Praise the Lord!

Thank you to all of the women who attended Rise & Shine Women's Retreat '11on Saturday, October 29th.  What a blessing it was to spend the day with you!  Our hearts are still praising the Lord for all He did there! 

For those of you who missed it, let us tell you, it was an amazing day.  We were strengthened, challenged and stretched in our faith by the messages from our incredible guest speaker Susie Larson.  We were educated on slavery and sex trafficking by Hannah Burkle from Rapha House.  In addition, we enjoyed powerful prayer time, great worship, fellowship and fab food along with fun surprises throughout the day.  Many women made a decision to follow Jesus Christ!  It truly was an amazing day, and we give Him all the praise!

Be sure to come back, PICTURES will be posted soon!

In the mean time, here is a great reflection of the day that you can read, written by Starla Smith on the Friendships of Love blog.

Never miss a post: sign up for e-mail updates (in the right hand side bar) and follow us on facebook!

Susie Larson Interview

Our guest speaker, Susie Larson, was interviewed this morning on Life 101.9 KNWS.  It was a great interview!  It was wonderful to hear Susie express her heart and share her enthusiasm about being at Rise & Shine Women's Retreat on October 29th!  CLICK HERE to listen to the interview for yourself!

Also, you have just a few more days to get your registrations in...the cutoff is Saturday, October 22nd.  Print out a registration form HERE. 

Hope to see YOU there!!

It's going to be a BLESSED day!!

Moriah's Story and GIVEAWAY winner!!

Welcome to this very special edition of Testimony Tuesday. Not only do I get to share a testimony from Rise & Shine Women's Retreat with you, I also get to announce the BIG WINNER of our giveaway!! We wish we could give 2 free registrations to each of you, but we had to pick just one winner! We couldn't choose, so we used http://www.random.org/ to pick for us.

And the WINNER of two free registrations (one for you and one for a friend) is...

Congratulations Rachel Kauten (and her mom Miriam)!!!

(Expect an e-mail soon with details)

Our 2nd place winner gets a “Susie Larson Bundle”~ 1 copy of Susie Larson's message “The Uncommon Woman” on CD and 1 copy of her book “Balance That Works When Life Doesn't”

and the winner is... lin.smith@dnhcsd.org !

Our 3rd place winner gets a copy of Susie Larson's message “The Uncommon Woman” on CD

and the winner is... Robin!

Congratulations ladies! We hope to see all of our reading friends there on Saturday, October 29th! Remember to get the best registration rate you must register before Saturday, October 8th!
To print a registration form click here.

Now, on to Testimony Tuesday...

Today I am sharing Moriah's Story:

Strangely Moriah's testimony is intertwined with a testimony of my own. Let me explain.

The first time I heard about 14 year old Moriah was weeks before Rise & Shine Women's Retreat '10 when Moriah's loving mom, Cheryl, left a comment on our Giveaway post. Last year we also gave away two registrations...and Cheryl entered to win one for her and her daughter. Cheryl shared that their family had moved to Iowa only the year before. Although the move was a blessing, Moriah had faced some challenges that are typical for girls in high school. Cheryl shared only a few details and her longing for Moriah to feel comfortable and confident in who she is in Christ. The first time I read Cheryl's comment, my heart went out to Moriah. I prayed for her right then and there.

A few weeks later I saw Cheryl and Moriah's registrations come in the mail. It put a big smile on my face. They didn't win the giveaway, but they were coming!

Last year we prayed over every woman who attended Rise & Shine Women's Retreat specifically by name. We prayed many things for them...for their spiritual walk, for their relationships, etc. We also wanted to pray specific Scripture over each of them specifically by name. We felt directed to Galatians 5:22-23, The Fruit of the Spirit.  “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and SELF-CONTROL.”

As registrations came in, we prayed the Lord would direct our hands to assign their names to a specific “fruit” that would be especially meaningful to them. Although we didn't know many of them women who were attending, we knew God did (and does) and He knew right where their names needed to be on that list. It seemed we were doing it randomly, but we know God doesn't do anything randomly, He is specific and personal! Boy, did He show Himself faithful to answer!

It really struck me that Moriah's name ended up under “Faithfulness”! In fact, one day when a few ladies and I were praying together for the women who would attend Rise & Shine, I mentioned to the others how this struck me...and we all prayed for her an extra length of time. Moriah's name stood out to us every time we prayed after that.

