In the Garden: Living Stones
Terry F. made a wonderful Prayer Garden at one corner of our meeting room. It was so beautiful and peaceful. There was a electric water fall in the one corner. These women are finding a take-home stone with the words, "In the Garden Living Stones, 2007 Ladies Retreat" on them.
This was our theme for our 21st annual ladies retreat at TLCC, on October 19-21. I was blessed to have my wonderful 17 year old "baby" go with me. Everyone would tell me how much I was blessed to have her with me. I truly was! Amber went with me one year but had a couple friends with her so it didn't feel the same. Breanna was with me most of the time (and was the only teenager there) while Amber was mostly with her friends. (I love you, Amber. You are my beautiful oldest daughter and I blessed to have you, too.)
There was one "incident" that happened on Sunday morning, which dampened the retreat a little bit. One person got hurt when we were throwing our palm sized stones (representing hurts and pain we have hung on to) into the lake (representing the ocean of God's love and forgiveness). God used it to bring more healing in the end, though! Praise His name.
Terry F. made a wonderful Prayer Garden at one corner of our meeting room. It was so beautiful and peaceful. There was a electric water fall in the one corner. These women are finding a take-home stone with the words, "In the Garden Living Stones, 2007 Ladies Retreat" on them.
Isn't she so beautiful?
On Saturday, we all brought a long-stemmed flower. Terry put them all into a bouquet. Katie brought the stuffed smiley flower. I thought Terry did a wonderful job incorporating it into the bouquet. We all are flowers in God's garden, beautiful by ourselves yet when we are put together for a purpose, we are more beautiful!Sunday morning, Doreen had us all pick a verse from "God's Garden" for us to read later. It was so amazing that so many of the verses the women chose spoke into something they were struggling with or dealing with. Breanna and I were no exception.
Breanna has struggled with feeling loved and accepted by God. Her verse was Deuteronomy 26:18, "And the Lord has declared to you this day that you are His people, His treasured possession as He promised, and that you are to keep all of His commands."
One woman was trying to release her over 21 year old son, who wasn't making the best choices, to God and not operate out of anxiety for him any longer. She hadn't called for almost 2 weeks but was still struggling with anxiety about it. Her verse was Isaiah 43:5, "Do not be afraid for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west."
Mine was Isaiah 40:28-29, "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." I have found that in my life, God has turned my greatest weakness into strength. I have been overcome with panic and anxiety many times in my life. Now God uses me to bring healing to others who are struggling with this disorder. There is nothing so great as being able to help others through what you've been through yourself.
Needless to say, lots of tears flowed that morning at the retreat!
Thank you, God, for all the blessings you have given me and for freeing me from the chains that have bound me for many years.
Breanna has struggled with feeling loved and accepted by God. Her verse was Deuteronomy 26:18, "And the Lord has declared to you this day that you are His people, His treasured possession as He promised, and that you are to keep all of His commands."
One woman was trying to release her over 21 year old son, who wasn't making the best choices, to God and not operate out of anxiety for him any longer. She hadn't called for almost 2 weeks but was still struggling with anxiety about it. Her verse was Isaiah 43:5, "Do not be afraid for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west."
Mine was Isaiah 40:28-29, "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." I have found that in my life, God has turned my greatest weakness into strength. I have been overcome with panic and anxiety many times in my life. Now God uses me to bring healing to others who are struggling with this disorder. There is nothing so great as being able to help others through what you've been through yourself.
Needless to say, lots of tears flowed that morning at the retreat!
Thank you, God, for all the blessings you have given me and for freeing me from the chains that have bound me for many years.
