Click on this link to view the current 2020 Summer Retreat schedule. This is a live document so we will continue to update it if there are changes or more information.

Within each box of the schedule there is a link you can click to take you to that meeting at the appropriate time.

Retreat Schedule (Google Sheet)

In preparation for many of our retreat session to be on Zoom starting next Sunday, Stephen Alexander has created a wonderful handout and YouTube video tutorial for you!

The handout for the Zoom how to can be found by clicking: one-pager .

The YouTube how to video can be found here.

Find a below handout for the session "Waiting on God."

Waiting on God:

• Handout : for Reflections and Discussion of Waiting on God by Andrew Murray FWC 2020 retreat at 1:30 pm on Monday, June 29^th

By way of explanation, I took this small devotional book with my on our trip to South America this spring mainly because is was nice and small. I was immediately gripped by the message—and felt it was something we should consider at our retreat this year. Kendra

This is an excerpt from Address in Exeter Hall May 31, 1895

"Let us look to God to reveal Himself among His people in a measure very few have realized. Let us expect great things of our God. At all our conventions and assemblies too little time is given to waiting on God. Is He not willing to put things right in His own divine way? Has the life of God's people reached the utmost limit of

what God is willing to do for them? Surely not. We want to wait on Him; to put away our experiences, however blessed they have been; our conceptions of truth, however sound and scriptural we think they seem; our plans, however needful and suitable they appear; and give God time and place to show us what He could do, what He will do. God has new developments and new resources. He can do new things, unheard- of things, hidden things. Let us enlarge our hearts and not limit HIm. "When Thou camest down, Thou didst terrible things we looked not for; the mountains flowed down at Thy presence."

My prayer is that during this unusual time, we will truly wait on God individually and together.

I am including a few of the quotations that struck me as I worked through this little book in February and March. You may want to obtain a copy if you have not already. It is available on Kindle.

My plan for the session (and this handout as well) is to include some testimonies of how I have seen people waiting on God in the past few months.

Quotations:

Day 4:. Waiting on God: FOR SUPPLIES "The Lord upholdeth all that fall, And raiseth up all those that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon Thee; And Thou givest them their meat in due season." Ps 145:14-15

in the Christian life: day by day, at every step, we need our supplies from above. And there is nothing so needful as to cultivate that spirit of dependence on God and of confidence in Him, which refuses to go on without the needed supply of grace and strength.

Day 7. Waiting on God: A PLEA IN PRAYER "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on Thee." Ps 25:21

It is a great thing for a soul not only to wait upon God, but to be filled with such a consciousness that its whole spirit and position is that of a waiting one, that it can, in childlike confidence, say, Lord! Thou knowest, I wait on Thee.

Day 8: Waiting on God: Strong and of Good courage We must draw near to God with a True heart.

It must be clear to us:

1) what we are waiting for (it might be a special petition, or for God to work in us the sense of His Holy presence, or concerning the whole state of the church or for an end to the pandemic)

2) whom we are waiting for (not an idol but the Living God)

3) That we are waiting

..(Is this anything).different from what we do when we pray, the answer is, that there may be much praying with but very little waiting on God. In praying we are often occupied with ourselves, with our own needs, and our own efforts in the presentation of them. In waiting upon God, the first thought is of the God upon whom we wait. We enter His presence, and feel we need just to be quiet, so that He, as God, can overshadow us

with Himself. God longs to reveal Himself, to fill us with Himself. Waiting on God gives Him time in His own way and divine power to come to us.

Day 10: Waiting on God in humble fear and hope

This is the blessedness of waiting upon God, that it takes our eyes and thoughts away from ourselves, even our needs and desires, and occupies us with our God.

Day 13: Waiting on God for more than we know

What struck me in this meditation was what Murray said about the Israelites in the wilderness (with application to us)--able to believe God for what we have seen Him do before--but maybe not for things we have not already seen.

so this quote: “Just think of God’s wonderful love and redemption, in the meaning these words must have to Him. Confess how little you understand what God is willing to do for you, and say each time as you pray: "And now, what wait I for?" My heart cannot say, God’s heart knows and waits to give. "My hope is in Thee." Wait on God to do for you more than you can ask or think.”

Day 17: waiting on God in times of darkness:” I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth His face from the house of Jacob; and I will look for Him” Isa.8:17

Here Isaiah is waiting upon Him, not on behalf of himself, but of his people....It suggests to us how our waiting upon God, though it commences with our personal needs, with the desire for the revelation of Himself, or for the answer to personal petitions, need not, may not, stop there.

