reflections of Shoreline women's retreat

This past weekend, about 40 Shoregirls trucked up to Big Bear, CA for a couple of days away from LA. Amidst the many conversations, arts and crafts fun, and time spent outside in the gorgeous weather, pastor's wife Wendy Risky (from Castle Rock, CO) blessed us with her presence. Although I enjoyed getting to know women and all the various activities of the weekend, Wendy's exposition of truth was by far the highlight.

One of the things that stood out to me most about Wendy was her ability to pour out her heart to a group of women she mostly didn't know, without filtering the good from the bad. Hearing what the Lord has been doing in her life over the last three years was both encouraging and frightening; it is awesome to see God break someone's heart and work in such a radical way to sanctify her, but it scares me that God may choose to allow similar challenging circumstances to further me in the sanctification process. Yikes! As a pastor-in-training's wife, I am aware that God may bend and break us through tough times. I guess what I am saying is that it was refreshing to hear a pastor's wife's perspective of her struggles while she was still stuck in them.

It became very clear to me this weekend that God desires His church, His body, to be authentic. Wendy set the tone for authenticity this weekend, as she did not hesitate to mention her dislike for being the wife of a pastor (how brave!). But, I found that as she exposed her heart in all of its imperfections, the conversations I had with my small group became more authentic. Confession of sin was natural; the desire for change was abundant. And though Wendy was powerful in her speech, it was the Lord who worked on our hearts this past weekend to teach us.

Oddly enough, the theme of the weekend was "joy," and I feel like what I learned had little to do with that topic. I discovered another sin in my own life (thanks be to God!) in which I am aware of my sin and acknowledge it, but fail to hate it. I don't mind that I am selfish and prideful...I know they exist in my life, I know that it is good to confess them to God, but I don't really desire them to flee from myself. How pitiful! What this reveals is my inaccurate and incomplete view of God, and my incredible need for Him.

This is the verse that Wendy taught from this weekend:

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9)

Although we are wrecks dirtied by sin, the Spirit of God is working in us to conform us to His image. And, we can hope in this promise for the future, that on the day we meet God face to face, we will be perfect.