You are Invited to a Writer’s Retreat: September 24-26, 2021
Get away to beautiful Black Butte Ranch where you can work on your current project, connect with other writers, critique, brainstorm, and be refreshed at this beautiful house in Black Butte Ranch near Sisters, Oregon. There will be minimal scheduled events so you have enough time for both work and play.
Price varies from $100-$200 for the weekend, and includes lodging and five meals. Rooms are shared, with bunks, shared King, or a King or Queen of your own.
Contact me for more information or to sign up: jer3113@hotmail.com
“Broken, Made Whole” Retreat Huge Success
Eleven women gathered at our Black Butte home for a time of spiritual and physical refreshment. In between sessions the ladies were able to bike, hot tub, walk, and shop. Sometimes in snow, sometimes in sunshine. Crazy spring weather!
The three sessions were: Broken By Choice, Broken Made Whole, and Broken and Poured Out. They represent the progression we make spiritually when we turn to Christ for “fixing.” First, we must choose to let our need for Him “break” us. Secondly, when the effects of this world, or others, or we ourselves cause brokenness in us, we can come to Jesus to make us whole. And even better and stronger than before. And finally, once we are mended by our Lord and Savior, He can work through us to help others heal and rebuild their lives.
I got word from a reader today who mentioned how timely the third message is in light of the fear and brokenness is being caused by the Corona Virus. So I want to share some of that message with you here, in hopes that it will encourage you today.
Broken and Poured Out
We are currently in the season of Lent (the forty days before Easter), a time when many fast from various pleasures in order to focus their hearts and minds on Christ. Believers everywhere celebrate Jesus for the sacrifice He made for us—so we might be spiritually whole.
“He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5-6).
We don’t like to think of our Lord and Savior as broken, but His physical body was torn and mangled beyond recognition so He could complete His mission as the Lamb of God. No one would abuse or mistreat a lamb intended as a sacrifice. They were nurtured and gently handled so they were not marred in any way—they had to be perfect in order to be acceptable. But Jesus, the perfect Son of God, was abused and tortured before His death on the cross.
Somehow, Jesus’ disciple Mary (Lazarus’ sister) understood His need for comfort and honor before the horror to come. She was moved by the Holy Spirit to perform a service of extreme devotion. Mary took her expensive alabaster jar filled with perfume and broke it to anoint Jesus’ body. Others tried to rebuke her, but Jesus praised her loving sacrifice.
“While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her” (Mark 14:3-9).
Thankfully, God’s doesn’t put us back together only to sit us on a shelf. He wants to make us useful vessels. We will be talking in this last session about how to move from art on display into active servants for the kingdom.
1: Jesus’ Example
Read Psalm 22 aloud. What prophesies did Jesus fulfill in His death?
2: Broken AND Poured
How are we different when we’re merely broken than when we’re broken and poured out for God?
3: Sacrifice
What inspires you most about Mary’s complete surrender?
4: Made Whole to Restore Others
The most wonderful thing happens when the Lord heals our brokenness. We are not only beautiful and whole, but we join in His work!
“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. YOUR PEOPLE WILL REBUILD the ancient ruins and will RAISE UP the age-old foundations; you will be called REPAIRER of Broken Walls, RESTORER of Streets with Dwellings” (Isaiah 58:11-12).
Who
is the Lord calling you to rebuild, raise up, repair, or restore by the power
of His Holy Spirit? What are some practical steps you can take?
- Acts of service
- Words of encouragement
- Helping left their burden
- Teaching them God’s truths
- Invited them ____________
- Give ________________
#BethViceretreats
What’s New in 2020
Why did I think that after Christmas life would slow down and I would have time to catch my breath? Are you feeling the same way?
Each day of this New Year has come with it’s own delights and challenges. I have struggled through months of pain in my ankles which hindered my activities, including writing (who knew screaming ankles could make it hard to sit at a desk and produce sensible prose?). God, however, in His infinite wisdom, used my sprained right ankle to get me to the doctor where I received the number for a podiatrist. He knew my left ankle would then get much worse because of the added strain, forcing me to finally make an appointment and get a diagnosis and help for both.
Blessed relief! This is definitely an example of Romans 8:28. I am thankful for His healing and being able to walk and be more active again.
Just in time too, because lots of things are going on!
- January 15-20: I am going to our Black Butte house a couple of days for a mini personal writing retreat, before I welcome four dear college roommates for our second Roomie Rendezvous since graduation. We are all pretty pumped!
- February 22: Oregon Christian Writers one day conference in Salem. Heidi Gaul and I will be co-leading a critique session and workshop, “Incentives for Writing Disciplines.”
- March 6-8: I will be hosting a Salem women’s retreat at Black Butte, “Broken, Made Whole.” This will include short teaching sessions followed by table talk discussion times.
- March 27-29: I will be hosting a Writer’s Retreat at our Black Butte house. This should be a great time for writers to connect, work, relax, critique, and encourage one another.
