 It is a joy to welcome Melanie Ingle-Myers to our Restore Monday Musings blog this week. Melanie is a gifted artist and singer who uses her love for the Lord and chalk art to minister around the country at retreats and conferences. Her life is full and busy as she juggles her ministry and time as a devoted wife and mom. She is also Sherry’s cousin! Years ago when we began our blog for Restore Ministries we chose the title Monday Musings. Musings is defined as a period of reflection, thought or contemplation. Our vision is to provide a blog that offers you devotional thoughts, a slowing down to breathe and consider how the Lord may be speaking or working in your life. Melanie attended our Restore Retreat at Solomon Episcopal Conference Center a few weeks ago and shares some of her lovely photographs and insights today about her weekend to pull away and rest from the stress and pressures of life. **Special Note - our Restore blogs always include beautiful photography and often slide shows and special formatting. It is our desire to offer you visual beauty for your eyes as well as inspirational words to ponder. It is best to view them from the website if you are using your phone. If you are receiving this as an email subscriber simply click the butterfly or title and it will take you directly to the site for your reading and viewing pleasure! Weary...was my traveling companion, while returning I was accompanied by relaxation. Stress had been my baggage, now peace and poise settles in my soul. My mind constantly preoccupied is now somewhat composed and restful. I needed a special time with God to quiet my spirit and hear Him speak. The Restore Ministries retreat in Loranger, Louisiana hosted by Kathy Drake and Sherry Barron proved to be a phenomenal avenue to de-stress.  God prepared the way for me to attend this ladies retreat while also preparing me to receive from Him His peace that only He gives. I once heard that we rev up and rev up daily all the while needing time to experience quietness and stillness in the presence of God. I believe this statement is from Jennifer Rothschild, "You are not what you struggle with, you are not what you think you are, you are not what others think you are - you are who God made you to be. It takes spiritual muscle and intentions." God knew I needed Him to grant me the spiritual muscle to be attentive and intentional on this special weekend. The accommodations were set in a most tranquil scene. The grounds immaculate, a clear lake to sit and repose and truly an atmosphere of bliss. Solitude it was not! It was more than being alone. I had chosen with God's intervention to be separated from outside distractions. Getting alone was even more than praying, praising and Bible study. It was aloneness with God. God releasing my anxiety and muddled mind. I have always known God desires a relationship with me as His bride so He can relate to me and reveal His love.  The theme for this extraordinary weekend was "Awaken to the Pursuit of the Bridegroom. Sherry and Kathy spoke with such eloquence of speech but more importantly their content was relevant. There was a pleasant reverent ambiance in the room that was awe-inspiring. This atmosphere attributed to the tranquility and harmony we all seemed to experience each day.  I can't seem to move beyond the thought of one of the ancient Jewish wedding traditions. The bride to be and bridesmaids were to keep by their bed side a lamp and oil ready for when the bridegroom returned after preparing a place for his bride. In Matthew 25:1-13 we read the parable of the ten virgins - five wise equipped with their oil and five foolish having lamps with no oil. The foolish who were well instructed neglected to be prepared to meet the bridegroom. Thinking they could borrow oil, "light." In John Pipers words an "outward form of religion and no internal power." We as the Bride of Christ should be anticipating his coming and spiritually prepared for His return. A quote from the weekend, "Faith and obedience can't be borrowed, we have to have our own faith and obedience."   Surprisingly when I returned home, two of my chalk drawings and speeches were on "the light" which the two different churches had suggested. Now, I find it not so surprising that the "lamps" made such a lasting impression. When I allowed God to begin to repair the damage stress had caused He brought about the quietness in my spirit and the realization that to give to others by sharing His love I had to be restored and renewed in order for my light to shine brightly for Him. My lamp filled with the oil of His spirit to meet Him and be a servant for Him. I must admit I am still a work in progress but I have the promise of God's word that He is always with me, never forsaking me in my weakness always pursuing me and always desiring my worship and praise and aloneness with Him. Only God renews, restores and revives!  Each woman was given a little lantern and oil votive at the end of our retreat as a reminder to be ready and keep watch for the return of our heavenly Bridegroom! Drawing Closer, Melanie It is because Jesus, the Lamb of God chose to die on the cross for our sins and three days later rose from the dead that we can live expectant in the hope of spending eternity with Him. One day Christ, in all His glory as the Lamb of God will come to gather up His church, His beloved Bride, perfected and pure. On that day we will join in the celebration of the marriage supper of the Lamb in a feast of His love! There in heaven we will worship and reign with Christ, clothed in His righteousness. While we wait for that glorious day, God has called you as His bride to live faithful, pure and holy lives, a reflection to the world of His glory. This passion week take some time to reflect on Christ's sacrifice on the cross and His purpose for you to shine His light brightly in the desperate world in which we live. We serve a risen Savior. The power of the resurrected life dwells within all believers by His Holy Spirit. Jesus is calling His church to rise up with the conviction of a bride who has an unquenchable love for her Bridegroom; committed, covered and conquering by the power of His Spirit. Take some time to ponder these questions today:
To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever. Revelation 5:12-14 Praying you draw near to our risen Savior this Easter, Kathy  You can sign up for Restore's Monday Musings Blog to come directly to your email inbox each Monday!
