At the Sweet Life Cafe Retreat, May 21-23 at Camp Pinecliff, women not only enjoyed each others company...they also received a little "food for the heart." We all have times when we feel like we don't have anything left to give. And sometimes it goes beyond a feeling. We literally have no more money, no more energy, no more time, no more compassion, no more patience. We are empty!
At this retreat we were able to recharge and refuel. We discovered that Jesus is the bread of life and can fill us back up. Taking time to sit at His feet and spend time with Him allows us the nourishment we need to continue to serve others; our friends, family, church and community.
We participated in "Sweet Talk" getting to know each other in small groups by answering questions about fun, silly and interesting times of our lives. We enjoyed "Savory Moments" where we discovered the importance of slowing down and "savoring" time with God through personal prayer and reflection. We also worked together in "Spicy Service" making flavorful gifts of love. Each woman at the retreat made a gift of cinnamon pancake mix wrapped in a towel to be given to a woman who might be hungry (literally or spiritually). We were told to spend time in prayer, asking God to show us who most needed to receive this gift of love. I can't wait to hear from the women who attend where God led them to give away their gifts.
It was a joy to be a part of this time of renewal and to get to know the 40+ women who were able to attend. Together we ate delicious meals and snacks, studied God's word, spent time in prayer, did some hiking, napping, crafting and crying. Mostly we just enjoyed building relationships with each other and with our Savior. Each woman in attendance, for one reason or another, was a God Sighting to me!
Thanks to all who attended the retreat and to the families who supported them so they were able to come.
God is good, look around today! What is your God Sighting?
Blessings,
Kelli Kirk
Showing posts with label Kelli Kirk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kelli Kirk. Show all posts
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Are You Listening?
Denise Petersen and I were blessed to attend a conference at Group Publishing in Loveland, Colorado a couple of weeks ago. At the conference we had the ability to pray for our ministries and for our congregation. We were told to ask God for a family to pray for and write down their name.
We both sat quietly while God gave us a family name. Individually, we wrote down the name and spent time in prayer for this family and for other concerns that were on our list.
Later in the day, as we discussed the experience we both noticed that we had written down the same family name. Initially, when God gave us the name we both said to ourselves (and to God), "nah, they don't need our prayers." But clearly, God knew they did and kept bringing the same family name to mind for both of us.
When we returned to Utah from Colorado, we discovered that the family we'd written down did, indeed, need our prayers. Unbeknown to us their young son had been having small seizures and had gone in for testing. The tests came back normal and we are still praying.
The moral of the story? Even when we are certain that we know better, God knows what we need!
Humbly yours,
Kelli Kirk
We both sat quietly while God gave us a family name. Individually, we wrote down the name and spent time in prayer for this family and for other concerns that were on our list.
Later in the day, as we discussed the experience we both noticed that we had written down the same family name. Initially, when God gave us the name we both said to ourselves (and to God), "nah, they don't need our prayers." But clearly, God knew they did and kept bringing the same family name to mind for both of us.
When we returned to Utah from Colorado, we discovered that the family we'd written down did, indeed, need our prayers. Unbeknown to us their young son had been having small seizures and had gone in for testing. The tests came back normal and we are still praying.
The moral of the story? Even when we are certain that we know better, God knows what we need!
Humbly yours,
Kelli Kirk
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Paul and the Underground Church KidZone Lock In
God's love is always with us.
If you lived in ancient Rome, the oldest living male in the family held the title of paterfamilias. The paterfamilias, which means father of the family, had the final say in pretty much everything--a privilege called patria potestas, or paternal power. If a father didn't want a child, patria potestas gave him the right to have the child killed by exposure (simply setting the baby out in the street). A father could sell his children into slavery, stop his child from marrying, or make his child marry. As you can imagine, the image of a loving, compassionate father may have been a little vague back then.
Consider the power in Paul's words in Romans 8:38: "...nothing can ever separate us from God's love." Paul describes a tender, compassionate Heavenly Father who wraps his children in a strong and never-ending love. To Romans, who may have lived in fear of authority figures, this was a revolutionary idea.
Unconditional love is still a concept people struggle with. It seems illogical that God would love us so completely, so perfectly, even when we're imperfect. But Paul passionately proclaims that even death can't separate us from God's powerful love.
Because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, God's love truly is always with us! This is what the children attending the KidZone lock in on January 23-24 learned. They were guided in celebrating God's powerful love for his people by traveling through ancient Rome. They visited the Apostle Paul, who was under house arrest and chained to his guard Brutus. Paul showed them many of the letter's he had written. Letters inspired by God. Paul sent the children through the streets of Rome (the KidZone hallways) to the Underground Church, where they met Marcus and Lucia, two members of the church who were hiding in a cave, afraid of discovery by the Roman guard.
By the end of the night, the children learned of the great sacrifice the early church made so that we can worship today. They discovered that there are still people in the world who have to hide to worship God, and they learned to pray for the oppressed. And before they went to bed, Brutus, Paul's Roman guard, accepted Jesus as his personal Savior! With God all things are possible :)
What a God sighting, to watch the children learn and understand that God's love is a gift, and that His love is, indeed, always with us!
