Hope Springs Eternal

Yesterday, the co-leaders of what was to have been our 2020 Women’s ACTS 4-day Retreat in April, met to catch-up. Obviously, our retreat didn’t happen, but we’re counting on a coast-is-clear later this year. We’re all still together in heart and spirit. Yes, I was disappointed about the six months of preparing for the retreat that didn’t happen, and I’ll admit I even shed a few tears. Amy’s son didn’t get to finish his last season of high school baseball and his graduation certainly didn’t look like the final year of high school as they had expected. Deb’s precious father passed away during this time after many trips back and forth to Houston to see him, but couldn’t because of the hospital’s COVID regulations. The funeral was on Facebook Live so we could ALL see the beauty of this Godly man who served with his whole being. Since we couldn’t go to Houston to celebrate his life with the family, we had this lovely stone made for her – perfect timing for Father’s Day.

Michelle brought us the other half of the wooden hearts that she gave us early on in quarantine, promising the other half when we’d see each other again. She didn’t disappoint. And, she made us laugh as she told us about the possums that made their home under their deck, who by the way can sure scream when her dogs got near. Here’s the aha about all these things that happened to us All these circumstances, that we’d like to blame on COVID-19, might have all happened anyway.

In the grand scheme of God’s ways, He is well aware of all our disappointments. I reminded us: “Thank God, for the hope we have in Him Who isn’t shaken by what is shaking us.” As I type this blog today, I think “Hope springs eternal!” I had to look that quote up to see where it came from. It turns out Alexander Pope, an 18th century English poet, wrote those wise words in "An Essay on Man".

But, does hope really spring eternal? Why do people continue to hope, even if there is no evidence indicating the outcome we desire will come to pass? May I say, unequivocally, that hope doesn’t just spring eternal, it finds its roots in an eternal place.
King Solomon wrote that God “has put eternity into man’s heart." (Ecclesiastes 3:11) That is why we cling to hope through tough times. Those who believe in God – just know. We know that God has something better in store for us. It’s that hope and trust that something good is going to happen.

We should never doubt that God is working many, many things out in our lives. Because hope springs eternal. Sometimes hope is hard to come by. Notice how the psalmist reminds himself to remember the good things God has done and to put his hope in God. We can do that, too! "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.” (Psalm 42:1-8) God doesn’t tell us everything about our future, nor do we understand the bliss we will experience in heaven; instead, our blessing for now is to have hope, including the hope of heaven that springs eternal.

HELP! I Need Hand & Heart Sanitizer

I was talking to my sis-in-law last night. They are in the professional, large-buildings (mostly banks) cleaning business with over a hundred employees working for them. Bless their hearts. They are also an “essential” business on the front lines. Because sanitizing standards are amped up, their employees are working double and triple the hours to get their jobs done as banks are requiring sanitizing three times a day.

She also told me about how God had given her the wisdom, even before the pandemic hit us here in the U.S., to order large quantities of toilet paper and disinfectant for their buildings. Wonder why I didn’t get that memo from God? I know He must be amused at us – panicking over not enough T.P., disinfectant and hand sanitizers. Among the items my cousins needed as I shopped for them yesterday, were disinfectant wipes and napkins. Nowhere to be found. I chuckled with another shopper as we viewed the paper goods aisle with no toilet paper, paper towels, or napkins. But, rest assured, if you want an Easter basket full of goodies for your kiddos, just go to the paper goods aisle and you’ll find plenty there!

I was needing hand sanitizer myself. I've had one tiny bottle that I've used faithfully when going outside my home. I’ve shopped online and store after store, but none is available. But, what a difference Spring-cleaning makes. I’ve been on a mission to get cabinets and closets cleaned out – endeavoring to make my “retreat” a successful venture of getting things done that I’ve put off as long as I could. In that quest, lo and behold, you can see in the picture here – a larger hand sanitizer bottle and several little ones. Up from the grave they arose! Hallelujah!

I know I'm wordy. I said all this to get to the point of today’s blog. See that big bottle. It is left over from an ACTS retreat that I served on a couple of years ago. We printed the labels for the hand sanitizers to be placed on our tables. The label included our retreat theme scripture: “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart.” Psalm 24:3-4. And St. Teresa of Calcutta’s quote: “A clean heart can see God, can speak to God, and can see the love of God in others.”

