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A Baby Changes Everything

Posted by Debby on January 2, 2017

I hope you had a Merry Christmas, Readers! And Happy New Year!

For the past few months, I have been more or less absent from Retreat-in-a-Bag. My son and his wife, along with my 4-year-old grandson have been visiting from China for a few months. They came home to have a baby–my second grandson (born 12/9/16). That major “distraction”, in addition to our women’s retreat and regular women’s ministry activities, has kept me occupied offline…in a good way!

My daughter-in-law’s progressing pregnancy reminded me of a Christmas song (sung by Faith Hill): “A Baby Changes Everything.” How true that is! Because of baby Josiah’s arrival, our family is forever changed!

But, of course, the song is referring to a special Baby who came and whom we celebrate at Christmas–a Baby who truly changed everything. God loved…and sent His Son for the purpose making our relationship with Him possible. He made possible a life free from the bondage of sin. He changed our eternal destiny, as well as our day-to-day existence. He covers us with grace and mercy. He gives purpose and meaning to life. He changed everything in my life, that’s for sure.

Honestly, this website exists because of Him and for Him and for His glory. God has consistently used women’s ministry and the accompanying retreats and events for my growth. Size of the ministry doesn’t make a difference–we are a small church. But depth of the ministry does matter. We shouldn’t waste the few hours a week that we have with our women. Every activity should lead to a deeper understanding of our Savior and His Word, and a pursuing of prayer and fellowship with Him and others. My desire is to encourage women’s ministries as they strive to take their women deeper through every possible avenue–through regular Bible study, retreats, skits, and other creative means of making His Word real and applicable in our lives.

My prayer, as we begin this new year, is that God would use the resources offered by Retreat-in-a-Bag for His purposes, and that women’s ministries would be encouraged to follow hard after God, to faithfully minister to their women and to reach out to the hurting world around them. We know the One who changes EVERYTHING!

“It’s about how Jesus came to be born once, So that we could be born again.” (“It’s About the Cross” J.J. Statema)

Posted in: Retreat and Event Planning, Inspirations, News & Information

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The Top 6 Items to Have on your Retreat Hospitality Table

Posted by Debby on October 11, 2016

Every retreat should have a hospitality table where women can find items needed to make their retreat experience more comfortable and enjoyable. Women forget to pack essential items and things that they didn’t realize they would need, and we try to anticipate those items to have them available. We have our table of supplies in the back of the meeting space and during announcements, we point it out so women will know it is there.

After every retreat, we store unused supplies until the next year, when we replenish and expand our offerings, according to need.

We have miscellaneous items available, including umbrellas, pens, toothbrushes, Kleenex, etc. But from my observation, here are the six most popular items to have available at your hospitality table:

#6 -Earplugs – you can purchase these very cheaply, and they may help some ladies have a good night’s sleep in an unfamiliar setting with roommates.

#5 -Toiletries (of course) in sample sizes in case your women left home without them. If you retreat at a hotel, the hotel provides some of these things (shampoo, soap, etc.), but if you are in a camp-style venue, you need to have supplies such as shampoo/conditioner, soaps, toothpaste, lotions, etc.

#4-Feminine care products – this goes without saying. Women come unprepared!

#3- Throws – Venues are normally kept cool (even in the warmer months), which is acceptable for the majority of your women, but others will be uncomfortable and distracted because they are cold. If we could offer something for the middle-aged ladies who run hot, we would!

#2-Basic medical supplies – Tylenol and Ibuprophen, antibiotic creams, bandaids and throat lozenges are a must. If you are in a more rural setting, bug spray, Benedryl and calamine lotion may be indicated. We have even had pain relief patches available in our more recent retreats.

#1. Can you guess what #1 is? CHOCOLATE! Are you surprised? We always provide mints, hard candies, and small chocolates. Chocolates disappear first!

Posted in: Ingredients for a Great Retreat, Little Things Make a Big Difference!, Ministry at the Retreat, News & Information, Retreat and Event Planning

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Decisions and Deadlines

Posted by Debby on August 23, 2016

dont miss deadline Does having a deadline change the way you make women’s ministry decisions?

As I write this, we are still weeks away from our annual women’s retreat. By now, all the “big” decisions have been made. To the best of our ability and by God’s grace, we have tried to hear and follow the Lord’s direction. We have a location, a date, a theme, a guest speaker and a preliminary schedule. Many, but not all responsibilities have been assigned. Our retreat remembrance is already purchased, as are some of the decorations. The big decisions have been made. Sounds like it should be downhill from here, doesn’t it?

But in ministry as in life, sometimes it is the minor decisions where it is the hardest to discern God’s will. And we have a lot of decisions on the line…and a deadline that is looming. So, what are our options?

Take the decision to the women’s ministry team and take a vote?
Assume that what we did in past years is best for this year?
Use our logic and common sense and just go for it?
Wait on God?

When you look at the options spelled out like that, the obvious answer is “wait on God.” Not so easy when you see the deadline approaching and other tasks can’t be completed until those decision are made. Here’s one example: We want to offer workshops at this retreat. How many do we offer? Should there be three? Should they be repeated? Who will teach the workshops? Those decisions need to be made soon, as they affect the timetable of other tasks. We cannot finish the booklet and send it to the printer until those decision are made.

Remember, God is always on time, and He promises wisdom to those who ask. I have no doubt that things will fall into place. It’s tempting to run ahead to get it done! But our job is to pray about the decision, pray for wisdom and direction, ask God to close or open doors and then….wait for His direction.

Posted in: Retreat and Event Planning, Lessons Learned, Little Things Make a Big Difference!, News & Information

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Telling Your Story – Some Reminders

Posted by Debby on August 9, 2016

Recently I shared about the impact that sharing our testimony can have on listeners. I have been reminded of a few further things that may be worth considering should you have the opportunity to share your testimony. Greg Laurie, in a recent email devotion, wrote “I don’t understand why God would use someone as foolish as me or you to articulate His message. But the Holy Spirit can make that message resonate with the listener if we are simply bold enough to share it.” He continued with the following reminders: Make Jesus the focus of your testimony. You tell your story to point to His story. Don’t glorify or exaggerate your past. There is power in your story, whether dramatic or not.

When you share your testimony, don’t emphasize the darkness. Don’t spend a disproportionate amount of time on your former life of rebellion and sin; Your emphasis should be on how God worked in your life, the changes He made and His amazing love and power that brought you out of darkness into “His marvelous light.”

Posted in: Retreat and Event Planning, Lessons Learned, Ministry at the Retreat, News & Information

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A Little More about Guest Speakers

Posted by Debby on July 12, 2016

I believe that we all receive more from a speaker when we feel a personal connection with her.

For instance, last year our guest speaker was a fairly well-known retreat speaker. The whole circumstance of her being here was a miracle in many ways, because we, as a small church, normally couldn’t afford a more well-known speaker. However, because she had been a personal friend of our late pastor’s wife, she offered to do this retreat, knowing that it would be our first without our beloved pastor’s wife at the helm. The majority of our ladies had never met the speaker, but I believe that all of us felt a deeper connection to her and her message because we knew that she understood and had suffered the same loss. In addition, as she shared some difficulties that her family had faced in the previous year, more connections were made with ladies in similar situations.

Yes, that was a very unique year. However, the same holds true with every guest speaker. If they share from their personal life or highlights of their testimony at the beginning of our retreat, often these moments will provide that personal connection for our ladies. That connection will be a conduit for the message and application of the truths she shares.

Posted in: Little Things Make a Big Difference!, Lessons Learned, News & Information, Retreat and Event Planning, Your Guest Speaker

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