Reflections on Fall Retreat

It's crazy that it's already been almost a week since Fall Retreat and this is one of my first times to really sit down and attempt to reflect on the weekend. It was a mix of feelings, but overwhelmingly positive on a whole. I went into Fall Retreat more excited than even the previous year, because I knew this was my last one, after four years. It's wonderfully to see where the Lord has taken our ministry because it's so easy to lose sight of the fact that He has been so gracious to us. Sometimes we get so caught up in what we have to do next that we don't simply acknowledge his goodness which is in complete contrast to our own sin and insecurities.

That's what this weekend was a reminder of for me personally. And I didn't get enough physical rest (a testament to why I'm sick now), but the spiritual rest was exponential. There's something about getting away in the mountains, waking up early, finding a nice abandoned tree stump, and cracking open God's Word.

Psalm 37 particularly stuck out to me because it talks about the passage of time in a sense. A man is young and then he is old (In my terms that's 4 years), and yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken. This speaks to me reminding me that anxiety about my future whether it be jobs, relationship status, or anything is unfounded. God is good.

The recurring theme of surrendering continued coming back to me over the weekend as I prayed through, said allowed, and talked with close friends about my own insecurities that I need to continue to surrender. Another good reminder is that the Christian life is not about imitating, which I so often attempt and fail at, but it's much simpler than that. It's about letting the spirit inhabit you and make its home inside of you so you are so radically changed because the Gospel that it leads to massive side effects in your entire existence.

There were also some wonderful reminders about calling courtesy of Os Guinness, but really this weekend I was blessed with one on one time. One on one time with friends, praying, hearing testimonies, and just sharing meals together. But also vital one and one time with my Lord and Savior. I'm feeling refreshed, and in my worldly sickness, I somehow feel more alive.

All the Glory to Him.

Before, Now, and Yet to Come....

Before (2012)

Now (2015)