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Gifts to Give Away to you!
Henry Maynell Rheam
Everyone needs a retreat!
Enter our Giveaway for a weekend at the Cove in the beautiful North Carolina mountains.
Rest and Peace, Just what mama needs!
Sometimes, when we have piles of responsibility on our plate, we start to place a lot of energy, worry and fear into the issues of our lives and fret. The last thing that seems productive when life is busy is to rest. Yet, rest may very well be the most strategic thing to do if we have a busy, full and demanding life.
If we do not practice a habit of a restful life, we will end up with serious illness, exhaustion, bad attitudes and fist shaking faith aimed heavenly.
As I have said before, “Fretting leads only to evil doing.”
God put Sabbath Rest into the weeks of our lives with a purpose. I have found that when I believe and engage my heart in the goodness of God’s character, and put out of my mind, after praying, all that I am carrying and just seek to be still and find joy, I see the miracles bubbling up slowly, surely, as He, my Father, delights to provide.
However, a Martha heart won’t see the miracles, as she is so busy living in the whirlwind of her own meek provisions, she loses all hope and becomes a wretched nag.
The more exhausted I am with life, the more tense, grumpy and tight I become and it spills all over everyone else.
Finding myself at a juncture of exhaustion from my children, out of town guests, lots and lots of adrenalin, I find that somehow when I try to figure out all of the responsibilities of the next few months, which are plenty, I know the expenditure of adrenalin will be high.
Yet, from so many times like this in the past, I have learned a secret. My Prince Jesus comes to me at just the right time, but like the story of Sleeping Beauty, the prince comes, not when she is searching the horizon, pounding her fists, running the floor, but when she is doing nothing but resting.
Resting in Him, choosing peace and putting off responsibilities and recreating is sometimes such grand medicine for my soul, that after choosing to rest and to invest in fun and love and ease of life, my strength is renewed and all issues are able to be faced with grace. I know even busier weeks are coming, but I will face them with courage if I rest today.
And so today, my plan is to go back to bed, to pace leisurely through the pathway of the next couple of days (as much as possible, of course!), to sip and really taste my coffee, to just sit and listen to my sweet family, and focus on the beauty of their light-filled eyes, to stay in comfy clothes all day, to read and pray, and then maybe to rest again, because I know that while I am resting, my Prince is already coming to my rescue.
Peace, be still, the Lord is near.
Retreat at the Cove!
Sweet Mamas–Desperate No More–Find just the encouragement you need in our new book!
And don’t miss the free Bible Study we’ve created for small group leaders–free right here!
Linking arms with other mamas, seeking ways to support one another, sharing secrets you’ve learned with your own children that she might try with her own, walking together on this very long journey … this is a key to longevity with grace! And by the way, you are not invisible, but you are very precious to God!
What a lovely thing! I would first take my hubby ~unless women only~ then would choose my sweet mom or a dear friend.
Breathe…yes indeed! I could really take a moment to breathe, and with fabulous women would be amazing!
Oh…and I would take my sister!
A friend.
I have 3 friends I would love to take…one is an online friend and we have been a major encouragement for one another these past 16 years. Another is a dear younger friend I haven’t seen in a long time. And the last is a woman whose heart was instantly knit to mine when we first laid eyes on one another over 20 years ago. It would be hard to choose!
I would take my best friend Tess!!!
I would bring my dear friend who is about to marry and become a step mother to a special needs child.
“Who would you take with you on a spiritual retreat?”
I think I would take my very close friend, Lauren… She could use the retreat as much or more than me!
(And a chance to see each other would just make it ten times as refreshing to go!)
I would take a friend!
Ahhh, a retreat. I would take a dear friend who would enjoy and benefit a getaway as much as I would.
I would LOVE for my sister and I to go!
I would love to take my husband. Especially at this time, when he is spiritual drained with not having a job for over 4 months and no income coming in. Thank you for the opportunity. God bless.
A retreat, I don’t know what that is, much needed been years since I have had a real vacation, one that doesn’t include visiting family.
