Ladies Retreat 2013 - Come Away My Beloved Highlights Video

This was our 3rd annual ladies retreat and what a blessed time it was!

Our Retreat Theme was  

"Come let us REASON together"

“Come now, and let us reason together,”

Says the Lord,

“Though your sins are as scarlet,

They will be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool."

Isaiah 1:18

48 ladies gathered for the weekend at Inspiration Center - a new location for us.  Together we laughed, cried, worshiped, listened to teachings, shared struggles and praises, made new friends and grew closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Here is a glimpse of our time together:

Ladies Retreat 2013 from amy breuscher on Vimeo.

Changing Face

I told my husband that I don't remember having smiled so many days in a row. . . .in fact, it feel like the muscles in my face are needing to adjust to a new way of life.     

Want to hear about it?

Back in October, I was very reluctant to say "yes" to going to our church's ladies' retreat.  Once I  got there, I told some of the women that I was there because I wanted to ask God what was blocking me from the peace and joy that God offers through Jesus Christ.    A brand new friend said, "I have heard counsel that says: we hold our own chains."  Hmmmmmm. Food for thought.    

    So, off I went listening and waiting for what God would teach me.  

Saturday night I was still troubled.  We were given an opportunity to be quiet with God before communion.  I told God that I needed to hear from Him.  He showed me that I needed to repent...

not just confess, but confess and TURN, from unbelief of His Word. 

He also showed me resentment of two people in my life, and fear of a private situation.   Sick of my fearful, anxious life, I stayed in God's presence until I felt God and I  were done talking.  One of the ladies noticed I was struggling and came up and prayed with me.   After that, I went to two of the retreat leadership team and asked them to pray for me.  I was resisting praying because I knew my failure rate.  I was so sick of failure.  I didn't want to fail again.  Immediately as I said that, I pictured Peter sinking in the water because He didn't look at Jesus.  So I turned from that thought to TRUST.

"Looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher of my faith."( Heb. 12:2)  

It is by HIS GRACE we stand.  It is not in trying on our own.  I confessed my unbelief and my resentment.  I was free from that sin. FORGIVEN.   But my feelings had not caught up yet.   I was drained from the process, yet knew I had obeyed the Lord.

As I walked away to my room, a song from a long time ago came to mind;

Gaither Vocal Band     

"I'm free of the fear of tomorrow.

I'm free from the guilt of my past.

I've traded my shackles for a glorious song

I'm free, PRAISE THE LORD, free at last."

I hadn't thought about that song in a very long time, and here, God was ministering TRUTH to my need.

SO WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I WENT HOME??

     I turned the next page of my daily verse calendar, and GUESS WHAT IT WAS?

Psalm 34:4-5   

"I sought the Lord and HE ANSWERED ME

and delivered me from all my fears.

Those to look to Him are radiant and their faces

are never covered with shame."

He answered me.  My Lord answered me.  People don't always answer me, and people let me down, but my God ANSWERED ME!  I caught myself smiling. My face WAS radiant. My face was changing!  I stayed on the retreat HIGH for about a week.

 Then testing came.   One of my fears is of traveling, due to bad memories that I have. I'm not talking a little fear. I am talking TRAUMATIC type of fear.  My husband and I were going go on a date to a concert at a church in Rockford.  I didn't feel strong, and felt the pull to go into old patterns of avoiding the situation and hiding at home.   But God helped me recognize that. I was able to be determined that God would be with me.  I chose to trust His Word.   Things went fine until we were on the outskirts of Rockford.  A bad memory from high school flitted through my mind.  I burst out and SHOUTED: 

I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.........

(that verse I quoted above.)

And  BOOM, the fear was gone and I enjoyed the concert.

THEN GUESS WHAT HAPPENED?

The very last song of the concert, the quartet sang:

"I'm free from the fear of tomorrow

I'm free from the guilt of the past....."

The very same song that came to mind after I prayed at retreat.

I sobbed in worship.  Wasn't that just the sweetest thing that the Lord would give that me that song at that moment?  I AM FREE........because of who JESUS is.

