I am blessed to serve on the steering committee for our church’s women’s retreat. I work with an amazing collection of godly women. This year’s retreat is rapidly approaching and I am in the throes of the preparation.
One thing I especially enjoy (in a sick and twisted way) is producing the retreat notebook. I love buying the crispest, whitest paper I can find at Office Depot and finding the perfect images to go with our theme. I spend hours (this is the twisted part – I’m a serious perfectionist when it comes to Publisher) getting the fonts just right and coordinating colors. A friend introduced me to Pixie which has opened up this amazing world of color matching.
Unfortunately the notebook is something that can only be done at the last minute as schedules are constantly changing and evolving and there is always something that needs to be adjusted near the end. This makes for a rather frantic time period for me. Thankfully I am a last minute kind of gal who thrives on a high pressure deadline.
I love being involved in the details of the retreat – knowing who is going to be in which cabin and what the speaker is sharing and what time we move from session to session, etc. It feels like I am part of some big grand secret. I am just thankful that I am not responsible for everything (or we would have a very interesting retreat).
If I’m not careful I spend all my energy working and worrying and preparing for the retreat and don’t save any time for readying my heart to hear from the Lord. The retreat is a wonderful time for fun fellowship with the women in the church but it is primarily an opportunity for me to learn more about God, to be challenged and convicted, encouraged and strengthened. I don’t want to run myself ragged before the retreat even begins or I have no energy left to meet with the Lord (I’ll be asleep). And so I am driven to my knees.
My prayer for the retreat…
Lord, quiet my heart as this special time approaches. Give me clarity in thinking as I finish up last minute details (and the list seems overwhelming at times). Help me to get enough sleep so I am rested and ready for a busy weekend. Speak to me in a powerful way through the women appointed to share. Let me be Your vessel. Help me to set aside my own desires and be directed by You. Teach me something new about who You are and what You want for my life. Fill my words with grace and encouragement as I walk among the other women. Meet me in my weaknesses, Lord, and fill me with Your strength. Help me in the areas where I am leading. As I think about the theme of the retreat, A Heart Transformed, I lift Paul’s words in Romans 12 up as a prayer.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will..
Kathy
Kathy – will be praying for you and your retreat.
Happy organizing! I LOVE planning big events like that. I am refreshed and rejuvenating from planning such things. I actually fall into some big slumps when I don’t have anything to organize.
Ooooh, I want to try and organise something like this for our small church. I have no idea where to start. I was even going to talk to the pastor about it today. Can you blog some ideas for me? How about ‘an idiots’ guide to organising a women’s retreat’?
I must ask Cynthia too!
Thanks for praying, De’Etta! It’s such a blessing to have people supporting and lifting you up in prayer. Our speaker’s prayer team left her messages all through the weekend, on her Blackberry, to say they were praying for her. Isn’t that awesome!!
Dorothy – let me think about this. I definitely have LOTS of thoughts and info (especially right now as we just finished). I think women’s retreats are wonderful. I definitely have a passion for connecting women in this way. I love the idea of an Idiot’s Guide to Planning a Retreat (hello, what a GREAT title). Are you SURE you weren’t nominated for funniest blog???!!!