Day 18: Waiting on God to reveal Himself: (this is especially pertinent to our

gathering this week)

The object of a more definite waiting upon God in our gatherings would be very much the same as in personal worship. It would mean a deeper conviction that God must and will do all. It would require a more humble and abiding entrance into our deep helplessness, and the need of entire and unceasing dependence upon Him. We need a more living consciousness that the essential thing is to give God His place of honor and of power. We must have a confident expectation that to those who wait on Him, God will, by His Spirit, give the secret of His acceptance and presence, and then, in due time, the revelation of His saving power. The great aim would be to bring everyone in a

praying and worshiping company under a deep sense of God's presence, so that when they part there will be the consciousness of having met God Himself, of having left every request with Him, and of now waiting in stillness while He works out His salvation. Also: The power and the blessing of united waiting is what we need to

learn.

Day 23 For unlooked for Things

“The need of God’s people, and the call for God’s interposition, is as urgent in our days as it was in the time of Isaiah

“We must cry with a cry that never rests, Oh that thou would rend the heavens, that thou would come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence. We must desire and believe; we must ask and expect that God will do unlooked-for things. We must set our faith on a God of whom men do not know what He has prepared for them who wait for Him. The wonder-doing God, who can surpass all our expectations, must be the God of our confidence.”

I had made a note that it was during this time we were praying fervently for Jerry and Julie Fine to find a way out of Peru. As a side note, two months later the State Department is still trying to help people get home from Peru. So this was an answered prayer. I believe this also is related to our friends making it to Honolulu.

Many people were sharing on the list serve or smaller email groups about things the Lord was speaking to them about. We HAVE BEEN attempting to wait on God and we MUST continue to do so.

Michael Bearden will share with us what God has been saying to him about a call to HOLINESS. He will be posting a separate handout.

From Berry Davis recently:

The Lord is prompting me to pray for The Latter Rain.

Much of the Church, many in the Body and certainly much of the World is spiritually dry and parched.

Many perish or are spiritually desolate because your Holy Spirit is lacking.

Lord, we pray for a massive outpouring of your Holy Spirit. Not because of what we do but because of what you do.

Lord, we need you and your Holy Spirit to be poured out on all flesh.

Amen

And a response from Jean Wheatley: “About a month ago, I was stopped in my tracks when I

found out Scripture uses two different words for "early rain" and "latter rain." And I began to

pray for the Latter Rain. The early rain falls in the fall in Israel and softens the ground so that

seed can be sown and begin to grow. The latter rain falls in the spring and brings forth the

Harvest!

Pentecost was the sowing of the seed. I am praying for the Harvest!”

I've read some theological arguments against this but I knew I could strongly get behind this prayer. “

And many of you have seen emails from Veranne concerning humility, repentance, and unity.

All of these things reflect waiting on and hearing from God. May we all seek the Lord for our virtual retreat that many may be blessed and that we may hear the Lord.

For me, the reading group for Waiting On God was the preparation for the next work of the Refiner's fire in me. So, beginning immediately with the Corona virus home quarantining period, the strongest messages I was getting from God were for the absolute need for a focus on the fear of the Lord and Holiness, which, looking back on my years of pastoral ministry, I cannot remember ever really preaching about. I'm sure that I gave sermons which mentioned these vital portions of the Christian life, but I certainly didn't ever devote a series to either of them. So I hear Him saying that these are essential, and I realized that I didn't really know what they were. I needed a deep roto-tilling of my heart, and I needed the Gardener to identify the weeds which needed to be pulled out of the garden of my spirit, so that the good seeds could be planted and cultivated. The biggest danger He pointed out to me in seeking holiness, was the tares, which can look just like wheat. These poisonous seeds are propagated by the religious spirit whose words and actions can look like fear of the Lord and holiness until it comes time for the grain to be produced. And if they are the counterfeit, instead of providing spiritual nourishment for others and then for myself, they will produce poisonous pride, merciless judgment, and ruined relationships. So, as we are told in 1 Thessalonians 5, “test everything!”

What I see now, where I am in this quest for true holiness, is that there has been a silence on these themes which has greatly weakened the character of the church and opened a door to doctrines of demons. Strong words! The absence or dilution of these vital truths has created a large gap between the profession and practice of true Christianity in our day and thus filled our society with a lot of deception. The fear of the Lord which is the foundation of loving and receiving these truths is sadly lacking in the American church world today. Without the holy fire of God burning in our hearts we will not be equipped to overcome the lethargy, complacency and apathy so common in the church world today. Which means that in that condition we also will not be able to endure the increasing spiritual warfare and anti-Christ spirit growing in the world. It is the fire of God in our lives that will prepare us for the glory of the Lord and coming harvest of souls; it is so critical in the dark hour we live in that we ​burn ​for Jesus! We are to live out 1 John 4:17, “​By living in God, love has been brought to its full expression in us so that we may fearlessly face the day of judgment, because all that Jesus now is, so are we in this world”

God's normal is for us to be indwelt by the Lord Jesus Christ so that He can live His life in and through us. This is what we were made for, saved for, this is His entire design and plan for us—to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. The holiness to which He calls us is not a “to do” list. It is allowing Him to increasingly live through us as we respond to Him. It is Him producing His holiness through our lives—increasingly in every aspect. Now that's normal! So perhaps the call of revival is “Will I allow Him to produce more of His normal in me?”