I am learning more and more, the POWER of God's Word.  Life brings me daily challenges to re-make my lifestyle into one of a trusting woman. I'm still in FIRST GRADE (maybe passed kindergarten?) I may need you to remind me of what GOD'S TRUTH is at times.   

I want to shine God's Light to you too.

Hugs to you all. 

Celia 

I can't believe workers these days.... How rude.

I was just getting ready to write an article on the blog about judging. 

Even had a title picked out.

"Before you judge me"

That one will come later.  

Why? 

'Cause God just convicted me - of doing exactly what I wanted to write about!

My husband and I were headed back to Menards to return a water heater.  

We pull up to the little hut in the service yard.  This is where you check in with the attendant before you are allowed to enter.  The employee is a woman.  She appears to be talking on her cell phone.  I hate that.  I love what we can do with them but I HATE how rude these devices have made us.  She is getting paid to WORK after all.

So begins my immediate harsh judging.  "If workers would WORK instead of talking on their phones ...."  I can't remember if this was my thought or if I actually said it aloud to my husband.

 "Just a minute Carol.."  She sets the phone down and heads over to our truck window.  Terry hands her the receipt and she says, "sorry about that, I am juggling being a mom and working at the same time."  

Ouch. 

This a a real woman with a real story.

Tears filled my eyes as I realized what a jerk I was in my heart.

We took care of our business and headed back out.

As she waved us on, Terry overhead some of her conversation.

"I will call dispatch and come down and handle it myself...."

Now I really felt convicted.

I condemned her before I knew her.

I chose judgment instead of grace.

We have been under a Lot of stress lately.  

And my hormones are not on my side right now.

And....

Really?

 I don't see anywhere in the bible where God says, "you don 't have to love one another today ~ your needs come above everyone else's."

I do know that Philippians 2:4 tells me

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, 

but also for the interests of others. 

Forgive me Father for I have sinned.

Again.

Please help me to see others as You see them.  

To love them and give them grace.

Because it is by Your Grace that I have been saved.

Jesus Paid It All

Last Sunday several of us "retreat" ladies sang "Jesus Paid It All" at church. 

The chorus of the song repeats our verse from the weekend.

'Cause Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow.

We wanted to praise God for what He did for us, 

in us, 

and through us during the retreat weekend!

We also want to encourage all ladies to join us at next year's retreat.  

            Women came for several reasons:

               ~ to grow in their relationship with God

               ~ to fellowship with other Christian women

               ~ to get away from the daily grind

               ~ to get connected with other ladies, meet new sisters in Christ

In one weekend God can do Mighty work!

Please join us next year!

Ladies Retreat 2014 at Inspiration Ministries Retreat Center in Walworth, WI 

(same place)

 October 3rd-5th.

Harvest Weekend-Field of Souls

Women / girls Luncheon 12:30 pm November 2

A special lunch will be provided for you and this year there is a kids plate!

Please sign up at the Welcome Center and join us for a time of fun, food and fellowship on Saturday, Nov. 2 

Hear from two of our missionaries:

Yvonne Heinbaugh (Alaska)

& 

Nicole Wilcox (Madison campus)

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.  Matthew 28:19-20 NASB

"Come Away My Beloved"

 

What a privilege it has been to help plan the past two ladies retreats with Monroe Bible Church.  To watch each lady walk away with something special just for them is humbling.  It is the perfect reminder that our God is the God of details!  He cares about each little jot and tittle that applies to your life and to mine.  My favorite part of retreat has been the coming home.  The times when you run into a sister on Sunday morning and God is STILL using that time away to encourage and change her.  Those 2 days away can impact your entire year.  Read on to hear what one precious sister has to say about the changes He's making in her.

"I have so wanted to tell you and the other ladies how thankful I am that you planned that first retreat.  I am so grateful, thankful, and just plain in awe that God works the way He does.  That I was chosen to be there, to experience His healing power, to have the opportunity to grow my relationship with Him, to have a slight glimpse of what He has in store for me.  I know I am getting hormonal at this stage of life - but it really does bring tears to my eyes when I look back and KNOW what a change HE made in me since that first retreat. Depression used to be a common thing in my life, now I have to search out and ask 'when did it hit me last?'.  Oh, it is still there in small bits (ever so small), perhaps because HE has equipped me to fight it - whether the Spirit does it without me knowing, or just by what has become a natural response of claiming Scripture and TRUTH when the enemy comes calling in my ear.  