I would take my sister!
I would like to take my sister!
Oh I couldn’t imagine. Right now 2 of my 3 kids (9mths and 2) are sick and I have been up all night and I am sick, and a retreat is unimaginable. I have never been to a spa. <3
I would take my husband!
I would take my sister whom I seldom see as she lives in Hawaii. : ) ~Lyn
I would definitely take one of my fellow church planter spouse/pastors’ wives friend. There are seldom times like this and I think it would be greatly needed and appreciated.
oh yes! And I would bring along a dear friend!
Wow! This would be so wonderful to win!
First thought, toothbrush
My tween daughter. To be a witness. Jesus loving women, warriors of faith/home/family.
Love this! Thank you so much for offering this give away. I would bring a dear friend with me.
I would love to take my mom and my sister. My moms dad just died. Se is the biggest inspiration to me…
Either my mom or my friend Angel!
It would be great if I could take my amazing husband.
What a wonderful and wise plan, to rest instead of spilling my stress all over the ones I love most. I would love to take my best friend, my husband.
What a lovely thought! I would take my husband or a dear sister-in-law.
I would take my husband. He works so hard to provide for our family and it would be such a wonderful retreat to get away, rest together, and get re-energized to take on our task of raising our kids. Thanks for these chances to win!
I would bring one of my sweet friends!
I’m not sure who I would bring… maybe my mom!
I would take my husband, unless he wanted to stay home with our boys
Then, I’d take a girlfriend from church…that would be fun too!
This looks amazing! I ordered the book, can’t wait!
I would definitely bring one of my mommy friends!
I would take my dear husband! He works so hard and is so giving!
I would take my husband or my long-time kindred-spirit friend. We used to live near the Cove and I have been longing to go back to the mountains of NC for ever so long!
I have so many dear friends, it would be hard to pick just one. If I won the Holy Spirit would need to guide me
I would love to take my best friend, only she doesn’t live in the USA, so that might not be possible!
I would take my best friend, my husband. If it was restricted to women, then a dear friend of mine.
My dearest friend and sister in the Lord, Kimberly.
I would take my hubby or my mom!
My husband. If it had to be a lady, I don’t know. I have several friends that I know would enjoy it as much as I.
I would take a friend, sweats, chocolate and a journal.
I would take my mom!
A retreat sounds delightful. I would choose my husband first, but if it was women only, then I would choose a friend that is in most need of rest and encouragement.
I would love to go to Asheville with my sweet hubby but if we couldn’t get away together then I would take my oldest sister with me.
Can’t wait for this book, Sally!!! So excited about the upcoming Mom Heart conference, too!
I would take my husband or my sweet friend Ali, if she was in the states.
I would take my mom!
I would take my husband……we could use some time away together. Thanks for entering me in the giveaway!
I would love to take my husband, but someone would need to watch our four small children… so I would probably bring along one of my best friends!
I would take my husband, the two most people I want and desire to be close to is God and my hubby!
I would take my husband!
I would take my sister
I would take another homeschooling friend of mine along for the retreat/ride!
I would take my dear friend, Beth, another homeschooling mom and mother of 4 who is preparing to head to the mission field.
Probably my mom or sister.
My best friend or daughter, though she is only 8, I would love some one on one time with her.
i would take my husband (or a close girlfriend). a spiritual retreat sounds amazing and much needed right now!
I would love to go with my husband. Aside from just being an amazing time The Cove is where I went to camp as a child and where my faith was really solidified. I’d love to be able to share that part of my life with my husband in a new way.
i would take either my mom…or my best friend, who could also use a retreat like this!
What a special offer! If I couldn’t take my husband, then I would choose my dear friend from Idaho.
I would take my friend Michelle who is single and adopted
2 sweet kids – I know she could use the break and encouragement!