Yes, we are doing our best to have clean hands in these times. I wear gloves when I go to the grocery store and use hand sanitizer after. It’s an absolute must for us. But even more critical are those words on the bottle. "Clean hands and pure hearts." Those are the hands and hearts who know better than to only think about the purity of our external selves. Far greater – in the light of eternity – and in the light of letting our lights shine brighter than ever before, is what is in us that might "soil" the relationship we have with God. We do our best to keep our hands and hearts pure and clean because we want to please our Father so much. I’m thinking that we may need to apply some of His Holy sanitizer to our hearts that removes the bitterness, strife, anger, resentment, worry, fear. God's holy sanitizer cleans all those things away when we pray along with King David: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me!” Psalm 51:10

Clean hands. Pure heart. Dear Lord, please apply your Holy sanitizer to my life – inside and out, today!

Just Breathe!

I’m a doer. I like to be busy. Just sitting around is not my ideal. My project today is getting my master closet cleared out of unused clothes and organizing for spring and summer. But, this day, I break up my project to breathe. I leave my bunker to socially-reconnect with the great outdoors and my girls. How sweet it is! They take me along for their kayaking adventure on Lake Lewisville. It is a beautiful day to be outdoors. I take a long walk while they have their kayaking fun. Staci put her busy-day, full-of-projects, aside also because Alexia wants us to “breathe” with her. Thank you, Alexia, for the reminder to just breathe.

Then I go to their home where Staci leads her EMnation group for a teleconference on Zoom. It makes my day to see those beautiful faces and hearing Staci's message about our attitudes during these times, as well as hearing the blessings these people are experiencing right in the midst of this C-virus crisis. And, to encourage each other.

On Monday, my ACTS retreat team sisters connected via Zoom also. Our retreat was canceled, but, hopefully, we’ll be back on in the Fall. In the meantime, we’re staying connected though apart. It’s a great way to encourage and support each other. Thank you, Lord, for technology that affords us this kind of opportunity to join together from our separate spaces. If our world is going to be turned upside-down – what a great age for it to happen – when we have so much technology to keep us apprised of what’s going on. We’re even enjoying “going-to-church” from the comfort of our homes.

But, sometimes – even better – when we disconnect ourselves from technology and just BREATHE in God’s goodness. I started this blog with the word “breathe”! Typically, just breathing is taken for granted – amidst our daily challenges. Yes, we're remedied by calculated thinking and purposeful elimination of unnecessary stress. But, it is different with this uncalculated and abrupt change to our “normal”. We’ve never had to face these challenges that we’re facing right now. Homeschooling, business from home, church on-line, disconnected from friends and loved ones, depression from isolation or a loss of income. AND, not being able to go to our loved ones in a nursing home or hospital or traveling by air to be with one who is critically ill.

Maybe you’re one that is facing these challenges today. Maybe you are overwhelmed by this tumultuous storm and nothing anyone says to lift you up makes you feel better. Breathe, sweet friends, breathe. Inhale Jesus and His peace. Exhale the fears and worries and concerns. Erma Bombeck said, “Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but you get nowhere!” There’s always hope and peace found in the midst of our storms because of He Who is our peace-maker, the storms eradicator and the comfort provider.

There’s an old song that goes “Mama said there’d be days like this”, and Jesus agreed with Mama when He said in John 16:33 “In the world, you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” He knew we’d face hard times, storms that dump buckets of troubles on us. But He also knew that’s why He came to this earth in the first place. He came to give us an abundant life, went back to heaven and He is ever-interceding for us to the Father.(Hebrews 7:25) And, even better, He is right here with us to help us survive the winds and waves!

So, breathe, sweet friends, breathe! Go outside for a walk in nature. Listen to the birds chirping. It really does seem that they’re chirping louder. Or, is it I’m listening more? Breathe, dear friends, breathe today and let God be God for you.

