Coming Alive!

By, Ann Dodd

Twenty ladies took a leap of faith and attended our second Women’s Legacy Program of 2024 this past week. They traveled to the beautiful SkyRose Ranch located in San Miguel, CA, from various parts of the country. Each arrived a bit guarded and apprehensive yet curious about what the week might hold for them. The rolling green hills, breathtaking blue skies, & friendly faces from those on our staff seemed to immediately calm spirits upon arrival.

The first class of the week centered on Ephesians 2:10

”For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.“

Grasping a clear understanding of their worth in Christ positively set the foundation for the rest of the week’s classes. The common thread weaved throughout the week was that of learning to the biblical blueprint for womanhood. This was -live within the framework of our design reinforced in each of the different class topics we covered, and it helped the ladies gain a deeper understanding of God’s purpose for their lives and His deep love for them. It also helped them to see that the Bible really does speak to all of the issues of life.

As the week progressed, walls started to come down & nerves were soothed. Slowly the ladies began to realize that they were not alone in their struggles. What a comfort! This allowed them to open up more freely and slowly you could sense hope beginning to rise within them.

The ladies expressed that learning to shift their focus to becoming the women that God created them to be and away from their circumstances or others around them impacted them greatly. Regardless of what has been done to us in the past or the choices that have led to our current circumstances, God’s Word assures us that we can move forward in life with purpose and hope as we seek Him in all things.

2 Corinthians 4:6-9 “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Lamentations 3:22-24 “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’”

Overwhelmingly, what was most apparent among this group of ladies was their sweet and gentle spirits. They were so supportive and encouraging of one another, both during group discussions and in down times of rest and recreation. They stayed focused and put in the hard work to get out of this week all that God intended for them. It was obvious that many of the friendships that were formed this week will continue to grow outside of the session. What a blessing!

As we came to the end of the week, the ladies looked visibly lighter & you could see the newfound joy in their eyes. They were excited to go home and to begin implementing their life plan goals, now better equipped with biblical tools and allies.

We closed out the week by sharing the song Clean by Natalie Grant. The words of the song so beautifully echoed the week’s journey.

I see shattered, you see whole, I see broken, but you see beautiful, And you’re helping me to believe, you’re restoring me piece by piece.

There’s nothing too dirty, that you can’t make worthy, you wash me in mercy, I am clean.

What was dead now lives again, my heart’s beating, beating inside my chest. Oh I’m coming alive with joy and destiny,

‘Cause You’re restoring me piece by piece.

This week was only the beginning on the road to healing for these amazing ladies! Our staff was overjoyed to see the transformation in them as they “came alive with joy”. Our prayers are with them as they head home and continue to seek Him in every area of their lives.