"The material was beyond anything I was hoping for or imagining...”

When I first met Sharon and Sibyl, God had already put it on my heart to develop a ministry focused on teaching people to reflect on their lives and to enjoy His presence. In my own story, I had encountered many professors and authors that had helped me with this. But I was struggling to see how to begin with the women that God was putting in my path. Then my dear prayer partner called me about the LTML packet. She said, “This reminds me of everything you’ve been talking about. I think you should take a look at it and come to the retreat.”  I was totally blown away by how perfect an entry point this material is for the conversations I believe God wants me to have with other women.

Initially, I used the Listen to My Life workbook at a retreat with thirteen women. We gathered at two side by side lake houses. There were fourteen of us there. We had two facilitators and twelve attendees. We began on a Friday night at 7:00pm and finished at Noon on Sunday. Prior to meeting Sharon and Sybil, the Lord had given me the idea that these two particular lake houses would be perfect for a small prayer/reflection retreat. Once I was introduced the Listen to My Life: Discovering my part in God’s Grand Story, I knew I had to ask my friends about renting their homes for this kind of event. They both said yes! After a date was selected, I asked the Lord who I should invite. Those who initially came to mind were people I was already having these types of conversations with. Then some of those women after seeing the materials wanted to invite other friends.

In addition to all that, while at the retreat led by Sharon and Sibyl together,  I was impressed with something they did. They modeled listening by listening to one another as they co-led. From the time I made the decision to start working on a retreat, I asked the Lord for a co-leader. The person I had in mind was someone that I attended the first retreat with. I invited her to consider it, as we continued working through the unfinished LTML materials, she said yes to co-leading. This added a whole new list of invitees. My co-leader is in her mid 20’s. I am in my 40’s. So we had women who ranged in age from 20’s to 50’s. This was also something I longed and prayed for - a range of ages present.

My co-leader and I simply followed the retreat guide that Sharon and Sibyl had for the retreat we attended we just tweaked it to each of our strengths and to the limitations of the room we were meeting in.

If you believe that God wants you to make use of this material to engage in conversation with others, start praying. Pray for God to show you the location, the format and the people. I believe the Lord will guide you.

As I have walked amongst some of the women who attended the retreat a couple a weeks ago, I marvel at the physical evidence they are trusting God more. I see it on their faces, in their tones of voice and body language. By their own testimonies, I know that things I longed and prayed for these women to know about God and experience with God took place. Now, they are walking in faith in ways they were not before. Praise God!   The journey continues…

I will also use the LTML packet one-on- one, especially with women who would rather not wait for a retreat to be offered. We will meet one hour a week for as long as it takes to complete the packet.  In order to reinforce the insights gained, I will encourage them to pass this on by repeating the process with a friend.

I believe God will use this material to bring glory to His name. When women discover more about God’s deep love for them, that He has uniquely created them and that He has plans and purposes for them, they are given the opportunity to move from places of fear to walking by faith in God. This movement will free them to live the life God has created for them. A life of faith in God always blesses others and brings glory to His name.

May we all become better listeners to God in the midst of our stories!