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Derek
Petrie : The
Bield Retreat February 16th 2008
'This was my third visit to the Bield for a retreat.
The retreats at the Bield are very unique. The buildings
are set in beautiful grounds with so much to see and experience.
The retreat for me is very much uninterupted time alone
with God without any of the normal day to day distractions.
It is time with God, face to face to ask questions, to ponder
things in life, to worship, to thank God for who he is.
But importantly it is time for me to listen in a quiet,
still and very peaceful environment to what God is saying
to me. This trip was very different from the others in that
when I walked into the Chapel my eyes were quickly drawn
to an Icon of Jesus in the corner. I didn't hear an audible
voice but I felt Jesus say, 'I'm really pleased to see you
Derek, I've been waiting for this moment for some time'.
It took me completely by surprise and was so real and vivid
that I was intrigued to ask Him why and start to listen
to what God had for me this time. I'd encourage everyone
to take time out with God, as a form of sacrifice, dedicting
the day to Jesus and moving closer to Him.'
Lo
Okeke: The
Bield Retreat February 16th 2008
'On
a long a busy journey with God, lots of events, Church activities
etc, I find retreating is great context, stop, to step back
and out of the box and reflect on it all, get new perspective,
see where God is leading, connect dots and evalute and re-evalute,
step out of the race for a 2nd, the bield is such a lovely
place to do this in. Most importantly having the whole day
to pray, go on prayer walks and just be with Your God, what
can I say, looking ahead to the next One.'
Stephan
Helfer: The
Bield Retreat February 16th 2008
Retreat - re-treat?
To halt decay?
Painting over the wounded soul,
Rallying for new advance.
No.
Connect
with the imperishable,
The incorruptible.
Finding it, discover it, un-cover it.
Drawing life from its source.
God
is good.
Bill
Wyse: The Bield Retreat
'The
retreat at the Bield was a very special experience for me,
it being the
first time I had gone to such a day. The setting was really
conducive to
spending time with God. I was expectant and I was certainly
not disappointed. I
would certainly recommend to any others in the church to
sign up for future
retreats planned this year.'
Duncan
Crawford: The Bield Retreat, 11th November 2006
A little extract from my day's reflections.
Lord
God,
You have brought us here
And planted us around your field.
We try to be still Lord,
As an offering to you,
While we move through the day.
The
trees make your peace
Seem so easy to live by
Lord help us,
To be like the woods,
All differently alike
Each other in you.
Help
us douse the fire of hatred,
And clear the smoke of unfaithfulness,
Let us be careful where we lay our heart'
Let us share our warmth with all.
Let us tend our heart' diligently,
Help
us shed what we need no longer
As we go through the seasons of life.
Help us grow branches of love
And boughs of tenderness,
Help
us shelter others
Through the storms of life
Let our pathways lead to the open field of your Truth Help
us be the good fruit of Your forest.
God nicked my fags!
I know
this sounds funny but it was a gift and a question from
Him to me.
I have
been praying about smoking for a while and trying to stop.
I realise
that God cannot make choices for us. If he had that control
then we would not need a church because we would all be
really good. But because God loves us so much He gave us
freedom of choice in all we do.
Anyway
to cut a long story short. I had planned to meditate on
the stopping smoking issue for the day. I would have the
introduction to the day then go outside and have a cigarette
and contemplate why I did it and ask again for guidance
from God.
Well
He beat me to it.
I went
to find my fags and they were gone.
Now I could have dropped them in the park on the way to
CCE or I might have thrown them away as I am known to.
I was sure I hadn't.
I did the customary addicts rake through my pockets and
bag in a weird panic but to no avail.
Then...
I heard
this; well, not so much heard, but sensed words coming from
the back left of my head somewhere almost challenging me
saying.
You have asked me so many times to help you with this. Now
is your chance to have a day free of it. It's all about
faith.
Do you really believe in me?
I read
later in my bible about when Jesus tells his disciples that
when we pray to have faith and to believe with all our heart
that it has been given then and only then will it be given.
I am
still working on the faith part.
Anonymous: The Bield Retreat, 11th November 2006
'There is, at the Bield, a labrynth - that is, a maze
or path for spiritual reflection, mown in the grass. I walked
it in the rain last Saturday. Equipped with my mobile phone
(in case I lost myself) and Jesus' question to the Baptist's
disciples, 'What do you want?', I began a little meditative
journey. What did I want when I first came to know the Lord?
A way out of a life I couldn't cope with. Yet, somehow,
along the way, my religion became a mask for my own self-isolation.
And what do I want now? To come out of hiding. Time to make
that phone call.'
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