Gathered and Refreshed

Today is Five Minute Friday where a group of bloggers gather and free-write for five minutes. Today’s word …

Gather!

To the Christians in Rome, Paul wrote, “When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours,” (Romans 1:12).

This morning, small groups of women are gathering together, and traveling to Camp Tejas in Giddings, Texas, where they will gather with more women a little lather on. They will spend the weekend together at our church’s annual Ladies Retreat, worshiping the Lord and hearing a special message from Him.

Shared by a precious woman from our church, the theme of this year’s retreat is My Daily Desire: A Psalm 23 Relationship.  Doesn’t that sound yummy!!!

Instead of being with them, though, I’ll be at a Winterguard competition watching my girls spin. It’s one of those choices I made earlier this, and I don’t regret it for a moment. But I am praying for my friends who will be together this weekend.

I am praying for …

• Their safety as they travel to and from the retreat.
• That their time together would be refreshing! There is nothing like a sister in Christ to refresh your soul!

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. (Philemon 1:7 NIV)

• That they will be able to leave behind all the stuff they are carrying in their hearts and minds, so that they can be totally focused on the Lord—so they can be totally His this weekend.
• And that any hardness around their hearts would be melted and any obstacles in their mind would disappear … so that they can bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

My prayer is that the result of their gathering together this weekend, will be hearts and lives that are changed for His glory! Hearts that are renewed and refreshed, motivated for the ministry God has planned for them in the coming months.