Over this last weekend God blessed me with a spectacular weekend at our church’s Women’s Retreat. I spent the weekend learning about Simon Peter and a small section of scripture that inspired me to be more effective and productive in my life.

 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, (2 Peter 1: 1-2).

I was surrounded with many of my most loved friends and sisters. I also made new friends. I got to see friends who had moved away, and special friends that are more like sisters to me. It was an amazing weekend filled with the Lord’s blessing and teaching.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires,” (2 Peter 1: 3-4).

Here is an overview of what I learned this weekend as a whole (more on the teaching coming in a different post):

1. I prayed heavily that God would fill me with His Word and overfill my life with His glory. He did.
2. I overcame a fear of climbing a ladder and sleeping in a loft. This may sound like a small victory but God knows how much trust that required. In fact, I climbed up and down several times in the dark! Thank you, Jesus.
3. When I arrived and saw the small space to which I had to climb through to get to the loft, my first thought was “will I fit?” Being heavy for so long leaves you with a perception of yourself that is hard to shake (more blogging on this to come). When I climbed up, I paused to smile halfway. That is when I realized I could have easily fit two of me through the small opening. Praise Jesus.
4. I survived the temptation of the snack table. Let me say that again. I survived temptation. (Cartwheels!) In fact, with the Lord’s help I didn’t just survive, I knocked it out of the park. Seriously, friends, by the grace. of. god. right. there.
5. Our speaker Carla Ritz’s lesson was on 2 Peter 1: 1-10. (Check out her wisdom gleaned from many hours spent in the Word on her blog. You will be inspired.) I am further reminded of how rich the Bible is. One can discuss a small section of the Bible for an entire weekend and pull out many, many lessons from it. Just one small section can change your life. And as Carla reminded us, all you have to do is open your Bible and read. You too can have that knowledge. It will change your life.

 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 1: 5-8)

One thing that the Lord kept telling me over and over this weekend was this: the Bible is our daily bread and it can be delicate luscious cake. We can consume it daily and heartily like an artisan bread, and it will nourish us, sustain us, and leave us sated and then insatiable for more. It can also be the most delicious and delicate cake. A small slice can fulfill the deepest need. The Bible quells my need for food. It satisfies my need to fill a void with anything other than God. God’s Word permeates me and leaves me yearning for more of Him.

“But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins,” (2 Peter 1: 9).

No matter if you study a few lines or a book of the bible. No matter if you are a scholar or not. God’s Word is for all of us. It was meant to be devoured. All you must do is open it and read it. All of God’s promises and lessons are waiting right there for you.

 ”Therefore, my brothers and sisters,make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” (2 Peter 1: 10-11)

Praying,

P31Wife