SOULfeast 2014....

There are so many things I can say about SOULfeast 2014.

First, I will state the condition of my soul going into this week.  Frankly, it/I was depleted.  I had been working overtime to complete one of my classes two weeks early so that I could attend SOULfeast and another week for Hearts on Fire.  Beyond school responsibilities, there were other life things.

This photo was where my heart, mind, and soul were going into SOULfeast:



Though it is two days away and I have a final exam to finish prior, my soul longs for the nourishment it will receive at SOULfeast. Like the leaf that was ready and open to pool the water droplet here, I plan to be a vessel to capture what the Lord offers.

I was ready... in every sense of the word... to go there. 

Through the worship, the speaker (Roberta Bondi), the music, the prayer, the communion, the fellowship, seeing "old" friends (some I had met in years past and some I knew from home, friends from the Academy, etc), spending time walking around the lake, spending time in silence and solitude, meeting new friends, etc., God restored and strengthened my soul.

I felt refreshed, refilled, and refueled by the end of the week. 

It may seem a little crazy that I am doing back to back weeks of retreats/conferences.  When I saw Johnny Sears (Academy for Spiritual Formation) at SOULfeast, he said he didn't expect to see me there because of the Hearts on Fire in Minnesota.  I told him that God must have lots of work to do in me, because God is the one who worked it all out. ☺

I am grateful for the refreshment and filling that SOULfeast offered last week!

If you're interested in learning more about SOULfeast, an offering of the Upper Room, you can check them out on their website.

Next year's dates are:  July 12-16, 2015.  The main speaker is Elaine Heath and Jacob Armstrong will bring the Word/preaching.  The theme is "Renew Your People".  You can pre-register here.

Blessings on your journey,

Debra

P.S.  Later (hopefully) I will post more pictures and thoughts from the workshops, etc.

Getting out into Creation

On Monday, February 14th, my husband and I were able to get out and enjoy the gorgeous, warm day.  We went hiking at the North Chickamauga Pocket Wilderness.  It used to be one of the Bowater properties (it might still be, I don't know).  It is part of the Cumberland Trail.

We didn't "hike" as much as we walked along the flowing creek.  [There are times when this creek isn't so flowing and is just a rock bed and there are times that it is flowing so much that it has kayakers enjoying its thrills.]

The temperature was warm, the sun was out, and there was nary a cloud in the sky.  There was a slight breeze blowing through the tree limbs.  The roar of the water flowing over the rocks was soothing.  Ahhhh....

We walked along the trail, but also took time to get down to the creek and spend time near the water and walk on the rocks.

As I watched the rushing waters flowing, this started going through my mind: "Praise God from whom all blessings flow."  Just as the rushing flowing waters were flowing from above, I was reminded to Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.

 

 

As we walked through the trees and along the trail, this went through my mind: "Breathe on me breath of God".  Just that one little phrase of the song, nothing more.  Though there is much more to the song worth thinking or singing, it was that one phrase that came to mind and stuck along that day's journey.

I enjoyed seeing rock formations, twisted roots, deep pools of water, rushing waters, water bubbling out of a rock, etc.  It was just what the soul needed for refreshment.

     

    

Getting out into creation is an important part of my journey.  It's one of the key ways I connect with God.  I don't have to go to a hiking trail to be in creation, but I am blessed to have an abundance of hiking choices in this area.  There are also parks, greenways, and even my backyard. 

What about you?  What do you do to connect with God?  Where do you go?  If getting out into creation is one of your ways of connecting with God, I encourage you to find some time to do it.  Regardless of the way of connection, I encourage you to make some time. 

I hope you'll find it refreshing to your soul!

Continuing on the journey, 

~Debra

PS-- I saw a bumper sticker this past week that relates to the outdoors and enjoying the day that the Creator has made: