Knowing and Cherishing Christ

The Springs Retreat is all about deepening our trust in Jesus and developing our relationship with Him. It is a time for letting all of our knowledge about God that we have learned in the Scripture lead us to knowing Christ richly, personally, lovingly with heart, soul, mind and strength.

Dr. Benner reminds us that our faith must be more than a trust in right beliefs. But what is the difference between having right beliefs and having a relationship with Christ? He writes:

"In Christianity, the shift from faith as trust, to faith as belief, was primarily a product of the Enlightenment...Faith as trust is personal and interpersonal. Trust is always placed in someone or something and our act of trust is an act of leaning into the object of trust with openness and expectant hopefulness. For Christians, trust in God, however, was slowly degraded into trust in certain thoughts about God. If these thoughts were judged to be true, one was judged to have faith. But the object of the faith in this debased expression of faith is, in actuality, thoughts, not God.

"Equating faith with beliefs truncates and trivializes spirituality by reducing it to a mental process. Thoughts are, quite simply, a poor substitute for relationship. Some Christians speak much of a personal relationship with God but assume that this is based on holding right beliefs. Is it any wonder that this attempt to reduce Ultimate Mystery to theological propositions so often results in the principal personal relationship being with their own thoughts? Cherishing thoughts about God replaces cherishing God, knowing about the Divine replaces knowing the Divine. Whenever the Wholly Other is thought to be contained in one’s beliefs and opinions Divine transcendence is seriously compromised and personal relationship with Spirit minimized." (Soulful Spirituality: Becoming Fully Alive and Deeply Human) 

As I've thought about this, no one had more thoughts about God than the Apostle Paul. And no one was more concerned about Christians having right beliefs. Yet he, too, seems to say that Christian faith is not a faith in right beliefs but a faith that trusts in Christ, a faith that leans into Christ in openness and hope, a faith that seeks to know Christ and desires to become like him in his death. Paul writes:

"But whatever was to my profit (all of his work) I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Phil 3)

How can we make sure that our faith is focused on fully knowing Christ, as Paul's was, and not limited to having right facts about the Scripture and God?  It seems that this kind of knowing has to do with an intentional pursuit of imitating Christ -- we get to know him personally by trusting in the power of God (as Christ did), by sharing in suffering for the gospel (as Christ did)? We get to know him when we intentionally seek to become like him in his death (which I think is a call to obedient surrender and loving trust in the Father, NOT seeking to die a tortuous death). We have fellowship with him, by seeking to become like him, and share his struggle to further the kingdom of God.  This is all challenging me to really consider if I want to know Christ at all, or if I've settled for trusting in my right beliefs about Him and if I have substituted a lot of right beliefs for a deepening relationship.

I want to know him, not just have right beliefs about him. I think I pursue knowing him through deepening my faith, hope and love--taking my right beliefs and putting them into practice as I live my life with Christ. Trusting him, today. Hoping in Him, today. Loving him, today.

Retreating, where there is time for me to be quiet and alone with Christ, certainly gives me opportunity to deepen my personal relationship with him.

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Under a Spell

It's almost like we've been placed under a spell (like in the fairy tales) and we need to be wakened from our evil enchantment with this world.

All of our modern philosophies have been devised to convince us that our own good and highest enjoyment is to be found here, on this earth, now. In fact, "Almost our whole education has been directed to silencing the shy, persistent, inner voice" that calls our attention to the truth that this world is not all there is. The shy voice says, "There is more!"

The truth is, our real goal is elsewhere. Earth cannot be made into heaven. We are in exile on earth - our fatherland is not here and now. The sun will burn out. The universe will roll up like a scroll, and we will die. What hope is there here?

We remain aware of a longing which no natural happiness will satisfy. Our desire for Paradise does not prove that I will enjoy it (any more than my desire for bread proves I'll get some), but it does give us a good indication that Paradise exists and that some people will enjoy it.  Our secret longings (and the glimpse of their satisfaction we fleetingly experience) all point us to heaven. Our real desire is for heaven.

Reflection #10, on The Weight of Glory

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As in a mirror - dimly

There is another important idea to grasp regarding our reward. If we are made for heaven, the desire for our proper place will already be in us. And at times that desire is awakened, but we can have it attached to the wrong things.

