Day two at the retreat center

We covered a ton of ground today. Why spiritual disciplines, or practices? We looked at meditation and reflection - took the chance to reflect on the past week, paying attention to those places where God is working in me, those places where I may have missed God moving and we began to consider the plan to follow in the future. What is God working in Hunter you may be asking? Pretty personal - never has that been a problem for me has it.

1. Christ has been calling me to wrestle with what it means to serve others - the kids, Grace, Zion and even the people I meet out here.

2. Along with that I have been trying to be aware of my needs - actually more accurately my perception of needs. What do I REALLY NEED? Often I think that I need stuff that I don't really need at all - a second cookie:) My perceived needs often lead to my attempts to control situations and people to get what I want. What I really want and need is to glorify God - to serve in a healthy way - to be a blessing to others.

3. God has been helping reflect on my relationship with Grace. In what ways do I take her for granted, in what ways could I be more helpful, in what ways do I help her and cherish her. Being apart is helpful in that it often reminds us of what we miss. I can honestly say that I love her more today than when we were married and I expect that love to continue to grow as we journey towards Christ together.

4. I have been realizing how important it is to find time to be alone with Jesus, to experience Christ - in car rides, beautiful places, in friendships, in the sound of my beating heart and the rush of blood after running up a really steep hill, and within me as I work at all of these things.

it has been a great experience so far. I miss Zion, but know that you are in very good hands. The staff is able and Zion is full of competent leaders to deal with sound systems, building dreams, houses, and loving God's children. It will be good to be together again soon.

Hunter