"But I thought this was the 60/60 Experiment!"
It is. There won't be any more official posts to this BLOG but we're hoping that you'll take time to tell your story of how you experienced God during these past 60 days. All you have to do is post a Comment to Day 61. It doesn't have to relate to anything anyone else has written. It's just a chance to tell your story. If you haven't shared your story with anyone yet - this a great chance. And even if you have told a few people, here's an opportunity to encourage still others.
Looking forward to celebrating God's goodness made real in your life.
In His grip,
Pastor Steve
::Clark Howe::
::Linda Noftle::
::Vicki Howe::
7 comments:
This is nothing earth shattering, but it's my little bit. More than once during 60/60, I'd find myself in that late afternoon/early evening hour - kid is cranky, hungry, bored, I'm cranky, tired, trying to get dinner going, just generally getting more tense and cranky all the time. And then, the beeper went off. And in just a split second of looking up, all the tension melted out of me. Honestly I laughed at myself, being cranky about having a happy family and food to eat...but God is gracious and meets me even in those silly selfish places, pulls me back into balance.
I just wanted to share my little bit as well. I first came to Pine Knolls a week or two before the 60/60 experiment without a clue of how to have a relationship with God. I'd never been to church but the sermon given was about the emails that wouldn't go through because it was God's message that another ministry was not in his plans. It touched me because I'd been in a very rough relationship where things looked like they were turning around but something always prevented the change I needed. I realized that was my mailerdaemon response from God. I wasn't on the right path. I finally had the courage to leave despite the fear of raising my daughter on my own. From that day and throughout the 60/60 experiment every aspect of my life, without exception, that was not working out for me or I was afraid of facing on my own, suddenly worked out. Miraculously I made it and am prospering and I attribute every aspect to God. Thank you Pine Knolls for your inspiration and guidance along the path to finding God.
Well, during the beginning of the 60/60 experiment, God began to answer many of my prayers all at once. I was amazed and felt God really guiding and leading me. Before we had even started the Soul Revolution, I was really going through a rough time in my life and had little faith. I had suicidial thoughts, i was cutting myself, and was just a miserable and very depressed girl. Beginning the Soul Revolution, i began to feel God's prescence so much more and for the first time felt and knew he cared and really didn't want me to continue in being the person that i was or wanting me to really feel sad 24/7. So, on day 8 or 9 somewhere around there, My family addmitted me into a Mental Hospital. I stayed there for about two weeks and continued to check in with God every hour. Being in a new place without anyone i knew around, I became fully dependent on Jesus.(He has become my best friend). I got to know him better and how he works and hear his voice speaking to my heart. As the two weeks were almost up, so much changed inside me and who i was. God has also given me many people to talk to about My parents divorce, How i never see my dad anymore and he just isn't a part of my life, My mother being an alcoholic, and past sexual and physical abuse. As the experiment ends, I look back and so many things has changed these past 60 days. I am now healed inside and out of my depression, i am free from habitatual sins, I feel relief because i can now just get things out that has been trapped inside myself for so many years, I am a totally different person, I am now addicted to Jesus(I just can't get enough of him,or prayer, even worship, and his word), I have never been more intimate or in love with Jesus than now, and God has just blessed me so much and used me during these past 60 days. I can't thank him enough!
So much to say! It began with the timer going off just as I was about to say something about someone. Then it was the conviction of a bad attitude directed at my husband. That was a shocker cause I really had no idea! Then it was the revelation of the reason for some of the fear and anxiety that has plagued me and some walking right into the fearful situations. God is so good! There was the growing closer to and learning and sharing things about people I have known for awhile but never on this level. True deeper bonding. And lastly but not the last, an analogy I believe God gave me to help with my forever struggle of how to have confidence and humility and then how to have them at the same time.
After everyone left on the last meeting I just had to tell Pete over and over I don't even have words for how blessed I feel. I didn't want it to end. And with the grace of God to help me, it won't. Mary Lou
God has been faithful in my life during the 60/60 through helping me understand the importance of developing good spiritual discipline. At the same time, He answered a question about a difficult situation.
I've been VERY blessed to have been raised in a close knit extended family by Christian parents who have been excellent examples of people who practice good spiritual disciplines. They study God's word. They talk to God. They fellowship regularly with their church family. They use their gifts to build up the church both locally and around the world to reach out to the lost and those in need.
So, thank God, I have a great picture of what practicing spiritual discipline looks like. I also have a great picture of what a loving father is so it's not hard for me understand God's love. What CAN be hard to understand is why something "bad" would happen to someone who loves God so much?
For the past 25 years, my Dad has had a medical condition that we and he knew could lead to his death. A number of years ago, I asked him about having that knowledge and what he thought about it. He said, "I'm not afraid to die. What I'm afraid of is the possibility of being in pain or, worse, losing control of my mental capacity and becoming mean." He was afraid of "the life to come."
