This past weekend we took nine of our youth on a beach retreat in order to pull away from everything that weighs us down or distracts us and to wholeheartedly seek an encounter with the Living God. This weekend was incredibly beautiful because these teenagers worshipped with abandon before their Heavenly Father, before the Lover of their hearts. God's presence fell in such a powerful and intimate way from the very beginning of the retreat.

    We kicked off our weekend together with a time of prayer and worship inviting God to come and meet with us. I was lost in worship singing my new favorite Spanish worship song, "Yo soy Tu niña, niña de Tus ojos porque me amaste a mi" (I am Your child, the apple of Your eye because You have loved me...). I was returning to a place of resting in God's love for me.
    Before the song ended, I opened my eyes and beheld a breathtakingly beautiful sight- everyone was enthralled in God's presence. Jovanny, Teresa, and Jose were spinning and leaping and dancing across the sand. Elisa was lying on her back singing as she drinks in the beauty of their surroundings. Rosita was on her face before the Lord, Yahaira knelt before Him in prayer, or Bismark lifting his hands in praise. Everyone expressed themselves differently, but all hearts were completely captured by the love of God and all were worshipping Him with abandon. I have never witnessed such a beautiful display of love and worship! My heart was so filled with joy that I burst out laughing- which of course was just another note in the chorus of adoration that we were singing together before the Lord.