Last weekend I spent 2 nights with a bunch of super fun and encouraging girls at a woman's retreat. I'm still recovering. This was the very best woman's retreat I've attended. The speaker, Anita Keagy, lead the workshop, or should I say JoyShop. Anita has a powerful testimony and her story was a blessing to all of us.<br /><div><br />The focus during the workshop is to Seek Him First - first thing in the morning. Early. Morning. I remember hearing a slight groan come across the crowd when she began to encourage us to get up early and spend time reading and studying the Bible. I was in that crowd, I groaned, I was not feeling very excited. Even though getting up early and reading through the Bible this year is one of the BIG Goals that I have for 2010, I still dreaded it every morning. I was looking at the whole thing wrong. <br /></div><div>As Anita shared her testimony, intimate details of her past and how God used those situations to speak to her and guide her in her life. I was floored... I had been looking at this whole "quite time" thing wrong.<br /></div><div><br />Here are some of the things that really hit home for me, and encouraged me:<br /></div><div><br />1. The Bible is filled with letters inspired and written for us.<br />2. God is trying to establish a connection with us<br />3. Spending time with God should come first, not squeezed in as an afterthought.<br />4. We spend time building relationships with other through so many ways, face to face, on the phone, e-mails, text, facebook... what about our relationship with the Lord. Are we SEEKING HIM?<br /></div><div><br />I am participating in the 21 day Challenge... you can read about it <a href="http://www.joyshop.org/page.aspx?id=169931" target="_blank">here</a>. I'll be reading one chapter of John every day for 21 days. My attitude has changed immensely. It's not "I have to" anymore. Reading and studying, seeking God is a opportunity. My alarm clock is now my OPPORTUNITY clock. When it goes off I'm reminded that I have an Opportunity to learn more about my God. <br /><div><br /> ministry <a href="http://www.joyshop.org/" target="_blank">JoyShop</a></div></div><br class="final-break" style="clear: both" />