If your church or organization is ever in need of a speaker for a women’s event, I’d love to come share with your ladies as well. Click here for more information, or to find an upcoming event near you!
It was such a blessing to share with the lovely ladies of Killeen, Texas, at Killeen Bible Church’s ladies’ retreat.
I can’t resist a beautiful steeple! 
Thursday, my husband, Scott, and I hit the road for Belton, Texas (near Killeen)…
We see a Buc-ee’s, we stop.🦫 It was very sunny and very windy that day!
…where we stayed with our wonderful host and hostess for the weekend, Edward and Debbie. We finished up the day with an authentic Italian dinner made by our authentic Italian hosts. We greatly enjoyed our fellowship with them and their daughter and son-in-law, who is also the pastor of KBC.
Our host home came complete with an adorable baby for me to smooch on!
Friday morning, while Edward escorted Scott to the windshield repair place (after our unwelcome encounter with a rock on the trip over – thank you Edward!), Debbie, and conference coordinators, Liz and Ashley, took me out for a mouth watering brunch at the Water Street Waffle Co. (Highly recommend!)
The ladies’ room was decked out in a “girl power” motif, and I was intrigued by these two prints. I’m definitely going places, like, all. the. time. And I love it! Today, the USA. Tomorrow – maybe – the world? I wish I had this one to hang in my office. But the “self love” print haunted me. Self love is selfish (that’s why Jesus told us to love our neighbors as ourselves – because we already love ourselves too much), and all it does is beautify a corpse, dead in her sins.
Son of man, can these bones live?
When we finished our waffles and other goodies, the ladies showed me around the Belton town square for some shopping and a light stroll.
A super antiques mini-mall. I saw things I haven’t seen since childhood. Any of my girls remember roll on liquid lip gloss? :0) 
A great little used bookstore. Lots of Christian books. (Just use discernment!) 
Looking forward to diving into these! 
Established in 1869, CB&P is the oldest continuously open department store in the state. 
The back of the county courthouse. 
After a few hours of rest, it was time for the opening session of the retreat.
No conference audio/video is available for this event at this time.
This was sort of a hybrid retreat/conference, which I thought was a really nifty way of combining intimate, church family fellowship with the option of opening the event up to sisters outside this local body of Believers.
Friday evening, Leslie opened her beautiful home and warmly welcomed the women of KBC to the festivities.
The evening started with a fun ice breaker game. Killeen is a military town with many of KBC’s members stationed at nearby Ft. Hood. Turnover can be high in churches like this, so it’s important to make friends fast.
Next was a super supper, catered by Chipotle.
Candace started our assembly time by giving her amazing testimony of how Christ saved her out of a difficult life of sin. (Providentially, she was born again on my birthday several years ago.)
I followed up with our main teaching session for the evening, Managing Media – being wise and discerning with news, social media, movies and TV, and other media we consume. (It was a great selection for the “members only” portion of this hybrid style event, as it was discrete from, and not foundational to our Saturday teaching sessions.)
At the end of the evening I was sent off with a bountiful hostess bag. Many of the ladies of KBC contributed their time, talents, and donations, and several of these items were included in the attendees’ “swag bags” as well.
These gifts were so lovely! Big thank you’s to everyone who contributed! A few special notes: + Philippians 4:8 was something of a theme verse for the weekend, and is included on the pouch of tea bags and the wooden key chain (crafted by Shauna – check out her Etsy shop, The King & I Crafts). + That little baggie of green leaves is not green tea, like you’re thinking (or should be thinking, anyway😉). It’s basil, no doubt from one of the ladies’ own herb gardens. + The (PURIFIED) water bottle has John 7:37-38 handwritten on the tag. + I used to crochet a lot, so I know just how much work (and how tiny of a hook) it took to make the crocheted bookmarks for all 30 bags. Kudos, sister. I would be arthritic and blind after all that. + The small leather bracelet has a condensed version of Philippians 4:6 on it, which is part of a passage I recently memorized. + The cute pumpkin earrings were designed by the aforementioned Candace (get yours at her website: Georgia Clay Earring Co.)
Saturday morning, a warm atmosphere and a delectable buffet breakfast greeted the ladies as they arrived.
As we moved into our teaching time, Debbie shared her sweet testimony with us.
Our first session was Hooked on a Feeling: Living by God’s Word Instead of Our Emotions. Scripture is our authority as Christians, and we shouldn’t let our feelings lead us around by the nose.
Nope, not a fog machine, just some lighting challenges.
Following a brief break, our second session was Servanthood vs. Celebrity. We should strive to have the heart of a servant, rather than crave the spotlight and the applause of man.
Hungry babies don’t aways let Mom stay for the whole session.
So grateful for this set-up so our nursing moms didn’t have to miss a moment!
Next on the agenda was – what else? – some fabulous Texas barbecue for lunch!
After a brief time of prayer and Q&A…
…it was time to say goodbye and get on the road so we could be back home in time to worship with our own church family on Sunday.
It was Texas, so it was a bi-Bucc-ee’s trip.
And I’m glad we stopped, because I found the perfect t-shirt to cap off a terrific weekend!
As we eased on down the road, I saw a sign for Brenham, Texas. I’m sure it’s a fine place to live for a number of reasons, but it only means one thing to me: “the little creamery in Brenham,” Blue Bell ice cream! Sadly, we discovered it is closed on Saturdays, but we were able to get a few pictures around the property. Maybe next time!
Props to my husband for (almost) always being willing to indulge my inner five year old’s cry: “Let’s stop there!” because I think my spontaneity got us off track with the map app, and we took an unplanned side trip through downtown Houston on the way home. (No, I did not have time to stop by Lakewood or Living Proof and leave a tract for Joel Osteen or have a come to Jesus meeting with Beth Moore.)
It was such a wonderful weekend with the ladies and elders of Killeen Bible Church. Thanks so much to Debbie, Edward, Daniel, Danielle, Liz, and Ashley for the precious fellowship and hospitality. Thanks also to all the men and women of KBC who worked so hard to host a fantastic retreat/conference, and made me feel so welcome. If you’re ever in the area and need a good church to visit, make plans to spend the Lord’s Day with these wonderful brothers and sisters.
If your church or organization is ever in need of a speaker for a women’s event, I’d love to come share with your ladies as well. Click here for more information, or to find an upcoming event near you!
Photo Credits
Many thanks to Debbie, Liz, Ashley, Shauna, and other conference attendees who took or shared many of the photos above. You may assume that if I’m in the picture or if it’s a good quality photo that I didn’t take it. The remaining photos were shot by me.
