Faith Words: What's Your Word?

I got home yesterday afternoon from our annual retreat with the women of Teen Challenge.  We've been preparing for this weekend since last year's retreat ended.  Our retreat was typical of all retreats in many ways.  The schedule included wonderful worship, inspiring lessons, fun activities, good food and the craziest talent show you've ever seen.  But the women we invited to attend are anything but typical.

The women of Teen Challenge come out of devastating circumstances that most people don't survive: drug addiction, alcoholism, violence, homelessness, sexual abuse.  The stories of what brought them to Teen Challenge are shocking and heartbreaking.  But now these precious ladies are learning a new way to live. They are letting God work in them to change their lives and write new chapters filled with stories of love, hope and victory.

Donna taught our weekly class since January, leading us through an insightful study of the book of Nehemiah where we read of heartbroken exiles learning to overcome devastating obstacles and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.  During the retreat, she reviewed and enhanced what we had studied.  She skillfully and tenderly reminded us how we could learn to overcome devastating obstacles and rebuild the broken walls of our own lives.

Then at the close of our time together, we sat in a circle and shared one word that summed up how we felt after such an incredible weekend.  BLESSED, GRATEFUL, LOVED, REDEEMED, BRAVERY, INSPIRED.  These are just a few of the words that we shared.  We all came away changed.

And that's what the word of God does.  It changes us.  It takes us from who we were to who we are to who we are becoming.  The word comes into our lives and gives us what we need to begin the hard work of repairing and restoring our broken lives.  It encourages us to stay the course when we'd much rather give up and quit.  It works by our sides guarding us, guiding us, protecting us, while we rebuild even while under attack by the enemy.  It sees us through to the joyful day when our restoration is complete and we stand entire at last in God's presence.

That word - that Word - is JESUS.

What's your word?

Renewed,

Patrice

Isaiah 61:4 (NIV)

They will rebuild the ancient ruins
   and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
   that have been devastated for generations.