Monday, October 13, 2008

Did You Hear the Thud?

Wow.
Just Wow.
Awe. I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt what it means to stand in Awe of the Lord.

All Emmaus Weekends are special. Last weekend was the men's walk. You could tell at closing that God had moved in a powerful way.

I know first hand He moved. I could almost promise you I heard a "THUD" when the power of the Spirit fell Thursday night. The only times I wanted to leave the chapel this past weekend was when I had to eat, go to bed or visit another throne room (know what I mean?).

Praying speakers in and out, praying over prayer concerns, worshipping the Lord in dance and song was just the most amazing experience. I have stood on Holy Ground. There were moments when I did not think I would survive-when I felt as if I was going to explode in the presence of God!

Wow.

God is so faithful. For months I have prayed to have my prayer life recharged. How I lost the fire, I don't know. I just know any flame was just an ember under the ashes.

Better watch out-this sister is on fire now!!!

Suncoast Emmaus-can you pray? God is calling us to pray for renewal of our community. The past three walks have infused us with new, young, excited blood. What are we going to do with it? Let it turn to embers?

I hope not.

I personally am going to be praying God will set us all on fire and we are going to burn up this part of Florida!!!

Let's Go Girls!!!!

De Colores

Friday, October 3, 2008

Do we ever grow tired of fall at Dayspring?

I cannot wait for the time when I can hang out at Dayspring at my leisure.

You may not know this, but if you crave a time of renewal you can rent a room at Dayspring for a very reasonable price. Including those meals!

But tonight, at sendoff, was the best of times there. This cool breeze, like the Holy Spirit blowing around us and anticipating the pilgrims, is the best.

I am jealous my sweet husband is there for the entire weekend.

I AM READY TO RUN AWAY!

Pray for the pilgrims and team as they embark on their new adventure.

De Colores!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Welcome to the Whole Community

This blog was originally for the women of walk #50.

Now that the walk is behind us, we will open it up to the entire Suncoast Emmaus Community.

The first topic will be the upcoming walks-the first two weekends in October.

I encourage, pray, exhort you to consider attending any of the "Fourth Day Events" -they occur on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. If you have any questions about them, leave a comment here and it will be forwarded to my email.

Again and again, I am reminded by God that our Emmaus Community is a blessing from God. It always amazes me how our God gives us ways to move from surviving to thriving in this life. The support of this Community and the common base of our faith gives us the ability to face outward to the world and Press On.

Join me as pray for the growth of the community, for God's increasingly abundant blessings on the community, its members and our coming pilgrims.

De Colores!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Gathering is coming

Ladies,
Don't forget the gathering is this Saturday in Englewood!

Come, bring a friend, bring a pilgrim, bring someone.
Let us end the summer in fellowship, laughter and the love of Christ-

I will see you there,
Caron Rivera

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Join us as we prepare for closing

We started with the end in mind.

A vision the whole team saw.

Prayers lifted daily from Palmetto to Port Charlotte to Deland to Indiana.

Women coming to answer the call on their hearts and their souls.

At the bottom of this blog you will find a new video clip. It is the song we will be singing at Closing.

We invite you-the Emmaus Community- to join with us and prepare for the greater things our God has for us!

Prepare to sing with us on June 1st and pray for us until then.

What an amazing God we serve!

Is there anyone on our team who has not already seen God doing amazing and wonderful things?

Sometimes I truly believe my main obstacle to God's Grace is my own self! And my earthly vision. I despair when I see all that is going on in this world that is wicked and unexplained.

Thank you to all my fellow team members who have shown me God is still working and walking with us. You do not know how much I needed a day of fellowship and laughter today.

Yes, after all we shared, you all know.

Remember, if Satan suspects what is behind the door you are about to go through, he will keep your eye on the door knob and make you fear it and not open the door. If you don't go through, you don't get the blessings.

I am honored all of you are willing to open the door with me next week as we journey with other sweet sisters who will grow with us.