- April 4: I will be speaking at a Literary Tea at La Tea Da teahouse in Tillamook, OR on my book “Forty Days of Lint.” It is one of my favorite books–an Easter devotional with a humorous twist between lint and Lent. The five sections of the book are: Dryer lint–for times when we are spiritually dry and thirsty for the living water, Belly button lint–when we examine and evaluate what is central in our lives, Pocket lint–searching for attitudes and behavior we tend to hide, Clothing lint–about the importance of appearances, and finally Dust bunnies–those nasty little critters that hide in the hardest to get to places and require some deep cleaning.
This year, I am also one of the featured writers for Anchored Voices, written by an amazing group of women. They are full of wit and wisdom on life and God and family. If you’re not already a follower, check it out, and read my first post “Making Room for the New” on January 6. I think you might get hooked! anchoredvoices.com
That’s all for now. I will continue posting on my own blog here at Epiphany, and working to complete my divorce recovery book this year. Then hopefully my Revelation Bible study will soon follow.
It’s going to be a great year!
Retreat Ministry
Since Kelly and I finished increasing the size of our rental home at Black Butte Ranch, Oregon, God has planted a new dream in my heart for retreat ministry. October 24-26 was the first women’s retreat at our house and God filled the place with laughter, tears, and deep heart-sharing. Thirteen women gathered from three different churches and two states and came together as one in the Lord. It was beautiful!
Our theme topics were: The Proverbs 31 Woman, Forgiveness, Grace, and Surrender. Each of the four Table Talk sessions were rich in discussion and encouragement from God’s Word.
In between sessions we ate delicious food and enjoyed free time walking or biking at the Ranch or shopping in nearby Sisters. They all agreed it was a perfect balance of deep introspection and time to visit, reflect, and get out in the sunshine. They also enjoyed the balance of healthy meals and yummy desserts!
God blessed our time with unusually warm weather and spectacular fall colors. We all left feeling like we had connected with God, each other, and the beauty of His creation. I’m very excited for the two retreats coming this spring and for whatever God might bring about in the future.
Fall Conference Report
I came down with the flu two days before the Oregon Christian Writers Fall Conference where I was scheduled to teach a workshop. God got me there through prayer and two days of intense resting! I’m so glad I didn’t miss it, because Beth Vogt was an excellent keynoter; her writing story was one everyone in the room could relate to in many ways. The main topics were: Expectations (how they can kill our joy) and The Definition of Success. What do you do when the two don’t seem to match up?
The Holy Spirit moved in and among us and I came away from the morning sessions filled up and challenged.
Heidi Gaul and I led a critique group workshop, “Critical Spirit of Help from Friends.” Everyone came ready to learn and give. After the short lesson, they went to work in small groups. They had a great time and Heidi brought Lindor truffles to keep us in good spirits.
Home from the conference I’m playing catch up with messages and follow up connections, not to mention piled up laundry and home-work. I’m so glad for these times to connect and refuel. Now I’m anxious to dig in to my writing again and share what God has put on my heart.
#writinglife #what’supwithBethVice #OregonChristianWriters #conferencenews
Current Projects
I have book and article ideas swimming in my head, and numerous files started on my laptop. No matter what I’m physically doing–be it walking, gardening, reading, or taking time off with family–I am thinking about writing. The two biggies I’m working on right now are: a Divorce Recovery book and a Revelation Bible Study entitled “Good News for Overcomers.” I hope to have both out by spring of 2020.
My goal for the divorce recovery book is to give hope to women going through the trauma of divorce. Each woman’s story is different, yet we go through the same process of healing. My story is woven into each chapter as I come alongside my sisters in pain and address the steps to recovery. Some of those stages are feelings of abandonment, anger, fear, figuring out how to be single, how to parent children who are also hurting (and not always very nice), the need for community, how to figure out if you’re ready (or want) to start dating, the joys and pitfalls of remarriage, and using the comfort you have received to comfort others.
The Revelation Bible study is very application oriented. We’ve been working through it in my Sunday morning small group for about two years now (we have a LOT of meaty discussion!) and it has been amazing! I have learned so much in my own study for this book and the comments of those in our group has solidified my joy and excitement to offer this book to others.
I am also trying to keep up with a weekly blog post, submitting a short piece (devotion or article) every week, and teaching material for upcoming retreats and ministry.
I love what I do! I hope you will stay tuned for more news on The Writing Life of Beth Vice.
I’m the new OCW In-Person Critique Group Coordinator
The biggest event in my career lately has been joining the staff of Oregon Christian Writers as the In-Person Critique Group Coordinator. Heidi Gaul volunteered to be the Orientation Coordinator when members first sign up to be in a group. Gail Sattler is our Online Critique Group Coordinator who gets people matched up with others in their genre. And I am the In-Person Coordinator for OCW members who want to meet face to face.
Our president, Marilyn Rhoads, and current staff have been anxious to provide members with this perk for some time. Our three one-day conferences and four day working conference in the summer are wonderful, but people need contact with other writers on a regular basis to keep growing and not get discouraged.
Our newly formed team spent countless hours February through March creating documents, emailing them back and forth for final edits, and deciding just how we wanted to go about this.
We launched our program in April and immediately started getting sign-ups. After we announced the new critique program at the one-day May conference the response has been non-stop!
It’s exciting to be a part of such a great organization where people are hungry to be the best they can be to glorify the Lord and share His message of hope. I am honored to have this position and be able to interact with many of our members on a daily basis.
