RETREAT PLANS

Wake up, Ladies! I'm ba-a-a-a-ck! Sheesh, I missed talking to you. But -- I love, love, loved the seventh session of the Academy for Spiritual Formation. I think those five days  pushed me even farther than the others, and among other things, the session shaped an idea for our Live Blog Retreat next weekend. (I called it a "party" in my last post, which seriously doesn't cover all that our on-line gathering is going to be.)

So, just to refresh your memory (by the way, I love that the little icon with the circular arrow on the internet is called the "refresh" button; I wish I had one of those in my body!)  Anyway, a review of the details for the retreat:

 
 

Friday, February 3,

4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

AND

Saturday, February 4

8:00 - 10:00 a.m.

AND

2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

AND

(For the brave early risers)

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5

6:00 - 7:00 a.m.

For those of you who haven't joined us for a blog retreat before, here's how it works:

 

            * Come to the In Real Life blog any time during the hours posted above. Come for as many of the four sessions as you like, and stay as long as you want to. It's okay to check in when the session is already under way.

        * When you do log on, post a comment with your rendition of "I'm here!" and when you have to leave, just post a comment saying "Gotta go!" (or some facsimile thereof)

        * Each session will have a theme which comes under the big ol' umbrella theme for the weekend (more on that below) . I'll post questions for you to ponder and you can address them in your comments. We'll be doing some prep for that next week in case you want to think about it ahead of time.

        * We'll have a couple of contests, too.I'm thinking this is going to involve food (always, right?) as well as some other challenges which we'll get to in a minute. The food contest (think pizza) will happen Saturday afternoon and the others will be ongoing through the weekend.

        * There will also be chances for those of you who are writers to share some of your creative work. Once you've pondered the theme (yeah, yeah, that's coming) you might feel nudged to write a poem, a prayer, or a paragraph. You'll need to send those to me by email -- nnrue@att.net -- by Thursday, February 2, one week from today. Let's keep them to 200 words or less.

        * Artists and photographers have an opportunity to show us what YOU'RE workin' with, too. If dealing with the theme inspires you to do some kind of visual art or take a photo, please send those to me (via email) too. Digital photos are easy to attach to an email; obviously any original artwork you do you'll have to take a photo of (or scan) and then attach to an email. But since those aren't due until a week from today either, you have plenty of time.

        * So -- during the retreat sessions I'll be posting . . . and posting . . . and posting! And you will be commenting . . . and commenting . . .  and commenting! That means if you miss anything, you can always go back and catch up later.

So -- more details:

        The FOOD contest: Create your absolute favorite pizza for Saturday afternoon's session. You can either actually make it or have Domino's deliver or whatever. OR you can create it in your head and describe it to us when the call goes out for  pizza entries during that session. If you want to take a photo or do a drawing, email those to me (ahead of time if possible) at nnrue@att.net. Why pizza? Because that seems to be the signature food of youth groups. Get kids together and feed them Papa John's. Help them feel like they belong. Show them what it means to share the bread of life. No words needed. It's there in the pepperoni and the double cheese and the original crust.

Besides, that fits out THEME perfectly. How do we as Christian women share the Bread of Life in the world, without having to say a word? Now, before you go, "But what about giving our testimony and sharing Scripture?" -- yes, that is a HUGE part of our ministry as Christians. However, that can be quickly discounted if we aren't absolutely LIVING it.   

In the week leading up to our retreat, I'm going to issue some challenges, starting with the one below in red. Then during our four sessions together, we'll see how they all fit into a courageous, stand-tall, God-filled way of being for you. My shoulders are straightening just thinking about it.

First Challenge: 

What do you have to leave behind, right now, to actually follow Jesus? (Matthew 4: 18 - 22) It doesn't necessarily have to be a "bad" thing. Fishing for fish wasn't a "bad" occupation to have; it just wasn't the one Jesus was calling his disciples to. For me right now, the thing I'm having to at least risk leaving behind is security. What about you? Ponder it in your heart (Mary style!). Talk to God. Maybe talk to somebody you trust. Talk to us if you feel comfortable. Then give it a go. We're here for you.

