Green Leaf Leaves Me Jumping

 

I love to be at Little Beaver State Park.  Maria and I spent part of the day there on Saturday.  It’s refreshing, calming and filled with memories.  When we lived closer we would take a daily walk around the lake with Maria in the child pack and Daniel in the stroller. 

 

Then there was the early morning camp breakfast with friends, church picnics, a cold winter walk on a frozen lake, flood waters cascading over the dam, transformative prayer walks, spring time hikes, paddle boat rides, and feeding the geese.
 

Today was one of those end of summer almost fall but not quite days.  The feel was fall; the look was summer.  We strolled around the lake with the dog and forest for company.  Then just for good measure we drove around to enjoy it all over again. 

 

Being here reminds me of why we have a compulsion to share insights at Green Leaf Retreats.  The thriving, refreshing, peaceful atmosphere reflects well the hope we have discovered for our parched soul. 

 

I’m not thinking of new insights or new teachings but simply foundational truths in our continuing spiritual formation.  As we have lived out of these spiritual insights, they have changed us…..and enhanced our marriage, our parenting, our relationships and our lives personally.  Here’s a preview:

 

The Need to be Free: Taking an Honest Look

·         An honest look at our lives often reveals painful personal struggles.

 Looking Beneath the Surface: Identifying the Lies

·         Christ gives us freedom from the lies that keep us in bondage.

 Good News of the Cross: Christ’s Freeing Power

·         The cross is continually doing its life transforming work.

 Our True Identity: Adopted and Beloved

·          In Christ we have our true identity; we are adopted and beloved.

 The Father’s Extravagant Love: Life as a Lost Son

·         Both self-centeredness and moral conformity keep us from enjoying the extravagant love of our Father.

 Sustaining Power: Fullness of the Spirit

·         The abundant Christian life can only be lived out of the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit.

 These are fully abundant and refreshingly alive.  Green Leaf leaves me jumping with excitement.