Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Those of you who follow the blog and the ministry know that the numbers for the Destination Retreat last weekend were not where we originally hoped they would be. But God had a bigger plan.

We prayed that many women from Denver congregations would come together in this event. God brought women from eight states and four Denver congregations. God had a bigger plan.

The breakout classes were designed for empty nesters, women with children at home, and women without children. The third class had only three women present, but we could’ve talked, studied, shared, and prayed all weekend together in the ways we connected. God had a bigger plan.

Some like to designate who is in what small groups and I can understand the wisdom of that. However, we prefer to be prayerfully random in the way that the small groups are formed, and then marvel at who God brings together. Because God had a bigger plan.

Minor hiccups along the way were overshadowed by the tremendous blessings. God had a bigger plan.

At numerous points along the way, I was tempted to cancel the event altogether, overwhelmed by the move and the responsibilities of the Destination Retreat. I’m glad we were able to trust what God had called us to and persevere. Since God had a bigger plan.

Seeing the lives touched, sisters encouraged, and the way God’s name was glorified through the Destination Retreat, I am so glad that God had a bigger plan.

As we focused on during the retreat, I invite you to place your life and your worries In the Hands of the Divine Gardener. Because the Divine Gardner is the Divine Landscaper and he always has a bigger plan.

The Destination Retreat is a little more than a week away. And, as my mom put it last week, we are facing a Gideon situation with our attendance.

For one reason or another, women who had planned to join us are now unable to. Our attendance has dropped to less than half of the numbers we originally anticipated and contracted with the Ponderosa Retreat Center.

I share this for two reasons:

1.    To let you know that it is not too late to sign upand join us for an awesome Spirit-led weekend in fellowship with Christian sisters. Contact me or visit our website for more details.

2.    To remind you and myself that if we place things in God’s hands—In the Hands of the Divine Gardner—as we will be studying next weekend, things don’t always go as we would plan or meet the potential we thought was needed. But God is always in control and will be the one glorified.

Gideon was going to face the Midianites with an army of thirty-two thousand men, but God said it was too many—that if he gave the Midianites into their hands, Israel would boast that it was by their own strength. So God whittled down the army from thirty-two thousand to three hundred (Judges 7).

And when Gideon doubted God’s strength and purpose, God allowed Gideon to overhear something in the enemy camp that calmed his fears and quieted his doubts.

God was patient with Gideon and his doubts time and again (see also Judges 6).

So, today, join me in thanking God for his patience with us, and for calming our fears and frustrations when they arise.

I am trusting his plan through the Destination Retreat—no matter how much whittling of the attendance, no matter what doubts come my way. May God get all the glory.