De Colores!

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Are You Getting "Flicked" as much as I am?

Fellow team members,

I just have to ask: Are you getting flicked as much as I am?

You know what flicking is. The tap upside the head that does not hurt, but it is certainly irritating.

These days my head is sore from Spiritual flicking.

It usually occurs when I am walking along minding my own business (yes, I do that from time to time). I will be bopping along, maybe into the kitchen, and there will be a whole sink of dirty dishes. FLICK - have I not told the boys umpteen times to have the kitchen clean before we leave for school?

Feet stick to floor - FLICK - have I not told them cleaning the kitchen means including the floor? at least ONCE a week?

Pool turns green - FLICK - did I not just clean the filter?

Grocery store clerk is unbelievably rude at the checkout - FLICK.

Groceries are more than expected - FLICK.

Doctor's bills are more than expected- FLICK.

Gas is way more than expected - FLICK.

Tripped going up stairs at work - FLICK.

After a while, your head gets sore from all the flicking and you only have three choices.

Evade - just put your head in a bag and ignore everything.

Endure-plod on through and hope no permanent damage is done.

Embrace - wooohooo!

You might know what Evading and Enduring looks like, but what does Embrace look like?

Praise God, Kids are well enough to eat and run instead of stand around and do dishes - FLICK BACK!
Praise God, I live in a home with a floor - FLICK BACK!
Praise God, I never dreamed God would provide me with a home that has a Pool! FLICK BACK!
Praise God, I get to smile with the love of Christ and really confuse the clerk! FLICK BACK!
Praise God for my husband's job and healthy boys who eat! FLICK BACK!
Praise God, those doctor visits were to find out how healthy we are! FLICK BACK!
Praise God, I have a car which gets great mileage with the gas I put in it! FLICK BACK!
Praise God, I have a job, and double praise God I did not fall going down and end up on my face!!!FLICK BACK!

So, as we face the final stretch to Send Off - let's run the race well, keep life in perspective and know if Satan is upset, we must be in God's will. Otherwise, he would leave us alone.

Press On Ladies, Press on!

Just call me Flicker-

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Let's Make This the Prayer Request Post!


The Road at Dayspring
Waits for us

Someone asked the other day about where to post a prayer request.
So, let's make this the post for prayer request. Just add your prayer request or your written prayer for the upcoming walk as a comment to this post. We will all check back from time to time and keep each other lifted up!
Remember - if your eyes are up, you don't have to stare at what your feet are walking through!
De Colores!

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Team Meeting Approaching

The prayers of the Saints are being answered! My "trip" has been shortened. The doctor said it would be weeks before my calf was better, but he was wrong! God was quick to answer your prayers for healing.

Please, be in prayer the next few days for pilgrims. I am asking for 20 by Saturday. It is a big order, but I believe we have a big God! Join me and be sensitive to God's leading. One of my greatest fears is that someone won't experience God's gift because I was not sensitive.

Please note the team list and preview dates below have been updated as of today.

See all of you on Saturday!

De Colores!

Friday, April 25, 2008

Running with the Father

Last month, I attended a Living Proof Live conference in Jacksonville. LPL is a Friday evening/Saturday morning 3 session meeting taught by Beth Moore. There were several cool things about the weekend.

First, my mom went with me. That is always a neat experience. We have a deal. I book tickets and make arrangements and she goes with me. It is a treasured time for the girls and a special event when all the men are not around.

Second, you never know at LPL what you are going to get. Beth speaks on whatever the Lord is teaching her at that moment. For this weekend it was Phi 4:12-16. I don't think I have ever learned as much in such a short amount of time. It was both inspirational and transformational.

When she spoke of running the race, she showed a video of a young track star who tore his hamstring during the Barcelona Olympics. She showed a brief video clip. I have placed the video at the end of this blog page. Scroll down and watch and be reminded your Heavenly Father comes alongside you in all situations to help you press on to your goal. Whether you are helping your children finish a school year strong, you are facing challenges in your marriage or family relationships, or you are maybe working on your talk to preview - know God wants to stand alongside you and cheer you in good times and be there to lean on during your challenges.

