 For years we gathered each year for a girl’s beach trip. We came here to dream, to play, to soak in the sun and beauty, to listen to the waves crash on the shore, to laugh, and sometimes to cry. In our hours on the balcony overlooking the ocean we have brainstormed cook books, “savoring life” books, redecorated homes in our minds, celebrated all our summer birthdays, planned future retirement communities, discussed the moral state of our country, future dream vacations abroad, watched sunrises and sunsets, prayed, and feasted, and feasted some more. The four of us are all very different, yet we love many of the same things. We are kindred spirits, these long time friends of mine; artists, writers, musicians, lovers of life and beauty. It seems we came more frequently when our children were younger. I'm not really sure why. Maybe we were more desperate then to just pull away for some peace, quiet and rest. As we've aged, our lives have changed as we've gone through the peaks of life’s joys and valleys of disappointment or broken dreams.  The circumstances of our lives have kept us from making the trips to the beach as often. Our trips look a little different now. Some years they’re not quite as light and carefree as they once were, but there are still many moments of laughter, often at ourselves! Perhaps, it's just the season that we’re in...the season of caregiving and trying to finish well. Loving adult children and embracing the joys of being grandparents and dealing with the physical and sometimes emotional strain that comes as our bodies age. Yet, the legacy of friendship calls us. This recent beach weekend was a generous gift to us! Packing light is not something we do well:) Our first day at the beach was stormy and wonderful. It kept us in close together in the lovely condo on the bay that we had been given to enjoy for a few days. The storms outside gave us time to reflect on our lives, often stormy themselves in the trials we all face. So I asked these precious, godly women to share some of the faith lessons they’ve learned in the journey over the years, especially over these last years since we gathered at the beach. We talked about many things. We spoke of what we have come to value in our homes. Our love for the Lord, music and beauty is what drew us together from the beginning. I asked them for some thoughts about their philosophy on beauty in the home and making it a place where people want to linger and rest from the busyness and struggles that life often brings. We all have very lovely, artistic homes, but it was evident as we talked that what is most important to us all is the soul of our homes. The memories, the treasured pieces of our ancestry that stir memories of family and friends. We spoke of our desire to make our homes an oasis of peace and learning to see them with fresh eyes; not focusing on what we don’t have or what needs to be done, but appreciating the beauty and blessing of what we have. We talked about getting back to a simpler way of doing things; a cup of tea with a friend, the treasure of tables filled with people we love. We had deep, hard conversations about some of the struggles and loss over recent years. I asked these life long friends of mine to share some wisdom on friendship. Here is a summary of some of their thoughts: “Enjoying each others successes and creative endeavors have inspired us to pursue our own creative pursuits. In the friendship we challenge one another to press on. Most of our creative pursuits and careers were only dreams in the early days of our friendship that began in church choir. Since that time, along with being working moms and wives, we have become designers, writers, potters, painters and gardeners, often filling our few spare hours with learning something new. This Scripture came to mind: Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12NIV We spoke of the importance of treasuring friends that you knew were going to endure for a lifetime; friends with a strong heart and faith connection. There’s a value you make in that deep connection, knowing that they will persevere with you through the years. You will have different types of friends, but only a few friends with whom you should bare your soul. They are willing speak the truth in love.“ One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 Our friendship has become a much richer treasure as we have walked together through the pain and struggle of life. Those friendships become a part of the fabric of who you are. That type of friendship is a treasure worth seeking It takes time to be deeply connected with a soul friend. Many young people today are so wrapped up in their careers, their children and surviving the pace of life that they don’t make it a priority. It is a deep need that many may not be aware of. In the tremendous trials of my life in recent years, I don’t know how I would have made it without these deep friendships.” The four of us have always been dreamers. Perhaps that is part of what has kept us together, the pursuing of dreams, the process of letting our creative minds and imaginations play with big ideas and wonder. In our dreams, we see ourselves connected in the future, being there for each other. All the while knowing that God is in control and many of our dreams might not come true, but the process has knit our hearts together. From our condo on the bay, in the distance, we could see a tower that was calling to us. Each day of our trip we talked about how we should go down to the tower and climb to the top to watch the sunset. Finally, on our final night, after we came in from the beach, we decided to make our way there, but there was a wall that we could not cross. It was a private tower. Not to be deterred from our adventure, we searched another way to watch the sunset. We walked out on the long pier through the yachts and boats docked there until we reached the end. There, just in time for the sunset, waiting for us was a wooden bench, empty. It was quiet. It seemed as if the sun was setting just for us, this gift from God. We watched the colors change to reflect purples and pinks on the water. The setting was glorious! The Father was painting His beautiful designs across