Last Thursday, I embarked on a girl's trip to attend a 3 day ladies retreat in Navasota, Texas. Our darling friends from church had invited us to attend a Tres Dias weekend. Michael and I began to pray about this and felt like it was something we should experience. Michael went first a few weeks back with some guys from church and if you read my last entry, you KNOW how much I missed him!! So much that I thought my heart was going to burst, but what I didn't communicate was how he came home a changed man. His love for God and for me was renewed. I got to experience firsthand, a serving heart and grace in action. Thank you to all who were involved in this weekend! May you be blessed abundantly.
Well last weekend it was my turn to go with the ladies. The week leading up to it, I came down with the flu, strep, an ear infection, and serious loss of mobility in my neck! (Now the neck thing was funny, we did laugh at me being basically frozen in one direction!) I seriously thought I would not be able to attend. I mean really, WHO gets all that mess at the SAME TIME?!?!! Fortunately, "God is still in the healing business." He helped me get well in time to go. So the first night, we arrived at camp. We had to check in at the gate and I gave a fake name "Hello my name is Tyritha Jenkins" after a few minutes, the car BURST into laughter!! Thank you Kristy for an excellent practical joke and thank you Lesli for letting us come into the campgrounds!! Hee hee! It was a great ice breaker! We were whisked away to our cabins and then finally congregated again all standing around. Of course I went into giggle mode! I had the nervousness like when I left for college. Most days I'm a confident woman, but if you take me out of my first grade classroom or my living room, I'm not always this confident creature. Tammy, Kristy, and I giggled and anxiously awaited what was to come. We entered into a large conference room and sat down. One by one we introduced ourselves and became fast friends. My confidence grew as I became more familiar with the people who were surrounding me for the next 3 days. Now I have a bit of control issues. I must confess that I do not bode well with not knowing what our objectives will be and not knowing what will happen next. So God decided to have a little fun with that!!
For the next 72 hours he touched my heart and captured my full attention. We had 15 small talks/outbreak sessions, where we discussed different topics all focused on building a relationship with Christ. I was feeling great. I really was feeling good. The laughter was flowing, the songs were uplifting, and I was doing just "peachy". That was until, God reached right into my chest and grabbed my heart to see if I really accepted HIS GRACE. A condition of receiving His grace is full acceptance. The precious speaker spoke of God's healing grace and how He's still into the healing business, that's when I got angry. It's true, I got downright into a tizzy!!! I asked God why hadn't I been healed? As tears streamed down my face Jesus gently reminded me how He overcame. He still loves me and He may not have removed my infertility, but He's healed my broken, worrisome heart, and reminded me that I was worthy of His grace. Yes! I am beautiful and worthy of His grace. In this crazy world of rush, rush, rush. God took 72 hours to remind this silly, sinful girl that I'm still His. To think that 2,000 years ago He set this incredible plan in motion. He knew I would fail again and again. He knew I would be selfish, prideful, and lost in this world without Him. After experiencing this weekend, I'm praying that I will allow God to use me for His service. I want to show His love and grace. I think everyone deserves a chance of renewal with God. I'm so thankful He keeps pursuing me!!!
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| God keeps going to great lengths to pursue me! |
Following last weekend, we got another call about a possible adoption. Sweet Baby Kate needs our prayers. The darling guardians of this child want to remain an active part in her life and felt that we lived too far away for this to occur. I know God will answer this prayer. I will say it again, we're so grateful for the support of friends, family, and total strangers who've joined us in this journey. We are humbled by the love, acts of service, and generosity that's been poured out over us. We were going to end the shirts sells, but the requests just keep coming, so the link is back up and running! I currently have about 3-5 of every single size in stock, youth through adult. If by chance, I don't have your size, the printing process only takes about 2 weeks. You can expect it to arrive shortly.
Our Tres Dias weekend had a theme, it was from Jeremiah 29:11-13. I've loved this verse since my college roommate plastered it across our bathroom mirror! (Love you Kristen, K-10!!) I see it fitting to end this entry with this scripture. From the NLT version, "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."
I pray that you seek Him, Know Him, and Trust Him wholeheartedly! Love you all! Lareta
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| My darling co-workers |
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| Sweetie pie Laura |
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| Cuteness in a nutshell Clarkie |
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| My other sister Amy and sweet Taylor! |
