A had many reservations about going away this weekend, but the biggest one is I didn't want a repeat of last year. My mom and I had been up at the retreat when we got the news about my grandpa's aneurysm and as silly as it is I was terrified my grandma would be taken home one year later... You have NO idea how thankful I was to have phone service all weekend (many others didn't) and could check in constantly! The retreat was put on by Tapestry, a women's organization in the Baptist church. Their theme for the retreat was "The Thrill of His Voice" and the speaker was Shelia Jones (here is a link to her blog) and their theme for the year is "Are You Listening" based on 1 Samuel 3:9-10 "And Eli said to Samuel, "Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, "Speak LORD, for Your Servant is listening." So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Then the LORD came and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for Your servant is listening."
Jackie K and I left work at noon to meet up with Jackie F and Merrit, our car pool buddies so we could get up north early. Jackie K packed us the most delicious brown bag lunch ever! She said she was going for the club sandwich at Paradise bakery... yummo! We had a laughter filled safe, drive up north. This was the first time I have met Merrit who is just a hoot and we hit it off immediately!
I tried to write about all the sessions to share the message with you (my 3 blog readers lol) and to remember for myself later, but I just couldn't express the teaching the same way she did and really don't want to mess it up or say the the wrong thing. I would be a terrible devotional writer... but I will share the highlights that I brought home.
Sheila talked a little about fasting. This is something I really haven't thought much about in a long time. When I was LDS I remember having fast Sunday once a month, but I don't remember much else about it, except I was always hungry (remember I was teenager and baby Christian at that time). She talked about the experiences she has had with fasting and the wonderful blessings that come from it. I was amazed and terrified when she said her longest fast was 40 days! My first thought was, "HOW??? You would die!" Later I found out fasting doesn't have to be from everything it can mean anything from limiting your diet to just water raw fruits, vegetables and water to fasting from something like TV or FB. She said God usually guides her to know when to start/stop and what to fast from (like just a water diet or bread and water or fruits and veggies etc). When I got home on Sunday I was telling Kenny and my brother all about it and my brother said his church did that once. It was a 28 day fast and people chose something they loved, to fast from. There is a lot to it and I was really intrigued. I can't wait to study and learn more about the process and knowing what to fast from and for how long.
Also, she talked a lot about prayer and marriage, both of which I needed to hear. I am starting a prayer journal and am very excited about it. She encouraged us to look at what we have in our lives and decide the motivation for doing it.... that might be a tough one, but I am going to take baby steps and tackle it.
As my friend said, "I love it when the Lord lights a fire under you!" And man has He this weekend! I have a renewed thirst for the word and want to work on some relationships in my life with the people I love using the Bible as my guide.
Sheila talked a little about fasting. This is something I really haven't thought much about in a long time. When I was LDS I remember having fast Sunday once a month, but I don't remember much else about it, except I was always hungry (remember I was teenager and baby Christian at that time). She talked about the experiences she has had with fasting and the wonderful blessings that come from it. I was amazed and terrified when she said her longest fast was 40 days! My first thought was, "HOW??? You would die!" Later I found out fasting doesn't have to be from everything it can mean anything from limiting your diet to just water raw fruits, vegetables and water to fasting from something like TV or FB. She said God usually guides her to know when to start/stop and what to fast from (like just a water diet or bread and water or fruits and veggies etc). When I got home on Sunday I was telling Kenny and my brother all about it and my brother said his church did that once. It was a 28 day fast and people chose something they loved, to fast from. There is a lot to it and I was really intrigued. I can't wait to study and learn more about the process and knowing what to fast from and for how long.
Also, she talked a lot about prayer and marriage, both of which I needed to hear. I am starting a prayer journal and am very excited about it. She encouraged us to look at what we have in our lives and decide the motivation for doing it.... that might be a tough one, but I am going to take baby steps and tackle it.
As my friend said, "I love it when the Lord lights a fire under you!" And man has He this weekend! I have a renewed thirst for the word and want to work on some relationships in my life with the people I love using the Bible as my guide.
OOOH and it snowed!! It was so beautiful!! I tried to take pictures when it was snowing on us, but they didn't come out.
Saturday night
Sunday Morning
Jackie
Me
Merrit
Look at the snow blowing to my friends !
great photos- snow is so pretty
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