Most of us who first began to experience the reality of coming into God's Presence in the 1960's came in with a ​type​ of the fear of the Lord which I believe was more the counterfeit religious spirit version, based on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil rather than true holiness, which can only be based in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. And many found, as I did, that a relationship with God cannot be based on any other foundation than the finished work of the cross. As anyone who remembers anything about me knows that no one could have failed that test more thoroughly than I did back then.

That was then, this is now, and what I am seeing and hearing is that that same battleground is where we are again, the narrow path is also becoming steeper, which means that we are going to be moving upward faster into greater heavenly reality as well as meeting more earthly spiritual resistance, including persecution.

So, I am feeling a caution now against applying greater effort, except as it is aimed at removing ANYTHING which is hindering a full commitment to being totally consumed with the pursuit of the Kingdom of God, which we can only reach through the narrow gate.

As always it seems, this holiness I am pursuing is simple, which is almost never, ever in my experience going to mean “easy”, it is reached one step at a time by loving God with all of our heart, mind and spirit, and loving others as we love ourselves, the Law of The Kingdom. And I don't know any way to do that which does not require a constant focus on abiding in the Presence of the living God. The better I am at maintaining an awareness of being in heaven with The Father and The Son, by the power of The Holy Spirit, WHILE SERVING SELFLESSLY ON EARTH. That is the Holy life while I still wear this earth suit.

I find that the more I focus on Him, the more time and attention I spend on just seeking to stay with Him, the easier it is to hear His voice on how I can use the talents He has given me in loving others. Those “talents” include the spiritual gifts, the mental and physical abilities which He created me with and the material resources which He has given me.

Staying close to Him means that I have far fewer opportunities to fall into selfish, self centered sin, trying to use those God given gifts for myself, or just allowing myself to be lazy.

I very strongly believe from what I am seeing and hearing that the refining of the remnant who are truly following Him is underway throughout the world now as it has never been before, and that the division between the light and the dark is only going to become more evident in the new season we are in now.

I am going to close my portion of this time with that part of 1 Thessalonians 5 I mentioned earlier:

Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer; And in the midst of everything be a​ lways​ giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus​. ​Never restrain or put out the fire of the Holy Spirit. And don’t be one who scorns prophecies, but be faithful to examine them by putting them to the test, and afterward hold tightly to what has proven to be right. Avoid every appearance of evil.​ N​ ow, may the God of peace and harmony set you apart, making you completely holy. And may your entire being—spirit, soul, and body—be kept completely flawless in the appearing of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. The one who calls you by name is trustworthy and will thoroughly complete his work in you

Tuesday, 1:30-2:30: Prayer for Children: Agenda

1. 1) Opening welcome and prayer
2. 2) prayers of dedication for Deborah SAGE Bradley
3. 3) a time to share specific prayer requests for our children and grandchildren
4. 4) prayer time

From Andrew Murray:

nowhere is there a better place for cultivating or displaying (patience) than in waiting on God. There we discover how impatient we are, and what our impatience means. ...If we truly set ourselves to wait upon God, we shall find that it is with Him we are impatient, because He does not at once, or as soon as we could wish, do our bidding.

Day 11: Waiting on God: patiently:

"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." The margin gives for "Rest in the Lord," "Be silent to the Lord," or R. V., "Be still before the Lord." It is resting in the Lord, in His will, His promise, His faithfulness, and His love, that makes patience easy.

...Having our thoughts and wishes, our fears and hopes, hushed into calm and quiet in that great peace of God which passeth all understanding. That peace keeps the heart and mind when we are anxious for anything, because we have made our request known to Him. The rest, the silence, the stillness, and the patient waiting, all find their strength and joy in God Himself.

"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." Yes, for HIM. Seek not only the help, the gift, thou needest seek: HIMSELF; wait for HIM. Give God His glory by resting in Him, by trusting him fully, by waiting patiently for Him.

Agenda for Nations Prayer time: Thursday, July 2^nd at 1:30 pm

It is not clear whether we will have time to cover everything in one hour. Therefore I am sending an agenda with some ideas of what we would like to do. In case we do not get to Amy’s lament at the end, I wanted everyone on the ZOOM meeting to have it. Thanks, Kendra

1)Gather specific concerns from those attending the ZOOM call Some possible topics: Topics: that seem impossible to us:

Poverty in the world: Haiti, India, Africa (especially as impacted by COVID 19 Specific prayers for China, North Korea, and Russia (Save the Reds)

Racism

Partisan divides in USA:

From Berry Davis 6/14:

While meditating before the Lord this morning, it became crystal clear that one of the chief spirits to pray against was the “adversarial” spirit.

We see it at work constantly — in the streets, in our politics, in our society. It is the “them against us” spirit and environment that seems universally pervasive.

