Lamenting and God’s Lovingkindness (Hesed): Job, David & Jeremiah by Buzz Huget

When Buzz and Lisa Huget’s daughter, Abigail, died on June 11, 2022, they felt like a chasm opened up between them and the Lord. How could the God of everlasting lovingkindness (hesed) allow this?

During the last year, Buzz turned to three Old Testament mentors who were very familiar with bewilderment at God’s sovereign plan: Job, David and Jeremiah. An in-depth study into their lives shows how they were able to stay connected to God through the practice of lament. These Old Testament heroes gave Buzz and Lisa the courage to look into the depth, breadth and call of lament.

Through lament, Jesus reconnects us to himself. It allows us to turn to him and express our anguish. After tragic loss, grief is our companion. Thru prayers of lament we can come to experience Jesus’ presence with us in new ways. The Man of Sorrows, the One who was deeply acquainted with grief, is also our companion.

Discover the role of lament in the lives of Job, David and Jeremiah and see how putting words to our pain and loss can be a bridge that helps us cross the chasm from darkness to God’s lovingkindness. We do not grieve as those who have no hope. (36 pages)

All Creation Sings by Luann Budd

When we experience a disconnection with the Lord and find that the way we have approached our spiritual life isn't working any longer, many of us have no idea where to turn. Some begin to deconstruct their faith. Luann turned to theology, nature, and creativity and found Joy (in C.S. Lewis' technical use of the word) led her to heartfelt worship of Jesus.

Author and Bible Study teacher Luann Budd calls us to open our devotional times to follow the Spirit's leading into what will bring us joy. Goodness, beauty, truth, and joy resonate deep within our souls and lead us to our Creator. God made the heavens and the earth and has given them to us as his gift. It is his design that creation awakens our joy and engages our hearts in worship.

​All Creation Sings is a devotional guide taking us through the church year. Luann shares theological nuggets, personal stories, devotional activities, poetry, and art seeking to engage our hearts in deeper love for our Creator God who gives us the gift of himself and holds out the staggering promise of an eternity filled with joy as we see him face to face. 175 pages.

Luann Budd is President of the Network of Evangelical Women in Ministry (NEWIM) and author of Journal Keeping: Writing for Spiritual Growth. She is a coleader of The Springs retreat and lives with her husband, who recently retired from pastoring New Life Covenant Church in San Jose.

Leadership Action Plan Worksheet

A leadership action plan helps us identify our strengths and weaknesses so that we can take action to become a stronger, more effective leader. Basically, the leadership action plan is an insightful way to plan how you will take action to develop the skills necessary to assume higher-level leadership practices. Traditionally, we tend to focus on improving our weaknesses. However, research has shown that by enhancing our strengths, we can reap greater benefit. Consider where you are strongest and how you might lean into your strengths in the coming quarter.

Preparing for Christmas: Personally and Professionally (Encouragement for Leaders) by Mary Younger

Christmas is just around the corner! Mary Younger shares her insight into how to start early so that we, too, can enjoy the holidays.

Overwhelmed and lonely? Relational Advice for Leaders from Dr. John Townsend

Instead of relationships bringing us life and energy, they are draining. In a conversation with Carey Nieuwhof, (Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast #286), Dr. Townsend shows us how to evaluate why we are feeling depleted and overwhelmed. Then he provides very concrete ways to say No to people who are draining us and to develop relationships that will bring us life and help us be our best.

PIPE LIne: Partners In Prayer and Encouragement—

A Prayer Ministry for Your Pastoral Staff

By Kim Johnson

The greatest gift anyone can offer their pastor and pastoral staff is prayer. While a congregation will never hear a sermon from their pastor entitled, “How to Take Care of Me,” Scripture teaches that we need to support our spiritual leaders. Too often, however, their prayer and/or encouragement needs are forgotten or completely ignored. They are people, too. It is only their role in the church body that is different. (Romans 12:4-7). 

Silent Retreat Guide - Abiding in Christ

By Lisa Bergstedt and Pam Cashion

Experience the blessing of silence with the “Abiding in Christ” retreat guide. It includes 3 meditations based on John 15:1-8, along with questions and physical practices designed to facilitate your time with the Lord. It also includes tips on how to prepare for a silent retreat whether it be for yourself or a group in your church, Bible study or fellowship group. 15-page .pdf

Silent Retreat Guide - Water from the Well

By Jill Austin

You are invited to join Jesus at Jacob’s well and be part of a Divine encounter between a Samaritan woman and Jesus. This guide gently leads you through a 5-hour retreat with helpful guidance about how to think about and enter into silence, 2 meditations on John 4 along with optional background information and questions to help enter into the Scripture. There is also a simple Activity to conclude the retreat, tips for how to prepare for a retreat as an individual or as a group. 20-pages. 2 formats: Word (.docx) so you can customize, and .pdf so you don’t have to worry about fonts or formatting, each with an option for single or double-sided printing.

Speaking As A Ministry For God’s Glory: A Speaker’s Guide

By Kathy Collard Miller

You are about to embark on an exciting adventure of discovering encouragement and practical ideas for fulfilling God’s call upon your life for speaking professionally for God’s glory. It’s a great joy for me to be able to pass along the wonderful tools that others have blessed me with. Let me be your teacher, encourager, and mentor. God has great things planned for you and I trust that what you find hidden in these pages will empower you as never before. 64 pages divided into chapters

Writing As a Ministry for God's Glory

by Kathy Collard Miller

This Guide will instruct, inspire, and empower you through the Holy Spirit to begin writing both fiction and non-fiction.

You’ll find in the eight chapters information about writing articles, personal experiences, devotionals, Christian Living books, and fiction. You also learn about basic editing, marketing, and balancing non-writing duties. Kathy is the author of over 50 books and will walk you through important information in a practical and understandable way.

In preparation for attending the Writers Getaway, print out and read this material. You’ll refer to it during the Getaway.

Audio

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