This could be our best retreat yet, ya think? Ah, and we've only just begun . . .

"And he said to them, "Follow me . . . Immediately they left their nets and followed him."

 

Blessings,

 

Nancy Rue

Comments

[Alyson]

I am really excited even though I can't go to all of them!!!!

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Yay, I am so excited about the retreat!!! :) The theme is perfect for what I've been thinking about since yesterday! I was listening to Brandon Heath's song "Give me Your Eyes" and it really became my prayer. The chorus says "Give me Your eyes so I can see everything that I keep missing. Give me Your love for humanity." I work at a fast-food restaurant so I come into contact with so many people. It's super easy not to think about them or anything more than "What's your order? Here you go. Have a nice day." But yesterday, it hit me that I need to see people as God sees them. God made them in His image and they are so important to Him and I need to treat them as such. Even if I'm not actually explaining the Gospel to them, I can still be a light and share God's love with them.

"What do you have to leave behind, right now, to actually follow Jesus?" Wow, that's a hard question... but I think, for me, it's the opinions of others. God's been showing me lately that I need to be completely real in my worship. At church a couple of weeks ago, I just had this "fake" feeling - like, I'm raising my hands during worship because I'm "supposed to." When I'm in my room worshiping by myself, I'm fine and I can be real and there's nothing fake. But I think it has to do with the fact that I've grown up in church so I think that others expect me to do certain things or be so far into my relationship with God. But God started showing me that it doesn't matter what others think. So I've been working on it and worship at church has been so much better because of it. :)

"Immediately they left their nets and followed Him." Two things really stuck out to me in this sentence.
First is the word immediately. As soon as Jesus called them, they went. They didn't stop and think about it or say, "Maybe tomorrow." They went IMMEDIATELY and that's how God wants me to be.
Secondly: "They left their nets" I just got this image in my head of myself tangled in nets. The nets had labels such as failure, others' opinions, appearances, disappointment. God wants us to run after Him with nothing holding us back. Nets are hindrances and I need to cast them off and leave them behind.

Sorry! I know my comment was really long! I just had a lot to say. :)

[Emii]

So we just... send stuff in? Those retreats you go to sound pretty amazing, Nancy.
Cannot wait. Now to figure out the times. (I never have, I just go on when I go on.:P)

[Natalie]

Sorry I have not been able to be on here much there has been a lot going on lately. But please say a BIG prayer for my school and family. My family runs a school and there is some stuff going on please pray for it. We are a christian private school, we are pretty small. Thank you.

[Avery]

First of all, I'm just really jazzed for this upcoming retreat and I absolutely cannot wait! :)
For the question: Wow! I just realized something! I've never really thought about it, but I'm really self-concious around people. I literally just realized that that is something that I need to leave behind to completely follow Jesus. Thanks for this post Mrs. Rue! Okay, I am totally having a talk with God about getting rid of that after I'm done commenting:)
I also have a prayer request for yall, I'm still trying to reach out to some of my friends about the LORD, but it's so stinkin hard. Please pray that I'll be able to recognize situations where I can demonstrate Jesus's love.
Thank you guys so much! I love this blog!

P.S. Natalie, I'm praying for you and your family. I hope yall resolve all yall's problems!

[Emii]

Sarah Elizabeth -- I love Brandon Heath and that song!

[Trinny]

my word...the challenge is one question i've been running away from...im scared to answer it but i know i have to face it someday...cant wait until the retreat!!!

[Joy]

Something I should leave behind is my desire to please EVERYONE. I want my only desire to be to please GOD. I shouldn't want to please EVERYONE because whenever I might be hanging with the wrong crowd I might want to please them and I might compromise and do something stupid. I should let my only motivation to be to please GOD and not man. For what shall I gain if I gain the whole world and loose my soul?