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 In conversations with four different friends over the course of last week I was told that I needed to rest. And so I took that as as a word from the Lord from those who care about me. Our Restore Retreat was such a glorious weekend! We were so blessed and we saw the Father pour out His Spirit over us in truly beautiful ways. It was apparent throughout the weekend that He had orchestrated all who attended for His unique purpose in our lives. We had women join us ranging in age from 19 up into their 70's, mothers and daughters, special friends, and those who came to make new friends. I was so excited to have my own daughters attend a retreat for the first time. Many of the young women there I had taught when they were little girls and now some even have children of their own. It was a time of reconnecting with people who have invested in my life and been significant in my own spiritual journey through the years. The opportunity to teach and worship together was a privilege and it was a joy to provide a beautiful oasis for these women. Many of them serve in leadership in other ministries and rarely get to just soak in God's truth and not have to take on the responsibility of leading. Sherry and I experienced a rich and full weekend as we poured out our hearts and energy and gave out of His abundance. When you pour out, you must give yourself time to replenish, be restored, and rest your body and soul. **Special note - This blog contains music, slide show and youtube links.The formatting will work best for you if you click to the website. Rest is defined as to cease work, to restore strength, to refresh oneself. Rest is found in the word restore. According to Websters and other dictionaries, the word restore means to reestablish to it’s original state or to bring back As I tried to take time this week to rest, I found myself pondering the word. More importantly, I tried to consider what rest looked like for me. I think the things that restore our bodies and souls in some ways are different because we are created with unique needs. Listed below are some of the things that I chose to put into practice this week to replenish and restore myself. My prayer is that as you read you may get some ideas for ways to find rest in your own life.
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:5-8
Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me. Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger. I bind unto myself the Name, The strong Name of the Trinity; By invocation of the same. The Three in One, and One in Three, Of Whom all nature hath creation, Eternal Father, Spirit, Word: Praise to the Lord of my salvation, Salvation is of Christ the Lord. As I reflected on these life-giving words, I remembered a beautiful piece of music by the Irish modern day hymn writers, Keith and Kristyn Getty entitled Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God. When I need rest, I turn to music that speaks truth and the prayer of my heart.... music that lives and breathes new life. This is one of my favorites by Keith and Kristyn Getty. I’ve been listening to it several times today and I encourage you to take the time to let it wash over your soul. I love the arrangement because it combines the music of one of my all time favorite instrumental pieces, Gabriel’s Oboe with a reading of the prayer of St. Patrick. As I look over my list, I see that my choices for rest fall into four different categories. Worship. Offer songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. Dedicate time to prayer - listening for His heart. For me, at the conclusion of a huge project such as leading a retreat, it’s important to pause and thank the Father for what He has done and listen for His voice to guide me through the days of renewal and restoration. Focus on delight. What are the things that capture my imagination, nurture my creative spirit and refresh and rekindle passion for life? Take a day or two out of the usual routine. Rest physically. Let me body find its strength again. The giving out in such abundance requires some recovery time physically and spiritually. A time to soak in His presence. Reflection. Take time to ponder the past and consider the future. Linger in the Word through meditation. Think about the work God has done in my life in the busy season, the lessons learned. Write them down…journal the blessings and the trials. Simply slow down, declutter my mind. Be still.... And so I encourage you to take a moment and consider what brings rest to your body and soul. If someone could wrap up a gift box for you filled with four or five things that would replenish your weary body and soul, what would they be? What brings you delight, rest, restoration? Who knows, maybe some of your suggestions will show up at the next Restore event or blog post! We’re all unique and what energizes and refreshes your spirit may be different for someone else. Or perhaps someone reading today might receive a blessing in his or her life by trying out your suggestion. So please leave your "rest" ideas in the comment section below if you are reading on the website or reply on the facebook thread. We all need new ideas! Ultimately, it is Christ by the power of His Holy Spirit who restores us deep within the depths of our souls. We cannot restore our own souls. Psalm 23:3. our theme verse for Restore Ministries says, “He restores my soul.” May you experience the beauty of His rest in the coming days. Resting in Jesus, Kathy  Resources: Photographs Pinterest  You can sign up for Restore's Monday Musings Blog to come directly to your email inbox each Monday!
