Catalina

Catalina was a true delight. I am in a season of pouring and it is so much fun! I am just smitten by the Lord and can't stop adoring Him. I had a BEAUTIFUL cabin full of ladies after God's heart. This whole trip was full of 20somethings who desperately wanted God and you could totally tell. Everyone was so encouraging, uplifting, and loving. I am so thankful to be apart of a community that loves the way CRAVE loves. I truly believe that our community lives out John 17:21.

As much as I would LOVE to talk about what God did in our cabin, I respect the ladies enough to not tell of their struggles and praises of the weekend. That is their story to tell, not mine. But here is mine.

The theme of the weekend was "Hearing God's Voice". The first verse I read before quiet time was Song of Solomon 8:13

"O you who dwell in the gardens, with companions listening for your voice; let me hear it."

This was my prayer for the weekend. "O Lord let me hear it, let me hear your voice." I didn't have a crazy, broken moment this weekend... but I did hear God speak. The Lord really just spoke a bunch of encouragement and sweet somethings over me! It was a beautiful weekend of just slowing down, relaxing, and abiding. The Lord just told me to keep doing what I am doing, to just keep surrendering, to keep abiding, to keep loving, to keep serving, to keep smiling, and to keep forgiving. God's grace can't be contained, it has to overflow onto others. This past season I have been in one of full surrender and dependency on the Lord. I have trusted Him with everything and anything and let me tell you... I have never been so free. He is my freedom, my strength, my rock, my everything... Living in a broken surrender is the strongest I've ever been. And this weekend the Lord totally affirmed and encouraged me! It was lovely.

Our God is a joyful God, a happy and smiling God. He wants His children to be happy too... to dance, sing, shout, and smile before Him, at Him, with Him...I am so thankful for His joy. Here are some verses that blessed me this weekend.

"Who is that coming up from the wilderness leaning on her Beloved?" (Song of Solomon 8:5)

"My heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God." (Psalm 84:2)

"Blessed are those whose strength is in You." (Psalm 84:5)

"...They make it a place of springs... no good thing does He withold from those who walk uprightly." (Psalm 84:6, 1)