Blessings,
Kelli Kirk
If you lived in ancient Rome, the oldest living male in the family held the title of paterfamilias. The paterfamilias, which means father of the family, had the final say in pretty much everything--a privilege called patria potestas, or paternal power. If a father didn't want a child, patria potestas gave him the right to have the child killed by exposure (simply setting the baby out in the street). A father could sell his children into slavery, stop his child from marrying, or make his child marry. As you can imagine, the image of a loving, compassionate father may have been a little vague back then.
Consider the power in Paul's words in Romans 8:38: "...nothing can ever separate us from God's love." Paul describes a tender, compassionate Heavenly Father who wraps his children in a strong and never-ending love. To Romans, who may have lived in fear of authority figures, this was a revolutionary idea.
Unconditional love is still a concept people struggle with. It seems illogical that God would love us so completely, so perfectly, even when we're imperfect. But Paul passionately proclaims that even death can't separate us from God's powerful love.
Because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, God's love truly is always with us! This is what the children attending the KidZone lock in on January 23-24 learned. They were guided in celebrating God's powerful love for his people by traveling through ancient Rome. They visited the Apostle Paul, who was under house arrest and chained to his guard Brutus. Paul showed them many of the letter's he had written. Letters inspired by God. Paul sent the children through the streets of Rome (the KidZone hallways) to the Underground Church, where they met Marcus and Lucia, two members of the church who were hiding in a cave, afraid of discovery by the Roman guard.
By the end of the night, the children learned of the great sacrifice the early church made so that we can worship today. They discovered that there are still people in the world who have to hide to worship God, and they learned to pray for the oppressed. And before they went to bed, Brutus, Paul's Roman guard, accepted Jesus as his personal Savior! With God all things are possible :)
What a God sighting, to watch the children learn and understand that God's love is a gift, and that His love is, indeed, always with us!
Blessings,
Kelli Kirk
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Family Christmas Eve Service at GSLC
What a blessing the KidZone kids are! At the 4 pm service on Christmas Eve, these beautiful children were truly a God sighting! From the young ones enthusiastically reading God's word to the dancers who lovingly danced to "Sing Unto the Lord a new song" and all of the Sunday school children present who sang loudly to "Wonderful" and "Come, Let Us Praise Him" and the young musicians who shared their God given talents, I felt the Lord's presence. Thank you parents for your dedication to the Children's Ministry at Good Shepherd. Your children are a blessing and they continue to show the KidZone team why we do what we do. These children continue to shine God's love and blessings into our hearts all year through. From the KidZone staff, Merry Christmas and a wonderful, Christ filled New Year!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
KidZone God Sightings
On Sunday, December 6, over 85 people gathered to learn about the power of a simple gift. What a God sighting! Parents and children gathered together to discover from the fun Veggie Tales Movie "St. Nicholas, A Story of Joyful Giving" how powerful it is to give. In the film, Laura Carrot was concerned that her Christmas Stocking might be empty this year because her dad was in danger of losing his job. Many children, including our family promise guests, were able to relate to this fear. Larry the cucumber thought a letter to the North Pole would fix the problem but Bob the tomato knew what would really help...and he told the story of a little boy named Nicholas who made a discovery in Bethlehem that changed Christmas forever. We learned the story of St. Nicholas and we all saw God at work as we discovered the true joy of giving to others, at Christmas time and throughout the year.
Many of you have been God sightings to those in need by giving joyfully to the Angel Tree and Christmas Shepherds programs at GSLC.
Through Angel Tree, our generous congregation has helped 79 children with one or both parents in prison, realize what it means to be loved. You have given 158 gifts to these special children.
In addition, with Christmas Shepherds, you have helped 99 people from our congregation and the surrounding community by purchasing over 240 gifts. Your generosity is a God sighting to me, the pastoral office, those in need and to the community!
"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret." Matthew 6:3-4
Thank you and God bless!
Kelli Kirk
Many of you have been God sightings to those in need by giving joyfully to the Angel Tree and Christmas Shepherds programs at GSLC.
Through Angel Tree, our generous congregation has helped 79 children with one or both parents in prison, realize what it means to be loved. You have given 158 gifts to these special children.
In addition, with Christmas Shepherds, you have helped 99 people from our congregation and the surrounding community by purchasing over 240 gifts. Your generosity is a God sighting to me, the pastoral office, those in need and to the community!
"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret." Matthew 6:3-4
Thank you and God bless!
Kelli Kirk
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Where do you see God?
That 5 minute conversation was enough to remind me how self centered I can be and how good God is. I hadn't thought of this beautiful young girl again after our conversation in 2008 yet she had been praying for me all year. What a blessing!
It's in these brief opportunities we are reminded that God is ever present and always working in our lives.
Where do you see God? In our busy-busy, go-go-go, 24-7-365 lifestyle, it seems harder to recognize the times when God is finding us and speaking to us. I can't wait to see how the life of the GSLC congregation will change when we each start seeing God at work in our lives every day!
Blessings,
Kelli Kirk
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