We Stood on Holy Ground

Having spent the last 4 days at Camp Copass in Denton, TX with 79 beautiful “sisters in Christ” and experiencing God's peace in this away-from-it-all location, was what God ordered for us. I knew we were on HOLY GROUND when we arrived at the campus and this sign welcomed us: SHOW ME YOUR WAYS O LORD, Psalm 25:4. That is why we went there in the first place.

My word for today is: Holy Ground -- sacred grounds or areas; it is not necessarily that the ground, itself, is holy, rather, it is the presence of the Holy God that makes it holy.

That is why we went to Camp Copass – to be in the presence of our Holy God and come to know His ways even more. Finding ourselves in many occasions to see AND hear God’s ways enveloped us in His tangible love through “sisterhood”.

We often sign our emails or other notes as YSIC. One of the retreatants asked "What does YSIC mean?" It means "Your Sister in Christ". After all we are God's daughters and when His daughters get together, we are Sisters in Christ. We were single and married, young mothers and more mature mothers -- all living with daily opportunities to face conflict AND noise, who needed a break and refreshing, -- from careers, family dynamics, attending school, raising children, health, relational, and financial challenges, etc. And, in this place of quiet and stillness, we had the incredible opportunity to refresh, restore, and rejuvenate.

Serving as a one of the 39 team members and preparing for this retreat meant weekly meetings for 3-1/2 months , plus much study and prayer, and diligence to give those 40 retreatants a HOLY GROUND experience that had the potential of tremendously impacting their lives. Every time we met, we knew we were on HOLY GROUND, as we fellowshipped, prayed for each other and for the retreatants. Our Mission was accomplished – based on the many testimonies of those precious women who left this weekend transformed.

Here’s the best part of the retreat. We disconnected from the busy, fast-paced, hustle and bustle of everyday life. What does retreat mean? With an army, it means to withdraw from enemy forces, and maybe that army looks like the forces the enemy of our soul uses when we’re stressed, overloaded, under-appreciated, and facing fears and challenges. For us, “retreat” is better defined as withdrawing from the routines of life to go to a place of refreshment and revitalization, being able to rekindle and deepen our relationship with God. We get to leave behind usual distractions we all face, to have our faith deepened. as we look inward to the HOLY GROUNDS of God in our lives.

Before I left this HOLY GROUND yesterday morning, I took the time to drive around the campus and capture photos of this camp’s “rules for success”, God’s tools from His toolbox (His Word) and His faithful promises to us. Wherever we are – not just at a camp where the signs appear, but anywhere we will be standing on HOLY GROUND – because He is Emmanuel – God with us – and where He is, holy. Our homes, our places of work, our children’s school, the grocery store and the gas station. All are places where the Spirit of God is, because we show up at all those places – and, then, SO DOES HE! In our hearts and minds, we can "check-out" of the routine and experience HOLY GROUNDS -- any time and in any place. He'll meet us there. I KNOW! I'm there right now!

With God, Nothing is Impossible

We knew we were on holy ground when we saw these three crosses and sign at Camp Copass in Denton, TX. Having spent the last 4 days at their beautiful retreat center, facilities and grounds, and experiencing the peace of God in this away-from-it-all location, is beyond adequate explanation. Finding ourselves in many opportunities to "Be still and know....He is God" was exactly what we all needed AND experienced. Most of us, from young single women, to young mothers and more mature women, have daily opportunities to face and cope with conflict AND noise -- in our careers, raising children, health and financial challenges, relationships and daily routines.

But, we found the answer to refreshing, restoring, reconciling and rejuvenating is when we have the opportunity to go to place of quiet and stillness, focusing on our relationship with Jesus Christ, THE ONE who looked at His disciples and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26 -- words on the sign that welcomed us.

The 3rd photo here is my sweet roommate and I. The other photo is some of my "besties" at the retreat. I didn't know these women before, but I knew I had to set aside any hesitations about being a "newbie" and be willing to cultivate new friendships. Spending four days in the presence of God as a tight-knit little group among 79 women in attendance, made for life-time memories and bonding. My desire to meet and know many new Christian women was fulfilled. Mission accomplished.

I came home yesterday and thought about what we experienced during those 4 days -- peace, serenity, feeling in touch with God and hearing His voice, having MANY "aha" moments, seeing women experience life transformation, and it occurred to me "with God, nothing is impossible" -- especially when we put ourselves out there to take bold steps of faith, trusting He is leading and directing the way.

Maybe you can't get away to a physical retreat location, but it's possible to find a place of peace like we found at Camp Copass in our every-day of life -- even if it's in the middle of a football game (I needed that peace last night when my Dallas Cowboys lost yet another game -- LOL!) or cleaning house with kids playing Nerf War games. In our hearts and minds, we can "check-out" of the routine and experience that "peace that passes understanding". Going to Him Who is our PRINCE OF PEACE -- anywhere and anytime -- we'll find Him there. After all, "With God -- nothing is impossible"! I KNOW! I'm there right now!