I'm back and the retreat was good! Very powerful and challenging messages were given. Definitely wasn't any "feel good" stuff. A lot of TRUTH! Our speaker used the story of Abagail (1 Samuel 25). If you have never read the story before or maybe it's been a long time I encourage you to read it again. Some changes are going to have to take place with me. She spoke about being women of "dignity and strength". Inner strength that comes from knowing God intimately.
I discovered
after looking over the retreat contract that I made a huge blunder. I had
told them we wouldn't be eating dinner Friday night! What was I thinking?!
We always eat dinner on Friday night. I called and explained my
goof up. I was told the truck had already run for the cafeteria so
they probably wouldn't have enough food for dinner. I'm thinking "how am I
going to get a hold of 25 women to tell them to eat before they
come?!! Then the Retreat Rep told me they could provide me with sandwiches
in our cabin. "That's great!"
The pastor's
wife loaded up the key board, music books and stand to take in her car Friday
night. I realized we didn't have a microphone stand so go into the sanctuary to
get it. While there I ran into the preacher's daughter who came to pick up a
hand drum to take. I asked her if she was bringing her guitar. She said
"yeah, but you better bring yours too!" Up until that point I hadn't
planned on bringing mine.
I leave the
office and had several errands to run. I had hoped to have everything done so
all I had to do was pack and go but that of course didn't happen. Vanessa left
me a note when she left that morning to go to the Dallas Market to take her
check to the bank. Then while I was at work Keannon called me to go pickup his
insurance check as he went with Vanessa to Dallas. Then I had my own banking to do!
When I get to the insurance office to pickup the check for Keannon, the
insurance agent wasn't there. Sorry Keannon, I tried!
I finally
make it home, grab some lunch and then start loading up stuff. I didn't have
all that much personal items but needed to take my Karaoke machine to use for
taping the messages and my guitar.
Later that
afternoon I arrive at the retreat center with two passengers. My
friend Kelly and the woman Sherri who had all the foot trouble last summer. We
eat our wonderful turkey and ham sandwiches on croissants with tea, chips and
cookies for dessert. Not bad! We sat around and visited. We didn't plan to start
until 7pm to allow women who had to work time to arrive. The guest speaker
hadn't arrived yet. We were beginning to get concerned as the guest usually
arrive early. She finally shows around 7:30pm. Our pastor's wife who had the
key board and music books hadn't shown up either but then we knew she would be
delayed in coming. Nancy, the woman over our Ladies Ministry said she wanted to
get started. Well, Karen (our pastor's wife - who had the keyboard) was
supposed to lead but she wasn't there yet. Perri (the pastor's daughter - who
plays guitar) and I both tune up. Suzan, our other worship leader played the
hand drum. None of us had any plan for where to start so Perri and I started
playing a two chord progression and began singing whatever God laid on our hearts.
It was really cool! All the ladies joined in singing to the Lord. I started
getting some songs (bear in mind we had no music books so I was trying to remember
songs I knew the chords to!) I got my com-padres attention and we were off! We
had a great time worshiping the Lord. It helps when that's what everyone is
gathered there to do! I just find it funny that I ended up leading worship when
I almost didn't take my guitar!
My friend
Kelly in the doorway to the room we slept in!
More
tomorrow....good night!
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