Resting Place: A Personal Guide to Spiritual Retreats [Paperback]

Jane Rubietta (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 20, 2005

A personal retreat. We've never needed it more. We run from one place to the next--from meetings and appointments to our kid's soccer practice, from class to work to choir rehearsal, from the grocery store to small group--and then drop into bed later than we hoped, exhausted and dreading the morning. We want to slow down but don't know how and don't really believe that we can. And often, the idea of a personal retreat--time for solitude and silence--makes us feel as anxious as all our frenzied rushing. What in the world would we do with an hour, an afternoon or (gulp!) a whole day of solitude with God? But what is the cost of our frantic pace? What are we missing by not slowing down for reflection and meditation on Scripture? What kind of toll does our anxious running take on those around us--and, even more deeply, on our own soul? In Resting Place, retreat speaker Jane Rubietta addresses soul matters with retreat topics such as dealing with our fear of abandonment, wrestling with discontent, overcoming our attempts to control others and fulfilling our deep desire to be loved. These retreats help us enter Psalm 23 rest, a place of true rest and trust in our loving, gentle Shepherd. Full of quotes to contemplate, Scripture to meditate on, questions, prayer and journaling ideas, and ideas for creativity, Jane Rubietta leads us to and through times of silence and solitude that will follow us into our everyday world as we learn to allow Jesus to guide, comfort and restore us. Come to the Shepherd, and find the true rest your soul is longing for.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Based in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago, Jane Rubietta is a popular retreat speaker and the author of Quiet Places, Still Waters and Between Two Gardens (Bethany House), and How to Keep the Pastor You Love, Grace Points and Resting Place (InterVarsity Press).

Product Details

• Paperback: 206 pages
• Publisher: IVP Books (December 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830833366
• ISBN-13: 978-0830833368
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #530,966 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Find rest in God's presence, May 21, 2006

By 

Reader (IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Resting Place: A Personal Guide to Spiritual Retreats (Paperback)

"I barely get enough sleep, let alone time alone," we often say in this fast-paced, multi-tasked way of life. The idea of a spiritual retreat - time set aside for solitude and silence - can seem like an unrealistic expectation, and only reserved for those who already live a quasi-quiet lifestyle. Most of us are glad when we get ten minutes a day to read the Bible and pray. But, do our quiet times satisfy the longing in our souls? Are we spiritually refreshed?

Resting Place is not about setting a plan for prayer and Bible reading. Rather, it's about "rest". As early as the first chapter, the reader will see from the examples and exercises that it is possible for the most harried heart to feel refreshed, even if only a mini-date with God while stuck in traffic.

Jane Rubietta, author of several books on intimacy with God, uses Psalm 23 to show that rest comes when we sit quietly and unhurried in our Shepherd's presence, basking in His love. He is always waiting and ready to speak peace to the rattled soul, whether we have one minute of quiet or three hours.

This guidebook will help the reader identify what keeps him or her from accepting God's invitation, for example, fear, anger, lack of trust, etc. The reader will also discover many creative ways to block distractions, such as singing a hymn as a personal prayer.

Even if we don't get enough sleep, we can feel rested when we heed the longing in our hearts, the Shepherd's invitation to "drop our bags and briefcases, take off our running shoes or wingtips, and stretch out beside the rippling stream of his loving care and protection and provision for us."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Book!, May 12, 2006

By 

Joy Bocanegra "book lover" (IL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Resting Place: A Personal Guide to Spiritual Retreats (Paperback)

Resting Place is an invitation to the very thing we long for - rest. I found this book to be refreshing! Jane shares honestly from her own life as she addresses issues that cause us to be weary. Through scripture, quotes to contemplate, questions for reflection, and journaling ideas, Jane provides tools for a personal retreat. It is both thought provoking, and practical in guiding us to move into the presence of God where we can find the comfort and rest we need. This is a great book for anyone wanting a reprieve from the craziness of everyday life.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Speaks peace to your rattled soul", July 4, 2006

By 

Laurie Klein "Reader, writer, consulting editor" (Deer Park, WA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Resting Place: A Personal Guide to Spiritual Retreats (Paperback)

Jane Rubietta is disarmingly real. By revealing personal foibles ("I became Police Woman of the World"), she inspires us to explore our public and private selves. Be it unresolved anger, relationships, or finances, she helps us identify and understand what keeps us from rest -- with God, ourselves, and others -- then emboldens us to risk change.

But more than relinquishment how-to, Resting Place celebrates intake, drinking deeply of grace rather than making do with occasional splashes. Restorative, practical, and interactive, the book itself is a sanctuary. Each chapter is followed by "soul model" quotes, journal prompts, prayers, and more. New to me was the "The Prayer of Examen," a suggested evening oasis. Taking only minutes, one asks the Spirit to re-run the day's events, pinpointing spiritual disconnects as well as encounters. It's a great springboard for further prayer, enhanced creativity, and better sleep.

Equally suited for individuals or small groups, Rubietta's insights are geared for believers in warp-speed times. She's that combination journey-mate / spiritual director so many long for.

Thanks, Jane. Building respites into frenetic life seems easier now.