A retreat to remember.......it happened on Saturday. The theme was Outrageous Joy....and there Joy met us there. Jesus that is. There were awesome testimonies of God's touch on lives. That was the goal...or rather...the goal was what ever God wanted it to be....the people he wanted to send and the results he wanted to see. I trust His Spirit is still lingering on many today.
Because of a snow warning north of here, we changed our speaker's hotel reservation from the Radison in Merrillville to a quaint B&B in Rensselaer. As it turned out, the move wasn't necessary because of weather but, the owner of the B&B accepted Glenna's invitation to come to the retreat to hear her and her life was touched with new Holy Spirit energy. It was a beauiful thing to witness.
Two Catholic gals came to Glenna after day's end with tears streaming down their faces and their words were that they never really understood salvation before. What joy that turned out to be for those young ladies.
The Holy Spirit was busy that day. I could see it as I watched the dynamics. It all had so little to do with the beauty of the setting that our committee so tirelessly worked at creating. But yet, I think the beauty softens the heart so it is in a good state to listen and receive.
To God be the glory.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
It's Almost Time
This past Saturday, the 24th, our retreat team met again. It had been a few months since all members could attend. We have had more than one health trial among us. I could quickly say that Satan has been at work again but then, I would just as quickly confess that God has done a new work in me by my being down a total of about eight weeks. But health is returning on all fronts and we praise Him that our team was all in tact on Saturday morning.
Without giving away any secrets, I can say that God has been ahead of us again, as usual. Just about the time we need something that looks out of range financially, someone comes along and donates just what we are looking for. God is for sure the God who provides.
Ticket sales have started their last hurrah. Those who couldn't make an early decision are making their decision to join us for the day now. If you haven't purchased your ticket yet, it may be a good idea to do it sooner as later. The anticipation is rising. A short three weeks and this years retreat will be a reality. Come and learn how to enjoy outrageous joy.
Without giving away any secrets, I can say that God has been ahead of us again, as usual. Just about the time we need something that looks out of range financially, someone comes along and donates just what we are looking for. God is for sure the God who provides.
Ticket sales have started their last hurrah. Those who couldn't make an early decision are making their decision to join us for the day now. If you haven't purchased your ticket yet, it may be a good idea to do it sooner as later. The anticipation is rising. A short three weeks and this years retreat will be a reality. Come and learn how to enjoy outrageous joy.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The Latest Scoop
Our December 1st meeting was postponed a week due to the inability to attend of two people on our team. It doesn't feel good when all seven of us aren't there to make decisions. So Monday night we got together and talked through our plans. It is simply amazing how these plans come together. We can all sit twiddling our thumbs and suddenly God will spark an idea in someone's head and that springs up more ideas in the other gals.
The biggest decision of the evening was to change our menu. Yes, we did. We could not see the reality of getting our chosen menu ready for 400 + ladies. Somehow or another God has helped us feed many ladies out of a kitchen that has only two standard ovens. We laugh at ourselves when we think of the small facility in which our chefs work. Our guys are awesome. They are such troopers when it comes to getting the food ready and on the tables. So last evening, we made only a slight change and suddenly everything looked doable again.
The two gals to whom the responsibility of decorating falls, got some ideas last night that were significant. I think they are now ready to conquer.
We have sold 240 tickets which is more than in the past at this date. We would suggest getting your tickets purchased early. We all anticipate a big group this year and more importantly a great day of praising our God and enjoying each other.
The biggest decision of the evening was to change our menu. Yes, we did. We could not see the reality of getting our chosen menu ready for 400 + ladies. Somehow or another God has helped us feed many ladies out of a kitchen that has only two standard ovens. We laugh at ourselves when we think of the small facility in which our chefs work. Our guys are awesome. They are such troopers when it comes to getting the food ready and on the tables. So last evening, we made only a slight change and suddenly everything looked doable again.
The two gals to whom the responsibility of decorating falls, got some ideas last night that were significant. I think they are now ready to conquer.
We have sold 240 tickets which is more than in the past at this date. We would suggest getting your tickets purchased early. We all anticipate a big group this year and more importantly a great day of praising our God and enjoying each other.
Monday, November 24, 2008
December First...Important for Two Reasons
December first is fast approaching. It will be the last day that discounted retreat tickets are sold. There was a pile of envelopes waiting for me in my church mailbox yesterday. Anyone one who requested tickets and mailed a check have their tickets in the mail as of this afternoon. If you are interested in making a commitment this week, you will save five dollars per ticket.
Plans are unfolding for our big day together. The team has a big meeting planned for the first of
December. We hope to see that all our ducks are in a row. This is a big effort and extremely overwhelming but when we commit everything to God's will and wait on Him things are much easier. I need His peace right now as the responsibilities are mounting. Please pray for the members of the team that God would enlighten them to His will and lead them through each detail.
