Heart to Heart.....FBCG Women's Retreat

This past week, Wednesday thru Friday, I attended the Sisters For Your Journey's Annual Women's Retreat held at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort and Spa in Cambridge, MD.  Sisters for Your Journey is a group of First Ladies from various churches along the east coast who come together to celebrate sisterhood and Christ.  My home church, First Baptist Church of Glenarden, is a major sponsor of the event. 

I've wanted to attend this retreat for the last few years, as I have been told by other female church members it is an AWESOME experience.  This year I had the money and the time to attend, so I did.  The theme for this year's retreat was Heart to Heart.  Sessions focused on having a heart for God, you, your marriage, child, etc.  Guests included Dr. Lois Evans, the first president of the Global Pastors' Wives Network; Rev. Dr. Debora C. Hooper; Recording Artist Maurette Brown Clark; BET's Sunday Best winner Y’Anna Crawley and others.

On Wednesday night Dr. Evans spoke on having a heart for God.  She asked the question, "Are You A Martha or A Mary?" using Luke 10:38-42 as her foundation.  In the scripture Martha is worried about making sure everything is in order after Jesus and the disciples stop by unannounced.*  Mary, on the other hand is worried about nothing more than worshipping Jesus.  Dr. Evans wanted us to understand the importance of worshipping Jesus even when we are busy.  She wanted us to know the importance of having fellowship with Him daily.  She told the story of her 82 year-old mother who to this day keeps her "appointment" with Jesus every morning.  It doesn't matter what's going on around her, she still makes the time to fellowship with Jesus daily.  Honestly, I am a Martha, but I'm striving to be like Mary.

There were a number of morning sessions offered on Thursday.  I chose to attend a session on "The Battlefield of the Mind" and "Going through the Seasons of Life".  The session on the mind basically took some of the point from the bestselling book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyer.  We reviewed some scripture about why the mind is so important on our Christian walk.  The speaker, whose name I can't recall, made a profound statement.  She said the battle is between the Lord and Satan, we are just the middle man.  All we need to do is stay out of it.  When thoughts come, hold them captive....cast them down.  Hide God's word in our heart.  All stuff I knew, but it was nice to hear it again.  The "Going through the Seasons of Life" was very boring.  I believe because the presenter focused on her current season of going from 48 to 49.  She didn't provide much scripture besides Ecclesiastes 3:1-9 which says there is a season for everything.  I decided I will be reading the Battlefield of the Mind in the coming weeks.  Mr. CT said he would read it with me as well *insert school girl giggle*

Thursday night was fun! First we were treated to the wonder voice of Y'Anna Crawley!  She sang several songs from her album and told her story.  She has a voice from the heavens.  She sounds better in person!  She tore the house down and I was singing every song.  Then we were treated to the teachings of Rev. Dr. Hooper from New York.  This woman was AWESOME!!!! She told it like it WAS!  Following the theme of heart to heart, she opened her sermon with detailing the symptoms about heart attacks and how they are caused.  As I was sitting to my sit I was wondering where she was going.  Then she used Genesis 21:8-21 as the scripture reading, focusing on verse 17 when God asked Hagar what was ailing her.  She started asking us what was ailing us.  She wanted to get to the heart of the matter.  She was rattling off questions about the past that many women have been through and the crowd was on its feet.  She wanted to know if we were mad because we allowed a married man to take us home, "bump us real good" and then leave us? Or if we were mad that we were 50 and still single? Or if we were mad that she was preaching and we were not? She had women in tears....including me!  She ended with verse 19 where God provided a well of water for Hagar and her son.  She wanted to remind us of God's provision even when we are mad at God!!!! *Insert praise shout* After the sermon there were a list of activities (line dancing, game night and a movie) we could choose from.  Of course I chose line dancing! Yes, the First Ladies, pastors, choir members, etc were in a room doing the Wobble, Cupid Shuffle, etc.  It was a blast!!!!!

Friday concluded with two break-out sessions, one for singles and another for those who are married.  It was funny to see the married women trying to sneak into the single's session because Dr. Hooper was leading our session.  She was THAT good the night before.   Dr. Hooper wanted us to know the happiness in our singlehood and 15 tips to Christian dating.  She gave us two catchy phrases...."You date to get data!" and "Keep it on lock until you get the rock!" Lol!  Here are all 15 tips.

1. You date to get data! (Important information)
2. Date someone who accepts you as you are! If not looking at other women now, he will be looking later.
3. Your body, home, and money requires another level of commitment. "Keep it on lock, until you get the rock!"
4. Keep your relationship spiritual. Be involved w/ a Christian man.
5. Know your deal breakers upfront
6. A man after God's heart, will be a man after your heart bc you serve God.
7. Don't hold on to relationships that are over, let go!
8. Pregnancy links you to the drama of another adult for the rest of your life.
9. The first stage of dating is friendship. If you skip that step you have nowhere else to go.
10. Acting like a spouse before time only turns you off when its time.
11. Don't fall in love...walk into it with your eyes wide open.
12. Say you are waiting for God to bring your mate.....put that power in your hand.
13. Christians don't date too long...it's too complex.....if you are doing it the Christian way. God will let you know if he is right sooner than later.
14. If a relationship is stressful.....LEAVE! Sickness/obesity can stem from a stressful relationship.
15. Anybody you have to hide is more reason why you don't need to be with him.

All in all I had a great time!  It was good to be around so many strong women of God.  Best of all I got to room with on mf my GLE sisters DaKia.  I had no idea she was that random.  We did Zumba together, talked about what we learned and just had a great time.  I am looking forward to attending next year :-) God bless!