Satan is the chief adversary and our constant adversary and in fostering an adversarial environment, the conditions of peace and forgiveness and reconciliation are stifled.

I am praying against the adversarial spirit and recommend that all of us do likewise. Blessed are the peacemakers.

From Veranne 6/14:

2)John Kane to lead in prayer:

3) Related to waiting on God:

A reminder from Doris: If we are going to be praying for our country at the retreat, it will involve confession of our sin and repentance. Don’t know that this will be “public” confession like the time of judgement But it is part of humbling ourselves so God can heal our land. Day 19 of

This is the spirit the Lord was dealing with me about in my life when he asked me to quit identifying myself as ‘right wing, conservative’ and to identify myself as one of the ‘love thy neighbor as thyself’ adherents. It’s shocking the difference this has made. veranne

— that God’s name be upheld as holy throughout the world

— that God’s reign be established among the nations

— that God’s will be done here on earth as it is in the heavenly kingdom.

Waiting on God does a nice job of the importance of judgement leading to mercy.

Andrew Murray” Let no one who seeks to learn the blessed art of waiting on God, wonder if at first the attempt to wait on Him only reveals more of sin and darkness. Let no one despair because unconquered sins, evil thoughts, or great darkness appear to hide God's face. Was not, in His own beloved Son, the gift and bearer of His mercy on Calvary, the mercy as hidden and lost in the judgment? Oh, submit and sink down deep under the judgment of your every sin. Judgment prepares the way and breaks out in wonderful mercy. It is written, "Zion shall be redeemed with judgment" (Isa. 1:27). Wait on God, in the faith that His tender mercy is working out His redemption in the midst of judgment. Wait for Him; He will be gracious to you.”

4) Lament (from Amy Kay):

A cry to the church

Whoever loves God must demonstrate love to others...our love can’t be an abstract theory we only talk about but a way of life demonstrated through our loving deeds...love your neighbor as yourself (I John 4:21,3:18 and Mark 12:31)

•  Any spirit that encourages you to hate people who you do not even know is not from God
•  Any spirit that encourages division is a spirit of self-righteousness and defensiveness and is
• not from God.

 Any spirit that says “not my problem” to the problems that are on the heart of God is choosing selfish ambition and vein conceit.

 Any spirit that encourages you to believe that your way of thinking, talking, acting, looking, celebrating, ....is better than another group of people is not in line with how Jesus lived.

 Any spirit that encourages us and them is an invitation for evil to take root...and it has in our nation...and in our churches...and in the Church.

I believe God is taking us at our word - we prayed for healing – churches around the world prayed for God to heal our land...we were talking about COVID, but I believe God said, “ YOU WANT HEALING...LET’S START HERE, CHURCH – LET’S GET RID OF PRIDE”...that is what racism is, that is what ignoring the problems of others is, that is what self-righteousness is, that is what “us and them” is – it is pride.

The same sin as Lucifer himself, the same sin as Adam and Eve – pride is the spirit that claims equality with God...Oh, that we may actually humble ourselves.

Lord, I hear your call.

A call for humility – I do not know the trials of those around me, but I am asking in humility

 I am humbling myself to listen. I have ears, I want to hear. I want to ask questions and hear stories I have discounted or ignored. I want to enter into the uncomfortable because you do that for me, God, and I can do that for others.

 I’m humbling myself to lay down politics and religion and anger and any other platform that seeks to set me against another of God’s children and I plant my feet firmly in the unity that Peter walked in in Acts 10 as he stepped out of his race and into the kingdom of God.

 I’m humbling myself to intentionally step into uncomfortable relationships with those different than me – those who believe different, look different, act different, and I choose to see them not as different, but as beautifully created – exactly as He designed by the same Creator who made me, who clearly adores making us all different!

 I’m humbling myself to lay down my pride. Oh, Lord, forgive me. Thank you, Lord, for loving your Church enough to want this filthy stain removed.

One place to stand is against the enemy. My enemy is not flesh and blood but the rulers, authorities and powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. This is not about rioting or police brutality, this is not about covid deaths or economic destruction, this is not about racism or politics, this is not about conservative media or liberal media - except that every one of those things is being used by the power of this dark world. Open our eyes, Lord, that we might see You - not the firey darts that distract us from You, not the plagues or the wars, not the fear or the anger, not the fires that light the sky or the fires that light our hearts - let us only see You. If You could walk the earth and see all the oppression and destruction and horror and do what the Father showed you to do and say what He told You to say - then with the power of your Holy Spirit, so can we.

One other place to stand is going to sound trite - love. Not like our American love where we

throw that word around - we can love pizza or a boyfriend or that new sweater or the latest

funny post on social media. So many things we can love - and it never costs us anything. That

isn't love. The love that is like the love of Christ is love that sees you are different and loves that

difference and celebrates how God made you different than me. This crazy world is so caught up

in looking for their identities like 12 year olds on the first day of school - better than one and not

as good as someone else. We want to see how we measure up to everyone else and then we

determine who we are!!! Oh, foolish people we are!! Our identities were settled before the dawn

of time - we were created in the image of God, worth His Son's very life - and that God went to

great trouble to make us different - different skin, different eyes, different outlooks, different

ideologies, theologies, physiques, tastes, habits, preferences, opinions, ...oh, the list is endless.