What started over a year ago at the first retreat has just grown - and much of it because of you ladies who prayed and listened to The Lord.  I think back on Jennifer's teaching time with us - getting us to be quiet with Him. That followed up this year with Bev's devotions and teaching on the same subject.  Add to that the AWESOME devotional - Jesus Calling.  That book alone has led me to many great studies in His Word and the daily reminder of spending time with Him. Slowing down and putting Him first.  All simple truths, but when you feel like you finally GET IT - you just want to explode with joy and excitement.  Because when you are RIGHT with Jesus - ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.  

Anyways - just wanted to share that with YOU!!"

 Join us at the retreat and see what God has in store for you!

Preach It Sister

We've began the first week of our Summer Bible Study at MBC.  It is really exciting to think that over 100 ladies are gathered each Wednesday
to study God's Word.

Last Wednesday was just the beginning.........among the many things we did, we watched the first video session in the series: Anointed, Transformed, and Redeemed; A Study of David.

Priscilla Shirer led off the first session and she PREACHED THE WORD!  What a way to start us out.  She really got our minds and hearts pumped to learn all we can.  

Among her many points she nailed home....she had a quote of the night that talked about who God is and how He provides. So many of our ladies asked for the quote so I've included it here.

May God continue His work in us and through us!


Priscilla says,

He Is…..
The First and the Last
The Beginning and the end
The keeper of creation
The creator of all
He’s the architect of the universe
And the manager of all time

He always was, always is and always will be.
Unmoved, unchanged, undefeated and never undone

He was bruised but brought healing,
He was pierced but eased pain,
He was persecuted but brought freedom
He was dead and brings life
He is risen to bring power
And he reigns to bring peace

The world can’t understand Him
Armies can’t defeat Him
Schools can’t explain Him
And leaders, they can’t ignore Him

Harod couldn’t kill Him
Nero couldn’t crush Him
The new age cannot replace Him
And Oprah cannot explain Him away

He IS Life,
HE IS Love,
HE IS Longevity and He IS The LORD
HE IS Goodness, kindness, faithfulness

And HE IS GOD
HE IS holy and righteous
and powerful and pure

His ways are right,
His word eternal
His will unchanging
And His mind is on us

He is our savior, our guide,
Our peace, our joy, our comfort
Our Lord and He rules our lives,

I serve Him because His bond is love
His yoke is easy His burden is light
And His goal for us is abundant life.

I follow Him because,
He Is the wisdom of the wise
The power of the powerful
The ancient of days, the ruler of rulers,
The leader of all leaders,
His goal is a relationship with me

He will never leave you, never forsake you
Never mislead you, never forget you,
Never overlook you and
Never cancel your appointment is His appointment book.

When you fall He’ll lift you up,
When you fail He will forgive you.
When you're weak He’s strong,
When you're lost He’s your way
When you're afraid He is your courage,
When you stumble He will steady you,
When you're hurt He Is going to heal you,
When you're broken He will mend you,
When you're blind He will lead you,
When you're hungry He will feed you,
When you face trials He Is with you,
When I face persecution He shields me,
When I face problems He will comfort me,
When I face loss He will provide for me,

And when we face death
He will carry us all home to meet Him.

He is everything for everybody,
everywhere ,every time,
And in every way.

He is your God

and that sister’s 

is who you belong to.

Amen! I will rest tonight in the beauty of our Lord! He IS! Thank you for the reminder, Pricilla. Amen!

In 2066 I will be 92 and .............

With Summer Bible Study less than one month away, I found myself thumbing through the pages of the new study book.

As I take in the smell (ahh, fresh and new) and glance at the pages (crisp, clean, and unmarked) I think about what will happen this Summer and where this study will take me in God's Word.  

The open blanks and unmarked pages bring much anticipation knowing they will soon begin to fill up with notes, verses, and prayer requests.

No doubt each week I will also jot down something another lady says during my small group that the Lord will use to speak into my heart. 

