From time to time we will share testimonies from retreatants (with their kind permission). Check this space for new testimonies.
From an August 2010 Spiritual Refreshment Retreat
A Quiet Place, Bryantsville, Kentucky
After praying over Luke 13:10-17
Today I received from the Lord: Joy, a steadfast mind & truth in the in most place. Praise the Lord! I'm excited to see what the world looks like standing up straight. Yay! -- R.L.
May, 2010
Just thought I'd send an encouraging testimony of the long-term effects of Equipping Lydia :). I have found that I am much more in tune with my "spiritual busyness quotient" now and can tell when my life is getting too crazy for me to clearly hear the Lord and His will for my life (about once a month right now!). I have started taking my own personal half-day retreats about once a month where I just lock the doors and turn off the phone and computer and retreat into my prayer room. It takes a decent amount of planning to block out my schedule like that (no laundry, nothing!) but it is worth it. It really helps to give myself permission to be out of communication with the world for half of a Saturday and to just be with the Lord. I can spend much needed time in prayer, realigning my priorities with His so I know what to say no to (and we all have stuff that we need to say no to! We are not Superwoman!). This allows more time in my life for the Lord to breathe His perfect will into my spirit and to continue to grow me. It settles me down and plants my feet on solid ground again so I can move forward with confidence, knowing that what I am putting my time and energy into is also what He would have me put it into. Thanks for teaching me the blessing and necessity of periodic retreat and quiet in the Lord! -- M.H.
March, 2010
This was wonderful—a true time of rest. I feel like God worked during this time to quiet me and quiet my spirit in order to empty me of myself and fill me completely with Himself. -- A.K.
This time has been refreshing and I appreciate the people who have prayed for me. I felt the Lord so near and felt their prayers. It was a beautiful place with beautiful people. Thanks! -- Unsigned
What an amazing and wonderful day! It was an incredible gift to have extended periods of time to hear the Lord. I didn’t realize until today how much and how long I’ve yearned for a day like this—and to do it off an on—on a regular basis. Thank you! -- Unsigned
Everything you think you will need, leave it at home! Bring your Bible and your journal and a spirit of openness. That’s all you will need. It was hard to leave busyness behind, distraction of phones and reading, but the benefit of hearing God’s voice and being free to not have to be “doing” was incredible. The day was too short! -- E.M.
Long ago my Father led me to an understanding of anchoring my life in the quiet and deep places in Him. That depth and peace comes only as we submit to quieting ourselves before Him and allowing Him to reveal himself to us through his word and in deep communication- prayer! In Laura I have found a friend in the word and prayer. It therefore follows that the ministry of Equipping Lydia is so based and leads women in this path. What a wonderful opportunity to further the work of the Kingdom through my finances, time, and prayer support of this ministry. -- Libby Brumfield
January, 2010
Thank you for all the tears last week. Very cleansing, very cleansing!
Your words, "I see the Lord kissing your heart." are absolutely haunting me (in a good way).
I'm changed. -- Karen
December, 2009
Thank you so much for the wonderful Equipping Lydia retreat day! It was holy, and I felt like the Lord was preparing me for letting go of most everything in my life and moving forward into all He has planned. I felt like I was greiving - but it was good. The Lord dealt with some even deeper things after I left. Thank you so much for your gentle ministry to women!
L.
United Methodist Pastor
September, 2009
One of the biggest impacts spiritual direction has had on me has been that of learning to give back to God what I often pick up and carry inside of myself from others. Specifically, as a psychologist and a person who God has given a compassion heart, I often absorb some of the pain, anger or depression I am helping someone work through. The feelings the person is experiencing are very real, and justifiable given the grievous sin they have been exposed to by trusted individuals. Sometimes after counseling with them, their expressed feelings, and my feeling of righteous injustice can stay with me well after the person has left the office. In spiritual direction with Laura, I have learned to receive freedom and cleansing by giving these situations to God. Laura has taught me how to release what I am experiencing in prayer by naming the wrong that has occurred, admitting the pain and hurt, naming the wrong order or sin, naming the right order of how God would want it to be, asking God to bring His right order into this person's life, forgive the person, choose to release the hurt and the person to God, and pray for the person's life to be blessed in a way that Jesus will come into their life and help make them the person God wants them to be. This technique of "giving God what was really his to begin with" has been very effective in my work and personal life and spared me many restless times of worry and sadness.
I have benefited personally and professionally from many of the Day Retreats. One the most recent Day Retreats of Spiritual Refreshment, Laura taught us about the importance of entering into rest with Jesus. We discussed the importance of a Sabbath rest, the purpose of the Sabbath and how to incorporate that into our lives. I have shared and personally begun entering into Sabbath rest (sometimes mini-Sabbath rests), along with my immediate family, and other weary families who have asked about it. Learning to be intimate with God, quieting my body and mind to hear His voice has been so healing and I have seen the active hand of God working in my and other's lives through this process.
Laura's ministry has touched my life in so many ways, especially by providing support and strength through her example and relationship with the Lord. The Holy Spirit works through her to teach many men and women how to have a more intimate, peaceful and powerful relationship with the Lord and others. She also exemplifies healthy closeness with other members of the Body of Christ and teaches how to help those who do not yet know Christ and His healing love.
