2008 Spa for the Soul Retreat Testimonies:
Dear Bridging the Gap,
I just wanted to share with you how God worked in so many ways. I felt God wanted me to invite two of my daughter-in-laws. Neither was saved and wasn't attending church and were both from a Catholic background. First God had to work to get them to come because they really didn't think a Christian retreat sounded like something they would like to do and it was way out of their comfort zones. My sons helped encourage them to come just to spend time together. My daughter also came, she is saved.
My one daughter-in-law, Paty, was being very sarcastic on the way up to the retreat about that they would be crying and get saved!! Well she didn't know that that is exactly what would happen to her!! During the first session she was kind of making fun of things and didn't want to go to the second session. I of course was feeling disappointed but knew God wasn't finished yet. We went to one of the other speakers and both daughter-in-laws were touched after listening to that. We did skip the second session and went to our hotel. The four of us just talked and Paty just opened up about all she'd been through in her past. So we were able to grow closer.
The next day during lunch I felt God wanted me to speak truth with love to her. All of a sudden she was crying and God did a great thing in her life. We went to the last session and the concert. Sunday she went to our church in Cokato and was saved. She stood up and told how she really didn't want to come to the retreat at all. Even in the first session she wanted to clap and raise her hands, but she didn't want to break down. God worked in her Heart during the retreat. She witnessed to her father-in-law when he took her to the airport to leave. They went to an Assembly of God church on Sunday. She was inviting people to church before they had even been to a church. God is doing such great things!! My son who has not been living for God is coming back because of his wife getting saved. They are both reaching out to others already!!
My other daughter-in-law, Jen, really enjoyed the retreat. She had just lost her mom in February and is still in the grieving process. She has been in the angry stage. She still doesn't understand why God took her mom. She is open to attending church though and I believe God is working there also. Thank you for all the work you've put into organizing these retreats. God is definitely working miracles in our family and is bridging the gap in relationships.
In Christ, Gail
Hi Ladies!!,
Bless you and thank you for the wonderful retreat weekend, it was truly a joy. As always, the music, food and accommodations were awesome. This year Nita was an extra blessing for me. I have had the privilege of growing "under" many balanced, humble, powerful people. I love to learn, change and GROW!! In that, I KNOW who I am in Christ and am SURE of the gifts HE has given me AND I feel blessed to USE those gifts!! It never ceases to amaze me....the PRIVILEGE of being used by the "Most High God"!!! In that secure place, I have experienced a few uncomfortable things....
1. Many Christian women do not believe they have gifts or are not aware of what they are
2. Some women are "put off" when they see the confidence I have in knowing what my gifts are
3. "Minnesota Nice" doesn't allow us the freedom, at times, to "lift up our countenance, rejoice and be glad" in who and what we are....as it is "perceived" as pride!!!
Forgive me for rambling...my point being..... Thank you Nita for reminding me of the FREEDOM in knowing who I am in Christ, knowing what my gifts are and the joy of being used for the glory of the Lord in those areas...and sweeter yet...the joy of KNOWING where I am NOT called!!! Thank you BTG...for loving on women...we need you!!!
Thank you for an awesome weekend. The Lord did a mighty work in my heart. Friday night before things were getting all set up, Carol Lund saw me sitting in an aisle, stopped and asked me how I was doing. I thought I looked ok, & so was a little confused & though maybe she knew something that I didn’t, we were interrupted, so after that I asked her if would just pray. While Orleen was speaking, God was working my heart, trying to mold it the way he wanted it., soft to be able to hear what he had hear from him, vulnerable to be able to truly share what was really on my heart. Pliable so that he could start forming into the heart He wants it to be. So many of the things that Orleen spoke went directly to my heart, my soul. I knew that I needed to let go of the anger I had inside and forgive people who had hurt me. After Orleen spoke, I went down front and sat on a bench. (I am beyond the time where I can ever kneel again, and definitely need lots of helping hands to get off the floor.), So I sat. Just as I was getting settled for some prayer time, Carol Lund showed up in front of me. Amazing that God kept putting her in my life that night. She enveloped me and prayed for me, gave me a hug and went on. After getting the prayer and hug, I sat down and had a time of confessing anger, releasing anger, and forgiving those who have made me angry. The tears flowed like a water faucet. And fortunately, the nose didn’t’ get much involved in this. I kept asking God if there were any more people I needed to forgive who had either abused me or just plain hurt me or my feelings.. There were of course. I went through those, and prayed for my family and for other people I knew. Then I had a question for Orleen. She was kind to give me the answer and that took another load off my shoulders. She also prayed for the safety of my daughter and grandson who may be in danger. I walked out of the Sanctuary , leaving my baggage of stuff at the altar, and went into the gym area feeling so loved and so free for the first time in a very long time. The next day as I was waiting for the concert to start, I noticed a table selling the red shoes with flowers in them. I bought a pair and have one in my office at home and one in my office at work. These shoes are my remembrance stones to remind me to follow the path the Lord has put before me and not the yellow brick road which leads to the deceiver. I put my ruby reds on and follow the path the Lord has laid out for me to go home. All the garbage still lays at the altar and the next time life happens, and we all know that it will, I’ll look at the shoes and remember how God met me there and what He did for me. The stories of my life are easier to tell after God has gone through them with me and helped me to heal from the scars that were there and some of them for a very long time, since I was a young child.
