Meetings, Wonderful Meetings

(Since I neglected to take relevant photos this month, I’ve included some random photos I’ve taken of Food throughout the world. Enjoy!)

Here’s a thought: if we’re stuck with daylight savings time, maybe we should opt for an annual nation-wide two-month hibernation. I have no words for how happy I am to see March! The ice has melted on the lake and little waves and whitecaps have returned. I’m blinded by the sun’s reflection off the water and mesmerized by our flying friends — like the bald eagle that visited last week! I realize that this is Colorado’s “false Spring”, but I’m OK with that. The bulk of brutally cold temperatures is (probably) over. Tomorrow, however, I’ll travel to central Idaho where they say there’s only two feet of snow. Ah, well …

February ~ yep, a lot of meetings. Good meetings. Profitable meetings. Fun meetings. (Do you think that there will be meetings in heaven?)

Meeting #1 — The Women’s Retreat in Sterling, CO was absolutely delightful! Fun ladies, teachable and honest hearts, great food and accommodations, and well organized. Excellence, all around, with lots of laughter! What a privilege to teach on Honor in the Kingdom of God and to worship with them. As a Bible teacher, I love it when we flow without interruption from the presence of God in worship to His presence in the Word! (I was going to take a photo … but I forgot)

Meeting #2 — I got a phone call after the retreat and was asked to teach the following morning for a Sunday service because the pastor had fallen ill. For me, this was an unexpected bonus! So, I studied for a couple of hours and the next morning, taught some things I had recently learned about The Lord’s Table (Communion). It was such a special time to simultaneously celebrate the sweetness of face-to-face fellowship with Jesus and the mysterious power of His death and resurrection! (It didn’t even occur to me to take a photo)

Meeting #3 — Last Fall, a friend told me about a local quarterly gathering exclusively for women in full-time ministry! For quite some time, I have had a dream of providing this type of engagement for women who experience such unique challenges; I felt a deep anticipation for what God could do when we come together. As you can imagine, eating together, sharing our personal stories, praying together, worshiping together … this international, interdenominational, inter-generational group is unlike any other. I believe that we have created a safe space of trust and community. We are experiencing the beauty and comfort of being “like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose” because “there is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Regarding photos, see #2)

Meetings #4 and #5 — Two, three-day debriefs during which God healed, revealed, sealed, completed, confirmed, affirmed, initiated, and freed. Listening to someone’s story is holy ground, and God meets each one of us right where we are when we give Him the chance to speak. (Definitely inappropriate to have taken any photos …)

Meeting #6 — An afternoon with a couple of local youth pastors. We grappled with the world’s culture vs. Kingdom culture, communication, accountability, motivation, family challenges, and leadership principles. If you know someone who works with young people, please pause and pray for them right now. Ask Holy Spirit what they need and pray accordingly. (I guess I could have taken a photo of our yummy lunch … but I didn’t)

Meeting #7 — My board of directors are just the BEST! We get together every couple of months to share a meal and talk about all-things-GWO. They are my personal intercessors, my friends, my confidants, and the ones who lift my arms and encourage me. They’re honest and they push back and challenge me. They’re wise and engaging; they ask great questions and are willing to wait for answers from the Lord. They’re generous and funny and gentle, and I love and appreciate them beyond words. (Intended to take a photo, but forgot)

Other Significant Meetings included times of prayer, counsel, book club, bookkeeping, tech, time with missionaries, time with family, time with supporters and intercessors, time with neighbors, time with long-term friends, discipleship, mission trip planning, sabbatical coaching, life coaching, zoom meetings, coffee meetings, Facetime meetings, interviews, meal meetings, walking meetings. Yep, lots of meetings … and I’ll bet you had a lot of meetings, as well. So again, I ask: do you think there will be meetings in heaven? (No photos of heaven, yet … sorry)

That’s it for February, folks. During March … I’ll go to meetings. Haha! But many of them will be in Idaho and New York. I welcome the change of scenery, but I’ll miss the lake.

Take good care of yourselves this month, friends. God sees you; He knows …

Prayers, Mary Jean

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Ways to partner: Give online at getthewordout.cc/give · Venmo: @Mary Jean Powers / Get the Word Out · By check: Get the Word Out, 4210 Vulcan Creek Dr. Unit 208, Loveland, CO 80538.