Kathy shared some plans for the new retreat for October and April. The  2 night retreat entitled "The Gift of Abiding in Christ" will include many of the same elements of the last retreat including extended times of prayer, worship, quiet time alone, and Biblical teaching yet, look a little different from former Restore retreats as we seek to creatively discover the meaning and depth of the rich teachings found in John 13-15. We will study the final teachings of Jesus in the Upper Room in John 13 and 14, where Jesus displays servant love as he washes His disciples feet and teaches about loving one another and the Holy Spirit, the comforter. Then we will spend much of our time during the weekend in the beautiful, extended metaphor that Jesus left His disciples about Abiding in the Vine in chapter 15.


    Like the Master Artist, the storyteller that Jesus is, He weaves together this story of the Vineyard to teach his disciples and us how to live. These were some of the last teachings of Jesus before He left His disciples and went to the cross and so they were critical for them as His followers and they are vital for our lives as well. On our first evening you will experience an authentic last supper and throughout our weekend we will explore the gifts that Jesus promises us when we choose a life of abiding in Him. We are  praying as we  study and  prepare for the women God brings to join us that we will all be encouraged in our life in the Vine, Jesus, and that we will sink down deep into His life and learn what it truly means to live out of our union with Him day by day bearing precious fruit for HIs kingdom.

   Kathy made an arrangement and placed it in a simple vase made of branches to use as a visual for her brief teaching about our upcoming retreat. The vase was given to Kathy by her daughter as a beautiful handmade Christmas present  2 years ago. It is a visual picture  of who we can hope to be when we choose the abiding life - this vessel is like us -  branches of the Vine -  holding God’s beauty out to the world. The fruit that we produce will all look uniquely different because He designed us that way, but it will bear His image. We are image bearers. Our life of image bearing is His gift to the world through the union of our life in Him.  

What is it that He has uniquely designed you and me to offer our world as His image bearers?
           What is the fruit we have the privilege of producing? 
                                We are made as His masterpieces to reflect His glory!
                                                     How will He use you and me to tell His story? 

It may be in what you paint.  It may be how you listen, how you love, how you write, how you worship, how you bake a pie, hold a baby, or how you serve the weary, the wounded, the lost. 

Christ formed in us spills out of us into the world. 
Isn’t that what we’re called to! 

      But our life in Christ, the Vine, will only flow in and through us as we learn to rest in Him. That is what Restore Retreats are all about - Rest and Restoration - as we seek the heart of the Father for our lives and soak His Word, prayer, and worship!
      As we finished up our time together, we shared things for which we are grateful and stories of how the Lord is working in our lives. It was a morning of sweet fellowship, laughter, vision, love and hope! We are so very grateful and blessed by the women who have shared their faith journeys with us in Restore!

Resting in His Abiding Love,
Kathy and Sherry

See the details below on the upcoming Restore Retreats and make plans to join us, bring a friend or gather a group to schedule your own date!  Register before September 10th for the "Early Bird" rate on the October retreat.

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Reflecting this week:

I can’t help but think about the example that Moses gave us when God spoke to him from a burning bush in Exodus 3 and what Moses was doing when God spoke!  I suggest that you read the chapter.

First of all, Moses was pretty much down on himself.  He had compassion on his Hebrew kinsmen and in defense of an attack on one of his brothers, he killed an Egyptian.  Then word got out and Pharaoh looked for him to kill him.  This caused Moses to flee to Midian away from Pharaoh.  He plopped down by a well in Midian, when seven daughters of the Midian priest came along to draw water from the well to fill the troughs for their father’s flock.  Then came some shepherds and pushed them aside.  But Moses, with his heart of compassion, stood up, came to the rescue, and helped the daughters.  Long story short, Moses’ compassion was rewarded, and he got the girl…Zipporah.  Now, Moses has a family and is herding sheep on the backside of the desert for his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian.  Here’s where it gets good…!