Our desire for our far-off country, which we find in ourselves even now is so sweet, so intimate, so tender and precious to us, that we hesitate to even talk about it (for fear it will disappear, vaporize, and we won't know how to get it back). It is a desire for something that has never actually appeared in our experience. Yet our experience keeps suggesting it, inklings break through. We might call it "beauty" but it is more than that.

We cannot trust in what brought us the inkling of beauty (the sunrise, the flower) it only came to us through them.  What came through was longing. The beauty, the memory of a time in the past, are good images of what we really desire; but if they are mistaken for the thing itself, they turn into dumb idols. It's not the music, the flower, the conversation, nostalgia, a sweetness in our chest -- they are not the thing itself. They are only the scent of the flower, not the flower. They are only the echo of the music we have not heard. They are only news from a country we have never yet visited. But they are inklings of our reward in heaven, a taste, a fleeting glance...but a glance no less.

To have that experience completely, forever, is the highest consummation of why we were created, what God has desired for us from eternity, and to desire it, long for it, live our whole lives to attain it, is a good thing, a pure motive, the "chief end of man."

Seeking my own good and the enjoyment of it forever is a good thing.

"For we know in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."  I Cor. 13:9-12

Reflection #9 on C.S. Lewis, Weight of Glory 

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Inklings

Our desire for a heavenly reward will lose its sense of being a selfish desire as we experience inklings of it. As our desire for heaven's reward grows, our fear of it being a selfish, impure motive will die way. In fact, it will seem increasing absurd that our desire for heaven be anything other than the purest of motive. But this won't be our experience overnight; it won't happen in a day any more than "poetry replaces grammar, music replaces scales, grace replaces law, longing transforms obedience." It happens for most of us "gradually as the tide lifts a grounded ship."

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will appear with him in glory" Col. 3:1-4

Do you long to appear with Christ in glory? Isn't that the purest of longing -- to know Christ and be known by Him in glory. A staggering promise of reward.

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Pressing for the Prize

Understanding heaven, comprehending the staggering nature of the promises of rewards, is not something that happens all at once. We don't simply read a verse of Scripture and now we've got it. Much like comprehending God's love, it takes time, minutes that add up to hours of contemplation, openness on our part to receive the truth and let it soak in. Because of the culture we live in, one that is dominated by instant gratification, being motivated by heavenly rewards doesn't come naturally. And we may have heard someone say that heavenly rewards are just God's bribe to get us to do what he wants -- or a concept developed by people in power to dominate others and keep them in line. Don't let the scoffers and ill-informed keep you from embracing the Truth.

"Those who have gone to heaven, who have attained eternal life and are in the presence of God, doubtless know very well that it is no mere bribe, but the very consummation of their earthly discipleship, but we who have not yet attained it cannot know this in the same way. In fact, we cannot even begin to know it at all except by reading the Scripture, and continuing to obey what the Spirit shows us, and finding the first reward of the sweetness we receive from our obedience. That inkling of reward will increase our desire for the ultimate reward. Much like learning any skill -- a foreign language, playing a musical instrument, taking photographs -- we seek to become good at it in hopes of receiving the reward of enjoying literature in its original language, or playing the music that is in our hearts, or capturing the beauty we see on film. And every once in a while it happens we experience what it will be like when we become proficient, and that fleeting experience of what we seek; that inkling of our reward increases our desire and motivates us to continue working on grammar, and musical scales, and lighting techniques.

"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things." Philippians 3:14-15

Reflection #8 on C.S. Lewis, Weight of Glory 

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The Weight of Glory

Our desire for the Lord's reward cannot be too strong. Jesus Himself lived for his reward: "who for the joy set before him endured the Cross, scorning its shame." (Heb 12:3). I'm afraid that we know so little of the joy, and actually feel embarrassed by the possibility that we would be seeking it, that we attempt to live our Christian lives without it.

We don't use our desire for the Lord's reward as a motivation...to our detriment.  Paul is always looking to his heavenly reward. He is always pointing our gaze there: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worthy comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." (Rom. 8:18) Paul envisions the scales of justice. On one side he puts "all of the sufferings" we experience in this life. On the other side, "the glory that will be revealed in us." And when weighed on Justice's scale - our sufferings cannot be compared. The weight of the Glory to be revealed completely outweighs our sufferings.

