Living the Journey

The 2008 Counseling Seminar is just around the corner! It will be a memorable reunion time for those who have attended a Journey to the Heart. Everyone who comes will be equipped with keys for effective counseling so that they can return home ready and prepared to be disciple-makers.

• Dynamic life applications from the commands of Christ
• How seven stresses actually produce diseases
• How each stress can be resolved by seven commands of Christ
• How to transform painful memories which produce stresses
• How to receive the vital quality of wisdom
• How to learn and use the skills of instructive listening
• How to discover fifteen pathways to God’s power

IBLP is offering a $50 discount for everyone who has attended a Journey to the Heart! It is possible to register online at ati.iblp.org. Early registration ends September 22.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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I didn’t have any real sense of God’s power. I didn’t read the Bible very much and strongly doubted its infallibility. Dabbles in systematic theology and Christian philosophy had left me cynical toward Christianity—God wasn’t a power in my life, merely something to be put into a logic formula or defined by a set of verses.

At the Journey to the Heart, away from all the noise and distraction of the world, I began to see God’s power through the individuals around me. They could pray with such power! Speaking blessings to each other and crying out to God had real meaning! At first I thought it was showy, extravagant zeal—as if like the priests of Baal, we were dancing and cutting ourselves on an altar for a god who wouldn’t really work the way we asked him to.

But when our group started to talk about secret sins and several of my teammates gave testimonies about how freeing it was to talk to their parents about their struggles, I felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit and called my father to repent of something I had hid from him for three years. The freedom I felt was amazing! I couldn’t describe it, yet it was so real.

The next day our team got with another team to pray for a young man who felt he needed to call his parents concerning a secret sin. As we prayed together in one accord, I felt God’s Spirit pour out grace, humility, and strength, not only on the young man in the center of our circle but on all of us. I began to cry as I realized what I had been missing: God was real!

Over the next few days the Word of God became living to me. I now understand how easy it is to trust God: His Word explains the world better than any human reasoning and gives our lives principles to live by that are so true and cannot be found elsewhere.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to discover the power of the God of my Salvation at this journey!

~ Tim
August 2008 Guys Journey

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“God often takes a course for accomplishing His purposes directly contrary to what our narrow views would prescribe. He brings a death upon our feelings, wishes, and prospects when He is about to give us the desires of our heart.”  ~ John Newton

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“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass….Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.” Psalm 37: 4-5,7

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Why did God create us? We all know the right answer. We are here for the sole purpose of glorifying God. Unfortunately, “to glorify God” has almost become a meaningless cliche.

How do we glorify God? I was surprised that I didn’t have a simple, practical answer to this question. Until I was given this verse…

“Herein is my Father glorified,
that ye bear much fruit;
so shall ye be my disciples.”
(John 15:8)

That’s it! That’s how I glorify God! By bearing much fruit.

Six Types of Fruit

1. Character: Who I am

“That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:10-11).

2. Conduct: What I do

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17).

3. Contributions: What I give

“For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account” (Philippians 4:16-17).

4. Communication: What I say

“Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:15).

5. Converts: Who I win

“For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth” (Colossians 1:6).

6. Children: Who I conceive

“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Psalm 127:3).

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God’s Word is “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword!” (Hebrews 4:12). It keeps us from sin. (See Psalm 119:11.) It cleanses our hearts and minds. (See John 15:3) It revives our lives (See Psalm 119:50). It illuminates our path. (See Psalm 119:105.) It is the sword whereby we withstand principalities and powers. (See Ephesians 6:17.) It is the source of faith, which is our shield against Satan’s fiery darts. (See Romans 10:17, Ephesians 6:17.) Let’s keep it before our eyes and hide it in our hearts!

Living the Journey Scripture Desktop Backgrounds

Click on a screen size below to open up a desktop background image. Then right-click on the picture and select “Set as Background” or “Set as Desktop Background.” Enjoy!

Do you have an inspiring picture of God’s magnificent creation from the beautiful Northwoods of Michigan? Send it in, along with a fitting verse of Scripture, and we’ll consider sharing it on this website to encourage others who are also living the journey!

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