Four years ago, my Dad had a major cardiac arrest while in the hospital. They were able to revive him but for months we didn't know if he was going to make it or not. During that time, a lot of people from Pine Knolls were praying for him and one of them was Pastor Bill. One Sunday he asked me about Dad and I said, "Throughout my life, God has used my Dad to teach me. I don't know why this is happening to him but through it I know God will show me something about his plan."
My father did "recover" but now he's been left with all the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and, in the meantime, has developed a number of other physically debilitating conditions. So, it's safe to say that his physical body is being destroyed.
Here's the good news! While my Dad's body is weak, his many years of practicing spiritual discipline have left his spirit STRONG! Even though he can't remember what he had to eat a few minutes ago, he remembers how much God loves him and still talks to God with as much clarity as ever. Even though he can barely get out of bed by himself, he still enjoys the fellowship of his church family. And even though he has to wear a diaper while he does it, he still loves to tell others about God's love through song. And who helps him do all that.....my Mom...to whom he's gentle and kind.
God has shown me, through the 60/60 and my Dad and Mom, the importance of spiritual discipline.
1 Timothy 4:7-8 (New International Version)
7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
The 60/60 was what I needed and did not know. It was what I thought I had-but found. It was growth - discipline my mind to be intentional when I thought it already was; discipline- my fear of never finishing a study for various reasons relating to other people, I faced the truth in myself-I learned to love the person and see importance of what they can share replaced what I thought I couldn't trust in others. Discipline-at work. The hardest place to be, hour by hour calling to my Lord to get me through the next hour I found a more relaxed mind and my focus turned to being a help to others who are stressed as well from work pressures. Discipline-at home-learning deeper appreciation and respect that shows in how I not only respond outside but how I feel inside. The Book-opened up corners of my being I didn't even know were to be seen-they were just the way I am, the things I thought I was too old to bother with became awakenings to spiritual possibilities and courage. So many things to say about what this very short time was for me I only know I have a new fear - of stopping it - so I am continuing it. I have a huge thank you to one person who encouraged me, believed in me and for the first time in my life I heard words I never heard the same before - "..you have contributed to our group". This one sentence has broken down the walls of fear being in groups gives me. Learning to focus on one person at a time and see them as so very important in God's eyes for this one moment in this one hour I walk with Him no matter where I am or who is there too. God is filling spiritual corners day by day, hour by hour in new ways that is so very exciting for this older Christian person coming alive again...THANK YOU !
as I sat reading don't worry God will clean up the mess, wow how true that is. I think it's wonderful when i hear stories about people that never had any hardships, drugs, alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, child abuse, domestic violence etc etc etc. yet when they hear about people like myself and other people is this great soul revolution book. Wow what a book. Unfortunately, I am not ridiculing people that do not understand this book. Yet, if they had good christian upbringing I can understand where they wouldn't understand this book.
As for myself I thank God everyday for the last thirty years, he has loved me like no one else, he saved my life, I never tell to many people this story unless they come to me hurt, and in pain, then I share my experience what is to have Jesus in my heart and center of my life. I started drinking when i was nine years old, no my parents had no idea, daddy has passed away and mom is still with us at 83. I also tried to commit suicide starting from the age of about ten, thirteen, seventeen i was taken to hospital by my dad, i know he was in shock, took overdose of drugs on purpose, I started cutting my self at age 19 and drinking, i am so thankful I didn't believe in doing drugs. I went with the same man for almost 14 years, and all that time I was a real mess. Being one of eleven, well second oldest, can't go into all of that , yet i moved out of my moms when i was in eleventh grade to move in with my girlfriends mom. My dad an mom were now divorced, these were very difficult years. I finally left the man I was with, yet not before we had a beautiful baby boy. The rrest of the story, well, I left my significant other. I raised my son alone, and by the time he was not quite two years old,, I was ready to commit suicide again. Jesus was always there I just didn't know it. He lifted me up this one cold wintry eve, and saved my life. I thought I am going to commit suicide. Someone cared enough just that day to put a bible on my doorstep my brother in law. What miracles we have in life that bible saved my life, and my son's life. I prayed till I knew jesus would change my life forever. I do praise him every day every min. that I can. I raised my son as a christian. Back then everyone in my life couldn't believe the changes in me I quit smoking, drinking. I can't even tell you how may prayers Jesus has ans. for me over these last thirty years. For the first time in my life at 31 I found the love and peace of Jesus. I pray I am a good example for anyone who crosses my path on a daily basis. God Bless you S.L. In that soup kitchen if you only reach one lost soul it will be worth your day, because that soul will tell others what they exp. at the soup kitchen. I am so grateful for my life everyday, and my wonderful son. The soul revolution has been exceeding the prayers I have prayed for . MY son was able to have a wonderful dinner and birthday cake with his dad for the first time in 32 yrs. He didn't meet his dad till he was 25. they have a great relationship, and his dad is always praising the Lord with us. Tell your story, it may save someone's life, drop off a bible to someone hurting. God bless you all. I love my Life.Thank You Jesus.
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