I love when people come up here to the Haft & feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in this place. I love when I go on Facebook after friends have left here & I find a status from one of them that says something like- "was blessed at the Haft" or "had a an awesome weekend at the Haft", because to me that is what this place is all about. It's a place to experience the "Father's love", a place to feel God's presence by being in His awesome creation.
This weekend was another one of those "God" weekends where He showed up & we were filled with His presence. The ladies retreat was wonderful!! Thanks to all who were praying!! One of the things that always amazes me when I facilitate an event like this- I expect to be giving & serving, & I think that the event isn't as much for me as it is for the people I want to be a blessing to, AND then God turns around & does a work in my own heart- & I end up blessed as much as the group I'm serving.
Ruthie Lengeman's topic this weekend was about the "spirit of okayness" & she shared her personal testimony of how God delivered her from that. The "spirit of okayness" are lies that women believe that keep them from all that the Father has for them. She also talked about the "Jezebel spirit". And as opposite as these two seem, they both actually stem back to the same root. The information I received this weekend was not new to me, but the revelation I had was. As much as I'd like to think that I've addressed these issues in my life, the reality is that God is never finished with us. There are always areas that He wants to bring into the light if we're willing to go there. I shared with he ladies on Sunday morning how it was revealed to me that I don't like to be vulnerable. I have always told Dutch that I don't need people, & what I mean by that is I don't have a need to have close friends, I'm independent. Which may be true to some degree, but He suggests that I may be like that "to self protect" & "control" my circumstances. (By the way, I'm making myself VERY vulnerable by sharing this!!) And I realize that deep down inside it's possible that I have told myself that if I keep people at arms length, I won't ever get let down or hurt. And I do not write these things on my blog so that people comment & say "no your not like that", I write these things to challenge others to look as things in their own heart, & become transparent. When we are willing to look at these areas in our lives, we can find great freedom & go to new heights with the Father.
Thank you ladies who made the trip up here for this retreat!! I was thrilled to have you, enjoyed hearing what God is doing in your lives, & I pray your "journey" will continue. You will all become dangerous women for God as you continue to identify & demolish the lies of the enemy, & come to the realization that your true identity is in Christ!!
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