Great Gals

In my excitement to fill you in about what the retreat weekend was about and how good our God is, I didn't take the time to download the pictures of my roomie's for the weekend. I couldn't have chosen two better gals to room with!

I met Debbie (left) when I joined choir when we moved to town 11 (!) years ago. We have interacted occasionally through the years and now we're in the same small group (if you call 20-25 a small group!). She is a super gal with a heart for God and it was a privilege to get to spend some time with her and get to know her better this weekend.
What can I say about Bev (middle). We also met at church through her son and then I worked with her for over six years, until she retired a year ago this month. I have learned so much from Bev over the years...sometimes when she was trying to teach this strong-willed, belligerent woman, and sometimes when she she wasn't looking. =)

A big thanks to these two ladies. I'm not sure when I've laughed so hard or learned so much. I'm so looking forward to what the future holds with both of you!



In addition to Debbie and Bev, the other two members of our group this weekend were Cheryl (left) and Bonnie (left of me, next to Cheryl). I had never met either of these two women before this weekend, but I am SO glad that I did! They both have such a passion to know God and learn and grow in Him, yet they are so different in personality. Cheryl is spunky and a little sarcastic, very funny! Bonnie is such an encourager with a sweet, gentle spirit.
The five of us make up our little discipleship group - all unique and very different, but all with one main purpose: to know God better and live life in such a way that it's evident to those around us. I am so excited to see what God has in store for all of us as we head down this path - Together.

Retreat

What a weekend! The women's discipleship retreat went really well. Sometimes intense and often emotional. But God was present and He is good! I really want for all of you what we all experienced!

We left Friday afternoon, 39 women and one 2-month-0ld, including 9 leaders, and returned today at 5:15pm. When we left on Friday, we left with questions of "Am I significant? Am I secure? Am I accepted? Am I able? Am I .... (fill in the blank....)" but by Sunday afternoon, after going on this journey of vulnerability together, we were reminded that we need each other to remind us of who we are in Christ. All of our "Am I..." questions are answered absolutely in the "I AM" of Christ. Jesus answered all of the questions of our significance by finding us worthy enough to die for. He answered all of our questions of security by sealing that security with the cross. He answered our questions of acceptance by taking everything that made us unacceptable to the cross and placing it as far as the east is from the west. And He answered the question of am I able, by promising us that the same power raised Him from the dead and is available to us through the Holy Spirit!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Retreat

Today is a beautiful day outside...It may finally be spring! Today is my Friday....YEAH!!! and tomorrow I'm headed to the Women's Retreat with my church. I'm co-leading with my old (not OLD...previous=) ) co-worker Bev and we have three ladies in our group. I only know one of the ladies and am really excited at the opportunity to meet the other two women and go on this growth-journey with them. I'm also a little anxious / scared about the weekend in general. Would you pray for me? I know God has big things in store for all of us this weekend....He's had His hands all over the planning of this event and He's been there every step of the way -- I just need to let Him guide my thoughts and my mind this weekend.

While I'm gone, Kabe has his opening day of baseball -- I'm so not wanting to miss that! I'm sure I'll have some fun pictures to post next week. Then on Saturday night Kabe & Adam will be hanging out with the guys & cooking out -- lots of singles this weekend as most of us girls will be together too! =)

Aren't these flowers beautiful? Adam brought them home for me earlier this week ... just because! Isn't he the best?

Enjoy this great weather while you can --- rain's a comin'!

A Big Process

I have been blessed to be a part of the women's ministry team at church off and on for several years. Most recently, I was asked to be a part of a retreat planning team that will plan and develop a weekend getaway for about 30 women. I can't fully divulge the events of this weekend as some readers will likely be a part of this event, however, I can say that this is not going to be your typical women's weekend. Oh, I'm sure there will be a lot of fun as it's a 1 1/2-2 hour trip and when women are together there is talking and laughter. But what started out as a skeleton in our planning meetings now has flesh and meat.
For some time, I've been struggling in my relationship with God. What defines me? Where does my significance come from? Who am I in Christ? These are overall big questions, especially when thought about in context to my relationship with God. I'm still working on this process in my life, but through the process of preparing for this retreat, I have begun to find some of these answers and I'm so excited about the weekend in April when we'll be going deeper with other women. Figuring things out is really hard, it even hurts sometimes. But I can see through this process that if I just persist, it's worth it.