My heart is quiet and still as I read this. There will never be the exact right words to explain what Refine has meant to me. I am grateful. And I will be waiting with anticipation to see what’s coming next. I only pray that I can partake even if only in a small way. Thank you Jesus.
Jodi, I thought of you as I walked through those halls on Monday. Your presence there and your support through the years has been a huge blessing and gift in my own personal experiences around Refine. I am deeply grateful, friend. So glad you were there so many times. I can see you in the art room, and at the tables. I hope that somehow, you will be a part of this next season. Praying for you today.
Sharing this emotional tension of “ what has been and what gift awaits.” Glory be to God for gifting you with the leadership, with the obedience to His call. So many of us touched and changed by Refine at the Pines. I will never forget and can’t say thank you enough for the tender memories, friends made, and taking me with you on the journey there. Love you, Kris, and thank you, Jesus, for immeasurable blessings!
I'm so glad you got to experience Refine specifically at The Pines. We have some rich, treasured memories from that season that we can carry forward. God has been so kind to us, and this is an important piece of our story. Love you.
Oh goodness, Kris, I'm honestly actually weeping as I read this--not only is the Pines closing permanently at such a great loss to so many because of its beauty and power of place but secondly, and most obviously, because of the dream you carried to so many of us in that sacred environment.
I will say unequivocally that attending Refine the Retreat was a life-changing event for me. The connections and friendships born there, the freedom I experienced, the awakening, all of it was a blessed gift to receive. Thank you for your obedience. (And to Mary for her servant's heart).
I will take a moment to respond in a bit to your 'next chapter' about tending. Goodness, how God pours out his creativity through you.
Jody, I read your words yesterday but needed to return to them today to respond. I've been holding so much grief suspended since hearing in April of the upcoming closing of the Pines. It didn't feel real to have gotten that news, but as I walked the empty halls on Monday, and spent a few minutes with Heidi (the director there), the gravity and reality of this permanent moment settled in my heart like a thud.
I am grateful that you got to experience Refine at the Pines, and grateful for your generosity around Refine over the years. You will never know what a GIFT your kindness has been, and I cannot ever thank you enough. So many women were stirred by the Spirit in that space, and it's a wild, underserved blessing to have gotten to participate in that work. To hear you say that Refine was "life-changing" is a testament to the mighty work of the Holy Spirit. Whew. What a beautiful thing.
My heart is quiet and still as I read this. There will never be the exact right words to explain what Refine has meant to me. I am grateful. And I will be waiting with anticipation to see what’s coming next. I only pray that I can partake even if only in a small way. Thank you Jesus.
Jodi, I thought of you as I walked through those halls on Monday. Your presence there and your support through the years has been a huge blessing and gift in my own personal experiences around Refine. I am deeply grateful, friend. So glad you were there so many times. I can see you in the art room, and at the tables. I hope that somehow, you will be a part of this next season. Praying for you today.
Sharing this emotional tension of “ what has been and what gift awaits.” Glory be to God for gifting you with the leadership, with the obedience to His call. So many of us touched and changed by Refine at the Pines. I will never forget and can’t say thank you enough for the tender memories, friends made, and taking me with you on the journey there. Love you, Kris, and thank you, Jesus, for immeasurable blessings!
I'm so glad you got to experience Refine specifically at The Pines. We have some rich, treasured memories from that season that we can carry forward. God has been so kind to us, and this is an important piece of our story. Love you.
Oh goodness, Kris, I'm honestly actually weeping as I read this--not only is the Pines closing permanently at such a great loss to so many because of its beauty and power of place but secondly, and most obviously, because of the dream you carried to so many of us in that sacred environment.
I will say unequivocally that attending Refine the Retreat was a life-changing event for me. The connections and friendships born there, the freedom I experienced, the awakening, all of it was a blessed gift to receive. Thank you for your obedience. (And to Mary for her servant's heart).
I will take a moment to respond in a bit to your 'next chapter' about tending. Goodness, how God pours out his creativity through you.
Sending so much love. xo
Jody, I read your words yesterday but needed to return to them today to respond. I've been holding so much grief suspended since hearing in April of the upcoming closing of the Pines. It didn't feel real to have gotten that news, but as I walked the empty halls on Monday, and spent a few minutes with Heidi (the director there), the gravity and reality of this permanent moment settled in my heart like a thud.
I am grateful that you got to experience Refine at the Pines, and grateful for your generosity around Refine over the years. You will never know what a GIFT your kindness has been, and I cannot ever thank you enough. So many women were stirred by the Spirit in that space, and it's a wild, underserved blessing to have gotten to participate in that work. To hear you say that Refine was "life-changing" is a testament to the mighty work of the Holy Spirit. Whew. What a beautiful thing.
Thank you, Jody, just thank you. <3
The wind of the Holy Spirit blows through it all, my friend. xo
This was beautiful Kris. Grateful for your honesty. This is why I follow you ❤️
Thanks for reading and encouraging, Jenny. It means more than I can say.