Reach Church Men’s Weekend 5/22/2022
I learned how prideful and disobedient I am, but also how I’m not nearly too far gone from God’s love and grace as I thought. I will never be. It was beyond encouraging to receive the letters and know how loved I am. You never know how people care for you unless they say, and those were overwhelmingly beautiful and joyful to read. I learned that I can’t intellectualize God or His love. All I can do is receive it and follow Him. I learned how powerful God is, and how He uses community with brothers – a brotherhood – to often do His work. I leave here with a renewed vigor and spirit for the Lord and His word. I leave here rejuvenated with a fire for His love and living in that. I leave here with a new heart, changed to turn my back on my sin, shame and guild, towards God, to follow Him.
___
This was a great experience and it was life changing. Thanks for serving us and encouraging us. I learned that no man is an island. We all have struggles and need to be accountable to actually see change. Our shame and isolation hide our sin, but God knows all. I also learned that men struggle with the same issues and we all need help.
___
I learned that He still wants to communicate His love.
___
I learned that I am not alone in my struggles. I am not abnormal. I don’t need to be defined by shame any longer or give in to self-pity. I intend to live my life with purpose, to love and serve my family. To live with more passion. I will connect with other guys through community going forward.
___
My challenges and struggles are shared by a number of other men. It helps knowing I’m not alone in those challenges. I reminded that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. I need to better follow that example.
___
Lots of connection to others. I appreciate the stories and time for rest. Very timely to do this post Covid, and reset. I learned a few focused things about family and changes to be more intentional with my daughters.
___
I thought the testimonies were very insightful. The power of their stories was encouraging to me as I gained an understanding of how impactful they can be for people with similar difficulties in life. This gave me motivation to share things about myself through and understanding of the power this can have. I have felt like the only person struggling with certain things, so it was encouraging to hear from others. Learning the importance of talking to people about grief and other struggles resonated with me.
___
God meets us where we are at. Our stories and testimonies are always live and ever changing. For me personally, I think I liked my testimony more a year ago then I do today. It felt more finished or redemptive. I was encouraged by the sharing of stores and how the goal was not to present a finished story, but one where God is active and moving and still at work.
___
God does not stop pursuing us.
___
Sharing your pain can help others. I will be more willing to share my story with others.
___
I am not alone. People have the same struggles and have the same shame of sin I have! My story can give hope to others because the Holy Spirit works through me to help others. We all live in sin but Jesus died on the cross for our sin!
___
I learned what God says about my past, my present, and my future. “I’m proud, I trust you, and I love you.” I learned about loving my past younger self. I feel more confident in my walk, ready and equipped to step into the calling the Lord has for me. I can’t wait to serve and love on everyone I go back to.
___
Do not leave here without hearing who you are! Beloved, beloved child of mine. I’m leaving with hope, purpose, and a strong desire to follow the will of God. I came not knowing almost everyone here. I’m leaving with 30 strong relationship and connections with Godly men. This opened eyes that my sins and leaning on my own strength is limiting what God’s will and desires are for me. I’m learning to have more intentional relationship with God, family, and those around me.
___
Knowing that there are others walking through difficult times is helpful. Being open with others helps my healing. I need more of this in my life. I’m happy to have met new friends to walk through life with.
___
I was reminded of my need for community. I learned for my deep desire to connect to life and men. I am learning to be more present with myself and others.
___
I learned about the power of addictions as a symptom of deeper heart issues. I was confronted with my own sin. I was given encouragement to share myself with others. I was shown the power of stories. I was given an opportunity to ask God to do for me what I cannot do myself. I was given rest and a respite/sanctuary from anxiety. I received hope and encouragement from my family and marriage. I felt no need to perform and felt free to express myself. I learned about vulnerability. God speaks to us in silence.
___
I learned that God expresses love through relationships. I’ve been withholding God’s love from others by isolating myself from others who deserve to experience God’s love.
___
I learned about how God can speak to me. I have long doubted the stirring of my heart, that I might have interpreted as God speaking to me, out of fear that my heart was lying to me. My experience with my journal entry after one of our talks and subsequent experience receiving a letter from the very friend I was thinking about as I wrote my entry was a huge confirmation that God is listening to my heart/pain and cares about how I feel, even if my heart is wrong often. I have grown in my trust in His purposes for me this weekend.
