Let-down is imminent after you've run a big retreat. You are nervous, anxious, worried about the details. And then the day comes. And, then it's over.
This last Saturday I ran our 2nd annual PresWIC (Women in the Church) Focus on Prayer day retreat for the 11 churches in our presbytery. We had about 47 women from seven of our churches plus individuals from other local churches. Women enjoyed a light breakfast followed by a time in the sanctuary with special speaker, Pat Moyer who shared with us the treasures we have in Jesus. She also shared about God's presence in her own life as she dealt with two daughters having cancer. Both are alive and well today, praise the Lord! I couldn't help tearing up. I have two girls too. I never want to go through what she did but God used that experience in so many ways and now she can share about it which is beautiful.
After the morning announcements, singing (which is so NOT my talent so I am eternally grateful for those with musical gifts), an offering for our annual WIC Love gift and announcements by our WASC leader (or Women's Advisory Sub-Committee leader – my "boss" in our PCA- Presbyterian Church of America – denomination -don't you love all the acronymns?!), women spread throughout the church to pray with the scripture and topics we gave them.
There is nothing more I love than to see individuals spread out in quiet prayer, in time alone with the Lord, hovered over their Bible – blessed as the Holy Spirit touches their hearts by a particular scripture or word of inspiration. I love to see it at youth retreats, women's retreats, any retreats and this day was no exception.
Lunch followed; after which I shared what the Lord has done in my life in the last couple of years. I'll have to share that in a post all by itself. I wanted to get it up before the weekend (as practice) but it was just too much to do. Several more women shared what they felt the Holy Spirit leading them to share and we broke out into group prayer by churches – letting individuals join the smaller churches. We praised God for who HE is, we silently confessed things that weren't right with God, we thanked God what He has done, and then we had a time of intercessory prayer when we could lift up our requests in Christ's name. I gave the ladies scripture to use if they needed it and we closed with the Lord's prayer. It was indeed lovely and moving.
Suddenly, we came to the last 1/2 hr. of the day, sang, listened to Pat wrap up the day and we were done. The cold I had been fighting off all day went full blown by the time I hit the bed at 4:30 PM. I didn't get up until 6:30 AM.
I am weary but filled with joy. Yes, one woman complained that we charged too much ($20 for breakfast, a notebook chock full of excellent materials on scripture & prayer w/ a journal included, lunch and a special speaker); yes, I didn't get in all the details on the recipient of the offering that I wanted to; yes, I probably spoke too fast; yes, I didn't let my friends know how much it would have meant to me for them to show and so most didn't and so I am sad about that; yes, I was frustrated when people called out sick; BUT, I do KNOW that God is working and women were truly blessed by the experience and it is my prayer that this event will grow and change lives and help women focus their eyes on Jesus through the year by beginning with a day dedicated to prayer. I know God is working and for that my heart can only be happy and let go of the negatives that threaten my spirit. I know this is worthwhile. It is a good thing and I was so blessed by those who did come to help make it happen. What prayer warriors we had — who inspired me immensely! I really can't ask for more.
Time to start planning for next year!
"I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His spirit in Your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you , being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Ephesians 3:16-19
(Upcoming: I will be sharing how God has been working and how I shared it at the retreat with the great object lesson I found to use. I will also be adding a post about going to see Lovely Bones in which I was hoping my daughter and I showed as background extras. I think I saw a brief flash of us in the mall but I will have to buy the DVD and pause it! The experience was still worth wondering and waiting! Movie was pretty good too.)
It sounds like a wonderful ladies retreat! You did a great job and shouldn't worry about the few little things that didn't get done or the crabby lady that was so ungracious to you! There's one in every crowd!
I'm soooooooooo excited about your girls being in a 4-H Club! This will be a wonderful experience for all of you, cleaning stalls included! I can't wait for you to post the pictures! Yes, they will learn if this is something they really want to do in the future. There is a whole lot more to it then just riding the horse. I know from which I speak, especially lately with all the horse problems we have had. Problems as in health issues. I always encourage anyone considering buying a horse to do what you are doing first to learn that horses have two ends and they both have to be attended to. lol! I love it, it's in my blood too, our family has always had horses so I come well by it. Good luck and enjoy!! PS Plan on buying lots of carrots!!