I'm so tired....

....I could cry! :o)

We had the Therefore retreat this weekend up at the Headlands in Mackinaw City and I think I got a total of 14 hours of sleep over the course of 4 days... It was an interesting weekend to be sure, and certainly a busy one!

Our theme was "Growing in Godliness" and to my discredit there were several moments along the way when I felt anything but godly..... Yet through all of the bumps along the path I learned a great deal more about my relationship with God. Sunday afternoon, one of my less-than-godly moments, we walked for what seemed like miles (ok, I think it was a total of 3 maybe 4 miles --- but it seemed like an eternity because I was hot and we didn't know where we were going --- shebah: the whole point of the walk...) and finally ended up at the beach. We talked about thirsting after God --- how we ought to desire above all else to drink deeply from God's well of living water. I was amazed by the parallels between our measely 3 mile walk down asphalt to a sandy beach (and my whining and complaining) and the "walk" the Israelites were sent on through the wilderness because of their disobedience and lack of faith. How often do we doubt God, cast "stones" against Him, when things don't go our way or become difficult? And depite our complaining, whining, and pathetic displays of abject disregard for His promises, He remains faithful and meets our needs. Granted, He deals with us --- for those He loves, He chastens --- yet all the time He's there telling us to grab hold of this "life more abundant and free" and live it! Not only are we given the opportunity to dip our buckets in the well of living water, but Christ has made it possible for us to drink deeply and be fully satisfied. And to think I complained the whole time when all we were doing was walking to the beach....... How often in life do we miss out on the GOOD things God has for us because the way seems too difficult or burdensome?

Oh, my brothers and sisters in Christ, how we must press on!