Experiencing a Group or Private Retreat
The presence of the Holy Spirit’s job it is to “guide you into all truth.” He also commands each of us to “Be still (literally, sit still and be quiet), and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress — Psalm 46:10-11
I’ve been going on personal quiet retreats since 1987, and every time I go, 90% of the attendees are women who have MADE the time. Men’s retreats packaged by churches are anything but private or quiet, right? Most of us have never been taught how to just be alone with our “Dad” in Heaven.
Need to Get Away?? You’ve been putting this off for years–maybe decades–because you were just too busy. But that is just not true, is it?
Cohort Retreats – Putting on Your New Wineskin
This 3-Day weekend or mid-week Spirit-immersive experience will gather at the Serra Retreat in Malibu, built on the foundation laid down in 1929. An expert Chef prepares three meals each day, overlooking a panorama of the Pacific Ocean on their private, 26-acre cliffside property.
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another — Proverbs 27:17
Are you a man at a critical intersection, need a breakthrough, or feel a yearning to stop the noise and get away with Father God as Jesus did? Author, spiritual director, and Core 300 founder, Art Hobba will be your guide.
Each man will experience a personalized journey into a new level of inner harmony, freedom, and effectiveness as we engage Jesus to dismantle the “Old Wineskins” and soften the hardened soils of your heart. “Putting on Your New Wineskin“ retreat twice each year at a Holistic monastic center in Montecito, California.
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Hear me that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.” –Isaiah 55:1,3
“Come to me, all you who are weary (exhausted) and burdened (toil from weights on your shoulders or from grief and sorrow), and I will give you rest” –Matt 11:28
“Come near to God (you initiate) and He will come near to you” –James 4:7-9
The reality is that most guys are stopped in their mind-track from even considering a private retreat for one of 3 reasons (HINT-the first 2 reasons are left-brained smokescreens for the REAL reason (#3):
- I would be bored without anything physically or mentally challenging to DO.
- I have never been the “Touchy-Feely” or Kumbya kind of guy
- You have NO IDEA how busy I am!
- The REAL Reason: God and I are not doing great right now–and I’m afraid of what He might show me–or tell me to do if I give him the time!
YET, God is a GOOD Father, and, like a perfect Dad, He is a great listener–and has treasures of wisdom, comfort, and strength for you–If you will just stop and turn aside for a while.
The Psalm writers introduced a word that describes what we are doing here…it is called “Selah” and it means, stop, take a time-out to ponder, and meditate on, what you just read or heard. Turn to these passages in a Bible and read the verses in their context. Turn to these passages in a Bible and read the verses in their context.
“Draw near to God (first) and He will draw near to you. He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him with his whole heart.” –Hebrews 11:6-7
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” –Psalm 42:11
My lover spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come away with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come” –Song of Solomon 2:10
We are taking reservations for our Fall 2023 Cohort Retreat in Malibu September 25-October 2 Fill out the form below to hold a spot and and send us your prefered 2 nights
Your Day Retreat
Where do I go for a personal retreat? Here is a 10-step process that might help:
1) Clear your calendar for a half or whole day.
2) Get away! Its good to leave your house or office–there are too many distractions for you to really connect.
3) Bring a Bible, a wiritng pad or journal, and write down 1 – 2 opening questions to God.
4) Get comfortable in a private place–seated is best. Do some slow deep breathing 3-4 times–7 seconds in, hold 2 seconds, and 10 seconds out.
5) Begin by wriiting down a list of 20-30 things you are grateful for–and thank Him personally for each one–as if he were seated right in front of you (and He is).
6) Use your imagination to enter into His presence and be still for 5 minutes.
7) Check your heart and see if you have not forgiven someone–or are holding grudges. Take the time to clear out the pipes of bitter thoughts that steal your peace (and sleep) and let them all go back into God’s hands.
8) RECEIVE his forgiveness–and the washing away of your sins, fears, and resentments. There is NO SHAME with God. Feel it all wash away from the Living Water (Jesus) that cleanses your mind, conscience, and memories.
9) LISTEN: Invite him to speak to you heart with thoights and images
10) RESPOND -Start writing down His download.
Serra Retreat Center *- To schedule a pass to come on site for a few hours at the Serra Retreat Center, call their office at 310-456-6631 between 9 am-4:30 pm
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