Lost…..and May Never Be Found

A friend’s Facebook post said: “There are five things that you cannot recover in life:
The Stone...........after it's thrown,
The Word...............after it's said,
The Occasion......after it's missed,
The Time.............after it's gone.
A person...............after they die
I realize this so much now. Life is too short. As I get older I just want to live in peace and harmony and have joy because it can all be gone in an instant. Give love and forgive each other. For you don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”


Such true words, and great reminder of “living with no regrets”. I don’t want to say “I wish I hadn’t”, “I wish I didn’t” “If only….” I said that to myself as I was trimming my trees and bushes (4 large trash bags full). I looked at my bushes afterwards, pleased that they’re ready for stringing my Christmas lights on them. WHAT? Christmas? Already? Where did this year go? And, like my friend’s post said -- we can’t get that time back!

I’m going to keep that “no regrets” mindset. I’m purposing to pray each day and live by this scripture: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O God!” (Psalm 19:14) In fact, I’ve declared it as my new life scripture. I add my words to that scripture: ”also acceptable to my family, my friends and everyone I encounter in this day.” Words too quickly spoken can be regret “stones”. Please, Lord, keep a gate on my mouth and mind.

I made sure I was seizing the moments yesterday at Children’s Hospital. Patients went on a scavenger hunt throughout the hospital. At my Radiology station, I stamped their scavenger hunt cards and gave them a goody bag. I embraced the glow on those kiddos faces! No regrets! A contest was given for the hospital staff's best costumes. I loved my Radiology's team's great idea -- a ride at Six Flags!

Then, I made way to my "stomping grounds" in Tulsa. First order of “no regret” was celebrating Mom’s 97th birthday. Bonus was my great grand niece, Anna, was there and getting to love on her. Then to top off my day was staying at my besties' and capturing Sheila reading to her little angel granddaughter, Penelope. Be still my heart!

Tomorrow, I’ll be driving my beloved mentor, Sister Marie Pierre to our last First Weekend of November, Fall Retreat at Cherokee Lodge on Fort Gibson Lake. Oh, the memories of God showing off there with so many precius women who sat at the feet of Sister Pierre over the years, gleaning from her wisdom of serving God in practical Christian living.

After the retreat, I’ll head to Austin with my grands for a week or so. Some of life's greatest lessons come from firsthand experience. And those experiences teach us "living with regrets" or "living with NO regrets". The latter on that statement is truly the way to go. Believe me, I've known both. Those times we "miss it" are surely those times we learn from the most. Life is so short and making the most of everything we can when the opportunities arise, not only produces sweet memories, but it makes for deepening our relationships with each other.

Are you seizing those moments, minutes, days of YOUR life? We are here at this place, and this moment of time, for a specific purpose that God gave for only us to fulfill. Let's be done with just going with the flow....and let's live ALL IN! Let's look for those moments in this day that are over-the-top outrageous, once-in-a-lifetime moments, so that tomorrow, we'll look back and say, "I lived with no regrets!"

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.

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!

A Love-Fest Day With Jesus

My word for today is "Love-Fest" -- when two or more people indulge in expressing their love for each other in such a way that it never ends. It is the ultimate expression of deep, true love and respect for each other, usually manifested by an outburst of love expressions that make all involved feel warm, acknowledged and cared for.

Last Saturday, precious women from my church headed to Bowie, TX for a one day “get-away-with-God” retreat before we serve 40 women at our ACTS Retreat, March 15-18 and it turned out more glorious than could have been expected. There’s just something about women getting together for time away with God that sets the mood to be vulnerable and open to receive an outpouring of His love to His girls. The wonderful presenters of the retreat called the day "A LOVE-FEST Day With Jesus". Indeed, the definition above was proven to be true! Notice our "doo-rags"? We were heart-cleaning!

No wonder those gals in the Bible wanted to hang out with Jesus. He always seemed to have a little band of women with Him, and He embraced it. In so many places in this world, women are marginalized and ostracized – simply because they are women. If only our world used Jesus' example of how He loved and respected us. He "upset the apple cart" in His culture in the way He related to women. In Luke 8 we see there were women followers who traveled with Jesus and His 12 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.

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 He would rise as He promised. That flame never went out, and their faith was rewarded.

That's the way we felt, when, after a sweet time of unbridled openness to each other in small groups, we resumed altogether with candid moments of sharing, giving, encouraging and building each other up in the awareness of God's love for us.

