Giving Thanks: My Top 10 Blessings From Inspire 2017

After a recent service trip with a nearby youth group, each of us was challenged to write down our "top ten" blessings of the experience. I found it a very helpful way to reflect on the trip, so I decided to use the idea to think about Inspire 2017, which happened last week in Detroit, Michigan.

Here are my top ten blessings from the event:  

1. A sense of God's leading and moving infused the event.
2. There was a spirit of unity and fellowship with each other as believers that literally brought tears to my eyes during times of worship.
3. Each of the four keynote speakers brought something different but important to the gathering.
4. The Prayer Room was well-used; many people were praying for Inspire in the months leading up to it, so it was great to see prayer continuing to be an important aspect of it.
5. Everything went smoothly in terms of technology, safety, meals, and logistics, so that the focus could be on Christ and the church.
6. As someone who doesn't like driving in big cities, I am so thankful to the people I carpooled with!
7. There was a general attitude among people at Inspire of being willing to listen, comfortable sharing thoughts, and appreciative of each other's input and presence.
8. Conversations in breakout sessions, over meals, in the EXPO area, and even on escalators helped people connect, share ideas, and grow unity.
9. I was grateful for a comfortable room and delicious meals to keep up my energy through some packed days!
10. I'm excited to see the second chapter - how God will use the events and inspirations of this event.

What are some of the blessings you experienced at Inspire?