Come Apart and Rest A While
posted by on 10/6/07
After an incredibly busy conference season, the IBLP Headquarters staff took a few days off in the beautiful Northwoods of Michigan. The autumn colors were right around their peak, proclaiming the glory of God in creation and painting a gorgeous canvas of vibrant color all over the landscape
This refreshing time of fellowship and rest encouraged our hearts and brought us closer together. We also enjoyed some good, competitive games of volleyball!
A group of Filipino students, led by Matt Stewart and Andrew Jorgensen, went through a Journey to the Heart in the Northwoods and were going through the Basic Seminar the week that we were there. They also served diligently in the kitchen and were a big blessing to all of us. Daniel Shipley told me, “I have been with many groups of orphans over the past five years, but I’ve never seen a group with such an eagerness to learn and seek the Lord.”
One night Pastor Pierpont shared a classic message with us on the glory of the Lord. Every time he talks about the glory or God, 2 Corinthians 3:18 stands out to me in a whole new way, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
May God glorify Himself in us more and more as we are conformed to His image!
Even our Lord understood the importance of rest when He called His disciples away to the desert. I remember being up at the Northwoods last year during the EIS conference last year and being blessed immensely. It felt like a mini ATI conference. The Lord used that time up there with Life Focus and the session or two we were able to hear to strengthen my walk with the Lord.
By the way, that verse in 2 Cor. 3, leads right into Paul’s ministry chapter and my life verse (2Cor. 4:1). Excellent portion of Scripture.
So that’s where you’ve been! Rest is definitely an often overlooked ingredient for success. Thanks for the reminder and may God bless you as you continue abiding in Him through the year!
Praise the Lord for a good time and place to refocus and be encouraged in the Lord with other likeminded believers. Thank you Robert for what you are allowing God to do through you to make these events possible.
Robert,
It is so encouraging to hear about the spirit of one accord and unity among the staff and ministry at Headquarters.
“Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30).