Each of us felt that compassion and love from Jesus and we expressed our love back to him as we each wrote Him a love letter. We all poured our love out to Him -- He Who loves us unconditionally, without judgment or condemnation, and like the woman in the Bible who was caught in the act of adultery, He lovingly wraps His arms around us and says….”You can do better. Go sin no more.” No wonder our innermost love for Him poured out in our love letters.

I know it's absurd of me to think God ordered this LOVE-FEST day just for me, but I did. I like to think that I'm so special to Him, that He orders up special gifts and treats.....just for me. The Apostle John thought the same thing. Remember how he kept referring to himself as the "one that Jesus loved"? Those words are found six times in the Gospel of John. Sounds a little cocky, but, NO, he knew he was tight with his Master. Each and and every one of us can say that. "I am the one that Jesus loves," because He does. Today is another day when duty will call and this team will regroup and finish up our preparations for our upcoming big retreat and 80 women will come together for a weekend of encounters with Christ, but for this day, there was a special, loving, devoted group of servant-women that it was all about the "want to's," Our LOVE-FEST with Jesus will continue.

At the end of the retreat and we were saying our good-byes, I went to my car to load up to go home with my passengers and couldn’t find my keys. I realized, in my haste to get out of the down-pouring rain earlier in the morning, I must have dropped them on the floorboard when I was getting my umbrella. Fortunately, I carry AAA auto insurance and was able to call a locksmith. While waiting for him, I had one on one time with the hosts who, I learned that we have so much in common that pertains to our faith walk and we had mutual time of encouraging each other in the Lord. When I made it home, one of my gals that was a passenger going out called to check on me, and she, too, felt the same about the “interruption” as she had never been able to get to know her driver very well and she did on that trip home. Of course God would “work things for our good” because, after all, we had spent the day talking about His Son, writing love letters to His Son, and celebrating His goodness to us.

When I returned home and while I was basking in His love for me, I realized that daily, Jesus writes a love letters to me telling me “You’re my girl. I’m with you. I’m for you. I love you.” He gave us so many love letters in the Bible, and with each sunrise, each raindrop, each sweet smile and "I love you" from others to us, and even, each morning -- just waking up -- is His love letter to us. He says "I love you. I love you. I love you." When we make our Lord our highest priority, then EVERYDAY becomes a LOVE-FEST with Him.

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!

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.

The Ten Commandments and Peace

Day 274 of Photo Inspirations -- The 10 Commandments & Peace
Having spent the last 4 days at a beautiful retreat center in Luther, OK, and experiencing the peace of God in this away-from-it-all location, was beyond explanation.  Finding ourselves in many opportunities to "Be Still and Know....He is God" was exactly what we all needed to experience.   Most of us there, from young single women, to young mothers to more mature women,  live with daily opportunities to face conflict AND noise -- from careers, attending school, raising children, health and financial challenges, etc.  But, when there's an opportunity, like what we had over the last several days, to go to place of quiet and stillness, we have the incredible opportunity to refresh, restore, reconcile, and rejuvenate.

Before I left this "oasis" yesterday morning, I took these two photos -- the first being a beautiful statute of the Ten Commandments carved into marble stone.  And, then as we were driving out of the Retreat Center, this sign bade us farewell......"Go in Peace".

I thought about what we experienced during those 4 days -- peace, serenity, feeling in touch with God, hearing His voice, having MANY "aha" moments, seeing women experience life transformation, and it occurred to me......those 10 Commandments expressed how it's possible.

1.  You shall have no other gods before Me.
2.  You shall not make idols.
3.  You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4.  Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5.  Honor your father and your mother.
6,  You shall not murder.
7.  You shall not commit adultery.
8.  You shall not steal.
9.  You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.

I read this in our local newspaper:  "Last week, the Capitol Preservation Commission, following a ruling by the state Supreme Court and a district judge, ordered that the Ten Commandments monument be removed from the Capitol grounds by Oct. 12th."

Honestly, I don't get that those 10 Commandments could be so controversial, but nevertheless, for my part.....I live by them.  And, I'm so thankful that the blessings in my life are attributed to those "rules of conduct", God's laws, and keeping Him FIRST above all else.  Everyone is entitled to their own rules of conduct, but "As for me AND my house....we will serve the Lord".

Of course, leaving those grounds and seeing those words "Go in Peace" made perfect sense as to how we should live.  "Go in God's peace" that represents the greatest "system" for success -- principles that respect our fellow man -- principles that, if followed, guarantee a peaceful and abundant life.