God got his attention.  Moses took notice.  Moses went to see.  Moses spoke of his intentions.  Moses turned.  God spoke his name.  Moses positively acknowledged, “Here am I.”  (Notice he didn’t say, “I’m here.”  I believe it was a holy surrender.) God gave him instructions to prepare him.  Moses hid his face in fear.  God delivered a message that He has seen the affliction and heard the cry of His people.  He (God) has come down to deliver them out and bring them up!  He also added what He was delivering them into…large and good! (vs. 8) And…with many different types of people (He lists them).  He has also seen their oppression.  Then God tells Moses to Come!  (vs.10) He didn’t say Go…He said to come; I believe that indicated that God was coming with him.  God didn’t say He would be with him until v12 and it is said in a way that is reconfirming…”Certainly I will be with you.”

We all know the rest of the story.  Moses questioned God a few times and then God always provided an answer.  And then, we have the story of the Exodus!

                Moses acknowledged the art of listening!  How are you like Moses?

                             Does God get your attention?  
                                                                What does it take?  
                                                                                  For Moses, it took something supernatural.

1. Moses took notice of the supernatural but didn’t stop at just noticing it!  He made a conscience effort to say to himself, “I will now (notice that he didn’t delay) turn aside and se this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.”  Moses wanted to investigate!  Sometimes we need to hear ourselves speak aloud.  It is a type of commitment.  I like that Moses didn’t wait to investigate.  He did it as soon as he took notice.  Are you waiting…or turning, to see what God has in store?
2. “Moses turned.”  Moses changed his direction to see.  This meant changing his perspective, too!  He would be faced with making a determination.  Don’t be afraid to change your direction.  Perhaps your perspective needs to be changed.  God has unique ways of getting our attention sometimes!
3. God spoke to Moses by name.  He even called it twice!  The first time was surely to verify that He was speaking to him personally and get his undivided attention.  The second time, I believe it was spoken with an inflection of compassion and intent…Moses, I know you and have a plan for you.  If you are a believer and hear God’s voice, you know exactly what I’m talking about.  How is it that God calls your name?  What emotion or inflection is associated with His calling you?  Why do you believe He speaks that way?
4. Moses responded to God.  “Here am I.”  He didn’t question God and say, “Are you talking to me?”  He also didn’t say, “I’m here!”  Moses took a more contemplative approach.  As I am thinking about Moses, I seem to think that perhaps he was going through crisis.  A long time in the desert, away from family, tending sheep (for his father-in-law), looking into the stars at night, thinking….thinking about his life.  Where he had been (Pharaohs palace), what he had done, and what he could have been.  When he responded to God, I think it was a response of total surrender.  He was meeting with God!  
5. Moses listened as God gave him instructions of preparation:  Don’t come near here, and take off your shoes!  God was preparing to reveal to him who he was and not only as the God of his father, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (those whom he heard about), but also as his personal God.  Is God just someone you have heard about or is He personal for you?  How does God reveal himself to you?  When you approach His holiness, how do you respond?  I have a friend that removes her shoes every time she comes to visit.  She does it out of respect for my home.  I’m just thinking that I need to remove the dirty shoes (sinful walk) before I fall into the presence of God Almighty.  Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look upon God.  We should seriously spend more time hiding our face by bowing low when we come into the presence of a Holy God.  It is only through Jesus that we are even able to come to His throne boldly and with confidence.
6. Moses listened some more.  God verified that he had seen Israel’s affliction, oppression, and had heard their cry.  God sees our afflictions, how we are oppressed, and He hears our cry!  God explained to Moses that He intended to deliver them out and bring them up!  How encouraging!  He wants to do that just for you as well.  Are you sinking low into something that only He can deliver you out of?  He will bring you up!  I love the word up!  It’s such a positive word!  Then God reveals that what He will give is large and good!  Even more exciting!  Friends, be encouraged today!  If you are downcast, listen!  God desires to give you more than you’ve ever imagined or dreamed.  It is large and good!  Get ready!
7. Moses heard God say come!  This was his second command to him.  The first was to prepare him; the second was to move him.  Of course, Moses had to face his giants again, for the good of the people, and because others are being oppressed.  When Moses expressed his concern about being the guy that God wanted, Moses heard God give a promise, “Certainly I will be with you.”

