Notes...

...from Ladies Retreat @ Camp Joy, Whitewater, Wisconsin

September 26 - 27, 2014

Speaker:  Mardi Collier

Why do I need to know God?
Because it is difficult to love someone that I don't know.  Matthew 22:37
Because if I don't know the truth about God and His Son, I will believe Satan's lies. Ephesians 6:10-13
Because life is ALL about God and not about me. 


"If our view about God is not right, nothing can ultimately be right in our lives.  The reality of life is that life isn't supposed to make sense or bring any lasting peace and satisfaction apart from God."  ~ Jim Berg, Changed into His Image


In her third session, Mardi shared...
We need to carefully juggle our priorities.  She said to think of each priority in our life as a "ball" that we are to carefully and expertly juggle.  Not everyone can juggle the same amount of balls.  Don't judge other people and the "balls" they are juggling!!! 


Significant "balls" to juggle...
1) Your relationship with priority people.
2) Your relationship with God
3) Your other "balls" - job, friends, etc.


God may ask you to remove an other "ball" to make way for another one.  If something is weighing you down, pray about it and ask the Lord to give your discernment. 


Do not take on another "ball" before removing one. 


Why do we need balance when it comes to juggling?  Because God is a God of order. 


Try to be as organized as you can be.  Make lists.  Mark priority items - 1, 2, 3...do those three and then come up with your next 1-3 items.  This will maximize your efforts.


People typically fall under one of three categories...
1. Disorganized - loves life but makes excuses
2. Naturally organized
3. Organized wanna-bees


If you want to be more organized, find a naturally organized person and ask for their help...but don't exasperate them!  And make sure that you thank them for their time. 


Find an organizational tool that works for you.  (I heart lists!!!)


And be balanced...don't try to organize / schedule every minute of every day.  This will leave you little time for God-moments {friends spontaneously gathering for coffee, meeting someone to peruse the yarn store, washing an elderly person's windows, surprising someone with muffins / cookies, etc.}.


Angie confession:  Most of the time, I am ridiculously organized.  I find myself most overwhelmed when my schedule is crammed full.  It's not full of "bad" things...just things.  I've done a lot of soul-searching at Ladies Retreat and while reading Lysa TerKeurst's book The Best Yes.  Through 2 studies and retreat, the Lord has been teaching me the SAME truth...it's ok to not try to juggle a gazillion things.  It's ok to say "no" to something that would be viewed as good.