Rise & Shine '10 was wonderful! Lysa TerKeurst was our guest speaker. I knew God had answered our prayers. Still, I never got to meet 14 year old Moriah and I wondered what God did in her heart that day. I decided to e-mail her mom, Cheryl several days after the retreat.

Here is Cheryl's response:


Thank you, thank you for your faithfulness in praying for Moriah and myself. I have to tell you how I first heard about your retreat. I had been desiring (for some time) to attend a women's conference. So I looked on the P31 schedule site and found Rise & Shine. I was very confident that the Lord had led me to that and I was even more confident that God was going to do something really great in Moriah's life as well as mine. So I prayed and prayed (and you all prayed and prayed) and as expected...the Lord truly answered the cries of our hearts! He is so Good and FAITHFUL!!

I also was amazed when I saw that "Faithfulness" was the fruit of the Spirit that Moriah came under. You see, her middle name is Faith....& years ago when we were choosing her name, Faith jumped out at us so strongly and this was, has been, and is our prayer for her! She was also struck by this too!

Let me tell you about the work the Lord is doing in Moriah. Four years ago, November 5th, Moriah made a profession of faith in Christ, prayed the prayer, was baptized. Brian (her daddy) is a pastor, so she has 'heard it all' and seen the truth of Christ and His Word lived out in Brian and myself, but yet we never witnessed a real change in her, no evidence of Christ at work in her life, although she had all the 'right' answers to most of the questions you'd ask her. I realize only God knows her heart, whether she is a true follower of Christ or not.

As I found your retreat I knew that I was going to take Moriah and when I asked her about going she seemed really excited (kind of surprised! she's a teen you know!). So Moriah and I and another mom and teen daughter from church came on Sat morning. After Lysa's first session, Moriah turned around and looked at me with such conviction and tears. She talked and did a lot of confessing about the 'double life' she is living at school, bad language, thoughts, ideas, and choices and asked for forgiveness and said "as soon as I get home, I'm going to take all the garbage music off my i-pod" (something we have asked her to do since she bought it last December). We talked about her relationship with Christ and her need to 'grow up into maturity in Him' and not remain a baby.


She seemed to respond to God's leading with absolute obedience, but Brian and I were somewhat reluctant, waiting to see if these were just words or truly a 'heart' change. I am exceedingly joyful to tell you that we have both seen a great change in Moriah. She is in the Word daily and reading Lysa's (TerKeurst) "More than a good Bible Study Girl" and we have seen evidence of Christ at work in her life daily! It is amazing how just the change of one persons life in our home has created a more gentle environment. You see, we have 2 more daughters (younger than Moriah) and they were usually constantly bickering or fighting about something. But now there is a peace and gentleness throughout the house (Most of the time!! We are all still sinners, saved by God's Marvelous Grace!!).


So once again thank you!

Wow! Lord, you are soooo good!! You faithfully hear and faithfully answer!! Thank you for answering our prayers (and Cheryl's prayers too) for this precious young lady, Moriah, (and many other women) last year.

Thank you, Cheryl and Moriah, for sharing your Testimony with us and giving God the glory! 

We are anxiously anticipating all God will do at Rise & Shine Women's Retreat '11!! This year we are praying Promises from Scripture over each woman who registers to attend. We pray YOU will join us...and be blessed on Satruday, October 29th!! Our guest speaker, Susie Larson, will focus on our theme "Making An Ordinary Life Extraordinary"! We are thanking the Lord in advance for all He will do!

Maybe you have a teenage daughter you would like to take to Rise & Shine Women's Retreat '11! Did you know there is a student discount in place this year? Check the details out here. Remember ALL women (even young women)...women of ALL ages, in ALL stages and from ALL places are welcome to attend!!

Lovingly,
Rachel (and the whole R&S team)

You still have time...Enter our GIVEAWAY!!

You still have time to enter to win a FREE Registration for you AND a friend!!  YOU could win, but only if you sign up!  :)  CLICK HERE to learn more details.  We will announce the winner on Tuesday, October 4th!

Testimony Tuesday ~ Omaha, Nebraska

Suzanne League came to Rise & Shine Women's Retreat 2010 all the way from Omaha, Nebraska. Our Guest speaker was Lysa TerKeurst, president of Proverbs 31 Ministries. Read Suzanne words about how she was blessed by our prayer room, the fellowship with other women and how a message Lysa shared with us that day has impacted her to this day. Lysa's words about looking at others, “You are not equipped to handle what they have - both good and bad.” 