I want to thank everyone in the Emmaus Community who has been praying for me the past two days. Yesterday, I tore part of my calf muscle walking upstairs at school (it takes special talent to do that). Today, it is still sore but I can tell it is quickly and miraculously healing. The prayers of this community of believers are amazing!

Let's keep each other covered in prayer and run this race our Father has given us well.

Welcome to Sherry Angus!

Great news team members! Sherry Angus will be joining us as part of the clergy on the weekend. Sherry gave a talk on walk #49, and I am thrilled to have her with us the whole weekend this time!

She will be previewing her talk on Saturday, May 17th. Please join me and make her feel welcome and at home with the great Sisters In Christ on our team!

Take time this weekend to rest, I know I am! I find comfort in knowing there are rhythms to everything in our lives - even how we go wide open and how we turtle it sometimes. I pray that whichever you need most this weekend - speed productivity or stationary reflection - your soul gets what it craves and you have time to spend with our Creator.

De Colores Ladies!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Will you be an Abraham?

A few years ago I spent a good amount of time studying Abraham.

I really admire him.

Imagine, you are standing outside one night. The breeze is blowing, you wiggle your toes in the warm sand and are snacking on a fig or two. You are enjoying a quiet moment.

Then God speaks up. He makes a lot of promises, says he will give you great things but there are a few catches - you are going to an unspecified destination and you have to take all your family and your wife's. And all their baggage!

What did Abraham do? Did he say, "let me get back to you?" or "can I sleep on it?" or "the missus and I will chat about it tomorrow over breakfast."

Nope, Abraham went.
He went.
Think about it - no discussion, no quarrelling, no haggling.

Abraham went.

The other day at church a young lady who sings in our praise band walked by. The Spirit said, "Go talk to her, I want her to hear about Emmaus."

I went - the other way. I found two things to do before I headed in the direction she had been.
But then, on my way out the door, I ran right into her. The same girl.

We chatted, I gave her a brochure and we got to know each other.

Powerful young woman of God who is an educator and a single mom.

Don't you know God wants to affirm her in all ways?

Pray for Wendy. Pray Wendy will yield to God's leading much easier than I did!

So, are you going to be like Abraham and just go when God tells you to go?

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Answered Prayer

Praise God for a Servant's Heart!

And Praise God for Warren.

It takes a special man to volunteer to serve with a team of women. I am certain there is a special place in Heaven for you.

God has a great sense of humor. Guess who was the very first person I met when I joined the Emmaus Community on Walk #29? Warren Wasson was my new best friend!

We love you Warren and we love your Community Spirit.

De Colores!

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Making Space for Pilgrims

We are all familar with the mechanics of the Walk to Emmaus. Where we eat, where we sleep, where we have chapel - we understand the reason and meaning for each and their place in the weekend.

The booklet Sustaining the Spirit, published by the Upper Room, helps us understand the reasoning behind the mechanics. One of most intriguing discussions is about about "making space for the pilgrims". As team members, and pilgrims ourselves, we are asked to make space for the pilgrims and whatever baggage they bring. Sometimes it is way too much clothes, but more often they are heavy burdens they have carried for a long time.

We, as servants of God, are called to step aside and let a pilgrim come to Emmaus and have their own experience. We are called to set our walk aside, our experience, the unique flavoring of the walk we participated in and just walk along the pilgrim who is now experiencing the overflowing love of Christ. We are called to love in spirit and truth and not judge, just trust God is doing a work in each pilgrim's life.

May the desire of our hearts be that we can get out of the way, let go of our experiences and memories and let God do something fresh and new in the lives of the women who will be coming in May. It humbles me to no end when I reflect on the idea God is allowing us to be stewards of the spirits of these women and also honoring us with the opportunity to work this walk.

