The women of Holiness Tabernacle got a taste of the sweet life both spiritually and physically, August 16-18 during their annual retreat to the Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center.
“Our goal and overall theme was to build a more intimate relationship with the Lord and to recognize how sweet our walk with Him can be,” said Mother Vivian Mother, Holiness Tabernacle’s First Lady.
During a variety of workshop lessons, the women learned to savor a relationship with God and with themselves. On Friday, Mother Pruitte spoke to the ladies on “The Sweet Life: Satisfying Your Craving For A Sweeter Life with Christ,” and stressed the importance of building a relationship with God. She provided some ways that we can achieve this:
- Start your day talking to Him
- Tell Him what you are planning to do that day and ask Him what He thinks
- Set a dedicated time for devotions: prayer, scripture, reading His Word and meditation
- Continue to talk to Him and ask for guidance throughout the day
- Tell Him how much you love and appreciate Him
- Write Him a love letter
- Develop relationships with other saved women
- Don’t isolate yourself – it is one of the tricks of the Devil
- Journal – this will help you to see if your relationship is growing closer
- Make it a point to pray for someone else
- Fast with purpose
“You can choose to satisfy this craving of your soul or spend your life trying to fulfill it with other things,” said Mother Pruitte. “You dictate the type of relationship you will have with the Lord. He places the choice in your hands.”
Mother Doris Cassidy, who also presented a workshop during the retreat, encouraged the women to seek savory moments spent in the presence of God.
“The enemy is trying to break our relationship with God,” said Mother Cassidy. “When we don’t feel like praying, call out the name of Jesus! We cannot let the enemy come in and attack our minds as women of God.” With her military background, Mother Cassidy encouraged the women to have a battle buddy, someone you can trust and call on for a word of encouragement.
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As women, it often feels like the world rests squarely on our shoulders as we serve in our families, the church and our jobs. Sister Yolinda McCown’s presentation urged the retreat attendees to find time for themselves and to capitalize on even those small moments that God gives us in order to be refreshed, revived and at our best for those people in our lives. “It’s okay to have a savory moment,” said Sister McCown. “That’s natural. Embrace it and don’t allow anyone to diminish your savory moment.” The women created refreshing fruit kabobs to help demonstrate how simple these precious moments can be.
Afterwards, the women of Holiness Tabernacle took advantage of a much needed savory moment at a local spa. Some of the ladies opted for manicures and pedicures while others chose to get facials. Upon completion of her facial, the ever smiling Sister Mary King, came out glowing and relaxed. “I feel good,” she said. “I feel as if I’m in facial heaven. It’s good to do something that feels good to you.”
In the end, the spa was a wonderful, therapeutic experience that gave the ladies an opportunity to fellowship, talk and laugh.
Sister Joanne Orhue said that she enjoyed this year’s retreat. “This whole retreat has been a savory moment,” she said. “It reminded me of the little things I can do to get closer to God, like start a journal or write a love letter to Him.”
Having savory moments keep us connected to God and gives us an opportunity to recharge our bodies as we continue to walk this Christian walk. By eating (reading God’s Word daily), praying and loving (God, yourself and others) we remain effective members of the body of Christ, ready to spread the message of hope.