Walk the Walk - Christian Retreats in the Outdoors

Walk the Walk - Christian Retreats in the Outdoors Facilitated by Nao Heywood, come and meet God in and through His creation.

10/05/2026

Be willing!!

At Gaping Gill last week, where a torrent of water should be dropping 100m down into the ground, I discovered a mallard duck with her 10 chicks. And what they seemed to want to do most was bury themselves under her.

I couldn't work out why! It was warm, but not too hot. In the Gill they were well out of the wind. They had no need of additional safety.

Then I realised that under her wings they'd be able to hear her heart beat, just as they'd done all the while they were in the egg. That really is their safe space.

God invites us close enough to hear his heart beat, too. In Matt 23:37, Jesus says of Jerusalem, God's people "...how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing."

We're God's people, too! He offers us the safety found of burrowing in close to his heart. Is it an offer you're willing to accept?!

26/04/2026

I've been moving too fast! The result is that I forgot to record this yesterday, and instead it comes to you from Scargill, where I'm leading a Christian walking retreat for the next five days!

The whole moving-too-fast thing isn't unlike the DofE group I've been working with these last few days. They moved so quickly they regularly overshot the turnings they were looking for in their desire to get to the end. Their nav knowledge didn't quite support their speed.

The whole scenario isn't unlike Proverbs 19.2: "Desire without knowledge is not good; how much more will hasty feet miss the way."

To be honest this proverb applies far beyond navigation! Whenever we have a decision to make or a desire for any life goal, we need to make sure we have the knowledge that will get us there. Thank goodness God promises wisdom to all who ask him!!

12/04/2026

It's all green!!! At least, that's what I worked out had happened when I was driving home on autopilot, and came to realising I didn't recognise the road I was on! When I left for a job five days before it was brown, now everything was green - and I didn't recognise it. It was the same, but it was different.

In Isaiah 43.19 God says 'See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it?' He goes on to talk about making paths in the wasteland and streams in the desert.

When God does new things, he's usually in the business of redeeming old things and making them better. So whatever is going on in your life that's not quite all it should be, why not give it to him to do something new with? And then see if you can spot what he's doing!!

29/03/2026

I collect river glass!! Last weekend I spent some time with my goddaughter, encouraging her and discussing ways God speaks to us. I explained that God had been showing me how much he loves me with pieces of rare dark blue river glass. Gwen was delighted when she found a piece of dark blue river glass on our canoe trip!

It's such a privilege to be able to encourage Gwen in her young faith. It reminded me of 2 Cor 1:3-4 which says, 'Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.'

So never despise being in trouble, of needing God's comfort. He loves to comfort us, and then equips us to be able to share that comfort with others who need it.

15/03/2026

Do you ever need a reminder that God wants to be your provider? I have to admit I'm pretty good at thinking I need to go it all alone. My independent streak can be a mile wide sometimes!

I've spent the last week working in Surrey, where the daffs are out in force, as are the primroses and many of the trees are in blossom, too.

Jesus used flowers as an example to remind us of God's provision in Matthew 6.28-30:

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?"

Apparently, it's a sign of little faith to feel the need to provide for yourself... I don't want a little faith, so I'm going to try and remember God wants to meet all my needs every time I see the spring flowers. How about you?!

01/03/2026

Do you ever need reminding how much you're loved by God? Yeah, me too! Somehow, the knowledge doesn't stick as well as I'd like it to.

I think Jesus knew we have difficulty with that. He used birds as a way of remembering. And with it being Spring the birds are so loud right now, it's hard to ignore them! Check out these verses...

Matthew 10:29-31 NIV
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Matthew 6:26 NIV
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

So when we hear the birds, see that they aren't going hungry, we can allow them to remind us that they only got 'good' in God's creation scale of appreciation. We got 'very good'!

He loves us more than sparrows! He will care for us and provide for us. ❤️

16/02/2026

It's Spring!! At least, I hope it's Spring where you are!

Three weeks ago, when I left Wales for a trip to England (!) there were no signs of Spring, but Gloucestershire had snowdrops, Worcestershire had snowdrops, Staffordshire had snowdrops, Surrey had snowdrops and crocuses! By the time I returned to Wales two and a half weeks later, Spring had finally arrived.

When other people seem to be ahead of us, to have stuff we don't have yet, we can easily get jealous.

Ecclesiasties 3.11 says, 'He makes all things beautiful in His time.' God's timing is perfect. It doesn't always match our timing, but it's worth the waiting. Our time will come for all good things.

01/02/2026

What has God done for you, and how do you remember it?
I have had the most wonderful weekend in Worcester catching up with old friends! But do you k ow what's been the best thing about it? Somehow every place I've driven past or seen has held memories of God's love and provision, the lessons he's taught me and the journey we've been on together. It's been such a joy to be here again!!

Psalm 77.11 says I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

In fact, the Old Testament is full of encouragement to the Israelites to keep remembering all God has done for them. Worcestershire is a place full of such memories for me. What about you? Are there places, people or books or something else that helps you keep fresh in your mind all the miracles God has done for you long ago?

How are you starting Lent? How about taking a morning out on retreat with God, in the barren beauty of the Gilfach Natur...
25/01/2026

How are you starting Lent? How about taking a morning out on retreat with God, in the barren beauty of the Gilfach Nature Reserve, to remember just how much you are loved by him? It would be great to have you join us! You'll need this link to book: https://forms.gle/7EpWZVf2e5mEBRfHA

18/01/2026

Are you ready? Are you sure?!
Ready for what, I hear you ask! Indeed...

I went on a recce yesterday to check out a grade 3 rapid called Pen Ddol Rocks because my friends wants us to run it this week, and I've never done it before. I want to be prepared. I want to have a plan for how I'll tackle it when I get there. This kind of preparation is normal practice for many activities in the outdoor world.

It got me thinking about our spiritual lives: how much preparation do we put in there? I know we don't know everything that will happen to us, but we can be pretty sure we'll get angry again, or get hurt by someone, or...

1 Peter 1.13 says we should 'Prepare your minds for action.' He also says we need self discipline and to not go back to doing things in the old way. God's way is not the same as the way we see many people reacting around us. Let's take time to prepare in advance. Let's work through the old 'WWJD' so when we find ourselves in those reactive situations we already know what Jesus would do!

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