the sky. As the sun set, we sat in the stillness of the evening. The many words we had shared over the weekend fell silent now as we just soaked in God's beauty and then He sent us another gift   Suddenly, my friend squealed and we looked and there was a dolphin playing right there at the edge of the pier. I tried to capture a picture of him, but he was too quick as we searched for him to surface again in the water. As I reflect on it now, I think we might have missed that gift God had for us if we had reached the tower that we thought we were destined for that evening. Isn't that often the way the Lord works with our plans and dreams? We search and seek to reach them, but often, some of the greatest blessings come along the way, in the detours. So it is with my dear friends, we know we may never reach some of the dreams we have talked about through the years, but there have been so many blessings in the journey. So many gifts with which God has graced our lives. So many treasures to hold in our hearts and in our hands. They are a reflection of our years together. Perhaps it's really about opening our hearts and hands to what the Father has for us each moment and trusting that it will always be the best. I’m so grateful that so many years ago, the Lord chose to weave hearts and hands of these three friends of mine together and for the deep love we have for one another.  The next morning, before we left, we gathered hands and prayed. We prayed over the struggles shared over the weekend, over our future, and thanked God for the blessing and joy of friendships that have endured for over thirty years. When we finished praying, one friend asked us to take a moment and look at our hands. These are hands that have worked hard, labored in the workforce and in the home for our families. They are not as beautiful as they once were in our younger years. They bear the wrinkles and scars of time, love and hard work, but they are beautiful in my eyes and I believe in the eyes of Christ. I asked if we could take a picture of our hands before we left. I wanted a record of that precious memory. These hands have left the imprint of God's touch on my life. These hands have held me in times of crisis and held each other together in prayer. These hands have been lifted up in praise to the Father. These hands have crafted and created beauty in our homes and have graced the homes of others. These hands have cooked meals to sustain our families and to help care for those who could not care for themselves. These hands have helped to carry each other in times of great celebration and in times of great stress. These hands were created by the hands of God. Here at the beach and throughout the year we make our offerings of love to one another; words of wisdom, words of hope, sharing dreams and the longings of our hearts, the joys of our children, the concerns of the depths of our souls, and prayers for each other. We bring our hearts into the conversations on these beach trips. It is a legacy of a friendship that runs deep. Friendship that is tied together in the end by the ever weaving threads of the work of Christ in our lives. My prayer is that you too may know the beauty of deep friendship in your life. If you have that gift, treasure it. If not, ask the Lord to show you several friends with whom He would have you invest your life. Take a moment now and look at your hands and ask a Father to show you how to use them in the gift of friendship. Grateful for the hearts and hands of friendship in my life, Kathy  See the home page for upcoming events.
Invite a friend to join you for our "Feast for Your Soul" Summer Tea - July 16!! Be sure to join us each week for Monday Musings. Feel free to share on your social media. Join our email subscription to receive the blog automatically each week in your email. Sign up at the top right of this post.
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 Have you felt a bit stressed or overwhelmed? Do you long for a day of refreshment for your malnourished soul? Do you and a friend need some time to realign your priorities and focus on what’s really important in life? The heart of Restore Ministries, is a desire to provide inspiring and beautiful women’s retreats and day-away events for women to pull away from their busy lives, awaken the passion for Christ and to restore the deepest yearning to know Him intimately. We seek to minister creatively to the heart and spirit by providing opportunities to soak in God’s Word, His beauty, worship and the Arts. Our goal is to prayerfully design retreats and day events from the heart FOR the heart! We are also growing into a ministry that also offers rich evenings of worship (Arts included) focused for the whole family. This year, Restore Ministries has planned three day-away events designed to focus your heart, mind and soul on the abundance of Christ - a Feast for your Soul. Each event will include the elements you have come to expect from Restore Ministries: time in the Word, inspiring worship, creativity, beauty, rest for your spirit, and, of course, a few special surprises! So mark your calendars now, and join us for “A Feast for Your Soul!” A Feast for Your Soul - 3 Course Series, Come - Bow - Worship July 16 ~ November 12 ~ February 4 Our heart is to help you pursue an intimate relationship with King Jesus as we learn about humbling ourselves before His presence and honoring Him as Sovereign. Come - will be held Saturday, July 16, 2016. During this women's Tea/Luncheon at the Country Club of Louisiana, we will explore the invitation from the Father to come boldly into His presence. On Saturday, November 12th, we Bow our hearts and spirits in a day-away of prayer and lunch at the beautiful Solomon Conference Center in Robert, Louisiana, as we take in the beautiful grounds and worship in the quaint Chapel. Saturday, February 4, 2017 offers men, women and families a glorious evening with dessert as we culminate in Worship incorporating the Arts. (Registration for February 4th is not yet available - but SAVE THE DATE!) Registration and detailed information for each event can be made by visiting the Day Away - Feast for Your Soul page on our website or by clicking HERE.
