I already miss the beautiful women of Mountain View Community Church.
We had an amazing time at the weekend retreat at Cedar Springs Christian Retreat Center in Sumas, WA. This camp is tucked in amongst lucious farms and snuggled in the mountains and foothills near the Canadian border. Absolutely beautiful.
The grounds are landscaped with perenial gardens still hanging on to summer.
Check out the beautiful photos on their website! http://cedarspringscrc.org/
One of the many ponds at Cedar Springs Christian Retreat Center
As wonderful as this setting was, it was not nearly as precious as the women with whom I had the privilege of sharing my story.
This morning when I opened my Bible to Philippians 1:2-12, I prayed this Scripture to God in honor of these new friends.
Philippians 1:2-12
2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
3 Every time I think of you [Sweet sisters of Mountain View], I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment [my struggles of life] and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.
9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News.
I truly believe God ordained this weekend to be a time of refreshing and developing a new trust and intimacy with Him. He showed us how to live with a grateful heart.
I will cherish this time.
Thanks God. I received so many kisses on the cheek from you all weekend that I feel the sweet touch of your love.
Sweet Kisses….
God is good. All the time.
Bless you with grace and peace from God.
Gigi