An early morning start, shrouded in darkness, marked a weekend in October – the start of three days of friendships, hospitality, and whispers. A slowing down in the middle of my busy became a rush to meet God right there in a Hyatt hotel in Greenville, SC.
A month has passed since Allume, a Christian bloggers/writers and everyone between, retreat and conference. As I stepped back into reality, I have stolen moments in between to reflect and restore the wealth of emotions, words and experiences from the weekend. This process will be ongoing as God uses the weekend moments to teach me further in my everyday life.
Being welcomed into the Allume family felt like a giant bear hug – no really, it was a time for hugs for everyone all day long. Online friends became real life family – Holly, LeeAnn, and Dana–Â love you all!
Worship was an integral part of the experience, but it was in the opening wide of our hearts and letting it in, where God filled our hearts with a love so deep it seeped and then overflowed. Food was abundant, but each meal was a testimony of what hospitality and welcoming others was all about. Meeting keynote speakers, authors or people you had admired from afar was another opportunity to intertwine your story with theirs-no giddy school girl giggles were necessary-we were one! (Disclaimer-there might have been some giddy, school girl giggles! 🙂 )
Yet Allume was not just about three days away and new friendships. It was an invitation to hospitality –
A chance to create a space for God to move and work through us. Â Shauna Niequest
The chance to gather around a table and learn, deepen relationships and share stories.
Stories were shared heart to heart, one on one and in amazing breakout sessions that taught as well as touched.
A weekend of learning that words matter, whether spoken, unspoken  or written.
A weekend of learning that true hospitality happens in the welcoming of one person, so they have a place to be and a return to this theme throughout the retreat!
A weekend of allowing God’s whispers to speak louder than our own insecurities was fostered by the deepening of relationships.
And in the embracing and opening of my heart and life to new possibilities, I was blessed!
[Tweet “A blessing is God’s way of tucking a gift into our everyday.”]
The weekend was full of gifts…
~opening our blog homes as we would our own homes that all feel welcome
~a mind shift of honoring all whether they walk before us or behind- whether they have many followers or write to reach a few
~a new family of friends that after spending three nights with in a small hotel room know everything about you
~a chance to interrupt our everyday normal with an intentional embracing of God and His words for us
And… leaving knowing that what God started in October is an unfolding of just the beginning of the seed that was planted.
I was blessed by the stirrings of a future that is not completely clear, but one that is focused and led by God. All He asks is to let him lead the way and for us to open our hearts wide to the “yeses” that He has planned for us.
Is your heart open to what’s next and will your answer become a yes that harmonizes with the “yeses” that God has planned for you?
Blessings,
Mary
I want to extend a big “thank you” to Logan Wolfram, the Executive Director of Allume and Sara Mae, the cohost, extraordinaire! The conference wouldn’t have happened without them and the rest of the beautiful Allume team.
Blessed to be linking up with the Allume community. Click here to read more and to be encouraged by many others.
How blessed you were to have been able to attend Allume. It is a dream in my heart, and so far, I haven’t been able to get there. Perhaps next year. God knows. I would love to hug your neck one day.
I was wishing that things would have worked out this year for you to come to Allume but I am confident that our paths will cross in the future. Love you friend!
I cannot imagine what an amazing opportunity this was for you all. I’m so glad you were able to attend. I would have loved to – perhaps another time. Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us, Mary!
Heather-your words bless me and I am grateful for you spending a little time here. I pray that you are given an opportunity like Allume in the future. May your Thanksgiving be a celebration of family and memories and may God be your centerpiece. Blessings!
Much love, dear friend. I so, so enjoyed getting to know you!!
The feeling is mutual! I am praying for you and your family as you make your move to Colorado. Also hoping that Thanksgiving is life giving for you and the family! Love you!
It was great getting to meet up with you at Allume, Mary 🙂 Hopefully we can meet again next year!
Allume was amazing and the new friends that I met were such a blessing. So glad you stopped by and hope to see you here again!
I am so looking forward to sharing this kind of weekend with all of you next year. Loved the recap. I can tell it was a beautiful time of growth and refreshment.
It was an amazing time and I would love to meet you next year. This beautiful community of writers we belong to is so encouraging and welcoming. I am blessed. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Is it possible to be so happy for you and yet so envious of you, Mary! I love that photo–it says it all! The friendships we make in this blogosphere are precious and such an unforeseen blessing as I began this blogging journey! Love ya, my friend and enjoy your Thanksgiving! (I’m praying you’ll be able to be the hostess with the mostest!)
Yes it is possible. We invest ourselves in our story and ask God to share Himself through our writing which is what our blogosphere friends do as well. I believe that is why sometimes we have immediate connections. I’m praying you have a Thanksgiving that is bountiful because God has become the centerpiece of who you are!Love you!
Just sitting here smiling for how I know God blessed all of you that weekend . . . so inspiring. He is good ALWAYS. Much love. xoxo
Whenever I think of Allume, I have a big smile too. God knows what He’s doing when He gathers a group of people and then shows us big time to teach, love and anoint us with His blessings!
Love your recap!!! It was such a pleasure and honor to be with you and to get to know you better. The laughs and tears and hugs were so special and I’m glad we all got to share it together. Much love to you…and can’t wait until next year!
Love being able to share such an amazing weekend and so glad that we are now friends! The blessings were many and the lessons continue to unfold. Allume gathers hearts and stories and God enters in and makes them His. Must love to you too!