Family Retreat Eagles

By |Published On: June 24, 2019|Categories: 4-Minute Radio Program|


Welcome to Joni and Friends. I’m Joni Eareckson Tada – and I’m Shauna Amick – and we’re sharing praise reports from Family Retreat today! 

SHAUNAOh, we sure are! I just love thinking about all the beautiful God-sightings that are so evident at Family Retreat. 

JONI: They are everywhere, aren’t they? 

SHAUNA; Oh my goodness, the love, the faith in action, people with disabilities and without, fellowshipping together, praying together, worshipping together; I love watching husbands and wives reconnect after, boy, what ends up for some being years of just going through the motions in their daytoday caregiving routinesI love seeing moms and dads see their specialneeds children through the eyes of God. (JONIand some for the very first time.) That’s right, and it makes my heart so happy to see families affected by disability getting closer to each other and closer to Jesus all throughout the week, but you know what my very favorite God-sighting is at Family Retreat? 

JONIWell you’ve got a lot to choose from, but tell me one.  

SHAUNAFamily Retreat Eagles! 

JONIOkay, that’s new to me!  

SHAUNA: Well, I’m going to tell you something, I really have seen literal eagles at Family Retreat, especially when I went to retreat in New England. But I’m not talking about birds right now. I’m making reference to one of my all-time favorite Scriptures, Isaiah 40:31. 

JONI: I know it well! “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They’re going to soar on wings like eagles; they’re going to run and not be weary, they’re going to walk and not be faint.” That’s a curious verse for kids who can’t walk; kids who can’t run; moms who are weary. 

SHAUNAWell, you know time after time, what we see are worn out and weary families just experiencing miraculous transformations at Family Retreat. They arrive wondering if they can even limp through another day without giving up, and then the Lord, He completely renews their strength to the point where they’re soaring to new heights of hope and trust in JesusThey become eagles in the Lord! Just like Chrissy(JONI: Okay, who is Chrissy?) I met Chrissy last summer at Family Retreat. She’s a lovely young lady with a profound intellectual disability, and when she arrived at Family Retreat, it was so, so obvious life had beaten her down, but oh did Chrissy soar on wings like eagles by the time our Talent Show rolled around! You know she sang this really upbeat song about being beautiful, and Chrissy finally received the fact she is absolutely God’s beautiful image bearer. She doesn’t really experience that outside of Family Retreat, but there everyone including Chrissy herself recognizes Jesus revealed through her, and she even sees herself through the eyes of the Lord. Fearfully, wonderfully, beautifully made exactly the way Jesus intended. 

JONIAnd really quickly Shauna, I can appreciate that probably Lisa, Chrissy’s mom, also was soaring on wings with eagles just watching her daughter go through this incredible transformation – just this redemption; just this change of seeing herself as beautiful in the eyes of the Lord! God bless Lisa!  

SHAUNA: Hold that point Joni because next time we get together I’m going to share a powerful story about Lisa’s transformation too.  

JONI: Okay. Friend listening, if you find you are in a place of feeling worn out and weary, if you’re wondering how much longer you can keep on walking without growing faint, (maybe you are faint) hold on to your hope in the Lord. He’s going to renew your strength and He’ll help you soar on eagle’s wings as well! And if you need a little inspiration doing this, go to joniradio.org, would you, where you will find Family Retreat video that is sure to lift your spirit to new heights of joy in Jesus! Let us hear from you today on my radio page at joniandfriends.org. 

© Joni and Friends

 


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