Clergy Retreat

I am presently in New Hampshire at Pilgrim Pines with a bunch of Evangelical Covenant women clergy, on a retreat. I have connected to these women in a number of ways. These women are working as sole pastors, senior pastors and co-pastoring in churches and a few other organizations. I have been able to learn so much about what women pastors face and their daily struggles. They also have been a great source of encouragement. I needed this break right now- so much school work to do.

There have been a number of things that have been on my mind and I have been juggling with other issues. This has made me crancky! It is time though, always around spring- depression, allergies, and the lot. I hate spring. I know it is strange but it must be allergy induced. It is just at this time that I need to spend time being positive. While I am not sure I can vent right now, there are ways to say- Uggg! This time is yucky.

First, I am feeling a greater call to be in ministry. My schooling is almost done- a few more classes. But what to do. I need to pay attention to my feelings in all this, but I need to step up. That is difficult. I want people to approach me and it all to go easy, but it is not!

God is giving me grace to navigate some tricky issues. I will have to go out of who I regularly am. This will be new to me in some ways but painful because it reminds me of stepping out before, without good results. This is scary! I will be entering a new phase.

If you happen to pray- lift this up: That all of us that are working on our "ministry" [aka- motherhood, work, a specific ministry, school, et. al.] may be given the grace to continue what God has sent before us- and to be bold, when God asks us to step up!