vertical.connection - Draw Near to the Father's Heart

Donna Partow will be in

Winnipeg on November 1, 2008

at the 'Sacred Delight' conference

held at the Church of the Rock

For information contact Karen Pearson at Karen@churchoftherock.ca or call 877 700-ROCK

You will be blessed if you are able to attend!

What better way to spend a rainy, dreary weekend than to be together in Bemidji at an exquisite hotel drawing close to our Abba Father! I don't know about you but a lot of you have commented on having a wonderful time. PTL!

Girlfriends, we are still talking about the "Musk Ox Warrior Princess Brigade" that Donna shared with us. If you think this is strange, I agree, it is...but let me tell you what I learned. A musk ox is the only animal (Arctic critter, large!) that surrounds its young when danger approaches. In other words, when the wolves howl it's supper time, those big animals surround their young and face outward for the fight. They will not give up their young; they are in it for the long haul. Donna challenged us to be that for our heritage, our children, our little sisters in the Lord or whoever it is that may need to be protected from that vicious enemy of our soul. Arise, thou mighty musk ox warrior princess brigade.

As it says in 1 Peter 5:8, "Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour."

Be sure to check out Donna's ministry and even her sub-ministries such as "Pieces 4 Peace" at donnapartow.com. You can learn all about that incredible ministry as well as how you can help by sending cotton quilting fabric that Donna and her husband will be bringing over to Northern Africa in a matter of days. Several of us brought fabric to the retreat to give to her and I think she was blessed!

Now, let me ask you this. "Are you a porcupine?" Cute little critters with many good points but you can't get near 'em. Donna shared how in her own life being zealous as a new believer she came on like gang busters and rather turned off the flow so to speak. I remember when I first got saved and I was so excited to share the Lord with all my family (well, I come from a very small family so that would have been all three of them,) Grandmother, Mom and my sis. Sis was way too young. I'm sure she didn't have a clue about what was going on. Mom was in her own world of stuff and, well, my precious grandmother was a very bitter woman with a lot of pain in her heart. I really pushed her away from the Lord at that point. It is a sad thing to know that those whom we really love might not be there with us some day. I loved her so much! I do have a fun thing to share though. My lovely sister whom I visited last October showed me the bible "the Book" that I had given to her way back when and I was so blessed that she had kept that bible. I was quite amazed, to say the least.

I guess the "point" is to discern not burn your convictions into another person or they just aren't going to want to be around you!

We had wonderful worship, too. Sandy Adler has an amazing voice and precious heart for the Lord and she loves to lead worship. She and her precious friend Janelle Jakubowski, who played guitar for her, ushered us into the presence of the Lord. I just know the Holy Spirit was with us and I really believe that between the powerful worship and sharing from Donna many hearts were not only assured of the love the Father has for them but challenged to step up to the plate and grow in their maturity in Christ. Please check out Sandy and her husband Dan Adler's ministry at heartofthecityministry.org, as well as Janelle's website, janellesings.com. She has a great project called "In the Light of You." I have found that her arrangement of "Great is Thy Faithfulness" is one of my favorites on the project!

Those of you who were there were blessed to meet our "Every Day Manna" girl, Debbie Griffith. I hope that some of you were able to connect with our Debbie. She shares very practical every day life with you weekdays during the "Vertical Connection" at 2:15. She would invite you to investigate her website at debbiegriffith.com where you can even get a transcript of her daily 'Manna.'

You might have been able to say hi to Diane Otto, one of our weekend and fill-in personalities on Psalm 99:5 radio. Diane and her husband raise cattle and because of that she was only able to be with us on Saturday. It is calving season!

It is my hope that you might plan now to set aside a couple of days for the 'Draw Near to the Father's Heart' spring Ladies' retreat next year. I will post the dates and prospective speaker as soon as I get the details!

If you took some pictures at the retreat, send them my way! I hope you enjoyed your time there and would love to hear from you, especially if God touched you in a special way or confirmed something for you. Isn't God just amazing?

Here are a few more pix:

I value your interest in our Ladies' Retreats so contact me at vertical.connection@gmail.com .

I'd love to hear from you and especially if you would like to be part of the planning committee.

~2007~

"Stand Firm"

What conference attendees had to say about the event:

...excellent, thank you for being obedient!
Thank you...you've enriched my life!
...the conferences have gotten better each year.
We loved the music, the message and honesty...
...I couldn't believe how many issues in my life were addressed.
I can't wait until next year, God works wonders!

This was one of the key verses for this year's "Stand Firm" theme.

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12

and there's more:

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV): Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God,

That I may declare all Your works. Psalm 73:28 (NKJ)

You might like to listen to Dawn's interview with Donna Partow here. It should help you to recall some of her teaching.

Big Thank Yous to:

Melanie Clarity~

for all her hard work helping with the table decorations!

Tara Nelson~

for taking the time out of her busy schedule to come and record our event.

Susan Wilde ~

you are such a blessing with such attention to detail!!!

There were some other girls that really came along side to help me so thanks to:

Laurie

Sheila

Margaret

Reva

Diane

Becky and her girlfriends (next year:0)

Love to you all!

Christa Shore Zoe Elmore Dawn Sheri Rose Shepherd with Mike & Christa Shore

(Proverbs 31)

2005 2006

These pictures are from our first two Ladies' Retreats. Just to bring back some memories of Christa Shore, Zoe Elmore and your hostess, little ol' me from our very first in 2005. From 2006's "Royal Gathering" and the Jewish princess herself, Sheri Rose Shepherd, and Christa and her husband Mike Shore!

Great memories, don't you think?