Reading a recent blog post from Kelly Minter kicked my excitement up even more and reminded me that the study would not be the same without a group of ladies to share it with. 

 The title of the post is "You just never know what Bible Study can do".

Her words reminds me once again how powerful studying scripture together and praying together is.

She also tells of her recent visit to a small group Bible study led by a ninety-two year old lady.  What an inspiration!

Here's the link to read it yourself and don't forget Registration

for THE SUMMER STUDY begins today.

Click -You Just Never Know What Bible Study Can Do.

    

SUMMER BIBLE STUDY TIME !

It's the time of year that we girls get all fired up about:  SUMMER BIBLE STUDY.  

So much of the excitement comes from the outstanding teachers we get the privilege to learn from and this year is no exception.

                             Kay Arthur           Priscilla Shirer       Beth Moore

                         Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed: A Study of David 

 Based on the teaching sessions of the Deeper Still conference featuring Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, and Kay Arthur. These three women explored their lives and the life of David in this six-session women's Bible study. Taped at the 2007 Deeper Still women's event, the messages presented by these beloved authors are divided into three segments, two lessons from each author. Each segment focuses on the life of David at a different stage of his life: as a young man (sessions one and two by Priscilla Shirer), as a middle-aged man (sessions three and four by Beth Moore), and as a man facing the final third of his life (sessions five and six by Kay Arthur). You'll laugh with them, cry with them, and learn to love God with them.

Here's the needed details you have been waiting for:

Monroe Bible Church

Wednesdays

June 12- July 31

no study July 3

Morning Session: 9:15 - 11:30

Childcare 5 and under 

Evening Session: 6:30-8:45

No Childcare available

$16

Format

Video Sessions (30 - 40 minutes)

Discussion Groups

Ages: High School - Adult

REGISTRATION STARTS MAY 19 and ends JUNE 3
Contact Tracy with questions or to register
214-4976 or tracysnhy7@gmail.com

Watch the quick peek of video portions of our study ....





ALL ARE WELCOME - get the Word out to your friends.

A need for additional helpers with the children is needed this year so if you would be willing to volunteer your time one or more weeks, let us know.


Anointed Transformed Redeemed from Rocky Point Church on Vimeo

Health and Wellness Class

Want to make some lifestyle changes that have more active and healthy choices?

"Leading a Healthy Lifestyle through Weight Management and development of an Active Lifestyle"

Tuesday Mornings

Starting April 2

10:00 - 11:30

No Cost

6 weeks at MBC

Led by Stephanie Cornfield



      Stephanie has a passion for the health and wellness field and teaching.  Those of you who know her also know she has a tremendous struggle in the area of weight management for herself.  A few years ago, she felt God leading her to complete her graduate degree in Health and Wellness.  Having done that, she now feels the Lord leading her desire to share this knowledge with other women and girls and inspire them to live healthy lifestyles as she also works to change her own. 

     Join her and other women be a powerful team and develop active and healthy lifestyles.  

     Contact Stephanie @sbc7@tds.net  to sign up !

Cards and Words

I love the new Hawk Nelson song "Words" and it seemed appropriate to accompany our recap of the "Card Event" held last Saturday.  

"Let my words be life
Let my words be true
I don't want to say a word 
unless it points the world
back to you."

As believers, lets remember to use our words to bring life and truth.

Can you think of someone today who may need a word of encouragement
either spoken or written?

Moms/Daughters Retreat

"Encouragement for all Occasions"

1 Thessalonians 5:11

¹¹ So encourage each other and give each other strength,  just as you are doing now.

In the times of instant messages, emails, and texts,  sending a card in the mail still carries special value.  
It can be the perfect way to encourage someone by letting them know you are thinking and praying for them. 

Don't miss out on our annual craft event that helps you be ready with handmade cards for people God places on your heart to encourage.

Each year the talented ladies who demonstrate their ideas really amaze me.  At the end of the day I have a set of cards that look great!  I actually amaze myself!!

Join us for fellowship and fun. Bring a snack to share!

REGISTRATION is required. - Visit the Welcome center to register

*Due to the fact supplies are purchased for each participant we kindly ask you honor reservations or cancel by March 3 by contacting Carol.