Before your summer gets crazy, go ahead and register! We are looking forward to sharing all that God is laying on our heart for you as together we indulge in the abundance of God's goodness. Won't you join us? Remember... Only He can restore and satisfy your hungry soul! We are looking forward to spending time with you. Also, pray for us and watch our website, emails, and Facebook for other offerings! We are planning a destination retreat to the beach in 2017! In His Love, Sherry & Kathy
It was a perfect time for me to ask Margaret to take my week and write for this weeks Monday Musings. This has been...IS...a chaotic time with my end of the year productions that seem to be overlapping like crazy! Sometimes it feels like my head will explode with the many production details, staging issues and various locations for each of these events. It's the nature of a music teacher...of course, one who loves to go above and beyond to ensure everything goes "practically perfect in every way" as is the way of Sherry Barron and Mary Poppins! I might add that things were falling to pieces a couple of weeks ago. Brian was sick, my car broke down, I was under a great deal of stress, and naturally...I had to have 2 new tires for my car! Life seemed to be going to pieces! Margaret had no idea of my life circumstances when I asked her to write for me. She told me "after praying," this is what God instructed her to pen in the blog below.  When Life Goes to Pieces by Margaret Kemp I once saw a T- shirt that read “When Life Goes to Pieces Make a Quilt.” I don’t consider myself an avid quilter, but there have been a couple of occasions when my life has gone to pieces, and I have, in fact, made a quilt. My first teaching job was in a small, struggling private school. I began teaching elementary school in August; by February the school was bankrupt and paychecks stopped coming. The school closed its doors in April. April is not a good time for a classroom teacher to find a new position, so I had to wait until the beginning of the next school year in August to find a new job. For five months there I was, a young wife alone in a one bedroom apartment for most of the day, with no car and no spending money to speak of. But I did have a sewing machine and lots of fabric scraps. So I made a quilt, which, by the way, I still use today. It reminds me of a time when I learned to trust God to provide financially, and in the meantime to be content with what I had. I learned to make the best of the situation and to create something to show for all my time spent in limbo.
I didn’t quilt again until recently when I once again found myself housebound and without employment. This time health issues necessitated that I take a sabbatical from work. I had surgery during the summer, and I knew I would grieve when the new school year started without me. There would be no classroom to arrange, no bulletin boards to put up, no door to decorate with the names of new little friends for me to teach. I mentioned to my sister that I might like to take up quilting again. That was all she needed to hear; my sweet sister was not going to let me sit around feeling sorry for myself. The stitches from my surgery had not yet been removed, but my sister insisted on driving me to a quilting shop so we could select fabric. My new project gave me something productive to do in the days following my surgery. And I officially had the quilting bug. I scoured crafting websites for quilting ideas and came across a quilt kit that kept calling my name. This kit contained materials and instructions to make a full size quilt called “Garden Maze.” The colors caught my attention and reeled me in. On a stark background of black were deep jewel-tone colors….brilliant sapphire blues, amethysts, and various shades of jade and turquoise. The colors alone were stunning, but against the contrast of the black background they were positively dazzling.  The quilt reminds me of something I learned in this season of my life: Sometimes we don’t fully appreciate the richness and the beauty that God has given us until we are in dark places. In those places, we recognize the little miracles that we tend to take for granted, and we see the big miracles He performs in bringing light out of darkness. In my sickness, I learned to appreciate the everyday blessings that I used to overlook. For example, during my treatment I took medicine that made me nauseous and unable to eat. When I did eat, food had a peculiar, unappetizing, metallic taste. I remember the first meal I enjoyed when that awful medicine was out of my system. I could finally tolerate—no, savor!—the pungent aroma of meat on the grill. I had a tender, juicy, sizzling steak (sorry, vegetarian friends!) and a hot, cheesy baked potato dripping with butter. I don’t remember anything ever tasting so good.  