Just enter your email in the subscriber box above, then REPLY to the invitation email you will receive in your personal inbox. Follow ALL directions to completion! Feel free to share our blogs on your social media or email them to a friend. Before you begin to start reading from Facebook, Twitter or your inbox, be sure to click the title and read from our website. By doing this, you can read in the intended format and not miss any special slideshow, YouTube, or content.~Thanks! During my teenage years, I grew up in a very small town. So small, you had to not blink or you’d pass it as you drove through! I couldn’t wait to get out of that place! The one benefit for me was belonging to a church where everyone knew your name, gifts, talents, and weaknesses. It was there that I took notice of one particular lady.
Our friendship grew and she is one of the reasons I drive land cruisers! When I got my driver’s license she let me drive us in her car…excuse me, her white, soft creamy white leather interior, 2-door Mark IV Lincoln with the small oval windows in the backseat! That was in the ‘70’s. I’m spoiled & ruined forever! We would sing together at church and practice in the bathroom at her house. I was amused at her sunken tub and blue tile (I think it was blue!), but the acoustics in there made us sound so good! We shared many prayer request and special moments together in that powder room! Over time, Mrs. Donnie became my dearest friend and I learned from her to continue to trust in the Lord. For and IN all things! Dream big and remember that prayer changes things. I don't get to see her as often now as I used to, but when I do, we always are able to pick right back up where we left off! Hers is a treasured friendship for sure! She was my first mentor. I'm not even sure she realized it way back then. We both grew in the love of the Lord and in our friendship. “…teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live…Then they can train the younger women…” Titus 2:3-5 Mentoring seems like such a formal and scary word! But really, it’s not scary at all if you lay aside personal agendas, personal expectations, and realize that it’s God that puts people together. He is creating and designing something special with your unique combination. “Let’s define the word mentor. In his book, Mentoring: Confidence in Finding a Mentor and Becoming One, Bobb Biehl says that a mentor “helps a protégé reach her or his God-given potential…Mentoring is more ‘how can I help you?’ than ‘what should I teach you’” This does not mean a mentor does not teach. The Bible specifically says women are to teach other women. ... keep in mind that teaching and modeling are involved in mentoring.” I have been blessed to have many mentors in my life. Each one has brought a different gift into my life. Some, still mentoring me! I am forever grateful. Below is a picture of My Finger Print Party. I believe I have shared that topic before in another blog. But for those hearing of it for the first time, I held a special party and honored all of the women who have left their fingerprints on my life. I told you I was blessed! It is my prayer that I have touched these ladies in special ways as well.  Sherlene Carruth, Gina Anthon, Judy Snow, Kathy Drake, Bettejean Cramer, Susan Mayeaux, Clara Carruth Lawson, Jan Swetman, Donny Duffy, Delores Pedneau, Kay Broussard, Joyce Edwards, Carla Greggs, Mary Elizabeth Drake, Wanda Hornsby, Monica Wood, Hoppy Black, Kim Brennan, Janice Capone, Judy Ingle, Suzy Beck, Brian Barron, Nila DiMaria, Julia Johnson, Vi Atchison, Martha Rothkamm, Sue Woolery, Billie Sykora, Ken Drake, Melanie Ingle-Myers, Linda Holmes & Liz Kearney.  My first "team" of mentors! Oh the things they shared with me! I am forever grateful for your love and guidance in my life! Pictured: Carole Sexton, Sandy Pritchard, Suzy Beck, Charlotte Ewing, Dot Clark. Not pictured: Sherlene Carruth (I know I’m leaving out too many, so if you are reading this and don’t see your name, please don’t be saddened by my lack of recognition. I am forever grateful to you and the part you have played [or still playing] in my life!) The special women in my life have been intrical in shaping me to become the woman I am today. Each act of kindness, admonition, or encouragement has broadened my vision and given me courage. These women have prayed for me and spurred me on to become something bigger and better than I thought possible for my own self. Likewise, I have spoken into their lives with the same fervor. I can just imagine women of the Word and how they mentored one another. As we face the same universal situations (maybe with a cultural twist), I'm sure the advice given was always one of seeking strength and wisdom from God. Hold tightly to faith. Pray without ceasing. Do all things will excellence as unto the Lord. Memorize and take heart to the Law (in the OT) or to the words of Jesus (NT) for in all these things you shall stand tall like a tree planted by the river and bear fruit in your season. (Ps. 1) Love the Lord your God...with your whole heart! The result of all this influence and mentoring: a life rich and meaningful, full with examples of the Christian