In His Presence

I am finding it difficult to put into words what last week's JV women's retreat meant to me.

It was, in a few feeble words...

Utterly Precious.

Tucked away in Millstatt, Austria at Schloss Heroldeck, a Christian retreat center, we were dearly loved women, being lavished on by the Presence of God.

From the moment we began, we were on sacred, holy ground, led into worship by our dear friend from Portland, Lisa Reiff. I wish you could've been there with us to experience the powerful presence of God that she led us into. She is truly one of God's anointed and appointed ones - oh how we loved worshiping with her!

And to be together in such a special place, with many of our JV women - ahhh! Truly a taste of heaven as we prayed, cried, worshiped, rejoiced, laughed and loved as only sisters can do.

Moment after moment, hour after hour, day after day, of precious time with each other in moments like this...

And like this...

And this!

We laughed until our sides hurt one evening...

And we spent three hours alone with the Lord each morning, listening, worshiping, praying and just...being in his Presence.

It was more than I dreamed of, more than I prayed for, more than I expected.

HE was there.

I don't think any of us will forget what we felt, heard, experienced and received during those days together.

It was utterly precious to be in His Presence.