Resting in His Masterpiece

This weekend a group of gals headed out to the annual Park Avenue Ladies Retreat. I must admit my mind was full and my body exhausted when we left. Truthfully, I dreaded it. April is testing time for teachers in the state of Texas...my mind was not on retreating. My mind was on my 'to do' list that needed doing! I'm ashamed to admit that I actually sneaked benchmark tests in a bag to work on while there. SO...chest tight, mind busy...I headed out...wasn't even sure what I had thrown in the bag to wear. I knew I had toothpaste and underwear...so I was good to go. Threw my bags in a car with my buddies...my heart buddies that know more about me than I know about myself! Off we went. There was the normal catching up and laughter...then suddenly...appearing to morph from the center of the road, up and over the trees to the left was the most amazing rainbow. It was a sign of a blessed weekend...a joyous upside down smile...a reminder of a promise made long ago...created from the Master Creator's imagination!

And...so it went throughout the weekend. My tight chest released. Benchmark tests were left in the bag...and I retreated into His arms. My Father invited me into His beauty with my sisters and we worshiped. 

Our wonderful speaker shared her story, her strength...her tears, and her triumphs. We opened our hearts as we surrounded each other in love and trust. Stories were shared...some stories still kept safely tucked away for another day. But mostly we just loved on each other...with no judgements. God surely smiled as He watched His daughters clinging to each other with such tenderness and unity. 

This morning as our tradition we spent a quiet hour in silence with our Lord, His Word...and the nature He so artfully designed. Over the lake as the sun came up...a mist crawled across the lake, moving gracefully...in and out of sunbeams piercing through the East Texas pines. It was as if the Holy Spirit moved...touching each heart and each head bowed in prayer and meditation. His creatures greeted the day...frogs added bass tones to the tenor and soprano of the birds as they welcomed the day. The weekend that began with a happy prism of colors ended in His splendor and glory. 

Do you know how precious you are to Him? Do you know how much He loves you? Do you know it? Thank you, Father for the reminder...