We are so different we can never be the same. Why is that a goal? Why do we want to pretend?

We are not the same as our siblings or our spouses or our children or our parents - how do we

think that the answer to all be the same?!?!?!? That can never be the answer. The answer is to

love. We don't need to see no color, we need to see color and LOVE IT! Celebrate the difference

and love. Love as Christ loved you. Anyone who loves God must also love his brother and sister.

(IJohn4) Other people don't need to be more like me, I need to be more like Christ. His love is so

massive - I want to live in that waterfall of His love and just be able to give out drops of it and it

will change the world.

I do not for one minute believe that it was God’s plan George Floyd to die at the hand of a police officer. I do not think God’s agenda is looting or police reform or violence or elections or social justice groups or checks of people with power – although all of those are at play in our nation today, just as they have been in many. many nations with unrest over the centuries. I believe the heart of God is to answer our prayers – to see us humble ourselves, really humble ourselves and pray and seek His face – then He will heal our land.

please join me in prayer:

Lord, please do a work now in our nation that will leave only the unshakable...Oh, God this shaking hurts, but we want to be firmly planted on you - the Rock of Ages.

Lord, I am sorry. I confess to you I am so sorry, Lord, for these sins of my nation and my forefathers, my friends and neighbors and family members and whatever sin in my heart, I confess before you - I am so sorry for the way I have wronged you by wronging those that you love. I am sorry for any bitterness or hatred or arrogance in my heart. Lord, I pray, search my heart and try me and see if there is any wicked way in me. Lord, lead me in your way everlasting. Lord, I choose to sit with you as you show me my heart and not hurry on to the next line of this prayer.

Lord, I set my face like flint against the enemy that is set to destroy all life. I declare that my enemy is not any person I disagree with, but the rulers of the dark world, the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. You, Lord, are my defense, and I align myself with you. I will not ask you to back me up in my opinions, but I will back you up - where you stand, I will stand. I am your servant, Lord.

Lord, I commit to opening my eyes to the new things you are doing. I commit to laying down my agenda and seeking your face about your agenda. I want to do what I see you doing, and say what I hear you saying. Not because I am your hands and feet, but because I surrender myself to you. I am not my own, I lay down my rights. Use me I pray, that others might know the love of God.

Lord, I repent of thinking that I can somehow understand - someone else's pain, or opinion, or life experience, or the right way to do something, or any other piece where I have insisted or even implied that being like me would make someone else better. Lord, I confess I am not better, or superior, or right. I am different, they are different - that was your design. Lord, give me a love for different - give me eyes to celebrate different - and arms to welcome difference into my world.

And Lord, the people that are acting under the influence of evil, I ask for your hand on them, to turn them to you - open their eyes and let them see you. and if they do not choose you, please cancel their voice that the enemy does not have a mouthpiece.

Lord, I ask for Your kingdom to come - your will to be done - on earth as it is in heaven.

Lord, I ask you would come as El Roi, the God who sees - you know the pain. I also ask that come like a wave of Jehovah Ralpha - the Great Healer! Heal our land. We are crying out to you throughout the earth - heal us Lord, of a disease deeper than COVID, our pride. You are so good at making us look at one thing and then taking us so much deeper - thank you, Lord.

Lord, I declare I want all you have for me out of this - all for my nation, and my neighbors, all for those who are hurting and broken, all for those I love and those I have not ever met, all for my children and grandchildren - to a thousand generations - please please pour out Your Spirit now and let me know you more. I love you, Lord.- let me love you more. Give me deeper love for others, I pray. Make me a vessel of your love - that the whole world might know the goodness of my God!

all my love, amy

Amen.

These Communion sessions can be viewed live at 9am (CST) on our FWC Summer Retreat 2020 facebook group. They will remain on the facebook page and can be watched at a later time or date if you are unable to attend live.

Click "Go to FB Group" to be redirected to the facebook group where you can watch the facebook live stream. If you do not see the video appear by the scheduled time, try refreshing your page.

Monday 6-29 - Communion with David Henderson (Facebook Live) Go to FB Group

Tuesday 6-30 - Communion with Michael Bearden (Facebook Live) Go to FB Group

Wednesday 7-1 - Communion with Victor/Kendra Belfi (Facebook Live) Go to FB Group

Thursday 7-2 - Communion with Stephen Alexander (Facebook Live) Go to FB Group

These Worship sessions can be viewed live at 5pm (CST) on our FWC Summer Retreat 2020 facebook group. They will remain on the facebook page and can be watched at a later time or date if you are unable to attend live.

