Content at Home

A couple weeks ago I wrote a post on Kyle leading worship for a Single's Retreat in Indiana. I also mentioned that I had the privilege, for the first time in my entire life, to accompany my husband by singing backup vocals on a song. A friend took pictures of us and we just got copies of them yesterday. I thought I'd share them with you. It was such an honor to go alongside my husband and support him as he ministered to these people!

Kyle leading worship for a breakout session...
Chit-chatting before a session...

Yesterday and today Kyle and I had the privilege of joining Ninth and O Baptist Church's Single's Retreat. Phillip, the Single's Pastor, asked Kyle to lead worship for the weekend. Kyle excitedly accepted the offer and has enjoyed spending time praying and thinking through the songs to sing. We arrived at the retreat grounds, Wooded Glen Retreat Center, in Henryville, Indiana yesterday and the sessions started that evening.

The theme of the weekend was "One Life, One Story"... teaching singles how to engage in personal evangelism here in the states, as well as internationally. Phillip pulled together a great team of young leaders from here in Louisville to speak. We were all very blessed by the main sessions and break out sessions. I'll be posting on them more once I've had a chance to go through my notes and pull together my thoughts.

Probably the most exciting part for me about this weekend was being there with my husband and watching him lead people in worshiping God through song. He did such a great job and I am so proud of him!!! He even asked me to sing backups on one song with him, which was so much fun to join him in his passion.

Here are a few snap shots from the weekend. I've uploaded many more on facebook if you want to check them out here:

Facebook link

I believe you have to log into your facebook account to access these pictures.

My hubby and I walking around the retreat grounds...

The backside of the retreat center... so pretty!

Some new friends we made. Adam and Andi were missionaries overseas for a couple years and are hoping to go back. We really enjoyed getting to know them.

Kyle getting ready to lead worship...

More to come from our weekend...

The last few days, I've been struggling with loneliness and memories of a time that seemed to be endless bliss. It is hard to be content when your heart longs for something that it cannot have at this present time. While house-sitting for these two and a half weeks, the girl I've been staying with, Beth, has sweetly listened to me and encouraged me to seek the Lord whenever I've opened up and admitted to some struggles. Today she asked me if at these times I had opened my bible and sought to read scripture instead of spending time focusing on the past. I was instantly convicted! I do seek to spend time daily in the Word with my God, but how many times recently have I pulled out my bible mid-day when I was struggling? I'd hate to admit the truth!

This evening Beth forwarded this poem to me and I wanted to share it with you all. Hope this will be an encouragement to all of my single friends as well!

"Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone
Have a deep relationship with another
To be loved thoroughly and exclusively
But God, to a Christian, says, No
Not until you're satisfied, fulfilled and content
Being loved by Me alone
Giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me
Having an intensely personal and unique relationship
With Me alone
Discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found
Only then will you be capable of that perfect human relationship I planned for you
You'll never be united with another until you've been united with Me
Exclusive of any other desires or longings
I want you to stop planning
Stop wishing
And allow me to give you the most brilliant plan in existence
One that you cannot imagine
I want you to have the best
Please allow Me to bring it to you
You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things
Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I AM
Keep listening and learning the things that I tell you
You just wait, that's all
Don't be anxious and don't worry
Don't look around at the things others have gotten
Or I've given to them
And don't look at the things you think you want
You just keep looking off and away up to Me
Or you'll miss Me or what I want to show you
Then when you're readyI'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful
Than you could ever dream of
You see until you're ready and the love I have for you is ready
Until you're both satisfied exclusively with Me
And the life I've prepared for you
You won't be able to experience the love
That exemplifies your relationship with Me
And is thus the perfect love
Dear one, I want you to see in the flesh
A picture of your everlasting union of beauty and perfection and love
That I offer you with Myself
Know that I love you utterly
For I am God
Believe Me and be satisfied
-God"

1 Titus 6:6 - But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.

Alright all you single ladies out there (and married ones too!)... here is a blog post you need to read! I read it today on New Attitude's blog and was so ministered to by it. The author, Erin Sutherland, gives us a great perspective on relationships! Whether we are single, dating, married, or whatever, our focus must be first and foremost on Christ. Check it out! You won't be disappointed!

(If you have problems reading it on your screen, like I did, because of the funny sidebar on NA's blog, try cutting and pasteing the text into Word and reading it there.)

Enjoy!!!