As I was writing this blog today, the Holy Spirit reminded me that the word listen has the same letters as silent.  Moses was out in the desert.  I’m sure he didn’t have a ton of people distracting him.  He probably did a lot of thinking…taking time to be silent.  I don’t really do that enough, though I am getting better, thanks to Kathy’s example!  When I see the fruit in other people’s lives, it makes me more willing to invest in the cultivating process.  Time alone with the Father opens pathways for listening and hearing His voice.  He has some pretty neat stuff to share with you; won’t you take time to listen?  Come out of the desert!  
                          Moses - keeping in tune with God.  
Promises declared!   Direction revealed!  Certainly God is with you!    

                                                                            Silently Listening,  Sherry

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There it was, soft, white, amidst a vivid hunter green backdrop.  Quietly calling for my attention.  Gently waving in the breeze.  Look.  Take notice.  Look again!  Quietness filled the air surrounding this normal, yet to me, an abnormal scene.  This fragile cylindrical living organism, engulfed among crisp green and brown leaves stood lonely, resting, upon a low hanging bough.   From the comfy loveseat on my porch, early one morning, I examined the tree carefully with inquisitive wonder.  Only one other bud in sight and it was so far from the other, high in the tree, the other bud could have never known that it wasn’t really alone.  

This beautiful magnolia bud won my attention. But, as it is with me, I didn’t see it as a simple bud, but a complex message.  It was one of those God moments that I almost let pass me by, a window into something that would speak volumes to me throughout the week.  This was at the beginning of this past week, where my story begins. 

What was the message you may be wondering?  Well… I seemed to think of it as an early bloomer, before it’s time, a trendsetter, a leader, radical, a rebel, alone, unique, and something special that has gone unnoticed.  I saw this magnolia bud as something that yet needed to grow, to spread it’s petals wide, experiencing the warmth of the sun, the light of the day, the dew of the morning, beautiful and fragrant, exhausting all its potential until its time of expiration.  I saw it as taking no thought of tomorrow, resting gently - within a simple branch on a limb, and giving no concern for its ability, nourishment, its purpose, how big or impactful it was going to be, or who was scrutinizing it.  And as I watched, I knew that it would be beautiful…magnolias are just that way!  Then, my observation began to reveal a comparison in various parts… as me, my life!  A life that once was, still is, and waits still to be.  I saw it not only as a picture of myself, but of others, and of things, of dreams, things we take for granted, those in the past, the ever changing present, and of a generation yet to come. 

The longer I sat in contemplative watch, the more its beauty developed.  I was amazed at how quickly the petals unfolded revealing the depth of its center and the surrender of its existence.  It had reached its peak…only a day or two left before it fades into a simple memory.  The culmination of thoughts toward this single magnolia did not bring sadness to my heart, but rather encouragement, and the courage to press on!

If I had seen many flowers on the tree, I probably would not have even given it a second glance, or a second thought.  It was the individualism of this flower that caught my eye.  It didn’t seem to conform to the pattern of the trees habit or blooming in step with other buds.  To me, it seemed to scream out, “Go for it!  Don’t worry about the other flowers, they haven’t even budded yet, set an example, be a leader!”  Now, I cannot tell you for sure how this currently relates in my life, but a little seed vision has been planted with a little message for me to recall at some given point in the future.  I must tell you that this magnolia story also was followed by a scripture verse that also seemed to stand tall, waving giant arms urgently as if to get me to stop and ponder!  The verse? 

The transformation of which Paul spoke in Rom 12:2 is not a change effected from without but a radical reorientation that begins deep within the human heart.1  Rather than allowing the world to “squeeze you into its own mold” (Phillips), Paul told believers to be “transformed by the renewing of your minds.” From without there is a continuing pressure to adopt the customs and mind-set of the world in which we live. Although that influence must be rejected, that alone will never create the kind of change God has in mind for his followers. Real and lasting change comes from within. We must “let ourselves be transformed.”12   A renewed mind is concerned with those issues of life that are of lasting importance.13 By nature our thoughts tend to dwell on the ephemeral (temporary). But that which passes quickly is normally inconsequential. As Paul said in another place, “What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18). The mind renewed enables us to discern the will of God.14 Released from the control of the world around us; we can come to know what God has in mind for us. We will find that his will is “good, pleasing and perfect.” It is good because it brings about moral and spiritual growth. It is pleasing to God because it is an expression of his nature. It is perfect in that no one could possibly improve on what God desires to happen.2

                            Transformation seems to be an ongoing process in this ever-changing world!

