Mysteries!

A group of ladies from our church spent three days exploring mysteries – Bible mysteries, a who-done-it clue search, along with games that proved how mysterious it can be to accomplish what appear to be simple tasks. Who would have thought that picking up six penne pastas on a stick of spaghetti would be difficult? Or getting three M&Ms off two pencils? Just ask us – we’ve learned.

We went to The Heart of Texas campground ready to spend time with God’s word. Just as we believe He is interested in and directs our lives, we believe He provided this opportunity to learn more of Him through each other as well as His word.

This takes planning!! Our pastor’s wife does the greater portion of the retreat, the majority of the lessons. She has volunteers – were it not for privacy requests, I would be lifting their names in gratitude – ones who decorate, carry, write skits, act in them, plan games, direct those games. Every moment at the camp had someone caring about meeting the attendees’ needs, physical and spiritual.

And, we heard of mysteries. The Bible has many. Both Daniel and John were told to keep secrets.

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (Daniel 12:4 KJV)

And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. (Revelation 10:4 KJV)

Jesus spoke of mysteries.

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. (Matthew 13:11 KJV)

He told the disciples why, too.

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. (Matthew 13:35 KJV)

I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. (Psalms 78:2-3 KJV)

We, too, have heard sayings of old. Most of us have known them from childhood, told by our parents. I like the way Luke put it as he wrote what was believed.

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, (Luke 1:1 KJV)

Yes, I took notes – lots of them. Yes, there were scriptures – I will be using them throughout the coming days. I pray they will bring you some of the joy the past few days provided. I just wish you could have lifted your voices in song the way we did Friday night. This year we had a keyboard and musician!! We took advantage and sang our favorites.

For our church members – mark your calendars for next October. For my other readers – make plans for your own spiritual growth. It is worth every moment spent.