August 22, 2012 ~ Issue 31
Hello Friends,
Summer is such a fun time for families! We loved to go camping when our children were growing up, and of course we had our favorite places and hiking trails that we still love to revisit each year with our adult kids and grands. In fact, we’re a bit nutsy when it comes to being able to visit our favorite places. So when we moved back to Washington and learned that we could no longer just show up and get our pick of the sites without pre-reserving them, my daughter and I went on a day trip to map out our all time favorite campground! In dripping rain, Kathryn and I trudged through the old growth forest, making sure to take note of all the sites that would fit all of our tents and be near our favorite places to play and wander. I suppose everyone has a bit of tradition when it comes to their favorite memories, but my real memories don’t begin and end with camping. Being a city girl I didn’t always enjoy these outdoor activities. The following faith story behind the memories is what gives them meaningful substance for me.
I had been learning to turn my faith toward God to help me to overcome my natural unloving and self-centered tendencies. Jim and I already had more than a decade of summer camping experiences behind us when, now that the kids were bigger, he wanted to add more hiking and exploring to our summer activity nearly on a weekly basis. I always went along with whatever my husband wanted to do because I wanted us to be together, but I really wouldn’t have chosen these activities for myself.
I was stunned one day when God whispered to my heart, “Do you think you can love what you can’t see (the Creator) when you don’t love what you can see (His creation)?” I knew in that moment, as I gave this area of my life to Him, that He so completely changed my heart toward being in the outdoors. I began to really enjoy hiking and camping with my family, and learning about nature right along with my husband and kids! As I grew in my personal relationship with Him, I learned to take my prayer and worship lifestyle with me whenever we went to the woods and mountains, and I enjoyed many times of sweet fellowship with the Lord. My joy also increased in every way with my family as I learned right along with them the marvelous mysteries of God’s creation, making happy memories together.
Today, I have many wonderful testimonies of meeting the Lord out in the woods, of our family praying together in the outdoors, and of answers to prayer the Lord gave to us while out there. I’m so grateful for the Good Lord’s work in me, and I wouldn’t trade these precious times of memory and testimony for anything…
Is there an area of your family’s life that you don’t fully embrace with your heart, but it’s something you know your husband really wants to do with your kids? Why not begin to validate it more, and then give it to the Lord and let Him change your heart toward learning to enjoy it for yourself? It is beyond memorable when you’ve invited the Lord’s presence into what you once viewed as just a commonplace activity that you could live without. He has now given you a testimony of His grace working in your life through faith.
Do you need a little help with activating your faith? Our newest mini coaching program available in our eStores is “Your Faith.” I’ve targeted the specific disconnects people usually have in their understanding about how God works to develop our faith. This program is loaded with personal testimonies of God’s interventions in our lives!
Here’s what a few participants have shared:
“This has been one of the best programs in my mind. This program was key to making things click in my understanding in practically living out my faith. I really appreciated the first call and really came to understand how repentance and putting off fear is truly the key to faith. I understand the statement “Perfect love casts out fear” much better. This program has also been key to seeing how God is already working in my life, and how I can believe in the work He is doing and have faith that He will continue to work. The real-life examples were so practical and helpful for understanding how God works through our faith in so many practical ways. I am seeking the Lord in several practical situations and have made a list of prayers and hopes for them. The Lord is working. Thank you so much for all of your time and prayers and truth.” ~ Melanie C.
“The faith program has helped me understand what I have been experiencing to some degree, but has opened up a greater understanding of how to intentionally view and approach life from this point forward. I have a greater desire to activate faith and press into a faith process with the Lord. I look forward to relistening to the audios and rereading the article and Facebook conversations, which will probably be many, many times. Thank you so much for your investment!” ~ Nancy B.
The “Making Heart Level Connections” coaching programs have been so well received! Barbie and I are excited to see the real changes taking place in the participants. We are currently in live session with “The Holy Spirit” program, which will be available in a few weeks.
In the meantime, if you want to get started in Making Heart-Level Connections, you can purchase the first four programs “Your Conscience”, “God’s Moral Law”, “Your Heart Desires” and “Your Faith” from one of our eStores. Each program comes with all the same materials as their live versions: 4 hrs of audio discussions, topic specific eArticles, questionnaires, plus an edited version of the private Facebook discussions that we had with the participants.
Click Here to Learn More about the programs in Making Heart-Level Connections
Go Here to get the program “Your Conscience”! Regular price is $63.00. LOLACHE members pay only $47.00!
Go Here to get the program “God’s Moral Law”! Regular price is $63.00. LOLACHE members pay only $47.00!
Go Here to get the program “Your Heart Desires”! Regular price is $63.00. LOLACHE members pay only $47.00!
Go Here to get the program “Your Faith” Regular price is $63.00. LOLACHE members pay only $47.00!
Grateful to be in the Lord’s service,
Marilyn Howshall for Lifestyle of Learning™ Ministries
[Lifestyle of Learning™/LOLACHE eNewsletter ~ August 22, 2012, Issue 31]