessing, the 2nd grader…..smile. I have a degree in Elemen-tary Education and Certificate in Women’s Studies. I was born the only girl of 6 children, raised in Kansas, but have lived in Minnesota for 18 years. Guess I’m a Minnesotan now. I am truly a Midwest girl. I am liv-ing, surviving and enjoying life while managing Diabetes.

I love to help and inspire people. I love to bring wonderful people to-gether. Laughter and a hug are the best feelings. I know I am a work in progress, and so thankful to all of the beautiful people I have met on my journey here on IMVU. God Bless You All……..hugs……….smile

Oprah Winfrey

"The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were

intended to be."

LaylaMossVancouver, daughter of Christina-Vancouver and DougSoFresh, came to

IMVU September 2011. Miss Vancouver gradu-ated from Harvard Medical School, specializ-

ing in Obstetrics. She practiced both obstetrics/ObGyn for 7 years I.T.

Miss Vancouver started and became International president of Delta Sigma Theta

Sorority "The Divine Nine Supreme Sisterhood. Her achievements are Developing,

Advertisement, and Writing. One of her greatest achievements is being in partnership

with her mother in real-estate community rental business. Featured in the January Issue of Designer Showcase Magazine along with her mother she went on to join Inspirit Magazine in hopes to get others to share their real life

stories, in life's every day journeys. Miss Van-couver looks forward to greater achievements

as she embarks on new horizons.

Helen Keller

When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in

the life of another.

I joined Imvu in November 2010 as Chances510. I am from the state of Michigan and have re-sided here all my life. I have 2 sons, 27 and 15. I attained my Associates Degree in Child Develop-ment and have worked in the field for 23 years holding various positions but mostly as a Direc-tor and advocate for childcare providers and parents including some training. I am a true entrepreneur, I have always had something going on on the side. Creating a line of bath and body products, catering and wedding / event planning is just a few of the things I enjoy doing. Here on Imvu, I partake in developing, event planning, advertising / in-vitations, photography , club owner and I am the founder of Inspirit Magazine, a magazine fo-cusing on your total well being.

In July of 2012 I became MrsChancesKaVaciea and my husband, KaVaciea, and I formed KaVa-ciea Enterprises. We are promoters and devel-opers of positive events and ventures. We love being supportive to others who are doing the same.

We are committed to maintaining excellence, respect and integrity in all aspects of our operations and professional conduct.

Michelle Obama

"One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what

somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so when I hear about negative and false

attacks, I really don't invest any energy in them, because I

know who I am."

My name is JuiceDaTruth1979 and I prefer to go by Juice or Juicee. I currently live in In-diana, but I was born and raised in Michigan. I have a wonderful mother who still resides there who I truly love and adore. I earned My Associates Degree of Applied Science in medi-cal assisting in 2012. I’m the youngest of 4 children with 2 brothers and 1 sister. I am a single mother of 4 wonderful children in real life. Three girls ages 16, 15, 6, and one son who turned 10 April 5, 2013. I have been a member of imvu for almost 2 years now. I’m currently single and recently divorced, but no children here on imvu. I am the imvu daugh-ter of Mr & MrsDrkTrey1979. I enjoy formal clubs, singing, meeting new people, spending time with family or friends, shopping, dating, chatting, and decorating. During my imvu life I have been a part of sororities, clubs, and oth-er organizations. I enjoy being a part of any-thing positive or uplifting, but most of all I enjoy being ME .

My name is Ecorsha. I became part of the imvu community in Jan. 2011. Since I've been here, I've worked for Blissful Events Planning, SwaggC-ity Modelling, OnyImagesModelling, and Bugatti RealEstate. I'm a behind the scene type of person, so you wont catch me in the limelight much. I en-joy reading, writing, singing, and dancing. I support anything that deals with the empowering of women. I am blessed to be part of a small but close family. We practice the TRUE mean-ing of the word when we are here. In my real life, I am a Chef of 13yrs, been happily married for the same amount, and very PROUD mother of 3. Only other thing I can say about my-self is that what you see is what you get. I live my IMVU life..with the same morals and principles as my real..

I am Eve and 49 yrs old. A member of IMVU since January 2010. In 2011, I ad-opted my 1st daughter, Angel and in 2012, my 2nd daughter Candi. I have met inter-esting people from all over the world. I have made friendships as well. I own A & E Counseling Services “Let’s Talk About It.” I counsel clients on various issues. My interests are spending time with my daugh-ters and friends. In 2012, I began deriving products. Real world, I am a graduate of Coppin State Univ., BS Degree in Manage-ment Science. Employed at a state agency 28 yrs. Plan to retire in 2 years and then seek a new chapter. Most of my career has been in Human Resources--Employee/Em-ployer Relations. I am an Arbitrator and I resolve issues between management and employees. I am married and I have two sons, 30 and 21 years old. I enjoy jazz mu-sic, house music and art, specifically, black art. Lastly, I believe in sisterhood because I feel that it strengthens the bond of family and friends in our society.

"Mom, why are you crying?" a young boy asked his mom.

"Because I'm a woman" she told him.

"I don't understand," he said.

His mom just hugged him and said, "and you never will." Later the lit-tle boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"

"All women cry for no reason" was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.

Finally he put in a call to GOD. When GOD got on the phone the man said, "GOD, why do women cry so easily?"

GOD said:

"When I made women she had to be special. I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world; yet, gentle enough to give comfort.

I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue with-out complaining.

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circum-stances, even when her child has hurt her very badly. This same sensi-tivity helps her to make a child's boo-boo feel better and shares in her teenagers anxieties and fears.

I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fash-ioned her from his rib to protect his heart.

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him

Author Unknown