The 2009 PEARLS retreat finally arrived! We had 21 ladies and two baby boys attend this year!
Once everyone found their room, we began our evening by filling our stomachs with great Chili, White Chili, and Chicken Noodle Soup with all the toppings and GREAT desserts! I can't think of a better way to begin:)
Our gathering time began with Felicia passing out packages of M&Ms (plain & peanut). Those who took plain later found out that they could only use 1 word to describe their self, while those with peanut M&Ms could use 5 words! Let's just say that it was hard for some to only say one word, while others had a hard time coming up with 5 words. It brought lots of laughter and warmed up the room (which you can tell by the pictures was a little chilly at first). During every session we spent some time in worship led by Heather H. & Stephanie. Thanks, ladies for taking care of the music.
Our speaker for the weekend was Wendy H. from Green Bay. Wendy's connection to RHC was partly through her son Peter who attended while he was in college. We were so excited to have Wendy come and share. She worked hard to study through the book (more than once), and did a great job expounding on some of the key topics. Wendy has a passion for studying the scriptures and teaching them to other women and it showed through the sessions she prepared. God used her words to share His truth to us.The first session came from Psalm 69 and she titled it "Portrait of a Woman Who Seeks God". She broke the Psalm into 7 different parts describing a woman of God.
1. She seeks God as her salvation.
2. She is hated without cause.
3. She confesses her sin.
4. She cares about the spiritual welfare of other believers.
5. She knows and depends on the character of God.
6. She trusts God to be just.
7. While yet in trouble, she anticipates the salvation of God and praises Him for it.
After Wendy painted that picture for us we took a break, changed into our Bible costumes, played some crazy games and carved pumpkins (Check out the book The Pumpkin Patch Parable for a great teaching tool of salvation).
Those who dressed up (back row L-R):Wendy (Pillar of salt), Joy (Woman who killed Sisera w/ a tent peg), Rachel (Plague of Frogs), Julie M. (Martha), Abbie (Roman Soldier), JeriAnn (Rainbow), Maggie (Angel), Heather H. (Mary, Martha, Ruth...any woman in the Bible), Juanita (Peter)
Front Row: Lori (black socks = sin, red pants =Christ's blood, white shirt=washed white as snow), Julie J. (new man), Felicia (Nehemiah), Stephanie (Angel), Rhonda (Queen Esther).
Others who were there: Julie H., Dani, Karen, Heather R., Ellie, Jenna, Sue
Our first game was to represent "Freshwater" and was a water guzzling relay! There was lots of cheering and the one team won hands down with more people.
Next, the ladies carved pumpkins and boy were they creative.
This group was the winning group with their "Freshwater" pumpkin. They carved the clouds and then used toothpicks to hold the seeds or "rain" into the pumpkin. Pretty creative!
As everyone was finishing up carving, the ladies had the opportunity to try "bowling with gourds" ...
and seed spitting.
After a fun night, some sat around and chatted for awhile, but eventually everyone was in bed shortly after midnight! We all needed some rest to be refreshed for the day!
Saturday dawned cold, cloudy and a little windy, but the sun did eventually shine. We began with session 2: Discussion group on Humility. We divided into small groups and read through Luke 18:9-14 which is the parable of the pharisee and the tax collector. This is a great passage on humility and pride, and verse 14 summarizes the end result well..."Everyone who exalts himself will be judged, but he who humbles himself will be justified."
Session 3 was a quiet time on Honesty and "Two coverings". Genesis 3:6-13 is the passage where Adam & Eve realize that they are naked and hide from God then lie to God. Wendy reminded us that when we are aware of our sin we often try to cover our faults and failures on our own. Through this passage we see man's inadequate attempt to cover sin and God's adequate covering (Jesus' death). We also read through Psalm 32:1-5 which is a writing of David where he tired to cover his sin by keeping silent and this only caused "wasting away". When he acknowledged it before God then he became blessed because his sin was covered.
Session 4 was on the Holiness of God from Psalm 99. Wendy divided it into 3 sections...
1. Worship our Holy God (1-5)
2. Relationship with God (6-8)
See Ephesians 1:1-8
3. Learn to reflect holiness in your conduct
See 1 Peter 1:14-16 * Read scriptures with a God-centered perspective not man centered.
We talked about the character or work of God and man's responsibility.
Our last session of the day was on the ministry of the Holy Spirit. John 16:7 says, "However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say, it is profitable-good, expedient, advantageous - for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you - into close fellowship with you. But if I go away, I will send Him to you - to be in close fellowship with you." Amplified Bible
We went through the definitions of the words that are used to describe the Holy Spirit and it was a great reminder that God promises us that He will never leave us or forsake us and that the Holy Spirit is that promise.
This blog doesn't even begin to touch the tip of the iceberg of what happened this weekend. Everyone came with their own problems and difficulties in life. God never promised that it would be easy to follow Him. God did promise that He would always be with us and He was there at the Freshwater Retreat! It is up to us to hold our cup under Him, The Source, and allow His love to overflow from us keeping us full and never drained of Him!
Thanks to Wendy for teaching and for her friend Rachel to drive her down from Green Bay! Thanks to Julie M. for all of the meal organizing and thank you to all who brought food! It was a great time and am looking forward to next year!