When I was able to drive a car once again, I was so thankful for the freedom to be able to get behind the wheel, to feel the warmth of the sunshine passing through the windshield, to experience the exhilaration of getting out into the real world. After being under a sentence of “house arrest” for a few weeks, even going to the grocery seemed like a privilege. And when I was able to attend a football game…wow! What a joy to participate in life once again! Though the chilly night air pricked my sensitive skin, and my weakened leg muscles struggled to carry me from the parking lot to the stadium, I was delighted to be among all those noisy, normal, healthy people doing something…normal. The triumphant notes of the fight song, delivered by the band with such pomp and ceremony…those became my fight song, my victory song as I fought to regain the life I had taken for granted.  The real gems I discovered during my illness, though, were the relationships with precious friends and family members. Their gestures of love were the bright colors against the dark backdrop of my illness. I am so grateful for the way each friend added a unique splash of beauty and color to my life. During this dark time, God’s faithfulness shone bright as he carried me through the difficult, painful days and answered prayers for healing. I might be tempted to chalk that healing up to the wonders of modern medicine…but then I hear stories about people afflicted with the same condition that I had, but who didn’t fare nearly as well as I did. That’s when I recall how many, many people were praying for me, and I know my healing is an answer to prayer. This Sabbatical in my life has given me the gift of time…time that is free from normal responsibilities, time to spend in prayer and Bible study, time to spend with God and get to know Him as a compassionate heavenly Father who always does what’s right and who never gives me more trouble than I can bear, but always gives mercy and grace to help in time of need. His Presence brightened my difficult days and uncomfortable nights. That has been the most beautiful aspect of this past year. “For you are a lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness.” II Samuel 22:29 When David was in a dark place, pursued by Saul, God delivered him. David responded by writing a psalm of praise that we read in II Samuel 22. During his struggles David learned much about the character of God. He came to know God as his Rock and his shield, a God who strengthened him and gave him victory over his adversaries. When David would become distressed, he would begin by crying out to the Lord, but then he would remember how God had delivered him in the past, and his depression would give way to hope and praise.
Sometimes life doesn’t go the way we plan. Sometimes it seems like everything is going to pieces, and we find ourselves in dark places. But God can take those ragged pieces and put them together to create something more splendid than we can imagine. He can use the contrast of the dark places to showcase the brilliant blessings He has for us. It was often in times of difficulty that the Old Testament patriarchs met with God. Abram was in an uncertain place; he left his country and his people to travel to a land that God would show him. God promised that through Abram (or Abraham, as He was later known) all the people on earth would be blessed. God promised Abram numerous descendants, yet at the time the promise was made Abram had no offspring. But several times along the way, God met Abram in his place of uncertainty. Abram marked these places of revelation by building an altar. My NIV Life Application study Bible has this explanation of altars: “Abram built an altar to the Lord. Altars were used in many religions, but for God’s people, altars were more than places of sacrifice. For them, altars symbolized communion with God and commemorated notable encounters with him. Built of rough stones and earth, altars often remain in place for years as continual reminders of God’s protection and promises. Abram regularly built altars to God for two reasons: (1) for prayer and worship (2) as reminders of God’s promise to bless him. Abram couldn’t survive spiritually without regularly renewing his love and loyalty to God. Building altars helped Abram remember that God was at the center of his life.” My Garden Maze quilt is going to be my “altar” to serve as a reminder of this period in my life where even in the midst of difficulty, God’s dazzling love and mercy shone bright. When you are in a dark place, when your life is falling to pieces, turn to the One who is your Light and Salvation, who can stitch those pieces together. Learn from him during the dark times. Ask Him to illumine your darkness. Ask him to reveal more of Himself to you. Look for the blessings, big and small, that will shine in those times. Then build an altar to remember what you’ve learned. Make a quilt. Write a song. Keep a journal. Keep a souvenir of God’s faithfulness, so you can remember the God who has answered you in your distress and who will never leave you nor forsake you.
