No matter where you are in life—busy with school, work, kids, or loving retirement—getting away with friends is always a good idea. But if you’re feeling guilty or too busy to make more time for the women you love most, consider this quote by Lisa-Jo Baker from her Bible study We Saved You a Seat: “The entire story of Scripture hinges on how Jesus has come to restore our relationships, first with God and second with each other.”
Time spent with your girlfriends talking family, life, and Jesus is sacred time.
Which is why you need to prioritize a girls-only trip, and with 24 locations to choose from, look no farther than Lifeway Women’s 2018 events. Over one weekend, you’ll fill your spiritual cup with much-needed biblical teaching, worship, prayer, and encouragement while getting to study live with some of your favorite Bible teachers—Beth Moore! Priscilla Shirer! Lysa TerKeurst!
So if you’re ready to rally your friends, here are four tips to make sure your 2018 trip becomes an annual event:
- Decide on an event and location.
This sounds simple, but when you’re including a few friends, you’ll need to weigh everyone’s suggestions and needs fairly. Maybe one of your friends has little kids. Choose the closest event, so she can make it home fast. Maybe you all want to do Beth Moore’s latest study, The Quest, before catching her live. Maybe the group wants to splurge on a weekend away in a place like Seattle or Charleston. Ask each friend for input, and make the decision a group effort. (Pro tip: If you have a friend with a newborn or another commitment that will keep her from getting out of town, plan on bringing an event to you with either the Priscilla Shirer Simulcast or Living Proof Simulcast with Beth Moore.)
- Set the tone for the trip based on personalities.
Not all friends enjoy the same activities. If you know a friend is working from a budget, don’t expect everyone to splurge on a fancy hotel or meals out. Friendship is knowing where your friend is coming from and making it easier for her to succeed. Find the middle ground in your friend group, and keep the trip firmly planted there. If you’re inviting a few introverted friends, be sure to give them space once in a while. If one friend is trying to eat healthier, don’t stop for fast food at lunch. Thinking through the details of the trip based on the needs and personalities of those going will ensure everyone is having a great time.
- Plan outside activities.
Just because the event is a day or two doesn’t mean the fun and rejuvenation needs to stop there. Depending on the dynamic of your friend group, plan activities for everyone to do together. If you’re in a new city, try new restaurants or walking trails to bond over conversation. If you’re staying close to home, at least make time for a quick coffee to talk about everything you learned.
Events like these are life-changers, and we hear again and again from women how God used a Lifeway Women event to speak to them. So don’t forget to ask your friends what they came away with or how God spoke to them. And better yet, ask how you can be praying for each other.
- Don’t forget the details.
The details will make or break the trip, so don’t ignore them. Look for little ways to spark joy or encouragement in your friends’ lives. This may be one of the only times they get away all year, so make the most of it. Create a road-trip playlist of uplifting songs everyone can sing along to. Take the scenic route and marvel over God’s creation. Craft a passport of all the must-see (or in our case, must-eat) stops along the way. Come prepared with discussion-worthy questions or put on a podcast to stimulate conversation. Only you know what your friends will love, so fill the trip with memorable moments they’ll look back on.
To see where Living Proof Live with Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer Live, The Word Alive with Lysa TerKeurst, and ABUNDANCE events will be in 2018, click here.
Where are you and your girlfriends headed next year?