Renewed and Refreshed

Retreat -- To Refresh and Renew
Yesterday, I returned from a 4-day women’s retreat in Chouteau, OK. Being on the Leadership Team and preparing for this retreat meant intentional two-times-a-week meeting and much diligence, focus and preparation by our team to give these women an event that had the potential of tremendously impacting their lives.
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Here’s the best part of the retreat. We unplugged from the world. No watches or phones. No distractions. Just all on-purpose to disconnect from all the busy, fast-paced, hustle and bustle of everyday life. Young moms, single gals, and mature women like me…who came to get away from it all to be on retreat.

What does retreat mean? If we were talking about an army, it could mean to withdraw from enemy forces....throw in the towel, so to speak. Contrary to that definition, for us, it is better defined as withdrawing from the routines of life to refresh, revitalize, and deepen our relationship with each other AND God. It was just beautiful how we stopped focusing on what's outside, to focus on what.....rather, WHO is on the inside.

I felt so connected with God and my sisters. Though we were from many various cultures, seasons of life, and responsibilities, we had one major thing in common, we are ALL daughters of the Most High God and we yearn for more of Him. I'll just betcha' God enjoys retreats as much as we do, especially when the common language is LOVE and hearing “God is good -- all the time. All the time -- God is good.”

Though we went away, "retreat" doesn't have to mean leaving town or going to a quiet setting somewhere. We CAN find rest in our lives and homes ANYWHERE though “being in a quiet place” sounds impossible?

When I typed the words ‘refresh’ and renew’ into my computer's search engine, I got a wide range of results, from instructions on how to refresh my computer's websites, to Dr. Oz’s nutrition ideas, to advertisements for health spas, face cream, and exercise regimes, to air fresheners, and even to a conference.

Here's how we can refresh and renew anytime, anywhere. Isaiah 40:29-31 gives us the assurance that God is involved intimately with our lives. “He gives power to the faint and strength to the powerless. They that wait for the Lord shall RENEW their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” His strength is available to us when we need it, to renew and refresh us. Psalm 119:114 "YOU ARE MY place of quiet RETREAT"

Being on a retreat doesn’t necessarily imply that we leave town and go to a quiet, off-the-beaten path, retreat center. It can mean, right where we are – right now – in the middle of our hectic and frenzied day – we just need to pause to retreat with our Lord who renews, refreshes, restores and even rejuvenates us enough that we can walk and run with new strength and determination.

You are a Thoroughbred. Run Your Race.

Each of us have our own assignment to fulfill and we were created, individually and uniquely, to run our OWN race.

We might think, "If I just had their good looks, or money, or their skills, or their talents -- I could be successful." Bottom line -- God's generous hand of blessing is on OUR lives -- for OUR personal, God-given assignments.

My granddaughter re-ignited my love for horses when she became an equestrian rider. Horses are such graceful and beautiful creatures. God made them for specific reasons -- providing transportation, pulling heavy loads, devoted companions to their owners, but, it staggers me when I hear about the ones (Thoroughbreds) that sold for over $16 million because of their racing abilities. They're known for their agility, speed and spirit. When they run, they wear blinders to keep their eyes focused straight ahead with no distractions from the other horses. They run their own race.

And, God created us as Thoroughbreds (bred from the best bloodline -- in His image and from His lineage). There's no need to compare ourselves with others. And the price He paid for us? His Son's very own life. And what do we do to repay all He's done for us? We just need to run our own race with sheer focus, determination, agility, speed and spirit -- undaunted by the distractions of others, obstacles and deterrents. Now let's giddy-up and RUN OUR RACE to the Finish Line -- it's the very least we can do -- after all -- we are Thoroughbreds!

"And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." Hebrews 12:1