My friends at High Calling Blogs are sponsoring a drawing for a Retreat!  How timely, that their contest coincides with my new Ezine!  Now you have two ways to win…1)  Register for my Ezine (look at the post for Friday, May 2^nd).  I will be giving away a copy of Pam Farrel’s book, Hats Off to You!  2)  Receive 25% off a retreat at Laity Lodge in Texas, when you ask for the HighCallingBlogs.com discount!

I have to say that I am a Retreat Junkie.    I am fanatical about retreats, because I’ve benefited from so many of them over the years.  And there is such a variety to choose from!  Probably the ones that have left the biggest impression have been when I have had an opportunity to be in the great outdoors.  One in particular took place in high school.  Our youth group went to Seattle, Washington for an International Youth Convention.  While there, we visited Mount Rainier and other attractions in that area.  Our leader had provided small workbooks with questions and space to journal insights.  That study on being a branch on Jesus’ vine left such an impression, that I can still picture the cover today.  While we were hiking on Mount Rainer, we stopped at an outcropping of rocks and spent some time praying.  The only stipulation was that we had to pray with our eyes open!  Talk about breath-taking; the scenery was incredible!  We watched a sliver of the moon edge its way up into the sky as a soft darkness descended.  And we knew that we had personally witnessed the grandeur of God’s handiwork.  Psalm 19 tells us that God’s artwork is discernable in every language!

Make time for a retreat.  It will refresh you beyond your wildest expectations!  Chris Cree is also posting places where you can read about more retreats.  Maybe you’ll get an idea for one of your own!