WHAT TO EXPECT – LADIES

1. There is a smiling, gentle person at the entrance…
2. You are escorted to a table and introduced to the few women sitting there…
3. The round tables are beautifully set…
4. Music is playing softly…
5. The aroma of dinner is enticing. And you think…..  This is so lovely and you have just met two people who will be facilitating the small group who is sitting at your table.  The other two women sitting there are shy but friendly.  They are here for the same reason you are and that helps!I can’t believe this ~ they are serving us like we are royalty or at least very special.  They won’t allow us to do a thing as they serve.  I wonder why they care so much.

Dinner was delicious and the dessert was yummy!  Now someone goes to a keyboard and begins to play worship music.  I am more comfortable now.  The pianist begins to sing then asks us all to join in.  The words to the songs are projected on a screen.  Some stand and some stay seated.  Everyone seems to worship, as they want to.  Some lift their hands as they sing and some do not.  Some wave beautiful banners.  There is something special about this and I feel warm tears filling my eyes.

Worship is over and everyone seems different, more at peace.  The director stands before us and prays, we are seated again and the Bible teaching begins on Psalm 23.  I have known Psalm 23 since I was a child but this teaching is powerful.  It is amazing how much we are like sheep!

The teaching ends with a short break and the women at each round table go to a private room to begin the small group session.

Somehow at dinner we got to know each other a little, or maybe it was during worship ~ I don’t know, it just feels safe.  The faciltators are sharing some information with us about what to expect during the ten weeks.

I wasn’t sure I would be staying, but I think I will know after tonight. We are each given a binder with some information and some handouts. Everything is done with so much care. Why do they care so much?

The small group facilitators share a little about their lives and to my surprise they used to have the same regret . . . no, the same shame that I have. Now they seem at peace and have such an amazing testimony! We all share so much in common.

Could this be God? It must be, because all I feel is love. I feel safe now and something wonderful has happened tonight ~ I know I am not alone anymore ~ I can share my heart because they know and they understand. I don’t know why God would go to so much trouble to bless me so much when He knows what I have done. Maybe if I stick it out I will even understand that ~ Now, I can’t wait till next week ~ I feel loved for the first time in a long, long time ♥