___
I realized that I take myself too seriously sometimes, both my victories, goals, and dreams as well as my shortcomings and mistakes. I know I need to talk to others about my life and my story. I realized that God wants the spotlight. I want to do my best to give Him the spotlight. I want to be intentional about being in fellowship with others.
___
This was a great experience and it was life changing. Thanks for serving us and encouraging us. I learned that no man is an island. We all have struggles and need to be accountable to actually see change. Our shame and isolation hide our sin, but God knows all. I also learned that men struggle with the same issues and we all need help.
___
I learned that He still wants to communicate His love.
___
I learned that I am not alone in my struggles. I am not abnormal. I don’t need to be defined by shame any longer or give in to self-pity. I intend to live my life with purpose, to love and serve my family. To live with more passion. I will connect with other guys through community going forward.
___
My challenges and struggles are shared by a number of other men. It helps knowing I’m not alone in those challenges. I reminded that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. I need to better follow that example.
___
Lots of connection to others. I appreciate the stories and time for rest. Very timely to do this post Covid, and reset. I learned a few focused things about family and changes to be more intentional with my daughters.
___
I thought the testimonies were very insightful. The power of their stories was encouraging to me as I gained an understanding of how impactful they can be for people with similar difficulties in life. This gave me motivation to share things about myself through and understanding of the power this can have. I have felt like the only person struggling with certain things, so it was encouraging to hear from others. Learning the importance of talking to people about grief and other struggles resonated with me.
___
God meets us where we are at. Our stories and testimonies are always live and ever changing. For me personally, I think I liked my testimony more a year ago then I do today. It felt more finished or redemptive. I was encouraged by the sharing of stores and how the goal was not to present a finished story, but one where God is active and moving and still at work.
___
God does not stop pursuing us.
___
Sharing your pain can help others. I will be more willing to share my story with others.
___
I am not alone. People have the same struggles and have the same shame of sin I have! My story can give hope to others because the Holy Spirit works through me to help others. We all live in sin but Jesus died on the cross for our sin!
___
I learned what God says about my past, my present, and my future. “I’m proud, I trust you, and I love you.” I learned about loving my past younger self. I feel more confident in my walk, ready and equipped to step into the calling the Lord has for me. I can’t wait to serve and love on everyone I go back to.
___
Do not leave here without hearing who you are! Beloved, beloved child of mine. I’m leaving with hope, purpose, and a strong desire to follow the will of God. I came not knowing almost everyone here. I’m leaving with 30 strong relationship and connections with Godly men. This opened eyes that my sins and leaning on my own strength is limiting what God’s will and desires are for me. I’m learning to have more intentional relationship with God, family, and those around me.
___
Knowing that there are others walking through difficult times is helpful. Being open with others helps my healing. I need more of this in my life. I’m happy to have met new friends to walk through life with.
___
I was reminded of my need for community. I learned for my deep desire to connect to life and men. I am learning to be more present with myself and others.
___
I learned about the power of addictions as a symptom of deeper heart issues. I was confronted with my own sin. I was given encouragement to share myself with others. I was shown the power of stories. I was given an opportunity to ask God to do for me what I cannot do myself. I was given rest and a respite/sanctuary from anxiety. I received hope and encouragement from my family and marriage. I felt no need to perform and felt free to express myself. I learned about vulnerability. God speaks to us in silence.
___
I learned that God expresses love through relationships. I’ve been withholding God’s love from others by isolating myself from others who deserve to experience God’s love.
___
I learned about how God can speak to me. I have long doubted the stirring of my heart, that I might have interpreted as God speaking to me, out of fear that my heart was lying to me. My experience with my journal entry after one of our talks and subsequent experience receiving a letter from the very friend I was thinking about as I wrote my entry was a huge confirmation that God is listening to my heart/pain and cares about how I feel, even if my heart is wrong often. I have grown in my trust in His purposes for me this weekend.
___
I realized that I take myself too seriously sometimes, both my victories, goals, and dreams as well as my shortcomings and mistakes. I know I need to talk to others about my life and my story. I realized that God wants the spotlight. I want to do my best to give Him the spotlight. I want to be intentional about being in fellowship with others.