tRC Women's Retreat Testimonies 2015

I've compiled the many testimonies from our 2015 Women's Retreat entitled Lavender Springs Spa. Sixty-six women had an amazing time away in Pagosa Springs at Sonlight Camp where we were completely taken care of while we studied the Psalms. Here are some of the things the ladies got from the retreat. It's always good to share what

God is doing and give Him glory!

• Allowed to be me! I am worth it! So blessed by Jesus through the leaders 
• No matter what walk of life we come from we all have struggles complaints every situation is part of God's plans. His purpose for our life. Keep hold of your faith. Keep your eyes and heart on Him. He will provide. 
• Always a joy to spend time with sisters in Christ. Thank you for your leadership! May what we learned stick. 
• All you need to be is who I created you to be. Stop trying to be what others want you to be. 
• I am new to the church and was really needing to start to connect with people. I am not an outgoing person yet I felt I needed to take a giant step for myself and go.  I have been struggling with a deep personal issue and God has been using the Psalms to work in me. It was amazing to come and be studying these here too. I have met many nice people and God has also lifted my spirits to keep trusting and waiting on Him to control the outcome of my problem. 
• I loved the analogy of God's word to a candle and asking why the candle and not the sun. I realized that with a candle in a dark place it has to be kept close to be useful. It can't just be placed on a shelf and you go about your business. You'd be in darkness. God wants us to be diligent about reading His work, meditating on it until it becomes honey on our lips. It should be necessary to our daily lives.
• Stop asking where to go and what to do, and just say "yes I will".
• This weekend reminded me where I was at one time and to see where God has brought me to now. He also keeps reminding me in this current season that He has created me to be just who I am. And that is ok. :)  (even if it is totally opposite from "normal" women)
• I was one who came here looking forward to the break from the "norm", a chance to be with and hear from God. The outpouring of the Spirit and God's willingness to speak AND be heard were evident from the start. I have received comfort encouragement, love from my God and the freedom to be myself and have learned I am accepted AS myself even among the beloved.
• People stay stuck because of a lack of understanding in difficult times. God told me I was worth it. You are healed, pick up your mat and walk. This weekend God showed me I am wroth it! This weekend God gave me strength to continue on my journey. Thank you.
• Oh! Taste and see that our Lord is Good! This was delicious in every way.
• I struggled with coming to this retreat. I am an introvert and none of the ladies I usually attend with could make it this year. God showed me that He always has a plan when He takes us out of our "comfort zone" I made some new friends, creating new relationships with some amazing women of God!!
• I was amazed while listening to many women's stories this weekend of the breadth of diversity and the depth of God's grace to each of them. All acknowledged the reality of God working everything for good. What a special unity we all share!
• I came not knowing how relaxed I could be. How I could surrender actions to God so He would let me rest. I didn't do much yesterday and I felt relieved., retreated. It's something I don't do often. I exhaust my body fully. I exhaust my thought. I exhaust my emotions on a daily basis. To be here for fellowship, rest. To be quiet and still. To hear what God has for me has opened me up to take a breather. I don't always need to go. I can rest well with God.
• Father. That you would hear our cries that You love us all. Psalm23:6 " Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord FOREVER for ETERNITY. 
• A couple things stand out to me about this weekend - fellowship, community - God's mercy and kindness and unfailing love - rest.
• Capable - God showed me that I am capable of doing the things He has called me to do, because He has given me all the tools I need. 
• This weekend has been amazing, not long enough! I have really enjoyed getting to know sweet ladies who were acquaintances I can now call friends. I am so thankful to be able to attend with my mom who didn't want to come. I've seen her meet new friends, receive prayer and just blossom. We both needed the getaway. The place is so beautiful, how can you not be blessed here? My prayer is that my sister who needs time to rest can come next year!
• What a blessing this weekend has been. God truly is good. My heart has been healing little by little, experience after experience, interaction after interaction, conversation after conversation. I've been reminded that when I put my trust in God He always provides. He has been placing courage on my heart to not just trust in Him, but my husband, myself and the amazing women in my community. I now feel like the future that is in front of me is filled with love, support and many joys. The walls of survival I've had up are being broken down and being replaced with God's love. God has been planting so many seeds in my life and I'm in the season now where those seeds are blossoming and it's the most amazing feeling, blessing and glorious experience. I'm full of gratitude, faith, courage and love. I'm ready to learn a, serve and share. Thank you! Be yourself, He told me. 
• I came here Friday feeling very heavy after an extremely hard season and especially hard week. The Lord has given me a new strength and perspective. Most importantly a hope for the future. He encouraged me this morning with this verse "She is clothed in strength and dignity. She can laugh at the days to come!" Thank you Lord for restoring my hope!
• God can handle our "Oh Craps!!" that are thrown at us.
• Learning to listen. When we were asked to listen without comment or words but to really hear the whole story - I've been praying that God would help me with this - and it really helped - God showed me how to be a better listener this weekend. And connectedness - My whole world has turned upside down over the last 3 years and I needed new connections. God has provided great new sisters in common. So thankful for how God provided for me to be able to come to this retreat - time, babysitters, financial and availability.
• I changed focus. Instead of focusing on what's going wrong in my life, my husband...I started to re-focus on God! And I'm so appreciative of the wonderful husband I have, our wonderful children, and our wonderful lives. What a wonderful God!
• "Change can only come when we can be honest with God and ourselves" Honesty hurts - but it frees!
• I am a cedar of Lebanon! A tree planted by the Lord - well-watered and cared for by the Creator. Ps. 104:16
• This is my first women's retreat ever. Encouraged by my daughter, who also attended, I found it amazing! Great to learn the difference between expectancy and expectations. I found encouragement and support for our life situation, which remains pretty much unsettled, having just relocated from Arizona. Made some new friends, which is always good :) Just being among sisters in Christ, to share, laugh and cry, with the common goal of drawing closer to Him has been a wonderful blessing! Thank you so much!
• God is good. He has used this weekend to remind me of His love and goodness. Through each different Psalm, I found myself processing what it truly feels like to walk out life with Him. Moments of thanks, seasons of desperation, vision of wisdom and periods of lament. The encouragement that the Holy Spirit has spoken to me and through others was just what I need. I need His truth. I need His community. I need to HOPE in Him alone, His plan and work in my life. 
• I am strong through Christ and I praise Him for that! But so are others and I need to let them move in their strength so that they will grow. 
• The Lord healed me from the pain of rejection from my family of origin and replaced it with the pain of love. 
• Father has used this weekend to restore hope. I came here frantic and scared, unsure if I would ever see healing in certain areas. I am leaving hopeful, filled with renewed assurances that this mountain can be climbed.
• I've seen that we are all looking to see if we are safe. Can we share? Can we be real? The Lord has shown me that it's time to reach out, it's time to be the hands and feet inside the church (not just outside of it). It's been easier to minister outside of it. Heavenly Father, reveal to each of us that you are alive and active in us and send us out to help us become a true body and true family please. Amen.
• The Creator of everything knows my name. I'm that important to Him. He'll never call me by the wrong name no matter how many 100's of 1,000,000's of daughters He has. He has never wasted His time with me. 
• The board. WOW. I felt such a release. Jesus. Eraser of my faults, sins, mistakes.
• I have been very blessed through the ladies in my small group:listening and sharing and unloading burdens.