But we do not know this! We don't know about this glory. We don't have a vision of heaven, or of the promises that await us, and so we "suffer" and having nothing to put on the other side of the scale, we think that it is unfair, not right. Our confidence that God is good and can be trusted is undermined. We think we need to satisfy ourselves, here and now.

Paul says that if this life is all there is, then we are to be the most pitied.

We live our lives, essentially, thinking only about this life, embarrassed by any true desire for the glory that will be revealed. What motivated Abraham and Moses and the great cloud of Old Testament witnesses, what motivated Jesus, what Paul and Peter and the writer of Hebrews declare, what theologians up until the 1800s held out as of central importance, has been lost on us. As a result, we are like ignorant children fooling around in mud puddles and think it is only right that we do so, think it would be wrong, in fact, to even let ourselves desire a "holiday at the sea." We are far too easily pleased!

Reflection #7 on C.S. Lewis, Weight of Glory

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Consummation of a Life of Faith

What is the consummation of our life of faith? What is the natural, highest, best outcome we could imagine? Is it not living with Jesus for eternity. Is it not friendship with God, being welcomed into his family? Isn't our love for Jesus consumed in being enveloped in the love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

The proper reward for following Christ is to be with Him and become like Him. Heaven is a proper reward because it is the very best outcome of living a surrendered life. That is why we seek, because we long to find. It's not selfish. It's not tacked on. The rewards Jesus offers to his followers in the Gospels are the consummation of our lives here. We shouldn't feel any embarrassment about living today, motivated by a desire to receive a heavenly reward. That's the highest, best outcome of our new life.

Heb. 11:1-3:  "People who say such things (living as strangers here) show that they are looking for a country of their own...they are longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."

Living a life of faith for the hope and promise of heaven is a pure motive, because it is the consummation of our desire to be with God, to be pleasing to him. Moses lived his life for his heavenly reward:

"Moses regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward." Heb. 11:24

"Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection."  Heb. 11:27-40 

It seems that our desires for heaven and the Lord's reward cannot be too strong.

Reflection #6 on C.S. Lewis, Weight of Glory

 

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Proper Rewards

It seems that we actually resist working for Jesus' reward. Why?

It troubles us, I think, that we would do a good thing for someone so that we could receive a reward. That seems selfish--not loving. It feels like we have mixed motives. So we put out of our minds the staggering, unblushing promises of rewards and seek to live a life of love -- of doing good for others, making sacrificial choices, without thinking of any benefit to ourselves because that feels better to us. We think it's more godly, more pure. We don't want to think that there's anything in it for us. We've been deceived!

When would a reward be a bad thing? When shouldn't we seek a reward?

There are different kinds of rewards. It is the rewards that "have no natural connection to the things you do to earn them and are quite foreign to them" that are wrong.

For example: Money is not the natural reward of love. So if you marry someone for his money - that's wrong. But if you marry someone for the reward of being able to be together, in love for your whole life...that's pure. That's not selfish, but the proper reward of love.

If a general goes to war to get a higher position for himself, that's not the natural reward, that's selfish. But if he goes to war and fights well for victory, that's not selfish, that's the natural end, that's what he is fighting for. Victory is the proper reward for battle just like marriage is the proper reward of love.

Proper rewards are not just tacked on to the activity, they are the activity in consummation. Love in consummation is marriage; the consummation of fighting a battle is victory. Rewards that are the natural, highest, best outcome --are not selfish but right and true, proper rewards.

Reflection #5 on C.S. Lewis, Weight of Glory

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Longing for Heaven

Why does Jesus want us to long for heaven and seek it with all our heart?

Possibly because he knows us. He knows how we seek what we believe will make us happy. And if we don't know much about heaven, then we are looking to have our needs met by the things of this life. Even as upside down as it seems, what makes us the most miserable can be satisfying something we desire.

Given our perspective on the world, we aren't trying to change our circumstances, we can't seem to change our behavior, and may, if we could see our motives it's because we like things the way they are.

We may think that we are doing something because it is the right thing to do, but underlying what we may be saying to ourselves and others, there's another motive that is more true to how things really are. The role we are playing in the relationship works for us. Our misery works for us. It feels comfortable. We know it. Doing anything differently conjures up too many fears, feels too risky.

We seek our own interests as we perceive them and fool around with shopping and eating and getting ahead, manipulating our kids and controlling our friends, like ignorant children who want what we want NOW to make us happy for an instant rather than wait for what will truly satisfy. "We want to go on making mud pies in the slums because we cannot imagine what is meant by an offer to go on vacation at the ocean."

Jesus knows we are far too easily pleased. Our desires are not too strong for heaven's reward, but too weak. So he gives us a clearer picture of heaven that we will desire it. Longing for heaven, thinking about our reward there, makes the things of this world grow strangely dim.

Reflection #4 on C.S. Lewis, Weight of Glory

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Gifts for us

"Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards in the Gospels" we'll realize that Jesus is not afraid of tarnishing our motives with incredible gifts if we choose to follow him.

Is it possible the Jesus knew that our desiring heaven would be faint--and He gives us such staggering promises in order to strengthen our desire for heaven? So don't be afraid of embracing and praying to Jesus to strengthen your comprehension of His reward. He wants us to want it -- to really want it!

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Col. 3: 1-2

It is not selfish to desire His reward. How could it be too self-focused to want what God wants for us? Don't be deceived! Our longing for heaven is not too strong, but too weak.

Reflection #3 on C.S. Lewis, Weight of Glory

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Practicing the Presence of Christ

When Christ saves us, we are immediately God’s. We do not have to wait for eternity to be his friend, his child, his purpose-filled worker. Every moment we live is lived in his presence. His Spirit lives in us, walks with us, and connects us to God every moment we let him. We do not have to work for this. We do not have to be good enough. We do not have to say certain things or do elaborate things to be led and loved by God.

God's love is a free gift – grace. We can always have joy, peace, kindness, love, patience, self-control, gentleness, faithfulness. So….why do we sometimes feel distant from God, why do we sin, why do we doubt, why are we stressed and fearful, why do we waste so much time on selfish things? I think it is because we don’t pay attention to God. We ignore his Spirit. We say yes to ourselves and no to Jesus. We get busy, we forget the important stuff, we drift.

I want to pay attention to God a lot more. I want to embrace his Spirit every moment. I want to say no to myself daily so that I can say yes to Jesus and the journey he has for me. 

shared by Christy

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Desiring our Own Good

What will we find if we choose to deny ourselves so that we may follow Christ? We will find promises of our own good, enjoyment, and fulfillment of our deepest longings. Following Christ holds out for us the most incredible appeal to receive all that we would ever desire.

If you think that to desire our own good and earnestly hope for the enjoyment of it, is a bad thing, is actually selfish, you've embraced some other philosophy, but NOT the Christian faith.

Reflection #2 on C.S. Lewis, Weight of Glory

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Self-focused

I've journaled my way through C.S. Lewis' Weight of Glory. I thought I'd share some of my reflections here as they have been very helpful to me.

Reflection #1:

We are afraid that we might be too focused on ourselves. Often we start to think that the highest virtue is not thinking about ourselves, not serving ourselves, not being selfish. But there is a fundamental difference between being unselfish and loving.

The negative idea of "unselfish" carries with it the suggestion NOT of primarily securing good things for others, but of going without them ourselves, as if our abstinence and not their happiness was the important point. Self-denial is mentioned a lot in the Bible, but not for the sake of itself. We are told to deny our self and take up our cross so that we can follow Christ, and live a life of love. God commands us to love.

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Thoughts from Spurgeon

Spiritual knowledge of Christ will be a personal knowledge.

I cannot know Jesus through another person’s acquaintance with him. No, I must know him myself; I must know him on my own account. It will be an intelligent knowledge...as the Word reveals him.

I must know his natures, divine and human. I must know his offices—his attributes—his works—his shame—his glory.

I must meditate upon him until I “comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.”

It will be an affectionate knowledge of him; indeed, if I know him at all, I must love him. An ounce of heart knowledge is worth a ton of head learning...

To conclude; this knowledge of Christ Jesus will be a most happy one; in fact, so elevating, that sometimes it will completely bear me up above all trials, and doubts, and sorrows; and it will, while I enjoy it, make me something more than “Man that is born of woman, who lives but a few days, which are full of trouble”; for it will fling about me the immortality of the ever living Saviour, and gird me with his eternal joy.

