I don’t know about you, but it’s not easy to wait on God! Waiting is, however, a bewildering part of the spiritual life. We come into seasons of our life where we simply cannot move forward–even one more step until we wait for God.  It’s an interesting time for me to have to wait–to wait on God.  Most of you will know that the unfolding of our ministry, Potter’s Inn, as been quite an adventure. Gwen and I first received a call and then a specific vision to start Potter’s Inn while we were pastoring a church in North Carolina.

One night, I felt awakened by the Lord and got up and went into our living room where I got a yellow pad of paper and began to write as this “vision” unfolded before me. It was an unmatched and unparalleled experience for me. Never had anything like this EVER happened before. I sensed the Lord say this: “It will be called, ‘The Potter’s Inn.”  And there’s more…”Steve-for the rest of your life you will be helping people understand the shaping and reforming process of the Potter’s hands and wheel. Little did I realize that I would be the first to have to sit upon this wheel of the Divine Potter and have his hands come after my tender, naked and exposed clay. It was and continues to be a humbling process.

The vision contained an actual “place” that we would be building to have for people to come and experience the transformation of the Potter’s hands.  I was “told” the three core values of the place and ministry: beauty, intimacy and adventure. It must be in a beautiful setting. It was to be small and intimate—not a conference center and it would have elements of adventure to get people outside to experience God’s glory.

So, we set out and tried and tried to find this place. First in North Carolina–then moving to Colorado in 2000 to begin. God opened a big door through friends who helped us move and get started. But time after time, we simply could not find “THE” place. In the summer of 2006 and quite by “accident” we discovered or really, were discovered by the ranch now known as Potter’s Inn at Aspen Ridge. God supplied the funds necessary to purchase the property. God’s people–the friends of Potter’s Inn gave $345,000 in order for us to buy the 35 acre ranch.

In May 2009, we began the work on transforming the barn into the actual “Inn”. This has required more funds to be raised and to date, $260,000 has been provided. God has indeed, been faithful. Yet, we are now in a season of waiting. After all the fund raising; after seeing God do the incredible; we are waiting on $20,000 to be able to take two needed and necessary steps. It’s an amount needed to put in the insulation and dry wall for the retreat side of the big, red barn.

Now we’re in a holding pattern and trusting the Lord. We’re making our need known and praying. Waiting.

Waiting means “to be hopeful” in Hebrew! I’ve been asked countless times, if this picture of the rainbow is real. Yes, it is. This is my favorite image of our retreat. This was taken by a guest at the retreat during their own time of reteating! It shows the fruit of waiting! I look at this when I need to remember to wait…

Oh, to be hopeful!

To read more news on this, please go to: News on the Barn~

We’re excited to welcome Gary and Jan Wingo to the family at Potter’s Inn. We issued a “cry for help” several weeks ago and Gary and Jan contacted us and said, “We can come. We can help.”  So three weeks after we publicized our need for several different types of people they are here; on board and already helping.

Gary and Jan will lead a one day, snow shoe retreat later in March at our retreat. Guests can come at 9am and have an adventure with 10 other people to have the “time of their lives.” Fun, good soup and great beauty–all to take in.

Gary and Jan will greet each guest! Give each guest home-made banana bread and help out around the property. With the Barn, almost complete, Jan will be doing some research on having our retreat as a beautiful retreat for weddings and off site meetings for businesses.  They are living in Antler’s cabin for the time being.

We’re still looking for other couples and/or singles to come for a block of time and help us with our guests ministry and general up keep of the property.

We also need a Business Manager for Potter’s Inn. This person could be in a half-time place in their life and looking for the next place of significance. The person will either need to raise their support or be in a position that can be self-supporting. Let’s talk if you ‘re interested.

We believe the time has come for the message of Potter’s Inn–spiritual transformation and the care of the soul! We want to be ready for the doors God is opening! Is he calling you to come and help us?

We just finished the “School of Spiritual Formation and the Care of the Soul” at a retreat center in Greensboro, NC. 25 students gathered from all walks of life: doctors, counselors, business and church staff. We spent 5 days on a deep journey together exploring the soul and how the soul connects with God. There was lots of “free time” for participants to enjoy the opportunity for silence and solitude.  Did you know the word “scholastic” is based on the Greek word “schola” which means “free time.”  We learn when we have time to probe; time to be quite; time to explore the unforced rhythms of grace.

What a joy it was to see our “schoolmates” walking in the woods; sitting by creek banks and drinking in the beautiful sunshine of God’s grace.

In the end, the stirred up hearts of many settled. The heart became still. The soul became quiet and God spoke his words of grace into us. I found it truly odd how 25 strangers could gather; having never met and yet leaving deeply in love with each other as fellow pilgrims on a shared journey.

We’ll be doing the same “school” in Colorado in October. I hope many new friends can come!

Blessings,

Steve