GG's in North Dakota

Godly Girlfriends are heading to North Dakota in May.

Yee Haw!

I've attached some photos of the beautiful rustic chapel

at the Upper Missouri Ministries Campground

near Epping, N.D.,

which is about 15 miles from Williston.

The term "Missouri" comes from the Missouri River, which is nearby.

How about this beautiful stone fireplace,

located at the back of the chapel?

Sure hope we find a fire burning in it!

Sure hope we leave with a fire burning 

in us!

 Here's a view of the altar area, 

complete with a stained glass window.

For more pictures visit the 

Camp UMM website here.

Godly?

This is for you -you who wonder how we dare call ourselves "godly"

The first time I heard that term, "godly girlfriends", was at a week-end retreat.

I was sitting at the back of the room.  The speaker had encouraged us cherish, treasure, and grow our girlfriend relationships. I had known her for years. She is the Beauty for Ashes poster child. I had known her when she was going through the worst times imaginable and witnessed her victories. We had gone to church together and taught Sunday School together, but we hadn't had one-on-one time for a long time.  We were no longer in the same church. and we hadn't gone out to lunch together in maybe ever.

Then she dropped the bomb, "Will all my Godly Girlfriends please stand?"

Godly?  I am anything but godly.  I have a crazy busy stressful job that consumes too much of my time and energy.  I am in a storm of uncertainty, trials, temptations, and instability. I don't spend enough time in the Word or in God's presence.  Nope not me. We (the speaker and I) hadn't had a meaningful conversation in forever. No, I am not worthy to be considered her Godly Girlfriend - period.

Godly Girlfriends all over the room rose to their feet, but my tush stayed firmly planted in that plastic conference room chair. 

Merriam-Webster defines godly as divine, pious, devout. Synonyms are devout, holy, pious, religious, sainted, saintly.  Antonyms are faithless, godless, ungodly, unholy.  The definition for pious is reverence for deity and devotion to divine worship.  Synonyms for pious are constant, dedicated, devout, good, loyal, faithful, steadfast, steady, true.

Now for the test.  Am I godly?  Are you godly?  If you are the opposite of faithless, godless, ungodly, and unholy, then yes you are godly.  If you have a reverence for God and a devotion to His worship - then yes - you are godly. If you are dedicated, devout, good, loyal, faithful, steadfast, steady, or true, then yes, you are godly.  And yes, I am godly, also.

And, yes, she IS my Godly Girlfriend.

My Godly Girlfriend and I, along with many more Godly Girlfriends, have the great honor of serving together at the Texas Godly Girlfriends Retreat in just a few days.  We are so, so excited!  Then in May, we, Godly Girlfriends head to North Dakota for retreat number two.

See you there, my Godly Girlfriend!  See you there.

The Vision

Part of the vision of 

"Godly Girlfriends Retreats"

is Fun, Fellowship, and Freedom.

I found some pictures in an album titled "Girlfriends Weekend".

We had met at a San Angelo, Texas creek side cabin for some girl time.

We made t-shirts, visited a monastery, shopped for antiques,

ate lots of Mexican food, had coffee on the deck, and shared testimonies.

We sang, 

and we worshipped.

Melissa's Sunday morning devotional inspired us to

persevere and be the women God calls us to be.

And this picture in my computer file is titled 

"Godly Girlfriends".

We meet for lunch every Tuesday in Texas-

I only get to join them about 4 times a year.

We are a mixed bag

 (not to be confused with old bags)

of girls.

We are kind of an unlikely group of friends. 

We are from several different churches and denominations

but our oneness is in our love for Jesus.

Last summer, some of my North Dakota girlfriends,

(and one handsome guy)

met together at my house for

pot-luck lunch and crafts.

It was a fun day of getting to know each other better.  

(Looks like I have a thing about t-shirts!)

Seeing these pictures reminds me how important

it is for us women to connect with each other

for encouragement and support.

Maybe these girl gatherings are a little like

the quilting bees or canning sessions

of years gone by.

We just need each other.

You will, no doubt,

 see some of these faces at one (or both)

 of the upcoming retreats.

Be sure to go to the Vision tab on the web page

to read the full vision of the 

Godly Girlfriends Retreats.

See You There!