Come, my soul, sit at Jesus’s feet and learn of him all this day.

Spurgeon, C. H. from Morning and evening: Daily readings

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Peace

I think I’m coming to a new understanding and perspective on peace.  This phrase has gone through my mind recently…
Peace is not achieved, it’s received.
It seems like I’ve "heard" that in my heart over and over, and I’ve been pondering what that might mean.  I think that in a way I’ve thought of peace almost as a goal, with certain steps to get there.  Good steps, like...if I am walking by faith, if I am trusting God enough, if I’m trying not to worry…Then I will get to that place of having peace.  And all those things are truths.  But I think I’ve missed a subtle but powerful difference.  I can’t seem to “get” peace.  Or at least if I do, it is short-lived.  These past few weeks I’ve been experiencing something new and different.  It feels like I have been over and over releasing things to God, with arms and heart open, and then I’ve been able to receive His peace.  Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.”  My part is to receive it.  And to let go of whatever it is that hinders that. 
Much to think about!

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Saying yes

"One of the ways in which we most securely insulate ourselves from transformation is by having lives that are too full for stillness and solitude."

"For the last two decades my wife and I have spent about half of each year in leading contemplative retreats around the world. Doing so has convinced me that real transformation seldom comes simply from reading a book or listening to a lecture. It requires the fertile place of solitude and stillness. It demands the openness of heart and mind that can only be given when space is created for wahtever measure of stillness we can receive from God and are then prepared to offer back to God as our gift. Seeking silence, solitude, and stillness is always, therefore, a response to the Spirit, who calls us within our spirit to deeper places. It's a response to a longing that we may not even know is present. Acknowledging and responding to this longing is itself a way of expressing faith and saying yes to God." (David Benner, Spirituality and the Awakening Self, p 66.)

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Come to Me

It seems that lately I’ve been hearing a call in my heart, an invitation from the Lord. In the midst of a wildly busy time, and in the face of overwhelming struggles, what I’ve “heard” in my heart is, “Come to Me.” A simple yet profound invitation. The Lord through His Spirit, asking me, inviting me, even urging me, to simply respond to His invitation.

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

”Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters.”

“The Spirit and the bride say, “’Come!”

In this invitation I realize that He’s not inviting me to a place, but to a relationship. But I’m also realizing that sometimes in order to experience what He’s inviting me to, it does involve a “place.” Sometimes it requires that I literally step aside for a while from all the responsibilities and demands, to disconnect myself from the myriad of activities that seem to invade my every waking moment. Sometimes it means taking a drive, or setting aside a block of time with absolutely no agenda, except to respond to His invitation.

The Springs is the perfect “place” to say Yes to His call, “Come to Me.” In the meantime, I’m looking for ways that I can implement what I’ve learned at the Springs, incorporating into my daily life the things that nurture the intimate relationship with the Lord that I desire…and that He desires to have with me.

shared by Grace

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Let the Lord pour in

As leaders, I think we have to stop thinking that we are too busy to take time for ourselves. We know we cannot keep pouring out if we don’t take time to allow the Lord to pour in. We have to get away for more than a few hours, to give ourselves time to dial down, and become open and still.

Take this as an invitation from the Lord to set aside all that you give your life to, on a regular basis, so that you can give your full attention to Him. If you can’t do this for yourself, do it for your family and the women you serve.

Scholarships are available...don't let the cost of coming to The Springs keep you from signing up.

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Is it Time to Stop?

In order to do the work of the ministry, we often sacrifice activities that nurture our souls. We give up meeting friends for coffee, taking walks at the park, enjoying leisurely mornings with the Lord. There’s so much to do, we can’t even imagine how we could carve out a morning, much less a few days to get away for retreat.

A book I was reading posed an intriguing question: Is it possible that instead of meeting the expectations God has of us, we are actually insulating ourselves from Him?

Could we actually be the ones filling up every minute because we want to avoid the Spirit? Could it be that our obsessive busyness and extreme attention to every detail is a well-crafted way to hide, to insulate ourselves from Him?

As I’ve thought about it, it makes sense to consider if avoidance may be at the heart of why my life gets wound up in a frantic cycle of meetings and obligations.

