2008 Leaders & Helpers Retreat Report
On Sept 5-7, about 45 people gathered at Palisades Retreat
Center for the 4th Annual Charismatic Leaders & Helpers
Retreat. Each year, Jim Murphy has come to lead us in this retreat. Each year,
we have experienced a profound sense of the Lord calling us to deeper holiness
and greater service.
We began the weekend with a meditation on the reality that we
are God’s "beloved" children. To embrace this reality, we must allow ourselves
to "be loved." It sounds simple, but many of us need to be healed of past hurts
before we can receive the love that God wants to give us. Suffice it to say, a
lot of healing took place on the weekend.
This year, the theme was, "Now It Springs Forth, Do You Not
Perceive It?" from Isaiah 43:19. Jim Murphy helped us to delve deeply into the
whole of Isaiah 43. In the context of the whole chapter, we realize that
historically, the "new thing" that is springing forth is the beginning of the
end of the Babylonian Captivity.
Jim asked us to consider what this might mean to our modern
world. When the Jews were in captivity in Babylon, they were entrenched in a
culture of unbelievers. Many of them had begun to practice idolatry. It took a
lot of courage and commitment to remain faithful to the Law. Before they could
return to Jerusalem, many needed to repent and be purified.
In our day, we too are entrenched in a culture of
unbelievers. We too are tempted to idolatry in many disguises, and we need to
repent. We too can find ourselves ridiculed or scorned for following the
Commandments and dedicating our lives to Jesus.
It is into this framework that we entered into this weekend
of praise & worship, intercession, fuller surrender and healing. On the
evaluations that were returned at the end of the weekend, we asked
"In what way do you anticipate this weekend will bring change to your life
and/or your ministry?" Here are some of the responses we received:
I feel it will change my life more than my ministry. It
has always been easy to share God’s love with others, however, it’s often
hard to receive God’s love for myself.
This weekend will change my prayer life for the better. And as leader I will share what I have learned this weekend.
I came seeking empowerment and direction for something
new in our prayer group & parish as well as my family.
I feel it will help me to stay connected to the Body of
Christ and community. I feel more sent out, validated, empowered.
To really believe within me that I am a King’s kid &
honor & accept my birthright.
It’s an extension of my current call by the Lord. It
"fit" beautifully into a program I’ve committed to in order to heal, get
well & be more available to God.
Give me the courage to make changes God has been speaking
to me about. Let go.
I feel God gifted me with courage to step out more in
leadership this weekend.
Where do I begin. I walked in a peasant and am leaving
as a daughter of the King. I am increasingly surrendered to the Lord and
will prepare to act as God prompts. I am willing to be a part of changing
the face of the earth by bringing Jesus to the people God brings into my
life.
Wow! It’s given me such a wonderful feeling of being the
daughter of our King, Jesus! & So Be-Loved! It’ll give me much courage to
get out there & know how much is behind me & how much Jesus is with me/all
of us.
"See, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers."
Isaiah 43:19
