Sound the Retreat!

Sound WHAT retreat? The Calvary Chapel Space Coast Ladies Retreat that begins tonight at 6? The CCSC Mens' Retreat that begins next Friday? Why is everyone at CCSC retreating? The word retreat actually means to 'draw back to a safe place'. It can mean to draw back from a frenzied battlefield, or it can mean to draw back from the busyness of life. Retreating is not always a sign that one has given up. Sometimes we retreat to regroup, and that is what Christian retreats are all about, Retreating to regroup, so we can reenter the battlefield of life with new vision, new hope, and new strength.


The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble.
And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
Psalm 9:9-10

The LORD [is] my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.
The LORD [is] their strength, And He [is] the saving refuge of His anointed.
Save Your people, And bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, And bear them up forever.
Psalm 28:7-9

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until [these] calamities have passed by.
Psalm 57:1

Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God [is] a refuge for us. Selah
Psalm 62:8

Who do you turn to in times of trouble? Where do you run in times of distress? Can you say, with the Psalmist, that it is the Lord that you turn to in times of trouble? Is it the Lord that you run to in times of distress? It is interesting that in each of the above passages there is a statement about trusting the Lord; with our heart, with our soul, and at ALL TIMES.

In the depths of your heart and your soul is the real you. If you trust the Lord in your heart and your soul, you will run to the Lord when you are in distress, because those who really know Him know that they can count on Him. How well do you know Him? Are you willing to pour out your heart before Him?

For some, retreats are a way to withdraw from the craziness of life and relax. For some, retreats are a way to connect better with some brothers and sisters in Christ. But more than anything else, retreats should be a time for us to pour out our hearts before the Lord. You can have your own personal retreat with the Lord whereever you can get alone with Him. If you're in need of spiritual renewal, a good place to start is to say what is probably one of the most powerful prayers a person can utter- "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." Selah.

(By the way, there is no cost to our CCSC retreats and guests are welcome. For women that would like to be a guest tonight or tomorrow morning at our CCSC Ladies retreat, just call my wife, Claudia at 794-8413 [they're meeting at the church facility in Titusville]. For men that would like to be a guest next Friday night or Saturday morning at our CCSC Men's retreat, just call me at 638-4464 [we're meeting at a home in the Groves]. Also, if you missed my blog on 'Selah' you can go to the blog site and find the article on 2-17-09.)

Sound the Retreat!
Yours in Him,
Pastor B.