We’re all set!

We’re headed to Italy and England, and we’re all ready for the ladies to join us this summer at our retreats! I can’t believe both retreats are right around the corner, and we couldn’t be more excited to share this time with all of ladies (and a few guys) who are joining us.

It’s been a long year in the planning/praying/waiting/organizing for both retreats, but it’s so incredible to see how God is always, always… in all the details.

Friends, isn’t it amazing to know that our steps our planned by Him, known by Him, and delighted in Him?! What a comfort to know that no matter what, (and that “what” can include very hard things…more on that in a minute) we are in His worthy and trusting hands.

I don’t know what the “what or what if’s” that are in your life, but let me encourage you today to put them in His hands, to acknowledge you don’t have it figured out, and the trust in the sovereignty and majesty and power of our Holy God.

Here’s the backstory…

The theme for this year’s retreats is “A Journey of the Heart” and let me tell you… this has been a hard journey thus far.

It seems that every year the Lord is working on my life (and my struggles) as I write the devotional for all the ladies. So let me make it abundantly clear right here that I don’t have it all together. We are ALL a work in progress, and the Lord lovingly uses these “broken vessels” of or lives to be a testimony of His power and glory. (Just look at David and Paul in the Bible and we see how mightily God used their broken lives for His glory!)

The sanctification process we live in as children of God IS a journey, and we’ll talk about that at our retreats this year. But ironically my “journey of the heart” this year has been health issues relating to my heart!

The last month has been doctor visit after doctor visit, with an ER visit in between. Apparently I now have high cholesterol and high blood pressure and my heart is not handling things very well. I don’t say this to scare you or get sympathy, I just know that the Lord is calling me to slow down a bit, make some changes and I’ve been blessed to have the chance to do that. Not everyone gets a warning signal before a heart attack or stroke, so I am extremely thankful to God for this wake up call!

This does change the course of some major things in my life and learning how to deal with stress better. I thought I didn’t have stress, or at least thought I was doing good with it, but it looks like the stress of the last few years with Lance’s health issues, building two homes, moving twice, and moving my mom twice, etc. etc. etc… has caught up with me. (no duh…lol)

So, I’m looking into natural ways to do all of this. (thank you Barbara O’Neil for your amazing knowledge of the Bible and God’s healing powers) I know that God’s plans for our lives is always best. It may not seem like the best thing… and He make us go through hard things… but it always IS good, “for those who love God and who are called according to His purpose!” (Romans 8:28)

I’ll end with my favorite Bible verse and encourage all of us to trust God’s path for our lives. None of us knows the length of our days, but we do know who holds them, who plans them and who will carry us home.

I cling to this verse as we get on an airplane TODAY and go share the love of Jesus with the ladies who are coming to our retreats, and the locals we love so much!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord and shun evil.
 This will bring health to your body
    and nourishment to your bones.”

Proverbs 3:5-8

I would dearly love prayer as we prepare to travel to Italy and England. For safety, for peace, for moments to be still and KNOW that He is God (Psalms 46:10) for all the ladies joining us, and for the Lord to be magnified in all that will be done there.

I know without a shadow of doubt that this is what the Lord has called me to do, and I will continue to do it as long as He allows.

So if you want to join an Art & Faith Creative Retreat next year, the Italy retreat is up for registration now and that one is already planned, almost full, and ready to go… so you can sign up now HERE! (I think it will sell out in the next few weeks as people see THIS years retreat taking place)

Thank you so much for all your prayers, your kind emails and messages. I hope you’ll follow along with us on these retreats! I’ll be sharing most days on my IG Account, but I may have the girls post things on my YouTube channel as well! (Aren’t you proud of me, I’m learning to delegate already! lol)

Hugs to all of you,

Laura McCollough