My apologies for the radio silence!  Immediately after Christmas I began preparing to lead a weekend retreat for the women of John’s Creek United Methodist Church.  It is now the weekend of the retreat and I have a few brief moments to rest and enjoy the beauty of the North Georgia mountains.  I’m here with 90 members of the John’s Creek United Methodist Women.  It’s been wonderful to meet them, pray with them, retreat with them, and take part in the abundant feasts here at the Dillard House.

The theme of this weekend is “Listening to God.”  We are using our time to explore a variety of ways to listen with our whole being.  That includes using the labyrinth, icons, Scripture, conversations with each other, and, of course, prayer beads.  We are blessed to have so many ways to connect with our loving God!

In honor of this retreat I am reposting a devotion I wrote last year that is designed to help us listen.

Peace, Kristen

Cross: In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.

Invitatory Bead: “Go near and listen to all that the Lord our God says.”  (Deuteronomy 5:27, NIV)

Resurrection Bead: Christ lives so that I may draw near.

Each Cruciform Bead: “Lord, I draw near.”

Each Week Bead: “Open my ears that I may hear you.”

Resurrection Bead: Christ lives so that I may draw near.  Hallelujah.

Invitatory Bead: recite The Lord’s Prayer

Cross: In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.