In Christ, Margaret Kemp So in closing, I'd like to re-state what Margaret said that really stood out to me: "God can take those ragged pieces and put them together to create something more splendid than we can imagine. He can use the contrast of the dark places to showcase the brilliant blessings He has for us." At the posting of this blog, I am winding up my last production. Things got a little ragged, but yes indeed, He has showcased brilliant blessings for me this past week and life is looking brighter, lighter, and more full of joy! Thank you Margaret for sharing your heart. It's exactly what my soul needed. For those of you reading, I hope you were blessed as much as me. Lean in! Hang on by those threads! Let the Lord do His mending work! Then showcase His brilliance in your life! Trusting His Faithfulness, Sherry
May is often a month of closure for many of us, of saying goodbyes and celebrations. This month holds many such events for me. Last week I had my end of the year recital with my students. It was a beautiful evening of glorious music and I was so proud of my students as they let their voices soar and gifts shine. We have talked so much about how as singer/actors we have the power to tell stories. And they did! They made us laugh and cry and touched our hearts with beautiful melodies, thoughts and stories to ponder. As I watched each one perform, I reflected on the year teaching them. I though of some of the struggles through which they had persevered, not only in their music, but also personal challenges. Then, there were the seniors....tears! I’ve had more time with them and it is always so hard to let them go, even when you are excited to see them pursue their dreams. They are our future! When I look at them, at their character, integrity and courage, the future doesn’t look so dim. God raise them up with bold faith! As teachers we can have such influence over the lives of those whom God chooses to bring across our paths. Our words can influence their future and even future generations. Often in my mind, I recall the words of voice teachers from my past. Their influence on the path I chose as a singer and teacher speaks into the lives of my students today. They left a lasting legacy in my life with their words of encouragement and challenge. Their words equipped me as much as the vocal technique they taught. They inspired me to reach for the best that I could be and to strive for excellence in whatever I chose to do in my life. (If you're reading this through your email, you may want to click the title or butterfly to bring you to the website so that all of the photos and formatting works:)  Shooting Star Hydrangea Today, as I write, it is Mother’s Day. It has been a simple day with my mom. My daughters are in their homes far away, but I was grateful to have a quiet lunch in the garden with my mom and Ken. He grilled a wonderful steak for us - mom's favorite! As I listened to her words and questions over lunch, I thought of how much her legacy has influenced me. She asks the same questions over and over with her Alzheimer disease, but in the repetition it is clear the legacy she has left me. She wants to know how everyone is doing - genuinely concerned about my children, son and law and grand child, although she can no longer call their names. She asks about my teaching over and over. How are my students doing? How many am I teaching? How are we enjoying our new church? Are we happy? Is there anything she can do for us? Oh, and the flowers are so beautiful in your garden! About every five minutes, your garden....the flowers...I could sit here all day, she says. I remember her roses and beautiful flowers when I was growing up. There were always fresh flowers on the table cut from the garden. That is the legacy she has left me....a love for beauty and for flowers, and genuine love that cares deeply for others above herself....words that encourage and express concern over your well being. What a beautiful legacy! I knew just what to give her for Mother’s Day. A beautiful plant for her little patio. She was thrilled and wants to go with me to visit the place where I would find such a plant. Actually, it was first given to me by Sherry as a surprise gift last week. I had to call her and ask where she had found such an unusual plant because when I saw it I knew I had to get one for mom! I remember as a child walking the garden paths with my grandmother as she explained the flowers that grew in the gardens at her home in north Louisiana. I loved being with her in the garden. Her joy and love for her flowers was contagious! I loved spending time with her as we walked in the beauty. She passed on that love for flowers through the generations! A legacy of love for God’s creation and taking the time to nurture it. Our garden has been evolving for 33 years. The garden statues you see in the pictures below are from my grandmother’s and mom’s gardens and gifts from my husband, Ken. Now much of the beauty of it, I owe to him since my back doesn’t allow me to work it the way I used to. I’m so grateful for the haven it has become to our friends and family. I’m writing in the garden now as the sun sets, the fountain flows and the birds sing...a gift from the Father for the senses. It is so very lovely, soothing and inspiring!  