Monday 6-29 - Worship with Steve Schwarts (YouTube) Click to watch on YouTube

Tuesday 6-30 - Worship with Barry Brake (Zoom) View on Facebook

Wednesday 7-1 - Worship with Randy Rogers (Google Drive) View Video

Thursday 7-2 - Worship with Kate Jackson (Facebook Live) Go to FB Group

Friday 7-3 - Worship with Brian Mustain (Facebook Live) Go to FB Group

A Worship Service in a Time of Difficulty

Introduction:

Eleven years ago, just before we retired and moved from our house in Holliston, MA to our present address in Waring, TX, I did a talk at the retreat before the communion service. I think I can regenerate the power point of the talk, if anyone is interested. The talk began with a listing of things that had happened in my lifetime which I never expected to see, things like a US winning of the cold war, the falling of the Berlin wall, and others. This listing could be vastly expanded by the events of the last eleven years.

I then proceeded to list things which might happen, but which I did not expect to see in my lifetime. Interestingly, I did not place a worldwide pandemic in the list, but I should have known better. We had plenty of warning that these events have happened repeatedly in the past, and could happen at any point in time, but two things prevented me from foreseeing it. First, it has been a long time since a pandemic which is both contagious in the general population and has significant lethality with no known vaccines or treatment drugs.

So, the pandemic has come. Some have died. Others have endured prolonged illness. Still others live in great fear, or in denial. Most people I know don’t fall into these categories. We hear reports that many have succumbed to mental illness, or irrational isolation, or to poverty or a feeling of worthlessness in the absence of a job or a clear way forward. Given the commonality of these responses, it would be surprising, if none of our number adopted the responses like these.

And yet, here our Executive Committee has come forward with a theme like, “lift up your eyes.” The expression is used in the Bible many times, and the majority of times, invites us to look further and to obtain a more comprehensive view. Does “lift up your eyes” mean, obtain a clearer and more comprehensive view of our current situations. Do we now lift up our eyes from the glass through which we see darkly to see the clearer and more comprehensive view? Can we now begin to see how the Lord views our situation? I think so. Is He giving us a broader view of His situation? Let us find out during this retreat.

Let us begin with prayer.

Prayer:

O Lord hear our cries to You. Thank you for establishing a means to conduct this retreat in the face of many obstacles. Thank you for providing a forum for individual ministry to each of us. Grant to us a willingness to accept what you want to do with each of our lives. Teach us humility and compassion for all in our midst, for you have told us to love our enemies and to pray for those seeking to despitefully use us. Let us worship you in freedom and let us be free to move at your instruction, regardless of what has been prepared beforehand. Set us on your path and let the Freedom of your Holy Spirit reign among us unencumbered by our views of what should happen. Let us give up pride and accept your way. Let us rejoice in your presence. Heal those who are sick, depressed or have taken mistaken turns in their lives. Rectify the lives of those wandering in darkness with the power of your light. Let us rely completely on your righteousness, having none of our own. Grant that we may indeed lift up our eyes and see your desires for us. Please grant that we may give up our own will and instead be conformed to Jesus. Amen.

Scripture reading. Psalm 3.

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

O Lord, how many are my foes!

Many are rising against me;

² many are saying of me,

there is no help for him in God. Selah

³ But thou, O Lord, art a shield about me,

my glory, and the lifter of my head.

⁴ I cry aloud to the Lord,

and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah

⁵ I lie down and sleep;

I wake again, for the Lord sustains me.

⁶ I am not afraid of tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about.

⁷ Arise, O Lord!

Deliver me, O my God!

For thou dost smite all my enemies on the cheek,

thou dost break the teeth of the wicked.

⁸ Deliverance belongs to the Lord;

thy blessing be upon thy people! Selah

Song: Thou, O God Art a Shield About Me

Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me

You're my glory

And the lifter of my head

Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me

You're my glory

And the lifter of my head.

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

You're the lifter of my head.

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

You're the lifter of my head.

Scripture reading. Lamentation 3:22-26

²² The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,^[b] his mercies never come to an end;

²³ they are new every morning;

great is thy faithfulness.

²⁴ “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I will hope in him.”

²⁵The Lord is good to those who wait for him to the soul that seeks him.

²⁶ It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Song: The Steadfast Love of the Lord Never Ceases

The Steadfast Love of the Lord never ceases

His Mercies never come to an end.

They are new every morning,

New every Morning

Great is thy faithfulness, O Lord

Great is thy faithfulness.

The Steadfast Love of the Lord never ceases

His Mercies never come to an end.

They are new every morning,

Great is thy faithfulness.

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“Therefore, I will hope in Him.”

Therefore, I will hope in Him.

Scripture readings.

Hebrews 4:14-16. ¹⁴ Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 10:19-23 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

Song: By a New and Living Way.

By a new and living way

Entrance to the vey throne

Is secured for those for whom

Jesus’s blood doth now atone.

