Nurturing New Life
- Christine Labrum
- Apr 1
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 10
New growth ~ Reflecting on Retreat ~ RSVP Shepherd's Gathering for April
This past weekend I spent a couple days on personal retreat. God met me in that prayerful, gracious space ~ as he always does. I am so grateful.
For me, retreat is about setting aside time with God for repentance, rest, renewal, and delight. Each retreat unfolds a little differently. Often I look back at recent months, with repentance and gratitude. I attend to God through the Scriptures and prayer in all different ways... often including creativity or reflecting on a recent creative work. Sometimes I look forward with God regarding ministry or creative projects.
As I walked along a path Saturday evening, every tree I saw displayed new growth: pink, dark red, yellow, and various shades of green. The evidence of spring shouted against the drab, gray and neutral tones from the end of winter. The emerging splashes of color caught my attention. And I wondered about new growth and spring seasons.
How can we pay attention to the new growth that God is producing in and through our lives? What is the thing that God is nurturing in you these days? How might God be producing beauty in and through you? What is blooming?
In our life with God there are seasons. They do not always parallel the seasons of the created world. There are winter seasons where perhaps there is just a small flower pot to tend on my window sill. How do I nurture that single plant? Perhaps it is not only spring in the natural world, but it is spring in my soul and life, and it seems the whole landscape is blooming? How can I remain responsive to God, nurturing what God is producing in my life with wisdom?
A plant needs light, nourishment, and time. What spiritual practices has God invited me to, so that I can remain in His light? What practices provide nourishment? And what practices guard my time with God?
Reflecting on Shepherd's Prayer Retreat
A little over a week ago, I led a retreat for 12 men and women who shepherd others. They gathered to be nurtured and nourished by God. It was kind of like being in the greenhouse for a couple days. Becky Bowersox provided nourishing, wonderful food for us. What a joy to watch God move among us.
Click on the picture to get a glimpse of the prayer retreat.
"God gather me to be with you as you are with me. Keep me in touch with myself, with my needs, my anxieties, my angers, my pains, my corruptions, that I may claim them as my own rather than blame them on someone else. O Lord, deepen my wounds into wisdom; shape my weaknesses into compassion; gentle my envy into enjoyment, my fear into trust, my guilt into honesty. O God, gather me to be with you as you are with me."
Ruth Haley Barton, Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership.
Some of the thoughts on retreat:
"I felt blessed by the balance between silence/solitude and sweet fellowship/sharing/laughter. To rest and feel cared for, to not be responsible was refreshing."
"God really spoke through the quiet and also the community."
"Deepening, emotional, thought provoking. It was very special to be with other faithful people and hear insights they brought. I felt both joyful and raw from the experience."
"The retreat was a joyful experience of connection with others in ministry. It was wonderful to relax, listen to God's Word and God's Spirit, share our stories with one another, enjoy nature, have fun together, create art, sing, eat delicious food, take communion together and receive God's love."
"Appreciated a safe place to be vulnerable without judgment. Really appreciated the personal story practice."
"Lovely setting. Wonderful meals. I felt individually cared for even in group setting. I found good rest for body and soul. I appreciated communion - what my soul needed."
"Location good, schedule relaxed, food excellent. Unscheduled time was good."
"I especially enjoyed revisiting a past event with Jesus. Unscheduled time was beneficial. Time to connect with others was great."
"It was a good opportunity to get away & spend time with God. The other shepherds were a good support. It was good space to share & explore my faith more deeply in safety. Loved the opportunity to paint."
"Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Loved the Scriptures and time with God."
Register for Shepherd's Gathering this month.
Next Thursday
Commenti