Guess where I’ve been all weekend! I had the great privilege to go to Bison Ranch Retreat Center and speak at the Community Church Of Joy Women’s Reterat. You should see this place! It’s located in the mountains of Arizona about 2 1/2 hrs drive northeast of Phoenix. You take Highway 87 north up to Payson, then 260 east to Overgaard where Bison Ranch Retreat Center is located. A lot of churches in the Phoenix and surrounding areas like Tucson use this retreat center. The accommodations are fantastic and the food is prepared by an actual chef! It was a great place to be able to meet with these women and talk together about intimacy with God. The weather was beautiful, but definitely colder than the desert warmth I am used to. Driving there I wore shorts in the 84 degree temperature of Phoenix but changed to jeans in the 50-60 degree temperature. The sun was shining though and I just loved being high up in the mountains among the pine trees. My cabin even had a gas fireplace - it was a total luxury to wake up in the morning, get my cup of coffee, turn on the fireplace, and sit and spend time with the Lord.
We had an incredible time together focusing on the theme “Seeking The Heart Of God.” The Lord spoke to our hearts in such profound ways as we talked about the need for personal spiritual revival in our lives. Then, on Saturday morning I spoke on how to prepare our hearts. In the afternoon I gave a workshop on journaling entitled “Pouring Out Your Soul.” Saturday evening we looked at the examples of Martha and Mary and talked about how to sit at the feet of the Lord and listen to His Word. Sunday morning we looked at one of my favorite passages of Scripture, John 15 and talked about abiding in Christ.
The worship team was phenomenal. From left to right pictured are the following: Ginger, Vicky, me, LuAnn. Vicky is a professional jazz singer - WOW - you should hear her sing. And when they all sing together, the harmonies are incredible. Ministering together with them was such a privilege. It’s always amazing to me to see how the Lord works everything together - their choice of songs was so perfect. They sang “I Am Not Ashamed Of The Gospel” prior to my last message - it was such a great introduction to my story about Jim Elliot and radical discipleship. But the most special experience of all was to see LuAnn. LuAnn and I had the great privilege to be involved in Campus Crusade For Christ at Arizona State University almost 30 years ago under the leadership of Elmer Lappen, one of the original CCC staff members with Dr. Bill Bright. I cannot tell you how meaningful it was for me to be with LuAnn this weekend. It brought back so many memories. On the last day, she chose Blessed Assurance as one of the worship songs - that was one of Elmer’s favorites and I can still see him singing “this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.” Thank you LuAnn for your commitment to the Lord. LuAnn also shared with me how her Bible study has journeyed through many of my books of quiet times. She gave me cards with notes to me from some of the women in her Bible study. I sat and read those notes in my quiet time and was just so humbled and blessed by their words. It makes me realize again how the Lord can use ANYONE and the weaker we are the better. Any books I have ever written - both the quiet times and the 30 day journeys - have all been God’s idea and His enablement. I can’t take a bit of credit for any of it. Praise the Lord for His mighty deeds in the power of His Holy Spirit.
On Saturday morning the worship team began leading us in the song, “Open The Eyes Of My Heart, Lord.” And out of the door at the front of the room came Kathy Sanzone, the Retreat Coordinator, in this heart costume. She walked all around the room. I had to have a picture with her in this costume. I’ve never seen anything like it. What an uncanny ability Kathy has to take a theme and communicate it in a thousand ways through the table decorations, nametags, and handouts. I was so blessed. Kathy’s heart for the Lord makes her what I call a SWOG - Super Woman Of God. She really set the tone and spirit of the entire weekend.
Driving home Cindy (one of my Quiet Time Ministries assistants) and I reflected on the retreat. We remarked especially about the hearts of all of our new friends from Community Church of Joy. What hearts for the Lord I had the opportunity to see - I was ministered to and blessed by each woman. And the Lord gave me opportunities to talk with so many. I feel as though I am a part of their women’s ministries now and have been so impacted by them!! Thank You Lord. And thank You Lord for Mary, the wife of the pastor, who led us in communion. She shared such deep thoughts about the Lord’s prayer and also about her love for the Word of God. What an encouragement to me to be so blessed by these women. Driving home the Lord painted the sky with His colors. It was such a reminder that the Lord is the one who adds the beauty to the landscape of our life. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us; to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20 NIV).