And, by the way, it's possible to find a place of peace like that Retreat Center.....even if it's in the middle of a football game 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.  I KNOW!  I'm there right now!

Indescribable, Uncontainable, Amazing God

Day 259 of Photo Inspirations -- Indescribable, Uncontainable, Amazing God
For the last three months, I've been privileged to be part of a retreat team that is working diligently on an October special women's retreat.  Weekly, we meet for prayer, study of God's Word, and then it's "all hands on deck" -- to diligently work and prepare for the event.  What a joy it is to know that we will be getting to take other women to a place of "green pastures" -- to get away from EVERYTHING -- families, work, electronics, schedules, routines and "to do" lists -- to enter into a new or deeper relationship with Christ..  That happens when we go to that "Secret Place".  Psalms 91:1-2 "The one who lives in the shelter of the Most High, who rests in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “You are my refuge, my fortress, and my God in whom I trust!"

I'm baffled when I think that THE GOD of the universe is my loving Father and He knows me by name.  His arms are outstretched to me/us 24/7.  Shouldn't we be the most excited people on the planet because His arms outstretched means PARTY TIME.  The party begins when He is invited into the innermost recesses of our hearts and lives.  

I want my passion for God getting stronger and stronger, and my light to burn brighter and brighter, and a sweet way of doing that is to REFRESH and RECHARGE at a retreat (a place of refuge and restoration).   Some things with God are so personal, so intimate, that they cannot be described with words -- they can only be felt with the heart. This is how true intimacy with God is; we feel that no one else can really understand the special bond that we share with Him because it's altogether personal.  But I assure you of this -- that intimate place of relationship -- removes doubt, worry, concern, and fear consciousness and replaces it with "Savior" consciousness.

This describes my relationship with Christ. He has comforted me as I have cried.  He has directed me, taught me, reproved me, guided me and loved me.  Only God knows us perfectly and intimately. He understands our desires, motives, and thoughts. Nothing about us escapes His notice. In fact, God knows infinitely more about us than we will ever know about ourselves.  He not only knows all about us, but He will never forget us. He even keeps an account of the number of hairs on our heads.   God promises in Isaiah 49:16 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands."

Perhaps it's not possible for you to go to a physical retreat location to find Him, but you can find a "hiding place" or a "secret place" where you come to know the indescribable, uncontainable, all powerful, untameable, uncomparable, unchangeable -- AMAZING God...for yourself RIGHT NOW -- wherever you are.  His arms are outstretched to you.....and in case you haven't been told 'you are loved today', through me...He is telling you now.....'YOU ARE LOVED'!

I love this song by Chris Tomlin.  Maybe, right there at your computer or cell phone or iPad, you can find that secret place right now.  Listen and know HE IS AMAZING GOD who loves you so much!           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpLqAUJcUbo

Don't Give Up!

This precious, quiet, unassuming, yet amazingly talented woman is representative of what God does when it seems all hope is gone. A couple of years ago, her husband of 40+ years passed away after a long battle of cancer. As if that weren't enough to cause her to go the way of depression, sadness, mourning and dismay, just a couple of months later, her home in Mannford, OK burned to the ground, leaving her homeless, her quilting business destroyed and certain desire to give up.

What DOES someone do at times like that? Quit? Throw in the towel and be done with it all? Go to a place of retreat and hope that it's just a bad dream? Not on your life. This gal, Freda Gordon, did what I saw on a sign in her home yesterday. She turned the mess to a message, the test into a testimony, the trial into a triumph, and rather than being a victim.....she became a victor.

I took these photos at her home a couple of days ago. They are of this warrior woman who, not only started over from scratch, but was able to have her new home built, and now her quilting business is booming again. She has risen from the ashes and, if you could just know her, you'd see how she has replaced her garments of heaviness for garments of praise, joy and determination. She opened her quilt closet, and I saw many, many beautiful, handmade pieces of art that she handcrafted.

Doesn't that make us believe.....that whatever we're going through today -- that it's just temporary? Let's don't give up. Let's don't give in. Our mess, too, will be our testimony.....and our defining moment of the storm turning into a magnificent rainbow!