De Colores!

Monday, April 14, 2008

Team Members

Dpdated as of April 29, 2008

Hallelujah!
SunCoast Emmaus Walk # 50 has a full team of dedicated, loving, human servants. God has been gracious and faithful to us to bring such a team together. Please, pray daily for these women as they navigate their busy lives and make time to serve on the upcoming walk:

C. Rivera
B.J. Vergason
K. Schmelzer
D. Hixson
T. Carpenter
S. Jansch
P. Hunt
A. Butler
S. Norrito
L. Edington
L. Clay
C. Erickson
J. Snodgrass
T. Bauer
D. A. Wasson
B. Banyai
L. Milligan
C. Sidley
M. Ziegler
B. Olson
M. Novajousky
S. Mathias
A. Zickafoose
J. Shahan
M. Martin
A. Marshall
M. Eastman
K. Henson
W. Wasson
S. Angus
De Colores!

Friday, April 11, 2008

Talks and Preview Dates

Updated April 29, 2008

Please be in prayer for these women as they prepare their talks.
Specifically we can pray for:
  • Inspiration and leading of the Holy Spirit
  • Sufficient time and quiet to complete the talk
  • Surrendering of spirit to be transparent and vulnerable, so their stories can be used by the Holy Spirit as appropriate.
In addition, we can pray for protection of the health and safety of all the members of the team and their families.

Talks and speakers are:

  • preview Date April 19
    • Priority - B. J. Vergason
    • Life of Piety - Laura Clay
    • Grow Through Study - Pam Hunt
  • Preview Date - May 3
    • Priesthood of All Believers - Christine Erickson
    • Changing Our World - Judy Snodgrass
    • Perseverance - Caron Rivera
    • Fourth Day - Doris Hixson
    • Means of Grace - Warren Wasson
  • Preview Date -May 17
    • Christian Action-Sharon Jansch
    • Discipleship-Shirley Norrito
    • Body of Christ - Lisa Edington
    • Sanctifying Grace - Sherry Angus
Please, remember to include the entire team in your prayers and the pilgrims God is calling out to walk with us.

De Colores!
Caron

Team Meeting Dates

The remaining meeting dates will be:
Saturday, April 19th
Saturday, May 3rd
Saturday, May 17th
Thursday, May 22nd - Potluck

Sendoff - May 29th

WooHoo! We are off and running-

De colores!

It was great to see everyone last might! I was especially blessed to see an Emmaus Team in the sanctuary of the church our family attends.

In case you were wondering about the people meeting in the Vision Room - they are a motorcycle club. The reason they meet at our church is because our pastor is in the club. Pretty neat, huh?

He sets a great example for us - to remember God has unique plans for us and ways to use us in ministry. My prayer is your prayer will be for God to use this focused time of team building to reveal His plans for you and you will increase your chase after them- you will find a passion to run harder and with more focus. I pray you will go hard after God and all he has for you - trusting Him to comprehend the details (big and small) in your life you do not understand. Sometimes understanding is not our job.

Remember - prayer requests are welcome here! Encouraged Here! Let us be an example for the entire community that shows what prayer can do.

Much love to you all - My Sisters in Christ,

Caron

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Get Ready Team!

I have been so humbled by the excitement you have shown as God pulls us together to do his service. I invite you to start running hard after Jesus in the days to come, so we may be willing servants of the Most High God!

Be cautious to take time for prayer for yourself and your family. Remember (and I am talking to myself as well) there is always the same amount of time in our lives, we just have to make sure we take our God time.

I am spending a few days at the beach, preparing my heart and my head to be his servant. Know that you are being prayed for right now - and I know God is listening.

De Colores dear friends!!!

cjrivera

Monday, March 17, 2008

Get Ready!

This will be the place to find news, prayer requests, and schedules for the upcoming Walk #50 at Suncoast Emmaus. The walk date is May 29, 30, 31, and June 1 2008.

De Colores!

Walk #50 closing song