WOW!

That doesn't even begin to describe this past weekend for me.  I went on my church Women's retreat and it was so restful, relaxing, wonderful, spirit-filled, loving, friend-filled, and chocolate filled.  Let's see... where do I begin?

God did so many great things in my heart this weekend.  He stretched me, renewed me, forgave me, filled me, refreshed me, comforted me, inspired me, and used me.  The topic was Worship and the speaker, Elizabeth Murphy talked about Worship thru trusting, Worship thru resting, Worship thru Confession, and worship thru Belonging.  I was amazed at Elizabeth's ability to really paint a picture of the scripture scene and bring it to life in a way that speaks so loudly.  I loved the way she used her children to illustrate who God is.

Here are some take-aways or zingers as they were called that spoke to me on each of the topics:

Worship thru trusting:  The scripture she spoke from was John 2:1-11
Jesus is there waiting for me to invite him into the middle of my mess so that he can work miracles in my life.  I need to leave my problem with him and trust that he will work it out.  He will if I don't keep taking it back or telling him how I think he should solve my problem.  A practical idea that I loved was to write the idea down, pray over it, and then throw it way.  This gives me a visual of letting go of the problem.  God can handle anything, I just need to let him.  I like how she taught that worship is the opposite of worry.  We can't worship a God who can do anything and worry about our problems at the same time.  It's not to say my problems will go away, just that God is waiting for the opportunity to work miracles and do the unexpected in my life.  He might not work it out how I would like or when I'd like but however it works out will be perfect.   Another thing that I thought was so awesome was the phrase brim buddies.  It's not new to me, but inspired me to go to my close friends and ask them for help, and prayer and encouragement to help me trust God and give my mess over to him.

Worship thru Resting:  The scripture passage was Luke 10:38-42
Resting in God is attitude more than action.  It shows that I am choosing to believe that God is bigger than my mess or whatever is going on in my life at this moment.  Elizabeth talked about the word busyness and that the Chinese character for busyness are the characters for kill and soul together.  Busyness kills the soul.  I loved that picture.
Another thing she mentioned that really stuck out for me was that everyone is wounded.  We all have been hurt at one time in our life or another.  Some wounds are more obvious than others and some wounds have healed on the outside but the internal bleeding is still happening.  It's so important for me (for all of us) to take off my mask and be vulnerable.  This is where healing can begin and, who knows, maybe there is someone who needs to hear what I have gone through and I can be an encouragement.  We can all learn from each other.

Worship thru Confessing: The passage was Luke 7:36-50
The fact that Jesus has cancelled our debts was a great reminder to me.  No matter what I have done, he forgives me.  I'm his mess and he wants me just the way I am.  The speaker said, "comparison kills spiritual growth.  He wants me to bring my best along with my worst into his presence so that he can forgive me fill me with his love.   I gave my testimony well and  I spoke of how God has begun to bring me on this journey of forgiveness.  I was taken back by how many women could really understand all that I've been through, that they have been through similar things.  Giving my testimony was so freeing and I saw that for me Freedom was recurring theme through out this weekend.  Telling my story was a huge step in my healing.  After Elizabeth gave her talk we had a time of worship and I was filled with a feeling of worthiness in God's eyes.  That through Jesus' death and resurrection I am his and worthy or his love and forgiveness.  That he loves me and will never let me go.

The last talk was Worship thru Belonging: Elizabeth used John 4:1-42
Jesus pursues me right in the middle of my mess.  He wants me to confess my sins so that I can empty myself of me and He can fill me up with him.  He desires relationship with me, not for me to follow a checklist of rules.  I loved how Elizabeth talked about embracing our past.  That what I've been through has made me who I am.  She gave the illustration about a tea pot and how after use the tea begins to stain the inside of the teapot.  That's not a bad thing.  Those stains give a richness to each pot of tea that comes after.  She said the richness of the tea comes from the stains of the past.  What a beautiful image.