Oh, Sally and Sarah…a weekend in NC at The Cove. It almost brings tears to my eyes! I’m from NC but live in Colorado Springs now. I left home over 11 years ago thinking I’d never want to go back, but now, the sweetest blessing, just like Much Afraid in Hinds Feet, I long for my growing up home! In His will…
I would take a sweet friend that mentors me!
my mom….she needs a retreat:)
I would take my hubby, he could use a break!
I would take either my husband or my mom .
I would like to take my sister–but she lives in Africa. It would be so wonderful to have a break with her. I enjoy her so much.
Sorry for my english, i’m french mom from Quebec, Canada.
If I could win de retreat, sure I would bring my good friend Myriam who have 4 children (I got 3). It’s too bad that I can’t pay flight pass to go in Colorado…
I would like to have that kind of retreat in my province (state) of Quebec !! I just discovered your site on internet. A friend suggest me you book « Seasons of mother’s heart » that is soo bring me peace in my heart about my choice of life. Thank God for your ministery !! 
Xx
Thank you thank you thank you–for offering this!! Wow! This would be a dream come true for me, but I will rejoice with whoever wins this amazing prize–what a blessing it will be to her life!
Wow! This would be a dream come true for me, but I will rejoice with whoever wins this amazing prize–what a blessing it will be to her life!
I would take a friend from Seattle, where I just moved away from.
Who I would take is a hard question….I will have to pray about that one. But I would be taking my bible and a beautiful new journal.
I would take my dear husband, and if it is women only, I will take a sweet friend who just finished potty training her toddler daughter. She needs it!
So thankful for your encouragement and your heart for young mothers! On the spiritual retreat I would take my best friend, both in different stages of parenting but both feeling the need for refreshment…
On a spiritual retreat, I would take my dear friend & sister-in-law Renae. She is such a role model in my life asa a mother & wife & has a great relationship with Christ
I would take my husband on a spiritual retreat!
I would take one of my dear friends.
I would take my childhood friend, Melissa, who introduced me to Sally Clarkson and accompanied me to the Mom Heart conference in 2012.
Hmmm…I suppose I am feeling emotionally, physically, and spiritually drained with a negative attitude right now because I cannot enter any of these. I have been going non stop for the past 19 years (I’m 35) with no help but my husbands. My parents are divorced and are both a mess with several marriages a piece. They don’t help and don’t care about us. My husbands parents are divorced as well with several relationships and marriages as well. My father in law is an unbeliever who tries to brainwash our children so he is not welcome very often, and my mother in law doesn’t like me and thinks everyone should bow to her ways. If it’s not her way she pitches a fit like a child and then leaves and won’t speak to you for weeks. She also gossips behind our back calling us stupid for having more children and homeschooling and exteme for insisting on modest dress.(As in no halter tops, tank tops and such that expose all of our girls body parts) She says they should flaunt it ’cause they got it. She runs her own cleaning business and has never once in the past 14 years that I have been pregnant with our six children offered to help in any way. Never mind the fact that when my husband and I were dating teens we nearly DAILY babysat his 2 younger siblings and I often helped clean around her house. Our oldest child is also special needs I. HAVE. NO. ONE. The one verse I often repeat in my head is …when my mother and father forsake me, the LORD will take care of me. And He has, but I am still hurt and lonely. There is NO ONE to take care of our precious children for me to even consider going anywhere. We are part of our local church but I am sooooo fearful to let anyone in. I have met some of the meanest most fake and back stabbing women in our old church…..I AM A REAL PERSON WHO WANTS TO MEET OTHER REAL PEOPLE! I feel like I am the definition of Desperate! I have the book in my cart at cbd.com with our homeschool curriculum for next year. I should be able to place the order in the next 2 weeks…… I PRAY that it helps me somehow
This would be amazing!!!!
Thank you ladies for the opportunity!!
http://heather-becomingatitus2woman.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-few-thoughts-on-motherhood.html
I blogged about the book.
I would take my husband. If he couldn’t go, then I would take my best friend.
I love the question! I would take my mother-in-law! She is an inspiring, caring, friend to me and continues to be a wonderful mother to her son and I’m SO grateful for her prayers and solid Christian upbringing for my husband.
