Jax on My Mind

Are you ever in a bloggin funk? SO much going on that I can't even think straight! The thing that is occupying MUCH of my mind right now is our Women's Retreat! As many of you know, I am volunteer staff at our amazing church. I oversee large events, women's ministry, men's ministry, small groups and outreach (thankfully, I have great volunteers who rise up to help in all of those areas!). I love planning events for our church and truthfully this isn't even our largest event. . but it's probably my most stressful! Mainly because we have to "sell" tickets. For our large events like Fall Fetival and Winter Wonderland and the Luau on the Lawn, everything is free. So, I have my budget, I plan and prepare and then just wait. There is no way to convince 3,500 people to come to our church. . it's always a God thing. However, knowing that we have contracted with a hotel for a certain number of rooms and a certain catering budget means we must have 100 women sign up. This stresses me out. So, I resort to my own devices. I suck it up and try to do it myself. I clench my fists and get to recruiting. Kelly (my women's ministry leader) and I met last week. We quickly admited that we were BOTH struggling with this very same thing. As we prayed and confessed this to the Lord, we rested in knowing that only He can do any of this. Then, I heard that wonderful talk from the head of IJM with the phrase, "If God is passionate about getting it done, it's HIS responsibility to do it" sigh again. Ok, so when it seems overwhelming and I start to think, "oh crap, we are going to owe this hotel money" I can relax. I am only called to do my part. It's ALL HIS DEAL! Man, if I could just really learn this lesson?! So, that's where we are now. Kelly and I have personally called every woman in the church directory to invite them. We have stood in the foyer handing out invites. I've made announcements every Sunday and we've been talking about it non-stop since JUNE! Today, we have 79 registered. Whohoo. Only God could have done that. I don't know what He has planned, but if we reach 100, it will only be HIM. We, like the disciples at the feeding of the 5,000 will simply offer what we have. We'll give it to Jesus and watch Him multiply.

Pray with us, would ya? This is an amazing lesson. . but sometimes hard to keep our focus right. Pray that we will look to HIM alone. That we will focus on what's important and eternal. That we will listen and follow His leading of the things He's asking us to do. That the women whom HE wants to be there will listen and obey. Our final count needs to be in within the next 3 weeks and our retreat is October 3-5 in Jacksonville. It looks like Greg and I will be leaving for Uganda the day after I get home, so you can pray about that too! (more details to follow! I promise). Simply pray that His Will is done. Our prayer is that these women will come and be changed. That they will learn more deeply how to love God and love others. That Jesus will speak clearly to their hearts and they will create special, real relationships with other women and experience the joy available to us in community. I'll keep you updated!