Priests and prophets of the past

Never were such access giv’n.

Now the lowliest blood washed child

May approach the throne of heav’n.

Now receive us Lord we pray

As we boldly come to Thee

By the new the new and living way

Opened there at Calvary.

As we enter through the veil,

Lost in wonder and in awe,

May our worship warm, though frail

Mingle with the heav’nly song.

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord

Let us with the angels cry,

“Alleluia to the Lamb.”

Let our worship sound on high.

Scripture reading. Romans 8:31-39

³¹ What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? ³³ Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies; ³⁴ who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us?^{[c] 35} Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written,

“For thy sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord

Song. Before the Throne of God Above.

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea:

A great High Priest, whose name is Love,

Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands,

My name is written on His heart;

I know that while in heaven He stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart,

No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair,

And tells me of the guilt within,

Upward I look, and see Him there

Who made an end to all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died,

My sinful soul is counted free;

For God the just is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me,

To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there, the Risen Lamb

My perfect, spotless righteousness,

The great unchangeable I am,

The King of glory and of grace!

One with Himself I cannot die

My soul is purchased by His blood

My life is hid with Christ on high,

With Christ, my Savior and my God,

With Christ, my Savior and my God.

Scriptures: "Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always." 1 Chronicles 16:11

"When You said, "Seek My Face," my heart said to You, "Your face, Lord, I will seek."" Psalm 27:8

"Let the light of Your face shine upon us, O Lord." Psalm 4:6

"Let Your face shine on Your servant; save me in Your unfailing love." Psalm 31:16

"For the Lord is righteous, He loves justice; upright men will see His face." Psalm 11:7

"You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to obey Your words. I have sought Your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your promise." Psalm 119:57-58

Song: “Oh Lord, You're Beautiful”

Oh Lord, you're beautiful,

Your face is all I seek,

For when your eyes are on this child,

Your grace abounds to me

Oh Lord, you're beautiful,

Your face is all I seek,

For when your eyes are on this child

Your grace abounds to me

I want to take your word and shine it all around

But first help me to just, live it Lord

And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown

For my reward is giving glory to you

Oh Lord, please light the fire

That once burned bright and clean

Replace the lamp of my first love

That burns with holy fear

I want to take your word and shine it all around

But first help me to just, live it Lord

And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown

For my reward is giving glory to you

Oh Lord, you're beautiful

Your face is all I see

For when your eyes are on this child

Your grace abounds to me

Oh Lord, you're beautiful

Your face is all I seek.

For when your eyes are on this child

Your grace abounds to me.

Thursday Worship

My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness I dare not trust the sweetest frame But wholly trust in Jesus' name

Christ alone, Cornerstone

Weak made strong in the Savior's love Through the storm

He is Lord

Lord of all

When darkness seems to hide His face I rest on His unchanging grace

In every high and stormy gale

My anchor holds within the veil

My anchor holds within the veil

Christ alone, Cornerstone

Weak made strong in the Savior's love Through the storm

He is Lord

Lord of all

The moon and stars they wept

The morning sun was dead

The Savior of the world was fallen His body on the cross

His blood poured out for us

The weight of every curse upon him

One final breath He gave

As Heaven looked away

The Son of God was laid in darkness A battle in the grave

The war on death was waged

The power of hell forever broken

The ground began to shake

The stone was rolled away

His perfect love could not be overcome

Now death where is your sting

Our resurrected King has rendered you defeated

Forever, He is glorified Forever, He is lifted high Forever, He is risen

He is alive

He is alive

Let the King of my heart

Be the mountain where I run The fountain I drink from Oh, He is my song

Let the King of my heart Be the shadow where I hide The ransom for my life

Oh, He is my song

'Cause You are good You are good, oh oh You are good

You are good, oh oh You are good

You are good, oh oh You are good

You are good, oh oh

And let the King of my heart Be the wind inside my sails The anchor in the waves

Oh oh, He is my song

Let the King of my heart Be the fire inside my veins The echo of my days

Oh oh, He is my song

I cry out

For your hand of mercy to heal me I am weak

I need your love to free me

Oh Lord, my Rock

My strength in weakness Come rescue me, oh Lord

You are my hope

Your promise never fails me And my desire

Is to follow You forever

For You are good

For You are good

For You are good to me

Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me You have been so, so good to me

Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me You have been so, so kind to me

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine

I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me You have been so, so good to me

When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me

You have been so, so kind to me

And oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine

And I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

There's no shadow You won't light up Mountain You won't climb up Coming after me

There's no wall You won't kick down Lie You won't tear down

Coming after me

You unravel me with a melody You surround me with a song

Of deliverance from my enemies Till all my fears are gone

I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God

I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God

From my mother's womb

You have chosen me

Love has called my name

I've been born again into a family Your blood flows through my veins

I am surrounded

By the arms of the father

I am surrounded

By songs of deliverance

We've been liberated

From our bondage

We're the sons and the daughters Let us sing our freedom

You split the sea so I could walk right Through it

My fears were drowned in perfect love You rescued me so I could stand and sing I am a child of God

I am a child of God

Worship lyrics

Friday, 3 July, 2020

(In honor of Julie Ashton)

Lift up your heads! Lift up your heads, you gates!