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Ready to Serve with a Joyful Heart

"My time here was perfect. I can think of nothing more that needed to be done. This retreat is an absolutely amazing time to be alone with the Lord for rest and refreshment of your spirit -- in a place that is so magnificent, it testifies to His creation. I came with a heavy burden because I knew He was calling me to a task I was reluctant to accept -- although I knew I would obey. I wasn't approaching it with a joyful heart. Through His Spirit working in me and the love and care of the women around me, I will be able to accept this new season in my life more joyfully -- knowing I am doing His will.  Every time I come to the Springs, I leave changed.  Beauty and serenity and love abound here. Thank you!"  -  Fran

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Perfect Love Casts out Fear

"The Lord used this time to remind me of things I had forgotten regarding how His kingdom works. And He gave me time to examine my heart at the stage I'm in -- I now want to give Him things I like to hang on to. Overall, it was a time to enjoy Him and get re-focused. It came at a very timely season of my year. I think it'll allow me to move forward with less fear (which is a topic I've spoken a lot about with God lately). And that in itself is well worth the trip."

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The Love of a Father

"The Springs will change your life. It changed mine because I now have a Father in heaven who loves me. I have never felt that before."  -- Sarah

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Soul Rest

"The Lord used this time to rest me in His presence. He is the lover of my soul and I needed rest for my soul! We had a perfectly lovely time together!!! Thank you all for giving all of us such a blessed experience. You are the best...and thanks Betsy for singing my favorite worship song." -- Jackie

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God's Love

"How did the Lord use this time in my life?  It was an affirming time of God's love for me -- at this time and in this place of my life. Extended period of time alone with God was so refreshing. A time of initiating lost habits of spiritual disciplines was important. I like the small group prayer hour. Thank you for all the love - in person and in the love letters from God."  -- Ruth Mitchell

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Called to Keep the Faith

"The Lord will guide you always,

He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scourched land

And will strengthen your frame.

And you will be like a well-watered garden

Like a spring whose waters never fail."

Isaiah 58:11

"The Springs gives each woman lots of along time with God. It's a time to reflect and wrestle. God used this time to call me to keep the faith."  -- Julie

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Time to Listen

"This retreat is a time to step away from the busy schedules and come away to a quiet place and spend time alone with the Lord. It's a time of refreshment with the Lord."

"The Lord used this time in my life to give me time to think through what I was hearing God say. Observing the presence of the Lord through nature, seaching Scripture - letting God open my eyes. The small group prayer time was excellent. I loved praying for each of the gals. Such caring."  -- Bonnie Jean

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A Little Closer

"The Lord had already been speaking to me about a closer walk with Him. This retreat reinforced what I was doing and added Lectio Divina as another tool. I want to learn to walk peacefully with Him, doing what I see the Father doing, using words the Father gives me. This retreat brought me closer to that day.

"I have too much activity in my life which causes mistakes and wastes time and energy. I must slow down and pay attention to what God is saying and doing all around me, and in places I've yet to go.

"I must love, but to do that, I must continually be re-filled by Him, by the love He has for me."

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Everlasting Love

"The silence and solitude gave me strength and obedience to the Word of God. Iwill be able to trust God through difficulties and the storms of life. Even in times as troubled as today, m y hope is in the Lord. I will remember this day and the joy of His presence. May I live a life worthy and pleasing to you, My Lord."

The Springs is amazing. Solitude time with God, being in His presence and love. The continual reflection on the truth that "the everlasting love of God is forever." Enjoying the presence of the Lord, praying, reading His Word...waiting to hear His voice: "I love you, my child...Come...Listen."
--Priscilla

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A Must for the Bucket List

"The Lord blessed me with His presence when I felt it had been lost. He embraced me and comforted me. He opened my eyes and my heart with such tenderness. He reminded me that it is He who is in control of all things, all things for His purpose!

