My view from breakfast at the Grand Hotel
Hey Friends!
You may remember this past weekend I traveled to Mackinac Island to speak at Woodside Bible Church’s Women’s Retreat. I can’t let the retreat pass by without sharing a glimpse of God’s goodness and faithfulness!
The Amazing Retreat Coodinators (Shari & Lin) did an incredible job of creating a welcoming, safe, and fun environment for the women. This dynamic duo thought through every detail! Wow!
Over our 3 days together, we studied the Scriptures, we sang (thanks Colleen, Ashton, & Deb), we laughed, we cried, we hugged, we prayed, we “let go”….and we saw a glimpse of God at work in our midst!
I’ve been trying to put into words some of the highlights. Friends, there were so many…how do I even start! God did IMMEASURABLY more than I could have ever asked or imagined! Thanks for “praying down the tracks“. God is faithful, indeed!
Weekend Highlights from the Woodside Bible Church Retreat
1. The women from Woodside Bible Church were incredible!
They were gracious, beautiful, fun, authentic, warm and sharp! I loved every minute of my time with them!
2. I was healthy!
I’ll confess that between sessions my ear/throat was painful – but when the sessions started, I never gave my health a second thought. God supplied everything I needed to communicate clearly. THANK YOU for your prayers.
3. The “God Stories”
I can’t even count how many times I heard, “Cindy, your story is my story”, as women poured out their hearts and told me about their former addictions, brokenness and/or pain – and how Jesus has set them free! I love how God works! These dear women BLESSED ME BIG TIME with their authenticity and vulnerability.
4. Sharing the retreat with my husband John.
I’m so thankful the coordinators invited John to come along. This was the very first John traveled to a retreat and saw me teaching live (usually he’s home helping with the kids).
John was amazing – he worked so hard serving these precious ladies (and me!). I can’t even begin to imagaine the weekend without him!
My favorite part…when after my Saturday morning Bible study session (from Rev 3:14-21) John said, “Now that’s what I call ‘bringing the wood’. That was some GOOD Bible teaching. That was really good, Cindy”.
Oh be still my heart! 🙂
5. My new friends are fired up and ready to live with Red Hot Faith!
Red Hot Faith friends
I loved hearing during our last session on Sunday the many ways these dear women are planning to implement simple strategies to put their “Red Hot Faith” into action! Woo Hoo!I can’t wait to hear how God uses the seeds that were planted this weekend for His Kingdom purpose and glory!
Yay God!
Bloggy Friends, please know God used YOU and YOUR PRAYERS to change lives for His Kingdom this weekend, and I am humbled and grateful.
Holocaust survivor and author Corrie ten Boom is quoted as saying, “When people come up and give me a compliment—’Corrie, that was a good talk,’ or ‘Corrie, you were so brave,’ I take each remark as if it were a flower. At the end of each day I lift up the bouquet of flowers I have gathered throughout the day and say, ‘Here you are, Lord, it is all yours.’
Would you join me as I hand over this beautiful bouquet to the Lord. He is so faithful, good, powerful, and true?! I am in awe of what He is able to do!!
And Woodside Bible Church friends (if you’ve stopped by) what was one of your takeaways from our retreat? I’d love to hear from you!!!
Thanks so much for your faithful friendship on *She Sparkles*! You all bless me so much!!
Sweet blessings –
P.S. I loaded a few pictures on my FB ministry page. You can check them out here. The church took lots of pictures, so look for more later in the week. 🙂
Sounds great! I’m glad you felt well while teaching and that your husband was there, too.
The Corrie ten Boom quote is beautiful.
Thanks, Melanie! I love that Corrie quote. I want to be like her when I grow up! 🙂
Awesome! I was praying for you!
Thanks, Shonda! I could tell! Your prayers made a difference. TY!!! 🙂
Cindy, I’m so glad to hear the update! Looks like God shows up again (and I’m not surprised). What a great way to spend the weekend, teaching and with John!
Love ya girl!!
Love ya too, friend! John and I talked many times about the gift of sharing my very first retreat with you and your church community! Precious memories!
xoxo
This weekend God showed up in BIG ways! Not only did He bless us with awesome weather, safe travel, Grand breakfast and dinner, laughing with my sisters, great times of praise and worship BUT He let us hear an amazing speaker who ignited us with Red Hot Faith!!! I am thankful for the dose of strength and encouragement and promise to keep up with the 5 P’s 🙂
Thanks Cindy and if you are ever near Woodside White Lake, stop by and check up on us…we’d LOVE to see you !!!!
I have always been pretty content at bottom of the mountain. Letting others bring me the good news, telling me the things they have figured out. I know now that that is very luke warm thinking. Time for me to go to the top and get my good news straight from the source! Thank you…..
That sounds awesome Cindy! I’m sure you were a breath of encouragement to all of those lovely women!!! And how sweet that your hubby got to come! Scott is actually traveling to Grand Rapids with me this weekend for Breathe (: I wasn’t up for the trip by myself AND our anniversary is on Friday and so he said he’d come…While not very “romantic” in the traditional sense, it’s VERY romantic to me!!