faith, and the continued prayers of many. God has deeply touched me with the lives of these precious women of faith. I find myself questioning why God would choose to bless me so abundantly. Then, because I recall my spiritual teaching (from my mentors) and His Word that has been poured into my life. It’s because He takes delight in me and desires that I should not spare any wisdom, words of encouragement, or admonition to the next generation. "One generation will commend your works to another." Psalm 145:4 And so, I mentor with great delight those with whom God has placed into my life. Some are very intentional with study of God’s word, meeting as regularly as possible; and some are simply over coffee, Kool-Aid, lunch, a phone call, Marco Polo app, or short visits in our homes and on porches! Let’s not forget too, my many music students! I have been loved on and taught well, only to pass on and pour out what was given to me. Mentoring…it begins with friendship. It develops into trusted relationships. These relationships are rich and refreshing. They become long lasting! Cherished! “The Bible commands mentoring; women are called to it; they are qualified for it; it builds the church; and it benefits the mentor. How could Christian women possibly say no to mentoring when God says yes? Oh, how younger women are searching for mature, godly role models—a Sarah, a Naomi, an Elizabeth—to guide them in the truth of God’s Word. Women are ordained through Scripture, called of God, and in need of one another. A mentoring program is vital in women’s ministry.” Maybe you don’t have a mentor and are looking…or haven’t even thought about looking for someone to “pour out” so that you can “soak in!” It’s vital! Women need connection with other women. Ask for God to direct you to someone that is perfect for you…and you for her! (Or him if you are male and reading this! Men need each other too! It’s not just a girl thing!) “In all of your analysis, be careful not to forget the simple truth that what you're really looking for is a person who you know cares for you, believes in you, and encourages you. A good mentor is a person who you naturally enjoy being with, who has more experience than you have, who would be happy to help you win in life, to help you grow in sensitive areas most other friends simply "put up with" on a day to day basis. If you have found this person you have found a mentor." Maybe it’s your turn to pay it forward! Is God nudging you to limit soaking and start pouring? (Notice that I didn’t say stop soaking…we all need to continue pursuing a life that is poured into.) It’s really not that scary or hard! And if you need help, there are many resources to help guide you. Plus, you can always ask Kathy or me. This week, I had the wonderful opportunity to spend time with my “mentee,” Neva. I’m showing you these pictures to encourage you to take advantage of one of God’s sweetest gifts, women connecting to women. It’s about just hanging…sharing God’s word…going for walks…praying together...shopping…lunch…coffee/tea…listening…encouraging…truth…study of God's Word...and doing what women do best…talking with one another! Holding one another accountable. Sharing your heart! It does take time and effort. But you realize that you can work out the details of time and study. It can happen if you both are intentional. What you begin to discover is that it's a blessing... for both parties!
God has given me the blessing of friendship with so many. It is my prayer that as we connect with one another, that God will continue to use me to speak truth and wisdom into their lives as I have received from a life of mentoring women in my own! Please pray for Kathy and I as we minister during our Women to Women – Awaken to the Pursuit of the Bridegroom retreat this weekend. God has pulled together a unique combination of women. Some of these women have invested personally in our own lives, and also in the lives of the daughters of young women who will be attending with their moms. Some ladies are new to Restore Ministries Retreats and are coming alone. Whatever the case, we are all women connecting with women, who are either “soaking in” or “pouring out,” and each needing a fresh touch from the Savior. Thank you for your prayers. We may opt to skip next week’s blog, as we will just be coming back from a time of “pouring out!” Look for us the following week! We’d like to hear from you. How has God connected you with Restore Ministries? In what ways has our ministry mentored you personally? You can leave a note in the comment box or if you'd like, send us a personal email at [email protected]. Abundantly Blessed, Sherry Resources: Parts of this blog are taken from an article is adapted from a chapter written by Valerie Howe and found in Women Reaching Women: Beginning and Building a Growing Women’s Ministry compiled by Chris Adams. https://www.focusonthefamily.com/media/daily-broadcast/the-value-of-women-mentoring-women Janet Thompson – Began Woman to Woman Mentoring Ministry – Saddleback Church, California http://womantowomanmentoring.com/mentoring/woman-to-woman-mentoring-ministry/
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