In a couple of days I will have the closing Bible study luncheon at my home. For the last three months about twelve of us have gathered every Tuesday to look at the Scriptures and study a book by Sally Clarkson entitled “Own Your Life” - Live with deep intention, bold faith and generous love. It has been a powerful, thought provoking study for us all and I highly recommend it for young and old. It is a book that causes you to deeply examine how you are living your life, the choices you make, and the legacy you will leave behind. What I have loved more than anything over the last few months is listening to the hearts and words of these women sharing their faith journeys. There is no pretense here. We are simply sharing the Word, our stories, our very real struggles, our questions, some answers, and our prayers. I’m so grateful for the words of wisdom from these faithful women each week as we gather in my kitchen. I cherish their words, their laughter, and their dreams. I will miss our time together and their presence in my home as we close the study this week for summer break. The last section of the book looks at the legacy of love we leave behind as women...in our homes, in our marriages, in our motherhood. You can imagine the rich conversations we have had as we have perused the Scriptures for wisdom in these areas of our lives. Sally Clarkson’s words have left an impact and challenge on all of our lives. We have examined how our words and actions have impacted our homes, and are seeking to live our lives intentionally with generous love and bold faith as we move forward. You’re never too old to make a difference in the lives of those around you!  Several years ago I wrote these words in a blog entitled "The Worth of our Words." Our words can build up or tear down, challenge or disappoint, inspire or discourage, praise or criticize, protect or deceive. They can comfort or frighten, heal or hurt, show love or hate, enlighten or confuse, welcome or exclude, forgive or blame, bless or curse, offer wisdom or folly, restore or destroy. Ephesians 4:29 (ESV) Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 6:19 (NIV) Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, As we have shared our hearts and our journey, I think we would all say that we have seen the power and influence of words in our lives. I don't want my words to be careless. I want them be thoughtful, Spirit led, and full of wisdom and kindness like those who have blessed me. I want my words to reflect the heart of Jesus. Is there someone the Lord is bringing to your mind whom you could call or write words of encouragement, wisdom, comfort, or kindness? Do you have a group of believers to journey with in your faith with whom you can honestly share your heart and the Scriptures. If not, consider inviting others into your home for Bible study. Our words, through the power of His Spirit at work within us, are able to restore, to heal, to inspire and to offer hope. Let us not take the privilege and responsibility for granted! This Tuesday we will study our last chapter entitled, “Living intentionally to leave a legacy of faith”....Owning the influence your life can make. Ultimately, it is the Kingdom legacy we leave behind that really matters. Our lives have a beautiful story to tell. I pray that mine will lead others to the love and beauty of Jesus and that I will choose each day to live boldly for Him. When other’s look at my life, I want them to see the fingerprints of God because I have chosen to live my life for Christ in the hidden and public moments of my life. God has placed within us all unique personalities and abilities that He wants to use for His kingdom purposes. “Now is the time; today is the day. Own your life. Heaven will tell your story throughout eternity. May you live one worth telling. May you leave a legacy of vibrant faith and a pathway for others that is lavished with generous love and the kiss of God’s favor each step along the way.” Sally Clarkson 2 Timothy 4:7-8(NIV) “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” In the days ahead consider the legacy of your life and the legacy of faith you will leave behind. Consider the power of your words and use them to influence for good. How can you be a vessel of the love, beauty and grace of Jesus in the lives that you touch this week?  Blessed,
Kathy Be sure to join us each week for Monday Musings. Feel free to share on your social media. Join our email subscription to receive the blog automatically each week in your email. Sign up at the top right of this post. Resources: Archives 3/19/14, Sally Clarkson, Own Your Life, Scripture Images - Pinterest  Come on mother, let's take a quick selfie! I cannot take credit for today's blog title! Is brought to you by my mom, Sue! Poor mother! Almost every Saturday morning at 7am she gets an ear-full from her first born as I call to check in with the intent of seeing how all is going with her and daddy! (Don't worry all of you nite-owls, she is always up and watches the clock for my call!) The tables always turn as she inquires of my past week, the weekend and what all is on my schedule for the upcoming week! She can never keep up with my many locations, jobs, events, and activities that I have going, nor can I for that matter! I don't expect anyone to!! Yet she listens and I unload! She is in the same boat! Always something going on! We shared conversation of a busy life and the prayer request of strength and sustainability. Service and volunteering run deep in my family! The week was full as I was recuperating from past events and getting ready for the Ministry Mixer hosted by Beth Townsend and The BR Christian Life Magazine! This event gave ministries and organizations from the greater Baton Rouge area the opportunity to network and share with those attending, a one-minute synopsis of our ministry.
