Where do you go when you’re tired? When your body feels weary and your soul needs rest? What’s your favorite place to get away? Maybe it’s somewhere warm, where the sunshine hits your skin and palm trees sway in the breeze. Or maybe it’s the mountains, where the air feels fresh and your mind can relax.

In the Bible, King David had a place of refuge called En Gedi. It was an oasis near the Dead Sea in Israel. It was a place filled with waterfalls, flowing streams, and palm trees. It was a hiding place. A place of renewal. A place where David could retreat and be refreshed in the presence of God.

International Ladies Retreat can be one of those places for us.

In a world where everyone is trying to figure out who they are, there is a surprising reality. Your true identity is found in being holy. We were not created to blend in or conform, but we were made to reflect the image of God.

What happens when a chapter of your life closes or changes? How do we, as women, process the change and acknowledge our feelings and emotions? It’s something all of us experience sometime in our life in one fashion or the other. Today, we’re talking about closure and how it helps us to heal and move forward after a significant event or relationship in your life.

There's something about someone calling your name that is so personal. Our name is our identity; it's who we are. When the Master speaks to us, it's personal. He knows who we are – His daughters. God is not silent, and He has a message for each of us today.

You've probably heard the cliché "a person wears many hats." This phrase means that a person has many responsibilities or fills many different roles. Maybe you're a wife, parent, coach, friend, co-worker. Perhaps, you even have to juggle serving in a ministry position. There can be a big challenge in learning how to succeed simultaneously in multiple roles; however, when God gives us many hats, we must learn how to balance each of them.

How do you start your day? Is there something you cannot do without? Just as we sometimes need a boost from a morning coffee, we need a boost from fresh brewed faith every morning to strengthen and renew us.

It's the little things in our lives that shape us into who we are. We all like to receive words of encouragement, but how much better would the world be if became big givers of encouragement. Let's all work together to leave a few lunchbox notes for those around us!

This season is a wonderful time for getting together with families and friends, but most importantly, it is a time to celebrate the reason for the season – Jesus Christ!