A lot has been happening in my life, since - and even a little before - going and coming home from the latest Bridgewoods Women's retreat. Each retreat is based on a specific subject. And this one was about "Intimacy with God. Our speaker was Susie Larson. If you don't know this women I suggest getting to know her. She is truly blessed by God. And His light shines through her. I could go on and on about Susie. But this blog post isn't about her, it's about God and how God works with us, guiding us to become the people He had envisioned us to be when we were born. And the reason I mention Susie is how she has helped me learn how to become a more Intimate with God. And it started even before this latest retreat, where I got to spend quality time with her. In fact it started about four years ago when I went to a Christmas Tea at Bridgewood where she was the main speaker. Then I saw her again a few years ago at a Women's Seminar at Emmanuel Christian Center where I saw her speak again. I had bought a few of her books at that time, but I didn't start reading them until about a month before this years women's retreat, especially after learning she was going to be the speaker. When I started reading them it was due to a desire to learn more about this women I enjoy listening too and learning from. After I started reading it became much more than that.
The first thing that happened was my reaffirmation of my love for Jesus. Susie had brought home to me that I shouldn't just keep Him as a friend that I only turn to when I'm going through rough times. And that I should be looking at Jesus as way more than that. In fact I should be looking at Him as my spiritual Bridegroom. When I did that the flood gates to everything that I was looking for, for my spiritual life opened up and I felt His Holy Spirit wash over me and fill me with His presence. In fact over fill me with His presence, so I have more than enough to share with those around me.
Then I learned some glorious news. That was I was going to be in the same cabin with Susie. I felt tears of joy fill my eyes as happiness overwhelmed me. In fact I felt God drawing Susie and I together. What His purpose for doing that is, I still don't know. If it's only to be good friends I'll be way more than happy with that. But God has His plans and I leave that in His hands.
Now at the retreat I felt called by God to do great things. But I didn't know what those things would be or consist of. The last night of the retreat we did a special thing where we had two sheets of paper. On one of the papers you were to write one thing you wanted to throw at God's feet for Him to take care of and the other was a thing God blessed and wanted you to keep doing. That evening God had bless the novel I'm writing. And it filled my heart with joy.
When I got home from the retreat I had put the slip of paper into my Bible as Susie suggested we do. And my eyes caught on the book and chapter I placed the note in, so I asked God if he wanted me to read that chapter. He said Yes. So I read the whole thing (It was Matthew Chapter 25) and the part about the three servants and the talents jumped out at me. After I finished reading I asked God to giving me understanding about what I just read. He didn't do it that night, but what He did do was give me a title of a book He wants me to write for Him and what that book is to be about. It wasn't until the next morning that He told me the meaning of why He wanted me to read that Chapter. He said, "Child I have given you many talents and I want you now to go out and use those talents to glorify me." He also talked my ear off that day giving me chapter titles for the book He commissioned me to write.
However that's not all. He has also put a calling on my heart to revise old Hymns and to do that He wanted me to learn how to play the guitar. Some of you may know that I play the clarinet and I bought a wooden recorder which I have played my own music on. So now I need to learn how to compose new melodies for old beautiful songs. At first my guy was up in arms about all that had been placed on my plate to do, and wondering how I was going to do all of that plus make sure He doesn't get left by the wayside. I promised him that I wouldn't leave him behind and that it will all work out. Because I trust God that it will. I have also had the great pleasure of showing him that even without any guitar lessons yet that I was a natural at picking up a guitar and playing it. I proved that to him by playing "A horse with no name" - I bought a Fender, for anyone who's wondering what type of guitar I bought for my first guitar - I give God the glory for that, because it is only through Him that I have the talent to do that. I do have to build up calluses on my fingers for when I play different chords since I can't always use the key of C to play all the songs I intend to revise, even though that would be the easiest thing to do and a lot easier on the poor fingers.
So have you ever wondered what God intended you to do with your life? If so ask Him and He will more than let you know.
The first thing that happened was my reaffirmation of my love for Jesus. Susie had brought home to me that I shouldn't just keep Him as a friend that I only turn to when I'm going through rough times. And that I should be looking at Jesus as way more than that. In fact I should be looking at Him as my spiritual Bridegroom. When I did that the flood gates to everything that I was looking for, for my spiritual life opened up and I felt His Holy Spirit wash over me and fill me with His presence. In fact over fill me with His presence, so I have more than enough to share with those around me.
Then I learned some glorious news. That was I was going to be in the same cabin with Susie. I felt tears of joy fill my eyes as happiness overwhelmed me. In fact I felt God drawing Susie and I together. What His purpose for doing that is, I still don't know. If it's only to be good friends I'll be way more than happy with that. But God has His plans and I leave that in His hands.
Now at the retreat I felt called by God to do great things. But I didn't know what those things would be or consist of. The last night of the retreat we did a special thing where we had two sheets of paper. On one of the papers you were to write one thing you wanted to throw at God's feet for Him to take care of and the other was a thing God blessed and wanted you to keep doing. That evening God had bless the novel I'm writing. And it filled my heart with joy.
When I got home from the retreat I had put the slip of paper into my Bible as Susie suggested we do. And my eyes caught on the book and chapter I placed the note in, so I asked God if he wanted me to read that chapter. He said Yes. So I read the whole thing (It was Matthew Chapter 25) and the part about the three servants and the talents jumped out at me. After I finished reading I asked God to giving me understanding about what I just read. He didn't do it that night, but what He did do was give me a title of a book He wants me to write for Him and what that book is to be about. It wasn't until the next morning that He told me the meaning of why He wanted me to read that Chapter. He said, "Child I have given you many talents and I want you now to go out and use those talents to glorify me." He also talked my ear off that day giving me chapter titles for the book He commissioned me to write.
However that's not all. He has also put a calling on my heart to revise old Hymns and to do that He wanted me to learn how to play the guitar. Some of you may know that I play the clarinet and I bought a wooden recorder which I have played my own music on. So now I need to learn how to compose new melodies for old beautiful songs. At first my guy was up in arms about all that had been placed on my plate to do, and wondering how I was going to do all of that plus make sure He doesn't get left by the wayside. I promised him that I wouldn't leave him behind and that it will all work out. Because I trust God that it will. I have also had the great pleasure of showing him that even without any guitar lessons yet that I was a natural at picking up a guitar and playing it. I proved that to him by playing "A horse with no name" - I bought a Fender, for anyone who's wondering what type of guitar I bought for my first guitar - I give God the glory for that, because it is only through Him that I have the talent to do that. I do have to build up calluses on my fingers for when I play different chords since I can't always use the key of C to play all the songs I intend to revise, even though that would be the easiest thing to do and a lot easier on the poor fingers.
So have you ever wondered what God intended you to do with your life? If so ask Him and He will more than let you know.