2008 Women’s Retreat
Cedar Springs Retreat: “Living Water Day Spa”
October 24 – 26
Sandy Semenyna, our weekend presenter, is a lay leader with a passion to challenge women to know Jesus, follow Him and be shaped by the Word of God. Sandy’s theme is Living Water… Refreshing, Cleansing, Healing and Powerful.
Sat AM - Session 2 [63:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (122) Sat PM - Session 3 [50:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (121) Sun AM - Session 4 [58:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6)
Session 1 (Friday Evening): “Living Water is Refreshing” — (NOTE: audio not available)
Key Scriptures: John 4:1-26, John 7:37-38.
In a desert, dry and thirsty, what do we reach for?
- Red Bull (constant activity and business),
- Oh Henry chocolate shake (sweet stuff in life… nicer house, vanity, etc.),
- Diet Coke (phony solutions, lots of ways to inner peace),
- or Water?
Our spirit longs to be satisfied in the same way our physical bodies want water when they thirst. The real thirst quencher is the living water that Jesus has to offer.
Session 2 (Saturday AM): “Living Water is Cleansing”
Key Scriptures: Luke 7:36-50, Psalm 51, John 13:3, John 15:3, Isaiah 55.
Simon the leper wanted to look respectable while Mary, weeping at Jesus’ feet, was repentant.
Christ’s 3 step cleansing plan:
- Confess: soap, clean heart (Psalm 51),
- Claim Christ: the fragrance of Christ remains (John 13:3),
- Be changed: cleansed by the word (John 15:3). - Mary’s worth was now in Jesus.
Sandy challenged us with the following:
- Are we an unresponsive generation like those spoken about so much by the Old Testament prophets? It is filthy ‘doing it’ on our own, independent from God. We have the offer of repentance and faith in Christ and yet we may speak of it casually or flippantly; do we rejoice in His costly sacrifice?
He paid for the ultimate spa package (Isaiah 55). Do you want to be clean? His power cleanses us.
Session 3 (Saturday PM): “Living Water is Healing”
Key Scriptures: John 5:1-15, Jer 8:22, 2 Chron 7:14
Bathing in Bethsaida.
The balm that brings healing is Jesus Christ.
- In order for us to be healed, the poison must be drawn out (ie. bath in epson salts). He doesn’t just band-aid a dirty wound. We must confess our sin first, then allow Him to heal us.
Do you want relief from pain, or do you want to be healed?
- It costs us an attitude of repentance, surrendering our agenda for His agenda.
Session 4 (Sunday AM): “How Safe is Living Water?”
Key Scriptures: Job 38:2-3, Job 40:1-5, Job 42:5-6, Rom 1:16-25, Rom 8:31-39, Phil 3:7-11, 2 Tim 3:12.
- As followers of Jesus Christ, our lives will not be comfortable. There will be suffering as believers (2 Tim 3:12).
- Job was out of line to question God and His authority. God can handle our questions, but we should not shake our fists at God and demand His explanation (that’s when we’ve stepped over the line). He is sovereign.
- Our knees should shake in the presence of a holy God; He is all powerful. Everyone will give an account and answer to God. There should be fear in our hearts. Yet, praise God through Jesus Christ that we can stand behind Him; He sees His Son, not me. Jesus walks with us and we shall walk alongside each other and walk towards the light. He wants our passion for Him to come from within us and give love back to Him (Rom 1:16-25).
- We will not know God’s power unless we step out. “I am yours, I have no agenda but Yours, Lord” - then we experience the power God has available for us. Following Christ is not a cruise (”Love Boat”), but an adventure in eternity.
- Don’t expect to live at the spa; its only a day spa! Serve the living, powerful God… press on towards the prize which is Jesus (Phil 3:7-11).
