Hi Ladies,
I'm sitting here this morning with my special mug of Viva with the heated Welcome Home rice heart on my chest, having eaten the all the cookies that were in my bag last night, and have placed the bath salts that were snuck in my room put away for a later good soaking and just finishing unpacking my suitcase, all the time I'm reliving this past weekend.
Reading over my journal and notes from all the stations I feel His presence once again. I wrote things that I don't even remember writing, like "when He seems silent think of the sound of the ocean, connect the sound to His presence." That simple line gives me now an incredible new picture! What stones did you throw in the pail? Leave them there my dear friends, let us continue to let Jesus carry these heavy burdens.
This is a prayer I wrote while in the Sensory room…"When I'm afraid or anxiety hits help me to remember to smell the lavender to bring me back to that place of knowing you are really in control. When I want to speak an discouraging word or speak when I'm angry or hurt, help me to taste the salt and remember how much better the chocolate tasted. When I'm tempted to hang onto a grudge or anger toward someone help me to remember the bitter taste and how that it didn't go down well at all. Help me to go the extra distance and offer encouragement to others and remember the cold water and how wonderful it felt going all the way down my throat. Just offer that drink to others! Then ending this whole experience with communion and remembering how Jesus paid the price for all of this. The wonder of his love and forgiveness to us all!
I think of so many of your stories, the cry of your hearts and openness to each other. This is community! Where we cry and laugh with each other, where we don't stand in judgement of each other where well....we no longer "fake the funk". You are all so precious and a gift to this world!
I hope you take advantage of this blog and encourage one another with it, share your struggles, prayer needs or even something goofy (not hard for many of you).
I love you all and look forward to seeing you on Wednesday nights!
Meg
I hope you take advantage of this blog and encourage one another with it, share your struggles, prayer needs or even something goofy (not hard for many of you).
I love you all and look forward to seeing you on Wednesday nights!
Meg
First, I would like to say that I love that we can all connect through the blog!!! what a fabulous idea. I went to the retreat seeking an answer about the custody battle that we have been in since Sept 2010. It has been the most tested time in our married life and also my walk with Jesus. I will tell you that I was pretty angry with Him because I needed an answer I did not receive. I yelled at Him and vented my frustrations, even lost my faith for a second yesterday. At 8:22 last night, my ex husband accepted my proposal and the papers are in the works and will be done as soon as I find someone to look them over. THANK YOU JESUS!!!! To all of you, thank you for supporting me through this Season of Yuck is what I will call it from now on. You are truly the best. I love you. Tanya
ReplyDeleteHey Tanya,
ReplyDeleteThis is fabulous news! I know this has been a major, major ordeal in your life. Thanks you Jesus!!!
I find it interesting that several made similar comments, "I thought I was coming to the retreat and would get an answer to my situation, instead I found I just needed to learn to be in His presence."
If we seek His presence to just get "the answers" then praise Him and move on, we would all turn into spoiled children with no Godly character. Instead it's learning that His presence is our refuge, our haven from the storm even when the answer isn't visible. Our loving Father still has the answer and knows best the course for each of us, then the day does come where the answer appears, maybe suddenly, maybe gradually but it does happen. Am I any more secure or loved now that the answer came then before it happened? Of course not! You are loved today and are secure in His presence today.
That is where I'm at ladies, I kept my lavender in my pocket all day yesterday and continue today to seek His presence.
This is the pearl of great price, are you willing to pay up?
Living in His Grace,
Meg