From Suzanne League:
God directed me to Rise & Shine Retreat through exploring Lysa Terkerst's, Proverbs 31 Ministries, website. I would have never found the Rise & Shine's site on my own. But more importantly the message I took home with me, the bonding with Christian women, with a true devotion to follow and serve our Lord. The love of Christ I could feel, especially in the prayer room. Humbling, anointed by the presence of our Lord.

We are rebellious carnal creatures, broken and wounded. Just because the "outside" appears like a pretty package, all together, everybody-can-count-on-us gal, is not usually so on the inside. Lysa told us several stories, but one that clearly remains intact in my mind.

The basic point of this story was, don't envy or wish that you could have the life circumstances of another. Because the Good comes with Bad for all of us in our circumstances. God is there and we need to be thankful, steadfast and supportive to each other.

Very much so looking forward to this years retreat. God Bless you (Rise & Shine team) for listening to Him, being Obedient to let Him lead you and us in a day of worship, fellowship and stretching, growing in our Lord and each other.

Thank you, Suzanne, for sharing how God used Rise & Shine Women's Retreat to impact your life! Your testimony is an answer to prayer.  It's so exciting and humbling to see what God can do when we follow His lead. We are so grateful that you followed His lead to attend, and that God answered our prayers for Rise & Shine 2010. We prayed that He would draw women there (all who needed to be there) and He sure did...women from all parts of Iowa, from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and one all the way from Nebraska joined us that day!  :)  We also prayed that He would prepare the hearts of the women to receive from Him and clearly move in our midst to change lives.  He faithfully answered!  Glory be to God!

We are looking forward to what He will do at Rise & Shine Women's Retreat 2011!! We look forward to seeing you, and all of our reading friends, there on October 29th to share in another great day that is being basked in prayer! Our guest speaker, Susie Larson's, messages will be focused on “Making an Ordinary Life Extraordinary”...sure to be encouraging, relevant and applicable to our ordinary, everyday lives! 

Click here to print a registration form. Note: Get your registration in before the fee goes up...early registration ends October 8th!

Enter our Registration Giveaway by clicking here!!  You could win a FREE registration for you and a friend!

Registration GIVEAWAY...for you and a friend!!

Rise & Shine Women’s Retreat is quickly approaching and we know it's going to be a great year with Susie Larson as our guest speaker. Susie's messages will focus on this years theme, a topic she is passionate about: "Making An Ordinary Life Extraordinary". Isn’t that what all of us want? Don’t we want to dare to "Rise" up and "Shine" as uncommon women, to see God at work in extraordinary ways in our ordinary, everyday lives?  We know she is going to share messages that are powerful, relevant and encouraging to YOU on your walk of faith! Sure hope you can join us on Saturday, October 29th!!

Here is your chance to WIN a FREE registration for you AND a friend!!

This contest is open to ALL women, those with blogs and those without (anyone can leave a comment below).

We’re giving away other great prizes as well. Check it out!

First prize: Two FREE registrations…one for you and one for a friend (including lunch)!

Second prize: Susie Larson Bundle ~ 1 copy of Susie Larson's message "The Uncommon Woman" on CD and 1 copy of Susie Larson's book "Balance That Works When Life Doesn't"

Third prize: 1 copy of Susie Larson's message "The Uncommon Woman" on CD

To enter to win, leave a comment with the following information:

1. Tell us about someone you consider to be an "Extraordinary Woman"…her name, why you think she deserves to win a free registration/why you would like to attend Rise & Shine with her.

2. Tell us where you heard about this giveaway (ie: what radio station, what website, facebook, a friend, etc).

3. Tell us your name and give us your e-mail address so we can contact you if you win!

Don’t hesitate to register for Rise & Shine while waiting! If you register before the winner is announced and then you win, we will refund your money at the retreat.

Click here to print your registration form

We will announce the winner on Tuesday, October 4th (on Testimony Tuesday)! So check back then!!
 
Also, don't forget to join us on Tuesday, September 6th, for our next Testimony Tuesday post!
 
P.S. Don't miss a post on our blog, sign up to receive e-mail updates...in the right hand sidebar.

Testimony Tuesday ~ A Leap of Faith

Welcome to our monthly event, Testimony Tuesday! The 2nd Tuesday of each month until Rise & Shine 2011 we will share a Rise & Shine testimony with you. This month we are going to hear from one of the Rise & Shine Leadership Team members, Rachel Beran.

