Each summer, my husband and I spend a week in a cabin in the Smokey Mountains for a time of rest and refreshing. We slow down to relax, reconnect with each other and hear from God. This year while sitting on the deck, taking in the beauty of God’s creation I asked Him, “What do you want for Your girls this fall? What should be our focus for Heart to Heart?” On the winds of a gentle breeze I heard the Lord whisper, “I want to refresh, revitalize and restore my daughters. Inspire them, encourage them to live their lives in such a way that it will renew their hope and refresh their joy.” It was like God lobbed me a ball. I caught it. I got it. I knew what He wanted for all of us.
Vacations are great. In fact, they’re wonderful. But unfortunately, we can’t all take a trip to the mountains every time life gets overwhelming. We can’t say, “toddles” to jobs and responsibilities when things get rough. But there on the deck of a mountain cabin with temperatures ranging in the 90′s with 90% humidity, God showed me ways to refresh our spirits, like taking a drink of a cool glass of ice water on a hot summer’s day. He gave me simple things that we can do to help make each day worth living. Unfortunately, He didn’t give me 3 easy steps to a better life. I wish. But He did point out problem areas that tend to drag us all down, and simple ways to fix them.
I’m always excited when God gives me a word or a sense of direction. But I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited about a curriculum. It took many more hours of prayer, thought and meditation on God’s word, but I believe these lessons will be life changing…for all of us. This is my last day in the mountains, and as I type this introduction I only have a sketchy outline of what we’re going to do this fall. But it’s enough to know that it will be “Simply Refreshing.”
Your life is probably like mine, already so overwhelmed with family, career and ministry responsibilities that you don’t need to add something else to the calendar. But I’ve found that a lot of women today are so busy rushing about taking care of everyone else’s needs they don’t have time for their own needs. Even though women are more educated and capable than ever before, many of us still lack confidence, and struggle with feelings of failure and isolation. In talking with women, here in the states and overseas I found that many need healing from wounds of their past, a sense of value and connection. Women need to feel like they belong. What about you?
Do you feel the need to be connected to a community of women who care about you? Do you want people to accept you as you are, not a plastic version of the politically and spiritually correct woman that has been forced on us by religious circles and secular media? Heart to Heart was created to be a small group ministry to help women to connect in this fast paced and stressed filled world. It was designed to empower women through love, sharing, prayer and the ministry of the Word. It was developed with you in mind! This term’s “Simply Refreshed” will help you to step off the treadmill of life to embrace a simpler and more revitalizing lifestyle.
The doors open at 7:00, and as you walk in you’ll be greeted with a friendly smile and a bit of pampering. You’ll find the room decorated with a “refreshing” theme. You can stop at the coffee bar for flavored coffees or specialty teas and/or chat with women at the “simple” refreshment tables or you can choose just to sit and relax listening to the musical theme for the evening. The meeting begins at 7:30 with a opening prepared by one of our small groups. You’ll never know what they are going to do. It could be a game, a skit, a song or prayer but it will be something that will introduce the “Word” for that night. With your notes for the teaching, you’ll receive a devotional guide for the coming week that will help you explore a Biblical virtue that will help introduce the following week’s lesson. After the teaching, you’ll then break into your small groups to discuss how to apply the Word to your life, and share your own testimony, concerns or needs. Small group time will close with a season of prayer. By dismissal at 9:00 it is our hope that you’ll be refreshed by the ministry of the Word, the fellowship of great women and presence of our loving God.