Plans are unfolding for our big day together. The team has a big meeting planned for the first of
December. We hope to see that all our ducks are in a row. This is a big effort and extremely overwhelming but when we commit everything to God's will and wait on Him things are much easier. I need His peace right now as the responsibilities are mounting. Please pray for the members of the team that God would enlighten them to His will and lead them through each detail.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
A Taste Testing Sensation
Last evening, October 27th, the team got together for our taste testing evening. Each year we decide on a menu and then prepare that menu and test it for satisfaction. We always wonder if what sounds good in words tastes good in real life. We were all pleased and will be happy to once again serve you an enjoyable meal.
While we are not a catering company and do not have the facilities that make our challenge easy, we still strive to make it all work. Preparation and serving over four hundred ladies is a big row to hoe. Now that we determined the taste is what we liked, we will work out the details of cooking the meal and serving it hot.
Our retreat has been blessed with a growth of attendees. We started with just over sixty ladies six years ago and now we are over the four hundred mark. The sheer numbers of people taxes our church's volunteer base, especially the numbers of men it takes to pull off the big day on February 21. We would be thrilled if men from other churches joined our efforts for that day. If you know a teen boy or man that would be willing to help please give us his name or refer him to us. The more hands available the less work for each.
We are well aware of the physical work it takes to wash as many dishes as we use. This year we put our heads together and prayed about what we could do to lighten the load for our invaluable male volunteers. We decided to bus our dirty dishes to the local public school, less than a block away, where they have a wonderful dish washing facility. We hope that decision will make the day flow easier in our kitchens and for our servers.
While we are not a catering company and do not have the facilities that make our challenge easy, we still strive to make it all work. Preparation and serving over four hundred ladies is a big row to hoe. Now that we determined the taste is what we liked, we will work out the details of cooking the meal and serving it hot.
Our retreat has been blessed with a growth of attendees. We started with just over sixty ladies six years ago and now we are over the four hundred mark. The sheer numbers of people taxes our church's volunteer base, especially the numbers of men it takes to pull off the big day on February 21. We would be thrilled if men from other churches joined our efforts for that day. If you know a teen boy or man that would be willing to help please give us his name or refer him to us. The more hands available the less work for each.
We are well aware of the physical work it takes to wash as many dishes as we use. This year we put our heads together and prayed about what we could do to lighten the load for our invaluable male volunteers. We decided to bus our dirty dishes to the local public school, less than a block away, where they have a wonderful dish washing facility. We hope that decision will make the day flow easier in our kitchens and for our servers.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
A Retreat for the Retreat Team
Your retreat team took a retreat yesterday to Long Grove, Illinois; an historic town filled with fru-fru girly kind of shops. We had a WONDERFUL time and got tons of ideas to make your day of retreat special. We are sooooo excited. We also had high tea at a true tea room which was lovely and elegant beyond compare. We were treated. It was a LONG day but a special one that we will remember for a long time. We praise God for his care and protection over us and also for the way he springs ideas in our heads when we are all together. We love God, each other and you and can't wait to share our big day together in February.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
JOY!
Joy; do you have it? Does it reign in you? Where do we go to grab some joy? Let’s see….the stock market doesn’t look good, the economy is sluggish, housing is not moving well, we will have a new president that we may or may not have faith in, violence is all around us, drugs and alcohol are abused at every turn…our youth are confused…..so where do we turn for joy?
One of the first things we need to determine is what joy really means. If it means total happiness…we may have difficulty in our quest for joy. “A good definition of Christian joy is that it is the flag that flies on the castle of our heart when the King is in residence”. (John Mc Arthur) We live in an environment on earth that is broken by sin in all areas of life. How then can we experience true joy in our lives? Our retreat verse says, “The joy of the Lord is our strength”.
Our retreat goal this year is to unravel what it means to have pure joy. God says in His word that it is something we can have. We will review the things that bring joy to our lives and see how they fit in with God’s definition of joy, We welcome you to join us on our search for understanding this wonderful state…..joy.
One of the first things we need to determine is what joy really means. If it means total happiness…we may have difficulty in our quest for joy. “A good definition of Christian joy is that it is the flag that flies on the castle of our heart when the King is in residence”. (John Mc Arthur) We live in an environment on earth that is broken by sin in all areas of life. How then can we experience true joy in our lives? Our retreat verse says, “The joy of the Lord is our strength”.
Our retreat goal this year is to unravel what it means to have pure joy. God says in His word that it is something we can have. We will review the things that bring joy to our lives and see how they fit in with God’s definition of joy, We welcome you to join us on our search for understanding this wonderful state…..joy.
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