A Little Band of Women Who Are Still Here and Not Done

Up until this weekend, I was in the throes of ramrodding a retreat in Tulsa for my beloved Sister Marie Pierre – now age 90. In this case, “ramrodding” meant connecting with many women who had attended one of her 40 years of retreats. Obviously, while I was going through the list, I found many who had gone on to be with the Lord, others who are dealing with a debilitating illness or have had recent surgeries, and others who are caring for very ill loved ones. My, oh my, how time changes the complexion of “The Way We Were and The Way We Are” today!

For as long as I can remember, this group of women is likened to the Bible sisters, Martha and Mary. We have been “doers AND lovers”. We DO love Jesus and others with all our hearts (they sure loved me in some of my toughest times) and we are women who are relentless in our faith AND faithfulness (serving in word and deed). But, this retreat reunion weekend was about being “Marys at the feet of Jesus and Sister Pierre.” Unquestionably, the expectations for our hearts and souls to be touched went way beyond what we had expected.

Sister Pierre, a living saint in our eyes, is a mentor, a brilliant Bible scholar, a stand-up comedian (she won’t admit to that one, but those of us in her realm of influence would tell you most comedians couldn’t hold a candle to her wit) and held an annual retreat in an off-the-beaten-path location for 40 years. She retired in 2013 which meant the retirement of our annual retreats. Just a little chat about our retreats sparked her to say: “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a retreat reunion?” That was all we needed to say “GAME ON!” We needed this refreshing. We needed the rekindling of who we are and who God intended us to be. We needed a “refresher” of God’s goodness and mercy and to remember how much we are loved, and in Sister Pierre’s words – how “unique and irreplaceable” we are.

This sweet, precious woman is hunched over as she pushes her walker up and down the halls of St. Joseph’s Monastery. Though her precious body bears the marks of age and osteoporosis, her mind is so sharp. I am always taken back in her presence – back to what an ultimate sacrifice, devotion, and commitment to Christ look like. How can anyone give up family, marriage, having children, enjoying the excitement of the world and all it affords to be such a fully committed, devoted follower of Christ? She did just that – as a young girl to this day. She incredibly models what sitting at the feet of Jesus looks like, but then getting up and going about telling others about Jesus as Mary Magdalene did.

We had the opportunity to share “retreat” memories. We remembered her “talks” that always encouraged and challenged us and then she’d send us outdoors by the lake and God’s creation to reflect on what she had spoken to us about. Of course, God met us in his creation and we’d come back in and share what we heard Him say to us. Being away from the hustle and bustle at home – to BEING present with God and each other. We felt loved and secure in our Father’s love.

I'm sure the women who followed Jesus felt the same way. If only our world used the example of Jesus and how He loved and respected women. In Luke 8 we see there was a band of women followers who traveled with Him and His disciples. Those women came from all walks of life and some had questionable backgrounds, but here’s the common thread – each of them experienced healing through their encounter with Christ.

The women that Jesus touched and loved is a mighty indicator of His love for us. The women at the foot of the cross and at the tomb held a tiny flame of faith. That flame of faith may have burned high, and it may have burned low, but the flame never went out, and their faith was rewarded. Our little band of retreat women celebrated that love He has for us. Our flame of faith, too, may burn high and it may burn low, but our flame never goes out because we have faith in His Word that “nothing is impossible with Him".

What BAND do you belong to? If you don’t have a group that lifts you higher, that is willing to run to the finish line with you, that encourages you to go the distance, that makes you better and gives you a good kick-in-the-place-you-sit-on every now and again, I urge you to find a BAND too. Being a little band of women or men….can certainly keep you going….especially when the going gets tough.

Just a Little Band of Women

In so many places in this world, women are so marginalized and ostracized – simply because they are women. If only our world used the example of Jesus and how He loved and respected us. He really "upset the apple cart" in His culture in the way He related to women. In Luke 8 we see there was a band of women followers who traveled with Jesus and His 12 motley crew of men disciples as He ministered all around Galilee. Those women came from all walks of life, they were single, married, and some had questionable backgrounds, but here’s the common thread – each of them experienced healing through their encounter with Christ. He loved them, taught them and could have cared less about what the pious religious folk thought.