Here’s Rachel’s testimony:

A Leap of Faith

It seems a little crazy that me, a small town Indiana girl turned Iowa farmer’s wife, is part of the leadership team for Rise & Shine Women’s Retreat…especially considering the fact that the conference is held 1 ½ hours away from my home.

It all began like this…

A good friend of mine, Jill, who is also a farmer’s wife up here in Northeastern Iowa, felt the Lord leading her to start a women's conference. She had felt this prompting for about 2 ½ years, but wasn't sure how she could ever pull something like this off. She kept praying about it, until it came to a point that she knew that it was definitely His idea and not hers. She shared the idea with her husband and a few close friends.

Long story short, Jill and her friend/mentor, Leanne, decided to take the idea to Orchard Hill Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa in 2009. Leanne had just recently started attending OHC. They were thrilled when the church agreed to host the event.

Although Jill and I only live a couple of miles apart, go to the same church and even share a last name (we’re married to cousins), we really only became friends months before Rise & Shine began when we connected at a Bible study. During that same Bible study, the Lord started stirring up thoughts in my mind and heart, especially ones about what my role should be in women’s ministry. One day, I mentioned in the study that I wanted to do something “radical for Christ”. This started a personal conversation between Jill and I, our friendship blossomed from there. Later, when she told me about the idea of starting a women’s conference she said, “How’s this for something radical?”

Unbeknownst to Jill, also about 2 ½ years before this, I was at a women’s conference when I felt the Lord speaking to my spirit. It wasn't an audible voice, but I knew Who it was. It was like He said to me, "You're going to be part of something like this someday."

Yet, there I sat, I was pregnant with my first child, a farmer's wife living in rural Iowa…in the middle of “no where“. I thought, "What? ME? How could I ever do something like that?" I have to admit that I questioned the Lord. Did He get the right girl?! Still, joy rose up within me and I remember praying in my mind, right there in the midst of this huge conference, "I don't know how, but I believe that you will make a way, Lord."

I never told anyone about this. I actually filed it to the back of my mind. Every once in a while I would recall what He said, but still didn't see a way. I would say a little prayer about it and shove it back to it's little corner in my mind.

So, even though I know she expected me to be, I wasn't shocked when Jill came to me with this idea. I knew that I was suppose to be part of it, but I didn’t tell Jill. I just told her that I would pray about it...which I did. I was thrilled a few weeks later when she asked me to be part of the Rise & Shine team. Isn't this just the way that the Lord works? He opens doors where there doesn't even seem to be a door!!!

That first year was a real leap of faith for our team. None of us had ever planned a women’s conference before. We didn’t have any funds available when we started (not even to pay the speaker we had booked). We didn’t even know if anyone would sign up to attend . But, we prayed and felt the Lord prompting us on. We chose to step out in faith and obedience. We’re so glad we did! God answered one prayer after another, opened doors and showed us His faithfulness time and time again…and has continued to do so. I wish I could list all of the prayers He has answered, but I don’t know where I would start and end. This year we are planning our third Rise & Shine Women’s Retreat.

So many amazing people have come on board to make Rise & Shine happen each year, people who have such a heart to honor and serve the Lord. We’re just ordinary people who have been blessed to be part of something so extraordinary, something so much bigger than us. To God be the glory! He is so great, and greatly to be praised!

Appropriately, our theme for Rise & Shine 2011 is “Making An Ordinary Life Extraordinary”. I am thrilled that our guest speaker for this year is Susie Larson, the “Uncommon Woman” herself. Susie is one of my personal favorite authors and speakers. I know she is going to bless our socks off, as she speaks the words the Lord puts on her heart and leads us to “Rise” up to who God created us to be and “Shine” His light with our lives. Believe me, you don’t want to miss it…and I would love to meet YOU there on October 29th!

In what area is God asking YOU to leap out in faith today? God will use you in ways you never thought possible, and will make a way when there seems to be no way, if you choose to trust Him, obey and follow His lead. I find that incredibly exciting!! How about you?!

To connect with Rachel, visit her blog by clicking here. 

Maybe He’s leading you to attend a women’s conference on October 29th?! :)  Print a registration form by clicking here.

Have a testimony to share? A question or prayer request? We would love to hear from you!! Send us a message at riseandshineretreat@yahoo.com
 
Many blessings to you, friends!  Thank you for taking the time to read.  We're praying for you and hope to see you at Rise & Shine Women's Retreat on October 29th!!