This past weekend was the Spartanburg UMW District Retreat at Lake Junaluska, NC. It is always wonderful, but this year was the best ever (for me). There were times the Holy Spirit simply filled up the room. Never has Psalm 121 been more on target.
"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord who made Heaven and Earth".

Thursday arthritis began to flare up in my foot. and by Friday I could hardly walk. By Saturday, every step I took caused me to wince. But God...have you ever noticed how many times we say "but God"? The Israelites were trapped against the Red Sea, but God parted the waters and they passed through. I thought the anguish of losing my mentor in the faith, my precious mother-in-law, so unexpectedly would swallow me up, but God's strength is made perfect in weakness.

Truly it was His strength that carried me through the weekend. Sunday morning I woke up with no pain in my feet. Today is Tuesday and I still have no pain in my feet. What's more, another of our group was suffering with severe back pain. She also woke up on Sunday without pain. The response to the breakout sessions was overwhelming; never have I heard so many positive comments. However, the most significant thing to me was the unity of Spirit and the bond of peace that we experienced(see Eph. 4:3). I have such love for my sisters from across the upstate and I can feel that I am loved as well.

How do we bring this mountaintop experience home with us? We come back to jobs, kids, homework, housework and a gazillion other things that distract us, occupy our mind. The best way is to start your day with Him, even if it is just 5 minutes. Put into practice Psalm 46:10, Be still and know that I am God. This is something that is very hard for me. All my life "inconsistancy" has been my biggest hindrance, but God... there it is again, but God! But God is faithful. Living the Christian life is not always easy. We have to come down from the mountain and put into practice the things that we have experienced there.

Oswald Chambers says that we need to take the first step in obedience. Sometimes it is hard to do the thing we know we ought to do. When that happens, take one step in obedience. Often all you have to do is "set your will", "determine", or as Paul says "reckon" that you will do the thing.
A good example is morning devotions. My flesh cries out, "Just 10 more minutes!" and my aching joints whisper, "Just roll over and go back to sleep." The first step of obedience is to sit up on the side of the bed and put my feet on the floor. I have done my part: obedience, and God's grace floods my soul. . When we got saved, our responsibility was to say "yes, Lord" and God did the rest. It is the same with all obedience. Make yourself available to God, say "yes, Lord" and leave everything else with Him.


Col. 3:16 tells us, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. We learn to recognize God's attributes as well as His character. If it is our intention to follow Jesus, we must emulate Him. Treat others the way He did, reading our Bibles is imperative.. The Word of God nourishes the Spirit within us. The Word strengthens our spiritual muscles. Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.(Psa.119:105)

May your day be filled with the Light and Love of Jesus.