I know God loves us all – after all, He gave all of us His only Son who paid the ultimate price for our wrongs. But, personally, I am keenly aware of His love for us girls. A couple of Sundays ago, the Gospel reading in Luke 7 was read – it tells the story of the woman (Mary Magdalene) and her alabaster flask of ointment that she bathed Jesus feet with. Jesus’ reply to her when Simon Peter “ostracized” her was “Your sins which are many, are forgiven. Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” To Simon, Jesus gave a scolding about his lack-luster attitude. And here’s the best part of the story…..Mary Magdalene went on to be the first to see our risen Lord, and then become the first evangelist. I'd say "that's some kind of love"! How fitting that on July 22nd, Pope Francis will elevate and honor "Saint" Mary Magdalene to having a Feast Day named after her.....just like the other disciples. Sincerely, we, women, can stand up and stand tall, knowing we are so deeply and profoundly loved by God. We really do matter to Him.

The little bands of women that Jesus touched and loved is a mighty indicator of His love for us. The women at the foot of the cross and at the tomb held a tiny flame of faith that He would rise as He promised. That flame of faith may have burned high, and it may have burned low, but the flame never went out, and their faith was rewarded.

That’s how I feel about the little band of women who meet at my home every Tuesday night (for almost 3 years now) to celebrate that love that He has for us. Like the women of the Bible, our flame of faith may burn high and it may burn low, but our flame never goes out and because we have faith in His Word that “nothing is impossible with Him”, He rewards us. We have had many answers to prayer – healings, marriages restored, families restored, spiritual growth, emotional healings, being able to forgive, seeing children come to know Christ, and, even, the birth of babies…..like this little angel girl, Ragan. For months, we prayed for Ragan’s mommy and daddy and Ragan is the evidence of “Nothing is impossible with God.” Just a little band of women – who encourage each other, pray for each other, cry with each other and laugh with each other – but all of us – holding hands together as we walk out this journey of faith. Ragan's two grandmothers (pictured here) have stood strong for precious Ragan.

What BAND do you belong to? If you don’t have a group that lifts you higher, that is willing to run to the finish line with you, that encourages you to go the distance, that makes you better and gives you a good kick-in-the-place-you-sit-on every now and again, I urge you to find a BAND too. Being a little band of women or men….can certainly keep you going….especially when the going gets tough. By the way, my little band of women....can sure ROCK OUT....after all our faith is built on THE ROCK!
#BandOfWomen #RockStars #NoLimitsLifeGroup #GodLovesUs

A Little Band of Women -- Ordinary to Extraordinary

Happy One Year Anniversary "No Limits Life Group"!

Who would have thought that when I felt God's nudge a year ago to start a Life Group in my home that I would have met some of the most remarkable women that sincerely realize, like Queen Esther, they are HERE on this earth, at this time, "for such a time as this". These are ordinary women who have experienced some of the most difficult tests, trials, disppointments, losses, and painful circumstances..... but with the help of our EXTRAORDINARY GOD, today, they are feisty, undaunted women on purpose and on assignment and they are using their past experiences as testimonies of God's amazing grace. Tonight, I loved hearing one say to another one "I use you as an example when I talk about perseverance. I say, 'If she can make it so can you.'" These women's families and friends have been positively impacted by their remarkable lives of faith-in-action. I, too, have seen them step up in boldness and courage when it comes to facing life head-on -- relentless in their attitude to never give up.

These women are just what THE DOCTOR ordered for me: they push me to study more, pray more, be accountable more, give more, receive more, celebrate more and live out my faith more -- so much so that week after week, seeing God's grace in action and seeing how He answers our prayers -- just almost knocks my socks off with awe and wonder of it all!

Indeed, there is NO LIMITS to what God can do with a little band of women who are completely surrendered to His will and ways.. Oh, there is telling....the Samaritan woman at the well who ran to town to tell about Christ, and Mary Magdalene -- running to tell about the resurrection of the Lord -- both of them women with "pasts", but running into an extraordinary God says.... we're in pretty good company.