 Over 60 ministries represented! Where's Waldo? Ha! Can you find me, Lora, and Keith?
 Speaking ever so quickly of vision, mission statement and our upcoming events! Yes, I made it within the limit! Ok, so there you have a small portion of the past week! So what's with the title May Day! Mayday! you ask? Back to my story and visit with mother on the phone...! As usual, I was listing off all of the reasons why I wasn't coming up to see them anytime soon because my plate is too full. "On top of it all..." I told her, "It's my turn to blog and I haven't a clue what to write!" She immediately responded with May Day! Mayday! "I love it!" I exclaimed, while exploding with laughter! Clever! Yes, I can relate to this and so can everyone else! Today as I am writing...it's May 1, 2016. May Day! Y'all, summer is right around the corner! Hang in there...especially if you are a teacher! Only 3 weeks left! I don't know, there just seems to be something exciting about the end of May. I guess it's the end of one season and the beginning of another for me! I already have a list a mile long of things to accomplish and before I can blink...poof!...it will be fall again! Yikes! I know...Sherry...take it one day at a time! But we have so many cool things happening!!(smiley face) So I want to expound a little on this May Day Mayday! I hear it around me eveeerrrryywhherrree! Cries of distress! A longing for help! So much to finish in the next 3 weeks! NO, 2 weeks! ....for tomorrow! Will I get it finished? Will I live? If I can just hang on....! Thoughts of past blogs haunt me...Breathe!...Winter's Rest, One Small Word...I think I need a retreat! Seriously! I'm guessing you'd like one too! or are you thinking that you don't have time for a luxury like that?! It's Soul Care, people! Most importantly, only you can take care of that! It's not a luxury...it's a necessity! The mission of Restore Ministries is to offer you just the moments you are so desperately and internally screaming to gain. We can offer you the place and opportunity but you must make the move to grab hold. We have heard your cries of over-whelming stress, unavailable weekends away, feelings of a malnourished soul and stagnant prayer life. We want to offer you A Feast for Your Soul. This year, we are offering three individual day-away events: A Feast for Your Soul - 3 Course Series, Come - Bow - Worship. Our heart is to help you pursue an intimate relationship with The King as we learn how to humble ourselves before His presence and honor Him as Sovereign. Come - will be held Saturday, July 16th. During this women's Tea/Luncheon, we will explore the invitation from the Father to Come into His presence. On Saturday, November 12th, we Bow our hearts and spirits in a day-away of prayer and lunch at the beautiful Solomon Retreat Center. Saturday, February 4th offers men, women and families a glorious evening with dessert as we culminate in Worship incorporating the Arts. (Go to the Menu for more information on these events)  I know first hand how a busy life can rob you of your joy, rest, and peace. Deep within you cry "Mayday Mayday!" At the booth last Tuesday, women kept telling me of their need for restoration, rest, and refocus. Their eyes were weary, shoulders slumped at the weight of their burdens and speech told of a heavy heart. Sound familiar? They lingered in the beauty of the booth. I had soft music playing, flowers, and the scent of fresh linen graced the air! It was a tiny reflection of our Restore Retreats. God has uniquely called me and Kathy to this ministry of soul care. It's important to pull away from rush of your busy life. We seek to minister creatively to the heart and spirit by providing opportunities to soak in the richness of God’s Word, His beauty, Worship and the Arts. It is our prayer that you will join us and experience the transforming work of grace and restoration that the Lord wants to do in your life. He (God) will restore YOUR soul and guide YOU in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Ps. 23:3  May Day - May 1st is known as a day for festivals, cake, dancing, and flowers! A celebration of beauty! Today, or this month, would be a great time to step into the beauty of God's creation and feast on a little appetizer of His love, His forgiveness, and peace! Hang in there! You can make it to your deadline! Turn your Mayday, Mayday plea into May Day glee! Be sure to put us on your calendar and go ahead and sign up for the July date! Invite a friend to join you. Also be sure to watch the website and Facebook for more Restore Opportunities! Encouraging us all to RESTORE, Sherry  Be sure to join us each week for Monday Musings. Feel free to share on your social media. Join our email subscription to receive the blog automatically each week in your email. Sign up at the top right of this post. |
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