For those who have never been, the Springs is an amazing time of communion with the Lord! a must for the Bucket List!"   -- Catherine

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Early Morning Stretch

The songs that Christy used for the early morning stretch:

"Chant" by Michelle Tumes on her cd "Center of My Universe"

"I need thee Every Hour" by Jars of Clay on "Redemptions Songs"

"Strength of my Heart" and "Desire" by Tanya Riley on her cd "Captured" (highly recommend the whole cd - love it)

"Be Thou My Vision" by Ginny Owen on her cd "Without Condition"

"The Fall" by Gungor on "Ghost upon the Earth"

"Beautiful Things" by Nicole Binion on "Follow You"

And the song Christy played in the last chapel was "Agnus Dei" from "Amy Grant Christmas: The complete Collection"

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Loved

"The Lord helped me to truly understand what it means to be loved by Him--that He loves me despite all my flaws and mistakes. Also, He taught me that He has been, and always will be, with me."

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Like coming home

"The Springs is an opportunity for me to spend time with God and develop my relationship with Him; a time to be in silence with Him and listen to His guidance in a safe environment.

The Lord used this time in my life to give me rest, to refresh me, and give me some direction to my questions. The Scriptures are finally beginning to speak to me, or rather, I'm finally able to hear God, through the Scriptures. Coming to The Springs is like coming home to my Father's arms, but not like any earthly father I've ever known. In Him, all of my needs are simply yet lovingly met, providing me the space and time to listen, pray, assess, ponder, steep myself in Scripture and sometimes, most importantly, rest in His loving arms. There is the perfect balance of fellowship, leadership and solitude among women who are turned toward God and this is an encouragement and blessing for me."  -- Lamia

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Love deeply

Live life deeply in love. Meditate on the truths from Scripture that God loves you, has called and chosen you, and is with you always. Experience his love in the gifts He gives -- in flowers and sunsets, in friendships and family, in meaningful work and sacrifical service. Let His love nurture your soul.

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A Mountaintop Experience with Jesus

"I need a time to get away from the busyness of my life to spend quality time with my Lord. To fill up, be refreshed, enjoy the beautiful creation that God has blessed us with, and to feel that peace that passes all understanding and to just be alone with Him."

"This retreat is a wonderful time to get away and spend a mountaintop experience with Jesus."
                                                                          --Carolyn Mendes

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It feels like Family

Group Photo - The Springs, March 2012

"The Springs is a life-changing event that will stay with you forever and you can use the tools given to you at any time or any where. It's also nice to have a nice room of your own and the beauty of the wildflowers, grassy hills, and wild life to take your stress away! It would be so great to have one more day to be alone with the Lord.

"The Lord used this time to de-stress me. I love nature and everytime I come, it feels more and more like family. The women here share the same struggles as other leaders do. So the prayer time is a special time. But the time alone just goes by too fast. I would love to have more alone time. I love the team. You now feel like family and when we arrive and see your faces, it's like coming home to family: a great, happy and warm feeling. God bless you all and thank you from my heart."
                                                   -- Summer Farris

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No Need for a "Church Face"

"The Springs is a place to pull away from all of life's to-dos and noises. A place to rest. A place to meet God without your "church face" on. It's a place to hear God.

"The Lord used this time to give me rest, for communication with Him. It was a time when I could pray. It has been a shot in the arm of refreshment, in and with Him."

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God's at Work

"I feel like The Lord blocked out everything so I could hear him. I still struggled with feeling him, but I heard him clearly. For those who have never been, the Springs is something that you can't imagine. I was scared to spend time in silence. But God works and teaches in ways I never before experienced." --Marty Angarole

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Out of the Dirt - Fruitful and Abundant

Gina used her paint brush to express her praise to the Lord for what He is doing in her life. This picture is actually two panels that can be join or separated. She presented her art as a praise to God at our closing chapel.

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Refreshed

"The Lord used this time in my life to bring me into the company of women who love God/Jesus and live their lives with that love at the core of their very existance. Many people are turned off (or away, if you will) by Christianity because there are (what they call) too many hypocrites in the churches. The women of NEWIM are true examples of people who walk their talk. It has been refreshing and inspirational to be among them.  Thank you and bless you all!

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A Unique Time

"The Springs is a very unique time where you have the opportunity to turn off the world and use your spiritual senses to experience the Lord.