A few days later, 
I was driving around town to try and locate wallpaper for my bathroom remodel job.  I heard an advertisement on the radio…not sure what it was trying to sell and I rarely listen to the radio…but it was cleverly designed using the word start.  Jump start, start up, start over… you get the idea!  I gave a quick thought of the cleverness of the ad and kept driving.  I had no intention of thinking about it again until the Lord brought it to my mind about two days later.  The only thing different was he seemed to be saying, “Remember that clever ad?  Change the word start to step and by the way, don’t forget the magnolia!”  Humm…interesting!  Now I don’t know how God interacts with you, but I am always amazed at how He gets my attention and then causes me to focus in as He begins to speak to my heart.

I begin to speak out loud:

Step up...

             Step through...

Step over...

            Step ahead...

Step in...

             Step aside...

Step behind...

             Step inline...

Step above...

And after I spoke out each phrase, a memory or a thought of a situation came to mind about how I responded or how I should respond.  I considered the magnolia…it stepped up and bloomed without surrounding buds, it stepped through time and space to make a bold statement and it stepped ahead and aside to influence and allow room for others to grow.  Isn’t that the way we should be as Christians?  Step up and do what is right, what is hard, what is admirable.  Step through the floods and walk on solid ground!  Step over obstacles that seem to distract you from following God’s plan.  Step in and immerse yourself, enjoying the grace of God’s abounding faithfulness.  Step aside and let Christ go before you to perfectly prepare the way.  Step behind and follow in His steps.  Step inline with the Word of God and be obedient to every call and command.  Step above the mire and gunk of the world that seeks to sink you down and cause you to conform to the world.  
                                 Conforming is easy.       Transforming takes guts!      Stepping takes courage!

At the time of finally putting my thoughts in writing, I have driven around town and more than you can imagine…I have noticed many magnolia trees with only one bloom!  I even started counting the number of trees!  What if we were all like an individual tree?  What if we all had the courage to bloom where we are planted, even if it is out of season or out of sync with everyone else?  What would happen if we spoke up, stepped out, and let the fragrance of Christ flood the entrapment of those conforming to the world?  Perhaps revival??  Perhaps souls won for Christ??  Perhaps a newfound personal freedom in Christ and bondage chains shattered??  Maybe even a return to our first love!

Paul reminded the Galatians that the present age is evil (Gal 1:4). It cannot, and must not, serve as a model for Christian living. Its values and goals are antithetical to growth in holiness. The church should stand out from the world as a demonstration of God’s intention for the human race. To be culturally identified with the world is to place the church at risk.11 Believers are to be salt and light (Matt 5:13–14), purifying and enlightening contemporary culture.

Matthew 5:13,14 (NASB95)
13“You are the salt of the earth;
 but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? 
It is no longer good for anything,
 except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. 
14“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;

“We know that whatever a man sets his heart on exercises a mighty influence on the life, and leaves its stamp upon his character. He that follows after vanity becomes vain. He that trusts in a god of his own fancy will find his religion an illusion. He that sets his heart upon the loving God will find the living God take possession and fill his heart.”
                              Andrew Murray, The Holiest of All

       This week we come to the final devotional of our “Masterpiece” series. I’ve loved exploring and reflecting on what it means to surrender to the work of the Master Artist, the Lord God, in our lives. We’ve looked at the uniqueness of how He has created each of us. We've considered the garden of our hearts and appropriate boundaries and looked at how we can cultivate the mind of Christ. We've explored what it means to have eyes that see what God sees, ears that hear His voice, and mouths that speak His words of life. Sherry took us on a journey discovering how to live out our faith with the hands and feet of Jesus. Our prayer is that these devotionals have encouraged you to consider the unique beauty of the portrait the Lord is painting in your life. Before we leave this series I would love to spend just a few moments together on the surrendered heart. 

       So often I am asked questions about how to maintain life of intimacy with Jesus.