Lift up your heads and let the King come in!

Lift up your heads! Lift up your heads, you gates,

That the King of Glory may come in!

Who is the King of glory? Who is the King of Glory?

The Lord, strong and mighty! The Lord, mighty in battle!

The Lord of hosts! [repeat verse]

____________

1. Awake O Israel! Put off your slumber, and the truth shall set you free!

For out of Zion comes your Deliv'rer in the year of jubilee.

2. For in the furnace of much affliction I have chosen you! Behold—

And so for iron, I’ll give you silver; and for brass, I’ll give you gold.

3. You are my chosen, for I have sought you; you are graven on my hand.

And I will gather all those that scatter; they shall come back to their land.

4. O hallelujah, O hallelujah! Hallelujah, O praise the Lord!

O hallelujah, O hallelujah! Hallelujah, praise the Lord!

____________

My Jesus, my Savior, Lord, there is none like you!

All of my days, I want to praise the wonders of your mighty love.

My comfort, my shelter, tower of refuge and strength—

Let every breath, and all that I am, never cease to worship you!

Shout to the Lord, all the earth! Let us sing, “Power and majesty, praise to the King!”

Mountains bow down, and the seas shall roar at the sound of your name.

I sing for joy at the work of your hands. Forever I’ll love you, forever I’ll stand.

Nothing compares to the promise I have in you.

____________

1. Praise God for the body. Praise God for the Son.

Praise God for the life that binds our hearts in one.

Refrain Joy is the food we share. Love is our home, children.

Praise God for the body. Shalom, shalom!

2. Guard your circle, children; clasp your hand in hand.

Satan cannot break the bond in which we stand. (Refrain)

3. Shed your extra clothing, keep your baggage light.

Rough will be the battle, long will be the fight, but. . . (Refrain)

____________

(~Elaine, Julie, Mark)

Some glad morning when this life is o'er, I'll fly away.

To a home on God's celestial shore, I'll fly away.

Chorus

I'll fly away, O Glory, I'll fly away.

When I die, Hallelujah, by and by, I'll fly away.

Oh how glad and happy when we meet, I'll fly away.

No more cold iron shackles on my feet, I'll fly away.

When the shadows of this life have gone, I'll fly away.

Like a bird from prison bars has flown, I'll fly away.

Just a few more weary days and then, I'll fly away.

To a land where joy shall never end, I'll fly away.

____________

There is a way that leads to life—all those who find it never die.

Past mountain peaks graced white with snow, the way gets brighter as it goes.

[Refrain] There is a road inside of you; inside of me there is one too.

No stumbling pilgrim in the dark—the road to Zion’s in your heart.

A river runs beside the road, its waters living as they flow.

In liquid voice, the water calls; on thirsty knees the pilgrim falls. [Refrain]

Sometimes a shadow dark and cold falls like a mist across the road.

But be encouraged by the sight—where’s there’s a shadow, there’s a light! [Refrain]

Sometimes it’s good to look back down—we’ve come so far, we’ve gained such ground.

But joy is not in where we’ve been—Joy is Who’s waiting at the end. [Refrain]

____________

Turn your eyes upon Jesus!

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the Light of His glory and grace.

____________

We’re marching forth to certain victory. The God of hosts is at our head.

Jehovah’s armies are around us—heav’n and earth shake with their tread.

The day of conquest is upon us; we march against the gates of hell.

We’ll raise the banner of salvation, as in Jesus we prevail.

The trumpet sounds the call to battle—the hosts of darkness shake with fear!

Jehovah’s armies lift their weapons: sword and helmet, shield and spear.

In Jesus’ name we have dominion; we speak the words of might and pow’r.

The hellish city falls before us—wall and rampart, gate and tow’r.

The land is ours, take strength and courage—purge out the sin within the camp.

To south and north we’ll march in triumph, foll’wing Jesus as we tramp.

The land of promise lies before us. We’ll share the spoils with song and dance.

Give praise and thanks to God our Father for the Son’s inheritance!

At 2pm on Wednesday 7-1 there will be a Zoom time for the kids to visit and see each other's faces.

Click to Join

Also, there is an album in our retreat facebook group where people may upload videos for the children.

Go to FB Group Album

The Youth will have Zoom meetings at 7pm CST each evening Sunday through Thursday. Feel free to join if you are at least 13 and don't have any children who are 13 or older. Links can be found on the schedule.

Please feel free to video chat with people throughout the retreat. Take this time to reach out, catch up, and pray for each other.

Here is a link for "Lunchtime" visiting: Time: 12:00 PM Central Time every day (Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri) Lunchtime Zoom