In celebration of our 5th year in Seaside (and 7th weekend) hosting women for spaces of rest, connection, and encounter with God, it feels fun to share five highlights of what I’ve seen God do over the years for our weekly email. These are by no means the most important or only highlights I have, but these are the ones God has brought to the front of my mind to share with you today. I’m going to share passages I’ve been drawn to for each of these and encourage you to take a moment with God today to open your Bible and read any that may pull at your heart. Any encouragement you may feel particularly close to home today.
-
God cares about the details of your heart. Every year I pray over our guests by name from the moment they purchase a ticket, which in some cases is 12 months ahead of time, and we never fail to see God grab our attention. He uses the finest details like napkin designs, roommate assignments, songs chosen for the weekend—and these are just a few examples—to awe our guests with the feeling and knowledge that they are seen, understood, and provided for. God showing us He cares about the details always leaves us with a holy sense of great hope. God is eager to show glimmers of His love and attention to your heart today.
-
Matthew 10:29–31, Psalm 139:13–14, Psalm 139:7–12
-
-
God is fond of friendship. God draws us near through one another. We can understand who God is all the more when we walk closely with friends, confiding in one another about our struggles, our hopes, and the great longings of our hearts. We get to sharpen one another, hold space for one another, and see how good God is through each other’s lives and the many answered prayers we are currently living in. God brings women from around the country to attend these weekends. He knows the exact group for each weekend, and there are always insane connections and friendships built that last long beyond our time together because of our mutual desire to know God more and make Him known.
-
Proverbs 27:9
-
-
The Holy Spirit is eager to meet with you. Just as we have a yearning to sit in the presence of God, overwhelmed in peace, hope, and joy (those words feel so cheesy when listed next to each other, but I know you feel what I’m talking about), God has an even greater yearning to sit with us. The personal stories of encounters at our retreats leave me in awe, eager to take that next step and continue stepping into these spaces to see what He does.
-
Acts 1:8
-
-
Peace as a lifestyle. I have this growing dream that our retreats would not only be a place to more accessibly experience God’s peace because we are away from routine responsibilities, but also that that peace would only grow as we travel back home to reality. I pray our Seaside retreats would be a starting point to understand how to get there with the Lord. How to experience peace and make it part of our routines. Praise God that He meets us in the fullness of His peace anywhere at any time.
-
John 14:27
-
-
God equips the called. This one is highly personal to me. I never dreamt of hosting events or speaking publicly, yet this is where God has asked me to step. Can I tell you how powerful it is to feel confident doing the very thing you told God you didn’t feel comfortable doing? Don’t delay in doing the thing God has asked of you. It’s pretty incredible to live from God’s strength when we do uncomfy things.
-
Hebrews 13:21
-
I encourage you to take a moment with God today to ponder one or a few of these truths and how He may be calling you to step out in faith to know Him more, experience Him, and make Him known through the life you choose in Him each and every day.
- Britt Goff #wheatfulwednesday