Surely the Lord calls us to minister to others and prepares us for that purpose as we grow in His likeness, but our number one ministry is to the Lord Himself. 


How is it that we keep our hearts tender for the Lord? 
All of your lives look different and we all face different demands from running a business, to raising a family, to maintaining a ministry and all that goes with it. The busyness of life can keep us from cultivating a heart of intimacy with God. 

How do we cultivate and maintain a heart that feels what God feels? 
How do we keep our hearts burning with that passion of our first love with Jesus? 

“Restore to me the joy of my salvation.” Many of you reading today may feel as if your spirit is dry and worn out from busyness, pain and wounds, or simply the demands of life.

       
       For me one of the best ways that I keep my heart tender for Jesus and my soul nourished is to give myself permission to take little mini soulcare retreats - extended time in prayer, in the Word, in solitude, in the beauty of creation - time when my soul-thirst can be renewed. 

      Is it hard for you to give yourself that permission?

       When we don’t take that time to be with Jesus our hearts can become dry even calloused as Jesus said in Matthew 13:15 in the parable of sower. Matt. 13:13-16.

“Though seeing, they do not see;
    though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
    they hardly hear with their ears,
    and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, 
many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what 
you hear but did not hear it.

       When we don’t cultivate that life of intimacy with the Father, we become desensitized to the things that draw us away from living a holy life. Sin can take hold of us and often we don’t even realize it. That is the enemy’s way. We stop seeing and hearing as God does. Indifference can set in when we don’t intentionally pursue maintaining the life of intimacy with Jesus. We choose other ways to spend our time, rather than studying the Word, time in prayer. We gradually lose the priorities He has established for the abundant life He has promised. The world can begin to consume us. It is oh so subtle, but so dangerous to the beautiful life that the Father has designed in His masterpiece that has your name written on it. 
       The Scripture says in v. 15 “This people’s heart has become calloused.” A callous take time to develop. It doesn’t come instantly.
                                                Are you allowing your heart to become calloused?" 

It can happen when we allow sin to intoxicate our hearts and when we don’t take the time to cultivate intimacy with God. That callous keeps us from hearing, seeing, and understanding His truth and plan for our lives

Maybe you’re in a place where you’ve lost your heart for your marriage, but you still believe in keeping the covenant you made.
 
Maybe you’ve lost your heart for your work, ministry or your family - you’ve just been hurt too many times.  It takes a toll on our hearts.

Over the course of time, our hearts can become calloused. I’ve certainly been there, but God says, Above all else guard your heart.

That means that above the responsibilities of raising a family, earning a living, running a business, working in a ministry, keeping our finances afloat, above___________  (you fill in the blank).

          " guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." 

       Now take a moment to reflect - 

                   What is the above all else in your life? 



Jesus is in the restoration business. He restores us by giving us  Himself. 
When you are lonely, Jesus can give you His sweet fellowship, 
When you’ve lost your way and are full of despair, Jesus can restore your vision. 
He can - and does - take hearts that have stopped feeling what God feels and imbue them with his passion, purpose, and concern. 

He knows the direction that you need to take. Put your hope in God. He will restore your soul.

       I recently came across this picture. I have always been drawn to the imagery of a garden gate. To me this one was so beautiful because the path was lined in lavender. We chose lavender as the signature flower for Restore because of it’s biblical meaning and the significance of "spikenard" or "lavender" in God’s eyes. When the word “spikenard” is used in the Bible it is believed that it refers to what we know as lavender.

"Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment."     John 12:3

         This familiar story is one that the Lord has often used to teach me about the beauty of costly, extravagant, lavish worship and love.  I’m so glad that lavender flowers were used in the Bible as an expression of love for the Savior. I have always loved the scent. and so I was drawn to this picture because it is an image of the path of intimacy that we all can choose. First we must open the door of our hearts to the love of the Savior. We must choose to walk thru the “gate” and there we will discover the lavish love of Jesus.  But what I love about this picture is how the lavender spills over the path, much like the love of Jesus. Imagine walking this path through the open gate - surely the soothing scent of lavender would cover you and linger wherever you pass by.