I would take my sweet friend Rachel who is in the same stage of life that I’m in with little ones.
This sounds like a nice getaway! Would love to ask my mom or dear friend.
I would love to invite one of the inspiring moms I know. Maybe Janiet or Julie or Liz.
I would take my husband. I wish this book was written when my kids were little. I felt so alone. Now that they are teenagers, a little rejuvenation would be great!
My dear husband! Or is this a momma’s only time? Ooo. That’s a toughie, but I am sure I’d figure it out (;
This sounds wonderful!
My husband or my friend of many years who is never a stranger, no matter how long we might go between visits/chats.
My sister!
I would take one of my best friends from college. We live in separate states, so we only get to see each other once a year, but that one time a year we usually end up at a retreat for moms together. There is just something about having someone who has the same spiritual values and vision as yourself that is so important!
I would love to take my husband—what a blessing this would be.
I would take a friend to the retreat.
What I wouldn’t give for some time with Sally and Sarah Mae! With two boys under three years of age I could use some mentoring/encouragement. Blogged about your new book and bought eight for my group. http://happyandblessedhome.com/desperate
In His Grip,
Monica
My friend!
this sounds absolutely wonderful. i would take a close friend, one whom has become my motherhood accountability partner from many states away…it would be SO nice to reconnect in person!
I would take my Mum if she could make it (she lives in Sydney), otherwise, a sister who I have shared some of life’s challenges with ;0)
this sounds lovely! i would love to take my sister in law!!
I would take my wonderful friend Heather. She is a pastor’s wife and just took in 2 hurting and traumatized kids 3yo and under who needed a place to live. She is now the instant mom of 5 and she is going to need times of refreshment to minister to her new family.
Thanks for the opportunity and your heart.
If God chooses me to win, I will bring my husband
He knows we both need a Spiritual Retreat / Regroup.
I would take my dear friend Misty who has been an inspiration to many as her and her husband fight cancer that the enemy is trying to use to take her husband’s life. She’s like the sister I never had and I love her dearly <3
I would take my friend Crystal. We’ve been friends since college……..20+ years. What fun!
I would take my mom with me on the retreat. She is the best mom. She’s just been diagnosed with MS, and I would love to have time with her as a special getaway after this rough season in life.
Another wonderful giveaway for Moms, thank you. You have put a lot of thought into each of these!
I’d take my best friend. We’ve been friends for over 20 years, most of them long distance. We both could use a retreat and great parenting advice!
hmmm….. I think I would take a sister-in-law:)
I’d take my dear friend and prayer partner who’s the mother of two sets of twins, one of whom has autism. She needs a retreat more than anyone I know!
This sounds lovely. I would take my sister-in-law (who is also my dearest friend)–she has five little ones nine and under. We could both use the rest.
I would probably take a mom from our home school co-op that cannot afford to get away otherwise. There are many moms there that never seem to get a break AND never complain about it!
Who would I take on a spiritual retreat? My hubby/my Momma/my girls or my dear friend Sherri {a pastor’s wife}…this old gal could use some refreshing
couldn’t we all? Thanks for the giveaway!!
My husband!!!
I would take my friend Michele because she took me to the Women of Faith Conference last fall… I would like to repay her and I love hanging out with her.
My husband!
Oh this would be hard to decide! Several good friends come to mind!
I would likely take a friend or my mom
The thought of getting away with a friend, and the two of you, makes me just breathe deep! I am not sure if husbands would be the ideal “friend” because of the time set aside with Sarah Mae and Sally. Another sister seems to be the best fit. If this was a romantic weekend away, I am all over having my husband come along! I would either bring my sister who just went through a very heartbreaking divorce, or my friend who has a daughter with pancreatitis and her dad has cancer.
i’d love to take my mom
My friend Alyssa. Thank you!
I would take my mother! – my spiritual mentor who needs a retreat too!
Hi,
I have a quick question about your blog, do you think you could e-mail me?
Heather