Hello ladies! I just got back from a retreat this past week and I wanted to share with you some things the Lord really spoke to me. I know that our lives can be busy and hectic and sometimes its hard to find time to relax and give your mind a restart. I was at this point before last week. My job was hectic, life was calling my name a 1000 times over and the stress was starting to get to me.
When I went to the Vineyard worship leaders retreat, I didn’t know what to expect. To be honest, I thought it would be full of activities with statements like “you just need to plug through, keep going and get over it!” I thought that instead of taking time to refuel and get a jump start, that it would just come as I served . . . but I was wrong. They were really concerned with making sure we were getting rest, refreshment and ministry. That really meant something to me. I wasn’t expected to do a “dog and pony show,” for lack of a better word, but rather just share how I was doing, how I was feeling. They ministered to me and really cared about making sure I got the refreshing I needed.
Now after the week is over, I am left with a new perspective of this ministry I am involved in and still find myself chewing on the things I learned.
I know our lives can bring us to much that we think we can’t handle. Everyone needs to get away, clear their head and start over. We can’t do the work of Christ and minister to people without getting filled ourselves. We need to fill our well and keep it filled so that we have something to give people.
If you are feeling like the stress is too much, please be encouraged and get away, take a small vacation and get some refreshing with the Lord. He is our provider and can supply us with the fulfillment we need. Maybe our knees need to be callused and our eyes burning with tears.
As I walked away with new perspective and all brushed up this week, I will continue to keep my well filled and strive to have my life always focused on being with God every day. For there . . . lies . . . my strength!
Christi Schuman
