This was a weekend worth writing about.
Friday was my first women’s retreat. Being a newbie christian, being a newer member of a church and women’s ministry group all made for a very intimidating preparation time…. I have been praying out loud to the Lord to bring me out of a comfort zone, to free my mind from the junk in order to pursue longtime passions… He has such a sense of humor. Somehow I was the last to be given a task. The last task… Worship coordinator. Yep. Howz that for a first timer. Let’s go backward a bit. I am a worrier. Always have been. I worry about everything. It’s a detail thing. There are times I don’t worry, but, I have the tendancy to take things way too seriously. So, you can imagine how I treated this worship thing. I stressed over it. I worried about it. If it weren’t for so much help from JP and his recources I probably would have given myself a heart attack. Also, at the last minute I was asked to help with the skit for the weekend. I have no problems getting up in front of people, though I get nervous, and a little stuttery.
This was a retreat that almost never was for me. My husband works away from home most of the week. I cherish my weekends with him and our family. I was beginning to have doubt a retreat would have any effect. That was the enemy talking. I prayed over the initiation to go. I talked with my husband. I payed in advance to make sure I had no way out of it. Toward the end, when all my preperations for everything else was complete, and I could breath, I prayed for something to happen. Didn’t have to be a huge thing, just a corner of a wall to start to crumble. Symbolic, yet simple.
The retreat was a wonderful success. It was based on finding spiritual gifts. I spent the weekend with some of my favoratest women from church. I was very encouraged by the things I heard, and found out about myself. The best quote from Sherry, our speaker, hit the most. “You were not created for results, you were created for relationship.” OH MY GOODNESS!!! Why worry about everything. All I can do, is good work in good faith, be who I am, grow in Him, and enjoy the ride!I can take a deep breath, stop worrying about the small stuff, and trust in Him to take care of me. I was also greatly encouraged by my affect on the body, and how I am affected by it.
Simple lightbulb moments totally worth the trip. And the Journey.
After eating awsome food for two days, NONSTOP and precious fellowship, I had to come home early. I REALLY missed being home. It was ok, though. I had fullfilled my purpose, and so had He. The closer I got to home, the more excited I was to see my husband and our children. He and I spent half the night and morning hours talking, and enjoying eachothers company. Simple. Wonderful.
We spent Sunday together, going to church, chilis, lazertag, a fabulous Sunday nap, and hanging out with our lifegroup. What a perfect weekend!!
Thank you, Lord, so much for the oppertunities You give to come into your presence, to enjoy You and who You are, to be who You have created me to be, and allowing me to sit with You and enjoy this life in its simplicity and splendor. I pray I may not loose sight of all you revealed to me this weekend, I pray I take another step up and stay there to enjoy the new view, without falling. Thank you so very much. In the name of Jesus! AMEN
So glad to hear that the weekend went so great. That’s awesome to hear. Also, really good to hear that you were stretched so much. Thanks for being open to God stretching you. That’s always a good quality. Thanks for sharing.