I’m looking forward to what the Lord has for me next. I don’t know if He wants me to do something with what I’ve learned and how far I’ve come from being a victim to being a Victor. Sometimes it’s a little scary, yet, mostly it is exciting.
Thank you to all of you who put on the retreat for all the work you did to make it come together and it did. It was GREAT!
Brenda
I came with six other friends (one didn't show). We were all blessed in one way or another (four out of the seven) had never been to a retreat before). One friend called me yesterday to specifically thank me for inviting her. She "got back on track with God" and she wants to grow closer to Him. She wants me to keep her posted for future events.
Judy
During the worship time, the Lord touched me and it felt like he redid my insides. He gave me revelation & understanding regarding my current life problems and strengthened my inner man. The tears rolled down my face as he showed me how he cared for me since I was very little and loved a guarded me all these years. I am now 36. When he strengthened my inner man, it felt like it was glowing and my mind was renewed at the same. Oddly, these songs were the same songs we sing in our home church. I think the place has just received so much prayer, that his presence in there so strongly. I didn't even go forward and no one laid there hands on me. He just touched me and I'm not kidding, I felt like we redid me from the inside. To understand a little of what I was feeling read Ephisians 3:14-20. In the terminology of these verses, he strengthened my inner man by helping me to grasp more of "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that SURPASSES KNOWLEDGE, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullnes of God."
Blessings,
Joy
Hi Carol,
I was one of the pastor's wives at the Retreat this weekend. Thanks for all the planning you did. My husband and I pastor an inter-city church in St. Paul. We have several marriages that are struggling with addictions and many who are on their sencdon or third marriages. I was extremely impressed with Dr. Andy and Deanna Leenstra's "How to Divorce Proof Your Marriage".
God Bless & Thanks,
Barb
Dear Carol,
Please receive my thanks again for a wonderful Spa for the Soul Retreat. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to be back at Lake Geneva with many of the Minnesota women. The Lord gave us such times of spiritual refreshment and renewal.
The missionary warehouse items and supplies that were given to we missionaries is such a BLESSING. It is much appreciated and we thank you for making this possible for us.
God Bless,
Corrine
Hi Carol. The Scandinavians say, "Tack for sist!" which mean, "Thanks for the last time (we were together)." I like that. And I mean it too. You all were so gracious and helpful while Bec, I and the team were at Lake Geneva for the BTG conference last weekend. Thank you for the privilege of being a part of your ladies' retreat. My prayer is that the work that was done, will take good roots. In all of us!
Many blessings, as you continue to serve the Kingdom, for such a time as this.
Your sister and friend--on the Bridge,
Evie
Hi Carol,
Congratulations on another retreat that was VERY well done! What a complete JOY it was to get the opportunity to watch the missionaries "shop" at the store on Saturday morning -- what an amazing ministry!!
Love, Diane
My husband and I have been attending a church in Austin since February of this year. This retreat gave me the opportunity to get to know other women in our church.
-Kim
Carol,
Thank you for the awesome retreat! I was blessed & refreshed in my spirit.
-Darlene
Carol,
Thank you! Thank you! I loved the retreat and so appreciate all the time and effort you put into them. I am refreshed in my soul and challenged in my walk with the Lord every year. May God richly bless you and all you do for Him and His people.
-Ronda
P.S. I loved the speaker!
Hi Carol,
The ladies liked the food - there were very good choices for the ladies. (Missed the squash soup... so good last year!) I am always blessed as the missionaries come to shop at the Bridge Warehouse! Too bad others don't get to see the gratitude the missionaries have for the product they receive!
-Lynette
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