Ladies!

We are so excited that you decided to take part in our first Women's Retreat: Unmasked.

What we have in store for you is nothing compared to what God has planned for you. Therefore, the Unmasked Team would like to share a weekly thought, encouragement, or devotional with all of you, leading up to the week of the retreat. We pray that you read and reflect on what is being sent to you weekly, knowing that we are thinking of, and praying specifically for you.

Retreat Theme: Unmasked

Retreat Verse: 2 Corinthians 3:18

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

I don't know what you are experiencing or where you are at in this present time of your life, just know that we are in this journey of life together. I know... My story is not yours, nor is your story mine, but this one thing I know...there's so much more than what you and I are facing. There's much more for our lives than where we are at now, and our story isn't over.  

God wants to trade in our ashes for beauty (Isaiah 61:3), if we will only allow Him to. Yet, in order to do so, we have to be willing to take Him to the raw spots in our lives so that He can have His way. But too often, we don't want to uncover the ugly to Him, or anyone else for that matter. We often want to hide our struggles, insecurities, and pain from God and the rest of the world to appear much stronger than we really are - thinking that we know what's best. 

Instead, what we end up doing, when we hide, is isolate ourselves from the connection God wants us to have with Him and others. It's in the unveiling/ unmasking that we truly connect and it's in the connection that we find healing and hope. So, journey with us as we stand unmasked before a gracious God, lovingly embracing who we are, yet welcoming the beauty and astonishment of what is to come, as it is specifically designed and prepared for us by our Good and Heavenly Father.

Yes, the good news is that God is not finished with you, or I yet, and He's still writing out our story. So, don't allow your present circumstance to dictate where you are headed because there's so much more for you. Dare to unmask yourself before a God who has chosen to clothe you with a grace and dignity, that you didn't even deem was possible.

Challenge:

Let us choose to work on building a better connection with God and others as we embrace the more that God has for us. 

Let us allow ourselves to be renewed by this transformative power of love that brings about peace and liberty. 

Let us begin this journey together in truth and freedom as we courageously unmask ourselves before a loving God who knows our every struggle and cares for our every need. 

Let us desire to become more familiar with this beautiful God who establishes community by surrounding us with individuals who compassionately walk and struggle alongside of us throughout this journey we call life. 

And lastly, let us familiarize ourselves with each other and each other's stories as we dare to unmask ourselves with the strength and beauty of vulnerability.

My Prayer for You:

Father,

I thank you for loving, embracing, and accepting each and everyone of us where we are at. We are all in different places of life, experiencing different challenges and struggles. Many of us have been taught to be strong in and of ourselves, due to the disappointments and let downs of life. Yet, it seems that in this world we're all looking and striving for a better life, and better way than how we're seemingly attempting to manage it. 

So, we turn to you, your ways, and your word. Your word speaks life into us and your ways our higher than our ways. Teach us your ways and give us the courage to let go of the familiar, as we embrace the unfamiliar by choosing to unmask ourselves in preparation for what you have in store for us instead. 

Help us to trust that as we do, we will experience a beauty and wholeness like never before. 

Begin the work in me Father... Begin it in us, as we begin to open ourselves up for all that you have prepared for us - knowing full well that it exceeds anything and everything that we could ever think of, ask for, or even imagine. 

So Father God, I pray over each and every female reading this email and planning to attend the retreat. I ask that both she and I begin to recognize that your plans for our life are beyond measure and comprehension and that you will take both her and I, and each woman reading this email, to greater heights, if we only prepare our heart and mind for what is to come! 

We love you Father, and ask that you help us to look to you and trust you, for our lives as we willingly take you to our raw spots, and trade in our ashes for your beauty because 'no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no human mind has conceived' what you have prepared for us. 

Have your way in us Father as we stand unmasked before you, embracing your presence and trading in our hurts and frailties for your healing love. In Jesus' precious name Amen!