--K
Licensed Psychologist
September, 2009
In my office I work with children, adolescents, teens, college students, parents and young and mature adults. Many of my clients have been diagnosed wit anxiety, depression, sexual identity issues, suicidal ideations and attempts, self-injurious behaviors, academic or work difficulties, addictions, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity type behaviors.
Last summer (2008), I had some powerful encounters with the Lord that left me very excited but also nervous and unsure of where the Lord was calling me for my life. Both the retreats and personal ministry with Laura helped me to learn how to walk in my new gifting and gave me strength and courage to minister at a largely secular college to students who are hungry for the Lord. Equipping Lydia was a safe and nurturing ministry that equipped me and enabled me to hear the Lord better in many aspects of my life.
--M
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
September, 2009
The Equipping Lydia ministry has helped me in becoming more focused and diligent in my prayer life, in the reading and understanding of God's word. The counseling and prayer support have been very enriching and spiritually fulfilling. I have learned how to be more disciplined in dealing with pastoral matters and have grown and matured in the areas of wisdom, discernment and how to set aside time for God. It has been an amazing journey with Laura as my aid and confidante.
-- P
Assistant Curate (Assistant minister)
Church of England
South West London
September, 2009
Equipping Lydia has helped me to grow spiritually as a Pastor. Equipping Lydia provides aspects of ministry that are not available in my Course of Study Courses at Seminary. They are very adaptable to use in my local congregation and I have already been asked by my women's group to do a one day retreat on Prayer. I will be using (with Laura's permission) the many things that we were given at a retreat.
I really like the simple techniques that she employees in her retreats. They are useful for laity as well as those who are ordained. They are always thought-provoking, spirit-led retreats and I have always enjoyed Laura's unique approach to the Word and spirituality.
Debra Koretzky
Licensed Local Pastor
Rockville UMC
Harrisburg, PA
August 11, 2009
The very first feather I found occurred last fall during a ladies retreat sponsored by Equipping Lydia Ministries. I was walking the trail in the back as had many others on that day... but I still found a large lovely feather in my pathway and was amazed because I was not the first to travel on that path, on that day... C. Duffee
Feathers
(c)2009 by Claudia Duffee, MA
I found another feather
lying in my path
as I walked into the woods, deep
and off the beaten track.
A brown and white striped beauty
at least 12 inches long
sitting on the forest floor
this treasure did not belong.
I wonder why God placed it
right in front of me.
Is it a sign He’s speaking
of a new career for me?
A feather stands for writing
prose and poetry,
but dipped into indigo
could also paint a scene.
I’ve found so many feathers
lying in my path
that recently I’m wondering
what to think or ask.
This feather is the longest,
the largest one too
I’ve found at least ten more
and have kept them in my room.
I think over this matter carefully.
I pray and contemplate
exactly on life’s journey
which pathway now to take.
Our journey has so many bends
the curves make life divine
new adventures can be found
around every mountain we climb.
April 21, 2009
Hi Laura:
I want to let you know what a blessing it was to attend the Equipping Lydia retreat. I was blessed and refreshed. You have a wonderful gift of hospitality and of making people feel comfortable. It was a good day.
As promised, below is the poem I wrote from my heart that day.
God bless you and all you do.
Lynda Manning
My Unwillingness
Jesus, I’ve not been faithful
In my daily walk with you.
I guess I’m much too busy
To do what you call me to do!
Your word holds everything I need
And will guide me every day.
If I take the time to spend with you
And let you teach me in your way.
Your heart is always ready
To shed your grace on me.
But I am too preoccupied
To take some time for thee.
My spirit longs to be willing
To be obedient and true.
Draw me to that place my God
To daily commune with you.
Copyright 2009-2010, Lynda Manning
Thanks so much for helping me rendezvous with the Almighty... I came to the retreat dry, hungry, and broken...not just from seven years of pastoring, but from a lifetime of hiding. You gave me hope that God wanted to refresh and restore me... With your training on anger and your welcoming encouragement, I heard God's invitation to meet him in that place I have so dreaded going. Tuesday afternoon I walked into the turbulent, almost frightening woods to wait on God. In the midst of the roar of the wind through the trees, I found shelter in a lean-to...and waited...and prayed like never before...and the miraculously unexpected happened...God spoke words of love and healing. I came out of the woods with a new understanding of who I am and why I have tried so hard and worked so endlessly...why my prayer life has been so cold and lifeless...because I wouldn't allow myself to trust the One I was praying to. 30 years of distrust and self sufficiency...can they really have blown away with the wind? Tuesday night when our group all prayed for healing, I felt the weight of a thousand hurts lifted...and I wasn't alone! Together the whole bunch of us we got kinda giddy and crazy and we laughed and cried and danced from the power of a Source unseen. The Holy Spirit was giving us all a freedom we had not known maybe for years. Wow! ... Thank You for being the conduit for this wonderful spiritual healing from God and for allowing God to use you in such a wonderful healing way for so many of us. I am a new person...and you had a hand in it...thanks be to God! I can't wait to start again. I have a life to re-examine and reshape with God's help, and I'm excited about getting started. This time I plan to TRUST God to lead the way. Hallelujah!
Dancing in the vineyard....
—Pastor S.
If you have attended a retreat and would like to send in a testimonial, please email us at info@equippinglydia.org.
