If you missed last week’s Five Minute Friday post, you missed a BIG announcement! HUGE!

It looked a little like this:

That’s right! The first ever Five Minute Friday Retreat is REALLY HAPPENING! I can hardly believe it myself .. 🙂

We were thrilled to receive such a positive response to last week’s announcement, and I for one, was totally charged by all the giddy vibes flying around the internet.

Now that you’ve had a bit of time to digest the excitement, here are a few more details you should know as you think and pray about joining us in August:

[Tweet “Find more info about the upcoming Five Minute Friday Retreat here: http://wp.me/p4RaMa-1ch”]

>>  I neglected to mention last week that this retreat will be a Ladies Only weekend. Apologies to the guys … we really do value your presence here and so appreciate the contributions you make to this community! Thank you for understanding.

>>  We’re calling this a “retreat” instead of a “conference” because that’s what it is .. a chilled getaway, designed for us to meet and fellowship in real life, with intentional, meaningful conversations. There will be some structure built into the schedule, but don’t come expecting the usual bloggers’ conference.

View from the FMF Retreat venue

>> Space is limited. As in, 30 people max. I know, I know .. that means that not everyone who wants to attend is going to be able to come. For one, we had no way of knowing how many people to expect before booking the venue, so we decided to play it safe rather than be sorry, from a financial perspective. Secondly, we’re purposely keeping numbers low for the sake of close-knit conversations and an intimate, relationship-building atmosphere. Again, our intention is not to be like other bloggers’ conferences that are available. We’re not going to be in a fancy hotel, split up into dozens or even hundreds of separate hotel rooms. Depending on numbers, you will likely need to share a bed with another attendee. But hey — we’re all sisters, right?

We’ve booked a single, spacious house that can accommodate a maximum of 30 people, and we’re so excited to see who the Lord has planned to attend!

We’ll announce the opening of registration in advance, and it will be on a first come, first served basis. Unfortunately we will not be able to provide refunds for cancellations, but if the need arises, you will be able to sell your ticket to another party.

[Tweet “For a sneak peek of the Five Minute Friday Retreat venue, click here: http://wp.me/p4RaMa-1ch”]

Here’s a sneak peek of the retreat venue:

Who’s excited for August?!

But now … it’s time to write!

This week’s Five Minute Friday prompt is:

3 .. 2 .. 1 … GO.

I like to plan. I like to have a plan. Even if the plan isn’t mine, I like to know what the plan is.

It runs in my family. We’re all like that. List makers. We write our lists just to cross things off. We plan for Thanksgiving in September, and start thinking about next summer before this one has even ended.

We’re those kind of people.

The Lord knows that, and He takes many opportunities to snatch that desire for control right out from within my clenched fists. He yanks on the reins and reminds me that He is in the driver’s seat. And I squirm and wriggle and eventually concede, my eyebrows furrowed in resigned frustration.

And I know the verses, about how He knows the plans He has for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, and how a man plans his course, but the Lord determines His steps. I know that many are the plans in a man’s heart, but God’s purpose prevails.

[Tweet “”Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it’s the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” ~ Prov. 19:21″]

And that’s all good and fine … until I can’t see the plan.

Which is pretty much always.

I’ve often said, “I don’t mind what’s around the corner, if only I could just *see* that far ahead! I just want to know what’s coming, so I can *plan* for it!”

But those are not His ways, and His ways are higher than mine. His thoughts are higher than mine. So I learn my lesson again and again, lean in hard and practice trust. Again. And then the next day, again. And again, until the plan is done, and He calls me home.

Which is the only part of The Plan I know is carved, by grace, in stone.

[Tweet “”Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Prov. 16:3″]

Your turn! Share your thoughts on the word PLAN in five minutes or less ..

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