Discerning God on Spiritual Retreat

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Jeremy Stefano

“ The Lord has his way of weaning us from our attachments or affections in this world, and cleanse the air, helping me face the dilemmas of my heart on retreat.”– Jeremy Stefano

One thing I ask of the Lord, this only do I seek…that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gaze on his beauty, and seek him in his temple (Psalm 27). As we dwell, gaze, and seek God, our heart’s truest longings emerge from deep within our soul. Like Jesus’ invitation to abide, the singular focus of a spiritual retreat is to find our way home to the embrace of God. This will require a releasing of our attachments and distractions, the idols of our heart. In that attentive space of retreat, the fruit will emerge and then remain forever.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Jeremy Stefano

“Sometimes people think we need to be all put together in order to come into the presence of God, but that’s simply not true.” – Jeremy Stefano

Spiritual retreats are a wonderful opportunity to experience the hospitality of God amidst one’s desire to be hospitable to the soul. Where we experience such retreats should open us up to a fresh move of God’s Spirit, even if we come from a dark valley or a season of fear. God sets the table before us and invites us to enter willingly, with unforced authenticity. Even though setting and location shouldn’t matter, in many ways it does. The external environment and people, location, and mindset, all coalesce in enhancing the deep interior joy of intimacy with Christ.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Jeremy Stefano

“Spiritual retreats place us in a position to receive what Jesus is already doing in our behalf.” – Jeremy Stefano

There are so many options for retreats, but a spiritual retreat is unique. Designed to heighten our attentiveness quotient, participants are invited to place themselves in postures of graced receptivity. It’s here where we notice and receive all that Jesus is already providing for us…his shepherding provisions of goodness and love, inviting us to lay still beside quiet waters, and be restored in heart, mind, body, and soul. On retreat we reconnect contemplatively with the state of our souls and the Lover of our souls, in the Word, prayer, and in various reflective practices.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Jeremy Stefano

“Turn away from other things that pretend to satisfy the soul and find rest in the Lord…in repentance, quietness and trust.” – Jeremy Stefano

Often unaware, we become productivity machines and lose sight of what it means to be a human being longing for relationship with God. Spiritual retreats are great experiences of rediscovery and restorative renewal. It’s on retreat where we are reminded of the myriad gifts of God, primarily his unconditional love, flowing forth in his mercy, grace, compassion, kindness and forgiveness. Retreats allow us set apart time to wait on God, notice him, attend to his still small voice, receive his gifts, and delight in his presence. When to retreat? How about now!

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Jeremy Stefano

“A holy place to draw away to a space and time dedicated solely to God, to be present to God.” – Jeremy Stefano

There are many ways to retreat, but on a spiritual retreat the exclusive desire is to be with Jesus. Likened to his invitation to the disciples immediately prior to the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus says “come with me by yourselves to a solitary place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31). On spiritual retreat we are saying yes to that invitation, hopping on a boat in the middle of a lake (or a retreat center), separated from the busyness and noisiness of life, to simply be with the Lover of our souls. Retreats are special times with Jesus, replenished in wilderness or in plenty.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.