The cool, crisp air and beautiful fall leaves provided a wonderful backdrop for over 800 women (and a few brave men) who gathered for the Women’s Get Away, November 4-6. Jo Saxton and Sally Breen of 3D Ministries challenged us to examine the labels that define and limit our ordinary lives, and allow our extraordinary God to make an exchange to restore our identity as the ‘Azar’ we are created to be, and release us into the fullness of His calling. Contrasted to Rachel and Leah whose relationship was characterized by competition and comparison, Ruth and Naomi inspire us to engage in discipling other women through rescue (helping), relationship (serving) and redemption (moving from loss to life).

 TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST OF THE MESSAGES, CLICK HERE.

The presence of the Holy Spirit was evident as we worshiped our Lord through the stirring music played by Keith Tan, and listened to the testimonies of Valerie Carter and Marilee White. Breakout sessions and the Human Exploitation tour inspired us to ‘join Jesus Christ where He is at work in the world’. Indeed, we were greatly blessed by those who came from Panama and India, as well as other states in the U.S. And a great celebration occurred when we exceeded our goal with Stop Hunger Now and packaged 20,118 meals!

Will you invite your ‘extraordinary God’ to reshape your ‘ordinary life’ to be the woman He has created you to be? We are here to walk the journey with you toward wholeness and purpose, for it is a beautiful exchange.

While walking on the path down by the river and taking pictures, I asked God to help me to be satisfied with all the blessings He has given me and not always comparing them to others and what they have, like my house, my car, my job, money, etc. I told God “I want to have a thankful heart and not always wishing I had more”.

I was looking for the perfect leaf to take a picture of and could not find one. They all had some kind of flaw, a hole from a bug or part of it was torn or just not perfect like I was looking for. Then not far from where I was standing a leaf floated to the ground, from above, and I thought “God just sent me the prefect leaf I have been looking for”. But when I picked it up it was not perfect at all, in fact it was downright ugly! Then I felt God telling me, “That leaf is one of my creations just like you and everything I make is “perfect”, just the way I want it to be”. Tears flowed from my eyes as I felt His love and His confirmation that I was “perfect” in His eyes. Is that not just like a loving Father, to see only the beauty and none of the flaws, or sin in my life!

Then I looked up at all the beauty on the mountains, the trees displaying all their fall colors of orange, red, yellow, burgundy, and green and the thought came to me that all those trees were made up of “imperfect” and even “ugly” leaves but when they are all together in just the right place and season, where God has placed them, they make a masterpiece of God’s handiwork that no man can match. I felt God telling me “I have placed you here in this time and place so I can make a masterpiece out of your “imperfections and ugliness”. When we let go and let God, He can do great things with our lives.