​30 Take-A-Ways of “Hope” from 2019’s Missional Women Retreat

“This is what heaven must look like,” I said to my daughter, as we heard Siri announce, “Welcome to Colorado”; white, paradise-like peeks, sparkling streams, and life that seeped deep into our lungs effortlessly as we breathed in fully, the fresh-mountain air.

We had been to Denver twice, attending two previous Missional Women Conferences from the Northwest corner city of Seattle; but 2019’s retreat was different. Nestled in a glorious, mountainous region, every ounce of the wondrous birch trees, evergreens, and strikingly stunning magpie birds seemed to point us to His fame.

The soul stilled, without commanding, the moment our car twisted up along the windy road, where a picture-perfect lodge waited with clean sheets, a spacious room, and a space where we could meet with God, personally, and collectively, all striving quieted by His creation.

The temperature was perfect; sunny and warm, yet white covered the earth in late April, as if grace had already blanketed itself, long before our feet ever came to Colorado.

Women had flown from New York, Texas, and Montana. Dispositions contented, hearts rested, minds stilled as the earth we settled upon. “Hope” was the theme of this year’s conference.

Wisdom spoke through table conversations, speakers we listened to, and personal conversations clearly orchestrated by grace and seemingly God himself. Better yet, God confirmed His Sovereignty, as we painted rocks, made bracelets and played games that erupted in laughter, bonding, and connectedness through relationship with those we were sitting next to.

If you have not met the down-to-earth people of Durango, shut off your phone and separated yourself unto Jesus, or driven to where it seems earth meets heaven, consider coming to next year’s Missional Women Conference.
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Below are a few take-a-ways from this year’s retreat.

1. Things should never trump people.
2. Jesus embraced suffering, knowing it was part of God’s good plan. ~ Rachael Woodie
3. The more we fall apart, the more God’s life has the power to shine through us. ~ Mitch Kostreva
4. Those who isolate themselves, seek their own desires.
5. To know and be known is the greatest need of mankind. ~ Laura Krokos
6. There is no healing, unless the wound is revealed.
7. God cannot use a man greatly until He has wounded Him deeply.
8. Stay on track.
9. Repentance is a threshold to Grace. ~ Sara McNutt
10. In Heaven: We are going to be screaming out the name of Jesus, because we just can’t contain it anymore. ~ Leah Hillewaert
11. Disciples are made, not born.
12. Motherhood is a calling, but it’ not the definition of who we are. ~ Hope McCleary
13. Before we know it, our hope becomes our idols. ~ Kim Beach
14. Hope reaches into the curtain, beyond the Holy Place.
15. We don’t go hide in the castle when there is no war. ~ Rachel Woodie
16. The people that are in the Word are growing the fastest. ~ Laura Krokos
17. We can kill ourselves daily by not taking care of ourselves. ~ Linda Akins
18. Dead Hope requires refocusing.
19. Don’t feel your way into faith. Faith your way into feeling.
20. Disguised hope requires a revelation of truth.
21. Hope is secure when it’s in the “Who” of Jesus Christ, not in the “What”. ~ Sarah McNutt
22. I can embrace pain because Christ suffered for me. ~ Jackie Johnson
23. I don’t get to choose what kind of vessel I am. ~ Laura Krokos
24. Don’t just go off some book, go off what the Bible says about Heaven.
25. Train your brain to think about heaven. ~ Leah Hillewaert
26. Our Father Knows Best. ~ Linda Akins
27. When a dream dies, often we must go through stages of grief for those lost dreams.
28. Come to God for protection. He is our steadfast hope and shield.
29. Sometimes dreams die, so He can birth a new life. ~ Hope McCleary
30. Don’t be afraid to pray, “God, enlighten our minds, by your Holy Spirit.”

 

About Jen

​Though born, raised, and still living only miles from where she grew up, Jen's heart lies in the nations. Jen loves the beautiful tapestry found in the wide diversity of people, different cultures, and all nations.  Jen and her husband have been married twenty years, and have parented fifteen kids and counting; twelve foster, one adopted, and two bios.  Her multi-racial family reflects her passion for unity, desire for faith without walls, and missional mindset to share both the gospel and the power of redemption to a world desperately needing the hope found in Jesus Christ. Jen and her husband have led in a variety of ministries; including prayer, small groups, children's, and women’s.  Jen advocates for the orphan as a board member for the non-profit, A New Song; and loves doing missions work internationally, along with her family.  You can find Jen writing about faith, while challenging her readers at her blog, Rich Faith Rising, as well as at tweeting faith-filled messages @Jen_Avellaneda .  Jen is also on facebook.

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