offering

as made apparent by my rant in the last post, i need words of Life and Love to fill my soul. below is an email sent by a woman at the retreat to her sisters... i offer these words to you, in love and peace, praying you are fully alive in Him this day.

Hello Everyone,

I've been reading how everyone has been having a hard time readjusting to life in the valley...and you are so not alone. The things we experienced were so real. Don't forget that. I keep remembering the talk that Leigh gave about being a woman who is truly alive. And she spoke about God not calling you to a bigger "to do" list in your life, but a life of subtraction. Sometimes when we get away and are really able to focus (maybe for the first time ever) on what God wants to say to us and we actually HEAR his voice and feel that he truly loves us...it's so powerful. We we re-romanced in a powerful way up at 9000 ft. We were left breathless (literally!) by the beauty of creation, the snow he kissed us with, the bouquets of friendship he delivered daily, and the intimate ways he called each one of us out... it really was perfect. Eden must have been something like that. The longing to be there again is good. The lover of our souls waits for the time when we will steal away to be with him again. But he also longs to meet us where we are. He knows the responsibilities we have... jobs, spouses, children, grandchildren :-), they are good things given to us by him. We were in the presence of the Holy Spirit. While we may not be able to "retreat" from the life we've been given daily, we can ask the Lord to fill us with his Spirit daily. He wants us to. Keep taking your question to him... journal, pray, those times of silence were powerful... listen. He's still speaking. He still wants to come. Is there time for him to come? Even for a few minutes? Who or what keeps cutting in when you're dancing with him? Call it what it is and fight for your heart. You are worth it. On page 217 in your Captivating book there are a couple of paragraphs at the top that I like to use in my classes. I take the "you" and change it to'"I" and read it out loud over myself. These things are the truth no matter what my circumstances or situations might be telling me. It's powerful. I encourage you to do it. Your brain listens to you speak... the good and the bad. Let your words work for good for your heart. "I am a woman. An image bearer of God. The Crown of Creation. I was chosen before time and space, and I am wholly and dearly loved. I am sought after, pursued, romanced, the passionate desire of my Fiance, Jesus. I am dangerous in my beauty and my life-giving power. And I am needed. As a woman who has been ransomed and redeemed, I can be strong and tender. I speak to the world of God's mercy, mystery, beauty, and his desire for intimate relationship. I am inviting; I can risk being vulnerable, offering the weight of my life as well as my need for more because I am safe in God's love. I labor with God to bring forth life--in creativity, in work, in others. My aching, awakened heart leads me to the feet of Jesus, where I wait on him and wait for him. The eyes of his heart are ever upon me. The King is captivated by my beauty." Don't give up. You are worth fighting for.