Shannon's Corner

SHANNON’S CORNER April 2019 In the midst of a busy season God has given me time where I have been able to find rest and refreshment in various ways.  It may look different or feel different for each of us but how important and necessary it is to find these times in our lives.  My rest and refreshment came in a variety of ways recently.  What joy it is as I pushed a number of kids on four different swings and the laughter and fun that they had while swinging.  It brought back many beautiful memories of the many, many times of pushing kids in the USA and in Peru.  The simple pleasure of being a kid again when playing with kids and the creativity that comes out in play. God refreshed my soul at our women’s retreat in Cabarete.  A weekend of diving deep in God’s word learning more about prayer and fasting.  God challenged me in both of these areas in my life because apart from Him, I can do nothing. ...

I was given the opportunity along with four of my colleagues of Kids Alive serving in member care to have a week of training provided by  Safe Place Ministry .   Common Ground Farm & Retreat  in Kempton, PA hosted our time together. As Miro and Rachel drove me to Common Ground, I was watching the scenery pass me by and I was captivated the beauty of spring coming to eastern PA.  It was also fun to drive over an old covered bridge and to see throughout the country side some old stone houses and barns.  Once at Common Ground Farm and Retreat, I met Bethann from Safe Place and she showed me and Rachel around the retreat center, which is lovely and quaint.  The thoughts running through my head were, wow I get to spend a week in this beautiful, lovely, quaint retreat center and farm.  It was absolutely breath taking and peaceful and tranquil. My favorite spot throughout the week was sitting by the pond right outside my cabin.  Being serenaded e...

Bless the Lord my soul And bless His holy name Bless the Lord my soul He leads me into life Cabarete Beach Through singing this repetitious chorus as a way of prayer and worship spoke volumes to me.  Is my soul blessing my Lord?  Allowing all the distractions around me and in my mind to really stop to listen to my soul blessing my Lord.  His name is holy, holy, holy.  He demands my worship.  My all.  Am I giving Him my all, even in worship?  He is the one who leads me.  He leads me into life.  How often am I the one who is wanting to lead me and Him?  Where am I leading myself?  Destruction?  Death? Going into this retreat, the question was asked of how we are coming into this retreat time?  I am coming into this retreat drained.  Other words shared were tired, overwhelmed, peaceful, I am, ungrounded and some said yet excited to be here at the retreat. We listened, meditated, prayed and contempl...