Welcome to the Ladies Retreat ~ Lift Off for Life ~ February 2003

Our speaker is Gaye Martin, what a delight! Gaye is a national speaker who works with large corporations in training managment seminars, teaches at women's conferences, has been featured on Focus on the Family radio show, is a pilot, a mother of 5, grandmother of 12, and also a great-grandmother of 5. She has shares lots of laughter as she ministers. Her husband is a retired air-traffic controller so they have a lot of "flying" experience in common! This is why the retreat theme is "Lift Off for Life".

In her testimony time, Gaye shared that she rebelled against the discipline of her home, but her redeemed life is the result of her praying mother and loving God. Let each of us be encouraged to pray for our children, our families, and our world ~ knowing that God hears the prayers of a believer and answers them. 

Gaye received salvation after she was told 3 scriptural truths: 1) The Son of Man came to seek and save that which was lost; 2) If you will confess your sin and believe in your heart, you will be saved; 3) If any man be in Christ, he is a New Creature.

A lady at the church told her a very important thing after she had accepted Christ. She said, "Tomorrow, you will think this was an emotional experience." Each of us needs to remember that our faith is not based on emotions and feelings, it is based on truth and on God's Word.

Gaye reminded us that God is polite, and He doesn't violate our free will to provide answers to us ~ He comes only at our invitation.

We do not accept a "religion" when we accept God's love and forgiveness in our lives. We are accepting a relationship with our loving heavenly Father. If we do not have a relationship, then we are not experiencing what God wants for us.

 Perhaps you are wondering how to recieve this relationship? Think about the other relationships that you have... what do you do to grow them? You might call someone to chat, go out for coffee, see a movie together, or write a note. This is exactly how we grow our relationship with God! No, not call Him up for a movie... but we "spend time with Him". We can speak to Him <anytime> with prayers throughout the day, not just on our knees at bedtime. We learn about Him as we join others in a church body for worship services and Bible studies each week. We can <know> Him through reading His Word. We can honor Him as we praise Him through singing and music; honor Him through our service to others; honor Him with our lifestyles. If you want to know more, please email our ministry. We desire to glorify God in all that we do and say and would be glad to share with you.

Because of Gaye's personal experience in becoming a pilot, she used that to remind us of many aspects in our relationship with God. For example: A pilot has to learn to recognize the controller's voice. The pilot hears many different instructions in the headset, but he must distinguish his own 'call letters' in order to follow the directions for his particular flying machine. Gaye had to listen for her call letters and follow her particular instructions. Now, isn't that what God wants us to do? We need to recognize God's voice, not the voices of doubt or the devil. We must learn to follow His particular instructions for us, for our lives - not His instructions for someone else.

The scripture tells us "My sheep hear my voice", and if you do not hear Him, are you one of His? Examine yourself.

 

Another thing she learned in her flying, was to trust those with access to the 'larger picture'. The air-traffic controller has the big picture, with his miles and miles of radar, he can see all the other planes up in the sky. If she adjusts her flight plan, perhaps she'll have an unexpected collision with an unplanned stop! Well, the same is true of God. He has the biggest picture of all. And He wants the best for us. It just makes good sense to follow His plan, doesn't it?

 

There is always someone who has flown faster, higher, longer, and a greater distance than you.

This is true in every area of life. These folks would be a mentor to you. Do not be afraid to ask for help when you are lost. Remember that God will help you to get back on course.

Taking to the skies shortens the trip. When you get into the air, you are avoiding lots of the normal obstacles of a roadtrip. Recalling a missionary trip, it took 11 days to get to a village by canoe, but in an airplane it was only 20 minutes! ~ If you'll let God take you higher - He'll give you a giant leap into the heavenlies, a huge leap over the congestion of this world.

And Gaye says the TOPS of dark clouds are always white! If things are threatening on the bottom, they are quiet and serene up top. Just adjust the "attitude" of your plane. The things of the Spirit will lift you higher if you'll allow God to have control of your life.

 Gaye Martin has a book, titled "Read You Loud and Clear, Say Again" which can be ordered from her and she will even autograph it! You can send $12.95 + $2.00 shipping to Gaye Martin, PO Box 281, Summerfield, Fl 34491 or you can email her.

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