Fellowship, Faith and Feathers

  Tomorrow, many amazing women that I love and myself are heading up to South Lake Tahoe to our 2011 Ladies Retreat. I am looking forward to going for so many reasons. 

1. The location...just lovely. How can you NOT see God in His creation.
2. The women...beautiful ladies whom I cherish and am eager to spend time with, learn from and laugh with. (Oh we'll probably cry too..it is a retreat after all. What good is a retreat if it doesn't make you tear up a little.)
3. Freedom..from housework, cooking, thinking about bills, or laundry or children getting up in the middle of the night children, barking dogs..what-have-you. Though, I am thankful for all these things and will miss my family, a break is therapeutic. 
4. The fellowship and intimacy of time together spent in worship..which is, truly, one of my favorite parts. 
5. What the Lord is going to teach us this weekend. I ALWAYS hear His spirit in the words and testimonies shared. The theme is "Feathering Your Nest".
6. The Lord is giving me an opportunity to share, with the other ladies, what He is teaching me on Saturday night...My subtopic, "How Do You Feather Your Nest If You Feel Like You Are Molting?"

Ladies Retreat 2010

I covet your prayers...I pray for God's leading. 

I hope I don't flail...I pray for God's direction. 

I hope I don't get palpitations...I pray for God's strength..for courage. 

One of the verses I am sharing and what I am relying on:
2 Cor 12:9


'But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."


"Feathers are a bird’s most precious possession - beautiful and complex structures that give the gift of flight and insulate their bodies. However, after about a year, these delicate structures wear out. Even with careful preening, the feathers get frazzled and crimped from the wear and tear of ordinary activity." 
from All about Your Parrots Feathers.  

Fear Not

What is your response to fear? How do you deal with the heart pounding, head spinning, knee knocking sensation you feel when your body is spiked with adrenaline because you are afraid? Afraid because you heard a noise in the house, or because of that near accident in the car or because you've just stood up in front of a crowd to talk or perform, or you feel led to do something that you don't feel prepared to do. When you feel like your knees are going to shake right out from under your body and the tremor would register a 4.3 on the richter scale, your voice is filled with an unnatural vibrato because your rapidly beating heart has taken up residence in your throat and the perspiration could literally be wrung from your clothes..

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

This was the verse for today's Proverbs 31 ministries daily devotional today and it couldn't have come at a more perfect time. The context is so much bigger than anything going on my life at present. Joshua was being called by God to lead the Israelites into the promise land after Moses had passed away. I'm sure Joshua knew and saw first hand how difficult a task this could be as God's chosen people were impatient and forgetful of all the things the Lord had demonstrated to them. He probably saw Moses' frustration and faith and witnessed him die and not reach the Promise land that he had hoped for. If I were Joshua, I would be scared too, but God told him, NO really God COMMANDED him to be strong and courageous..not by his own might, but by God's power and provision. Our Lord can provide for us these things and yet it is our free will and choice to take that step in faith and trust HIM.

The Lord told him "Do not be afraid: do not be discouraged.." He knew Joshua's heart and saw his fear and reluctance..He saw any doubts that Joshua had in himself. God knows us too and his promises are the same for us..He commands us to not be afraid or discouraged in our walk with him or in our life's path AND HE PROMISES to be with us where ever we go. How that encourages me! And it should encourage you...!! The key is that you are going in a step of faith TOWARD where God is leading you..not if you decide to blow him off and do your own thing. The Lord will always be there for you, but he will allow you/I to seek out our selfish desires and reap the consequences of them, yet HE is ALWAYS there waiting to have us come home..(See parable of the Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-32)

Life is filled with many challenges and you can know without a doubt that if you are a follower of Jesus Christ then "trials and tribulations will come". Whether it's a persecution, an illness, a financial or a relationship struggle, or maybe it's the challenge of stepping out of your comfort zone to do something you don't feel capable, like Joshua. But be encouraged in knowing GOD knows you!! He sees you and knows all your/my doubts and fears and yet he says in a calm reassuring whisper into our ears and hearts..."Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”


Lord, my heart is full of fear and anxiety today. Please help my heart to hear your gentle words and believe them and step forth in faith trusting your leading, your presence and your provision. 
Thank you Lord for knowing me and seeing me especially when I feel unknown and invisible. Please help me to reject the enemies lies and trust you. Lord, I pray for your peace today..I love you. Thank you for loving me. 

Fillet of Soul

You ever just "put something out there" emotionally or intellectually and are left hearing only the sound of crickets? If you're a responder/emoter/talker like myself then this kind of scenario leaves you feeling open, empty and vulnerable and wanting to retract your words ASAP. Then, of course, you're mind races through what the receivers are thinking about you and if you're a "tad crazy" and maybe you are...but if your emotional "guts" are laying out there, you hope that someone "gets" you, understands and maybe even relishes in your openness because we all need to be heard and validated, don't we?  Not to say that everything we think, say or offer is valid but without that openness and honesty and sharing of ideas, where is the intimacy? How do we grow, get challenged and develop as people if we are not heard or hear others, for that matter. I pray that when I speak, I honor God in my words and that if I don't then those who love me well will tell me so, because they "get" me and know me and hear me and understand that this will encourage me to live, think and speak better. And I pray that I will listen and allow those around me to feel heard and understood.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.