"My time with Jesus was so sweet. The Lord led me to rest, read, and receive His revelation. I'm always so surprised how all the silent time is gone before I expect it to be. Now, having been here a few times, I'm done with having so many expectations and wants that I don't give time to turmoil. The Lord knows what I need and always puts my focus on exactly what will speak to me the most. I have learned more about the character of Jesus and how wonderfully He values who I am."  Rachel

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A God-filled time

"I loved every minute of this retreat! It was a peaceful, God-filled time. Wonderful! I was able to really rest, stop, pray and focus on the Lord. It's so hard to do that in my busy life. Slowing down really helped me to re-charge and focus on who God is, and what He wants me to do and be--mainly on what he wants me to be!" -- Linda Peters

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Learn more about The Springs

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Describe the Springs

Here are 12 quotes from different women who attended the Springs Retreat in November. This is how they said they would describe the Springs for someone who had never been.

"The Springs is a retreat for creating space (with guidance) for God to speak into your life."

"A wonderful time of being quiet with the Lord."

"It's an awesome time alone with God. I experience a spiritual refreshing and my soul finds rest in God."

"It is about getting away from the demands in your life so you are free to focus on the Lord and be in a place where, just perhaps, without the din of noise, you canhear his still, small voice clearer."

"A time of rest - to hear fromthe Lord, connect with Him through others."

"A beautiful place where you can spend time knowing and worshipping the Lord."

"Time to be with the Lord in silent retreat, gently guided by chapels to bring you refreshment, renewal, and restoration."

"This retreat is the greatest gift - time alone with God without interruptions."

"The best retreat a woman could ever attend because it not only offers refreshment, fellowship and teaching, but most of all your time is spent alone with God getting to know Him better."

"It is a very peaceful time with God, enjoying His creation."

"Time for quiet restoration of the soul."

"A time to spend with God."

 Join us for our first weekend retreat, March 9-11, 2012 at St. Anthony's. Go to NEWIM's website to register. We'd love to have you join us!

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What did you do at The Springs Retreat?

What did I do? Whew! The Lord and I cleared the air about a lot of things! Many things were surrendered, laid at the foot of the Cross, and then, God and I had fun! How marvelous to be in the presence of the Lord."

--Scotty, Youth Pastor's wife

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Soul Work

It is our duty to be loyal to God’s desires.


Beware of allowing externals to take control of your life. “Eat, drink and be merry,” became the life purpose of the farmer who had lost his soul. He failed to live rich toward God and only focused on amassing wealth for this life.

Our souls are not designed to be floundering on their own but are to be deeply rooted in God.


Open your inner world to the Lord and sit in his presence for a few minutes, without words, just inviting him in, that you might experience his love for you. Gently ask him to show you a glimpse of your inner world. As you sit in the Lord’s presence, do you sense he is opening you to something? Make every effort not to resist God’s work. If you find negative emotions, don’t pretend they are not there. Welcome them and release them to the Spirit. As you open yourself to the Lord, he will transform you.

As Christians, we can fail to live “rich toward God.” When we allow a busy life to keep us from a profoundly rich, soul-expanding, all-encompassing love for Jesus, we have become the farmer, living a profoundly impoverished life, living as if this life is all there is.

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Keeping the Lord before us

“The first fruit of love is the musing of the mind upon God. He who is in love, his thoughts are ever upon the object. He who loves God is ravished and transported with the contemplation of God .”


One of the most essential practices of the spiritual life is to keep the Lord before us all of the time. David knew this: "I keep the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure" (Psalm 16:8-9).

So how do we do this? When we take some time to retreat, we have the time to quiet our “inner noisy workshop.” Sometimes it takes 24 hours of solitude before we can begin to be present to the Lord. I've found some ways that help me to quiet the inner noise - things as simple as keeping a list so that my mind doesn't have to be continually reminding of things I don't want to forget.

Along with quieting the inner noise, we need to fill our minds with Jesus. We open ourselves to him and direct our thinking toward him. This is another goal. We can develop the habit of keeping the words of the Gospels in our minds by reading them carefully day by day, and re-reading them. We can memorize them. I find that when I am actively working on memorizing a passage, I naturally recall it throughout the day.

Keeping the Lord before us is a choice, a habit, a skill that we can practice and become better at. If we stick with it, keeping our mind focused on the Lord and at peace in Him will become the default. Our minds will return to him naturally, as a matter of habit.

Memorizing Scripture is such a gift as it helps our mind muse upon God.

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Arrange Time for Communion

"We understand anew that God will not compete for our attention. We must arrange time for our communion with Him as we draw aside in solitude and silence."

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