welcome to sacredspace...

Have you ever felt a longing deep inside? A longing that you hesitate to speak of to others for fear they will not understand? Or sense that to speak it would be to bring life to the longing and thereby give it the power to hurt or disappoint you if it never comes to pass?

After years as a therapist, I desired to find ways to help women with their spiritual formation, deepening their intimacy with Jesus. I began teaching classes on the spiritual disciplines, and providing spiritual direction (sitting with and assisting others as they discern where God is moving and speaking into their lives). It has been the most satisfying work I have ever done. I also sensed God leading me to design a special ministry...a retreat ministry for women, providing a different way for them to move into a deeper, richer relationship with God. I was excited about the concept but not sure what form it would take.

I took a trip to Borders, with my husband, and decided to peruse some books on retreats. As I was sitting at the table looking through one of the books, a feeling welled up inside me. I felt it coming on stronger and found myself in tears. Jeff looked at me and asked what was wrong. This was my moment. Would I choose to give voice to my longing, to the physical ache I felt inside, to the palpable sense that God was leading me into something or would I keep quiet? I spoke. When I verbalized my longing, it was powerful, exciting, and scary, all at the same time. My sense was that women, many women, need the same thing. They desire a way to carve out time to spend with God. They need to know how to listen to Him and how to process what they hear. And....they need intimate community. SacredSpace was born that night.

SacredSpace provides exactly what it says...sacred space. Space in one's life for God; physical, emotional, and spiritual space to nurture this most important relationship. A small group of women (6-8) take a day or even better, a weekend, to leave behind all that pulls at them to find some silence, solitude, rest, reflection and community. Each woman spends time with God, discovering how He speaks uniquely to her. She comes away from the retreat with a deep desire to continue to create space in her life for God.

Because this ministry has met a need in women thirsting for a more intimate relationship with Jesus, I have decided to pour more of myself into it. As I plan for the future, trusting God for each step, I want to keep those of you who are on this journey with me, informed of where it's all going. A website will be coming, but until then, this blog will meet the need. My goal is to share my thoughts on just 'being' with God, looking at some of the ways we can nurture our relationship with Him, share information on other opportunities that may also enrich your walk (check out the links for ReflectiveSouls and Creative Juices...., you will LOVE them!), suggested books, and of course, continue to provide information on the retreats.

Thank you for visiting. I hope it will not be the last time and that you'll come back often and share your thoughts.

Peace,
Deb