When I surrendered everything to God, including my success, it was like a burden was lifted off of me. I no longer had to drain myself because God, through Christ, would give me strength to be successful in what He wanted me to do. I only have to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.”
~ Austin
June 2008 Guys Journey
The first evening of my Journey, I sat down with my Bible to read. For the past few months, I had been reading a couple of chapters from Psalms each day and highlighting a verse or passage that stuck out to me.
The Psalm for that day was number 49, and God knew that was exactly the chapter that I needed to read. I had been convicted a few months ago that the thing hindering me from having a “ten” rating in my relationship with God was fear, especially the fear that my brothers might follow in my cousin’s footsteps and make similar mistakes, and thereby sacrifice the wonderful God-given potential that they could otherwise have had in God’s service. Because of that fear, I found myself reacting harshly to my brothers and having a very difficult time loving them as my Lord desired me to. I had surrendered my fears to God and given my brothers to Him in prayer a number of times before, but it was still laying as a heavy burden on my heart.
As I began reading, it was as if I had been reading it for the first time. Portions of the chapter seem to leap off of the page and my eyes filled with tears. “Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil…?,” Psalm 49 said, “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) … But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah. Be not thou afraid…”
After this new reminder that He was so lovingly looking over those who are so dear to me, I could again freely surrender all of my fears to Him, and trust Him with the future, because I know that He has a bigger purpose in mind than what I can see, and that He will work all things together for good!!
Since coming home, although at times it is still a struggle, I have had a greater freedom to love my brothers and treat them in a Christ-like manner. I am truly thankful to God for each one of the eight 
younger brothers that He has blessed me with, and, through God’s grace, I am looking forward to continuing to improve my relationship with each one of them!
I am so very thankful to God for allowing me to have the privilege of going on my Journey to the Heart!!
~ Sarah, II Timothy 2:20-21
June 2008 Girls Journey
I wanted to come to the Journey to the Heart so that I could get to know Jesus more intimately. What I didn’t realize is that God wanted to know me and He desired to pursue relationship with me. I had been meditating on this verse in the beginning of the week: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). I asked the Lord to remove anything from my life that would hinder me from being completely free to love Him with my whole heart.
Sure enough, the Spirit of God spoke to me and pointed out to me the things that I needed to make right. I have returned home with a list from God of people I need to ask forgiveness from, things I need to talk to my parents about, and other people I need to talk to. Now I am discovering how to walk in the light, have a clear conscience, and to be a mighty man of God.
More than that, the Lord is revealing Himself to me in ways I could not have imagined. He is opening up my eyes to His word and showing me insights by His Spirit. I am learning how to communicate with Jesus and how to recognize His voice. It wasn’t until I went to a quiet place and honestly opened myself to the Lord that I began to hear from Him. He answered my questions and responded to my requests. And above all, I found a God who wanted me and wanted to fellowship with me.
Now I am learning what it means to live in Christ; exchanging His life for mine. I no longer live for Christ, but Christ is my life. I am asking Him to live in me and through me to accomplish His will and His purposes. Instead of trying so hard to be a Christian, I am trusting Christ to be my all in all. Now God can do through me what I think is impossible because He is free to be all that He is. As I die, Christ lives.
God used “Journey to the Heart” to rekindle my relationship with Him. I am encouraged to daily meditate on His word and seek His face. Thank you, Jesus!
~ Timothy
July 2008 Guys Journey
I was taken sick in December 2006 and could eat nothing but bread and crackers. After several weeks I began to eat more but then my health crashed again. That cycle went on for over a year. I had no energy and I couldn’t do anything active outside.
Then, on the Journey to the Heart, my team studied what God’s Word says about a fearful heart. I realized that my inability to eat was predominately caused by a deep-rooted fear that my stomach would be in intense pain as a result of eating.
I wrote out a list of about eight benefits that God intended for me by allowing this illness. For example, I realized that my sickness had allowed me to spend more time with certain people and get to know them better, whereas when I was well I would be outside by myself and not spending time with others. Another blessing was that I had learned to better communicate my thoughts and feelings. As I wrote out this list of benefits, I was able to fully surrender my health to the Lord and I experienced a tremendous joy!
When God took away my fear, I was able to eat a wider variety of food and I discovered that nothing bad happened! Now I can eat almost anything without pain and run and play games that I couldn’t for over a year. My family and I have seen an amazing jump in my health. I had prayed many times, and tried to surrender myself to God, but I had no results until I wrote out the benefits for my illness. Then I had true joy!!
~ Elizabeth
April 2008 Girls Journey
8/24 UPDATE: I have steadily improved and have seen the Lord’s hand providing healing. May Jesus Christ be praised!
A team of thirty-five guys will be returning to Chicago tomorrow after spending a week of seeking the Lord in the beautiful Northwoods of Michigan! Pray that God will make Himself known to them as they fulfill the instruction of I Chronicles 16:11, “Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.”
Lord, I am no longer my own, but Yours.
Put me to what You will and rank me with whom You will.
Let me be employed by You or laid aside for You,
Exalted for You or brought low by You.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
You are mine and I am Yours. So be it. Amen.
~ John Wesley
The fourth week of the Fall 2008 Life FOCUS program was spent in the Northwoods of upper Michigan on a “Journey to the Heart” …
The distant rising sun was only just peeking up upon the cool, The frosty Northwoods Conference Center frost blanketed morning as our group of 20 arose early Tuesday morning …©2008 Robert Staddon. Design by Abundant Designs