Loving the young ladies......

I want you to meet the amazing group of young ladies who are studying the Word of God each Sunday Morning.   Recently they finished up a journey on the book of Ruth and enjoyed a fellowship meal together.  As someone who started studying the Bible later in life,  I wish I had done it much sooner.  I am so happy these girls are gaining Spiritual knowledge and wisdom much earlier than I did.  I know it will change their lives.  A couple of the girls were kind enough to share their insights on the Bible Study

Katie :   I realized that God is in control and with him all things are possible. I also said that I am a control freak and when thinking about my future, I wanted to be in control. I realized that if I trusted him everything would work out for the better. I also said what an amazing example Ruth was.

Elise:   The Ruth study was a great way for me to connect with other Christian girls. It amazed me how much knowledge you can receive from such a short book of the Bible; Ruth. Ruth was an amazing example of a servant.

Please Keep these beautiful young ladies in your prayers.

His Eyes

I just finished another Bible Study with a great group of ladies. 

As usual, I looked back through the study book and had such sweet feelings.  I've tried to make a pattern of carving out time after each study to look back through my notes.   It helps remind me that God -  IS -  A -  PERSON - who has been interacting with me all along. A lot of times I forget that. Yea, I frequently feel like He isn't there let alone doing anything in my life. I'm not alone in that, right?

Looking back over the pages this time has strengthened my faith in how alive God is. 
  
On one page I recalled a new insight about Him that made me understand His love even more. Another page held notes of my prayer of confession because He opened my heart to see selfishness in me.  

One particular page had me stop and remember the time spent with Him there.   It was when He asked me to go to someone "right now" and share with them about salvation.  

For several weeks before that "right now" moment I had been feeling the prompting of the Spirit but I kept rationalizing it away. 

"I don't know her well enough."

"I 'm not the right person." 

 Eventually I talked myself into not going.  I reasoned -- if I didn't go and share with the person then I was just missing a blessing and He would use someone else. Someone would get to share with her, it just wouldn't be me and I was ok with that. Sounds Biblical, right?  At least I've heard it and said it among my Christian friends.

He was teaching me through the Scriptures assigned that week,  that if He was prompting me to go and if I didn't then it was disobedience.  It wasn't about missing a blessing,  it was about not obeying what God asked me to do.  It was like an explosion in my mind and heart of some new understanding.  

 Not obeying when God asked me to go to someone was not about "me missing out".  It was about me sinning.  That was my new explosion of understanding.  

Yes,  I know the truths "when God speaks you should obey"  and "disobedience is a sin."  I have been drilling it into my kids heads forever. 

But on that day it wasn't just a truth I knew and tried to do.  His words were alive. They were coming from a real breathing person and I had looked  into His eyes and  I had said no.  

.................But  the Holy Spirit was doing His work,

and I felt shame and I felt my head bow. I was wrong and I felt a heaviness in my chest.  I couldn't look into His eyes.  

I thought of how  my "no" was prideful and self righteous. 
I thought of how my "no" exposed an ungrateful heart. 
I thought of how my "no" exposed how little I trust Him.

All I could focus on was how I had hurt Him.  

I had thought my "no" meant nothing.

He showed me what it really meant.

We spent some time together.  Me confessing, Him forgiving.

I looked into His eyes and then moved my eyes to the next question in the book.

Dear one, what will you do right this minute to get back on the righteous path of humble obedience?

I made a phone call......

There is no greater rest than the rest that comes from knowing God's peace.
 Begin making that your experience today.  Join us
as we study the book of Philippians

"Experiencing God's Peace"

by

Elizabeth George 

  

    

Wednesday Evenings

6:30-7:50

January 23 - April 17

In "Experiencing God's Peace, Elizabeth George guides you through the book of Philippians and helps you discover God's perfect and lasting peace in every area of your life - no matter how turbulent.  You'll learn how you can..

                        *Make a difference where you are

*Overcome anxiety

                  *Be content in every situation

                *Look to the needs of others

        *Trust God in all things

To Register contact:

Tracy @214-4976 or tracysnhy7@gmail.com
Cost is $8