When the Retreat's Over...

       My best friend, Becki and I went to a women retreat last weekend.  We go every year and start planning on going the next year the weekend after we get back.  HAHAHA!  It’s a weekend with no kids, and no husbands, just two old friends spending the weekend together and getting their love cup filled God.

       The theme of the weekend was Jesus Loves Me.  I went into this weekend with a specific issue, a specific sin, I wanted to deal with.  It’s a sin I’ve had since I was 13.  I’ve tried to give it up many before, but haven’t succeeded.  I know it may always be “a thorn in my side”, and this may very well be something that I have to fight for rest of my life

       It was a great weekend, as it always it!  I took me to  the mountain top.  The only bad thing about going to the mountain top is eventually you have to go back down to the valley.  People actually warn you that after a retreat, to be careful, because that’s when Satan is most likely to try and attack you.  It’s easy to sing “Jesus Loves Me” on the mountain top, it’s a little harder to sing it in the valley.

       For me, my “valley test” hit me as soon as I got home!  I got home at the same time as Bryan and the kids got home from church.  We hopped in the van and off we go for a nice family lunch. It wasn’t until I get accused of yelling in the restaurant. (I have two volumes; mumbling or yelling).  I tried not to overreact, but of course those who know me best could tell.  Later, Bobbye Sue and I went to Wal-Mart and she asked me why I was in such a bad mood.  (BTW, why are you always the last to know when you’re in a bad mood). 

       Later, I was on Face Book, I saw Becki wrote a post that was unlike her.  So I texted her and long story short her husband told her to just go on back to the women’s retreat, (to which she sad; gladly!).

       Anyway, it’s been a tough week.  I’ve really tried to live out what I learned at the retreat.  I’m learning that I may not always make everyone happy and I need to worry a little bit less of what others think and be more concerned about what God’s commanding me to do.

       I love retreats. In fact, I’m going on one in a few weeks with the sweet ladies of my church.  I can’t wait.  I know God will continue to work on me and that the Devil will continue to try to persecute me.  But I pray and know without a doubt that God will give me what I need to persevere.