Well, we made it! After three months of traveling almost non-stop, we made it back to Life Action Camp in Michigan about two weeks ago. We’ve parked and set up our RV for the last time for the next few months, and we’ve started to recover from our whirlwind transition. It’s been great getting some rest, reconnecting with each other as a family, and letting the kids run free around the camp.
As I was thinking about the past year, I was reminded of John Newton’s famous hymn, Faith’s Review and Expectation. You know it better by it’s first lines, “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!” If you know John Newton’s story, you know that he was not exagerating by calling himself “a wretch.” He spent years of his life as a godless, lawless captain of a slave ship. Even among slave-traders, he was a despised scoundrel. However, he was miraculously converted, and eventually he became an Anglican minister. He was also a prolific hymn writer alongside his friend William Cowper, and was a staunch abolitionist and inspiration to William Wilberforce. He wrote this song for his congregation as a testament to God’s rescue and reversal of his life.
As we close out this travel season, I can say without question that this past year has been a faith journey. I won’t take up space here to recount how we ended up in this crazy new life, but the way we’ve seen God bring this about gives us great confidence about what’s ahead. Psalm 16 has been on my mind a lot the past couple weeks.
Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
I resonate with what David says here. We’ve kind of given up having “boundary lines” for a while, having a plot of land to call home. But the Lord is our portion, and that’s really enough. There are things we miss about living life in one location, and God may bring us back to that someday. For now, we’re pretty humbled that we get to do this.
At the end of every conference, we give the congregation time to write a “Dear Life Action” letter. It’s an opportunity for them to share with the rest of our organization what God has done in their hearts through the conference. Amanda and I thought it would be neat for you to be able to take part in “Faith’s Review” and read some of the testimonies we’ve received over the last three months.
God found me isolated, going through the motions of my life without seeking His face daily in new and different ways. I had let my relationships grow stagnant or completely dissolve away. God is stirring up those relationships and building new ones in my life. He has placed it on my heart to grow in my community and strengthen the relationships with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
– Andrew from Suffolk, VA
God told me that I need to love others in every way He commands, not just in the way that is easiest for me.
– Karen from Goodlettsville, TN
At the beginning of Life Action, or shortly after, God found me secretly broken and depressed. I came face to face with how deeply wounded I was by past relationships with friends, boyfriends, even my parents (my mom specifically). There’s been so many times this year and especially right before the Life Action Summit that I prayed, “Lord, some things gotta give here. I am hurting so much and I don’t even know why I hate and despise this life.” I repented of thinking God was withholding from me, and this week God showed me through the Holy Spirit specific people in my life I needed to confess to, forgive, and ask for forgiveness from. I was able to come to my mom with a deep wound I’d been carrying since ten years old. Jesus completely healed me! Praise God!
– Susannah from Jamestown, NC
At the beginning of this conference, I kind of felt like I’ve just been “going through the motions” like I’ve been “stuck in a fog” if you will. I’ve been weary, dragged down, in a funk, but gradually I’ve felt God calling me to not just “keep existing” but to dig in deeper to His Word and to draw closer to Him. I didn’t think I was relying on myself, but I think I have been doing that more than I realized. I need to truly trust Him and do the simple things I know I need to do – be consistent in my quiet times and truly make Him first again.
– Crystal from Crossville, TN
I started the week believing my marriage was over, looking forward to moving to a new town with my children and a new job. I had prayed and was almost feeling released from fighting any more. Through this time in worship and listening to God’s heart, I realized I was seeking comfort instead of peace. I still have some doubt about whether my marriage will make it, but am now viewing the possible move as a fresh start as a family, and not just me. I am committed to seeking God’s peace through it all and focusing on my relationship with Him, leading my children to deeper love for Him, and praying for my husband. God is good. And not done with me yet.
– Cheryl from Wayneville, MO
I will say that I have really been struggling in my heart with being loving and kind to close family members. I knew this was going on. The Lord has been speaking to me about it. The service, literally hit the nail on the head, why am I surprised? The Lord is so gracious in drawing us to repentance. Yes, Lord, I’m committed to being obedient to surrendering to your truth. To love like you, Jesus!
– Jennifer from Somerville, TN
I have been walking through what has felt like a dessert – longing for
refreshment through community and God’s Word, times of doubt and wondering if life, my life, has purpose, trying to serve and give, but coming to reality that I myself do not have someone pouring into me, other than my husband. Your obedience to God has been an oasis of Gospel community. It has aligned my heart with God and His Word. This has brought a fresh, steady flow of life-giving water. It has revived areas of my life, which has led to confession and repentance. I know God is still continuing a good work, and He who calls me is faithful. Thank you for using your gifts, your spiritual gifts, to bring rains of refreshing on my weary heart. To God be the glory! Amen.– Brittany from Suffolk, VA
At the beginning of the conference I was in a place of dryness. Numb. No spiritual connection with my husband. We are both Christians, but just got lost in the busyness of life. God said to me this week, “Seek Him above all else; to make Him the priority over the busyness of life.” He will take care of my family and worries. My husband prayed for me the first time ever after twelve years of marriage. We are moving forward seeking Him for our family; doing this together and not alone.
– A wife from Crossville, TN
God found me dry, heartbroken, and bitter. My son was so broken and as his mother I could not fix him. I was trying to hold on too tight and not let anyone, including my husband help. I was bitter and resentful towards my husband for many things in our past, words spoken, and words not spoken. God told me to give it to Him. I laid down my son at His feet, I left the heartache, pain, and brokenness and hurt. I left His life in God’s hands. I committed him back to God. I laid my marriage and my control at the altar. I asked God to forgive me, heal my broken heart, protect my son, and restore my marriage. My heart is lighter, my son is beside me and my husband and I are talking again.
– Karen from Cleveland, TN
I entered this week prideful, hardened, and bitter in many different ways. It was covered with a mirage of a fleshly ability to try and keep people pleased. God brought conviction from His Word in Luke 18 that I possessed the heart of the Pharisee that had lost some of the understanding of my own need and in my heart belittled others. God convicted me that I needed the heart of the tax collector who struggled to lift his head because of grasping his unworthiness before God. This led me to seek forgiveness from an individual whom I had harbored bitterness toward. Acting upon the Lord’s lead brought healing to an area in which I had become stubbornly hard. I praise God as moving forward I seek to more humbly follow Christ and lay myself down looking to direct those around me closer to Him no matter where they are or how they have treated me.
– Wilson from Suffolk, VA
God peeled back a couple of ancient sins, buried down deeply that came out and I confessed them and believe with the Spirit’s help, will finally deal with them. All week I have tried to show love for others above self, consciously desiring to put them first to please my God and Lord. I cannot say “No, Lord” anymore.
– Roger from Crossville, TN
I am one tired momma. I have been struggling with shame and failure because I can’t seem to do anything right. I can’t be what I need to be for my husband, my three young kids, my boss, my friends. I even find myself falling asleep during my times with God. This week has been such a refreshing week for my soul. I have been reminded that God just wants my heart. I am not alone in this season of struggle. God sees and knows. I find rest and beauty and satisfaction and acceptance in Him. He doesn’t give me a “to do” list each day. He woos my heart to Him. He just wants me to respond with “Yes, Lord.” He will do the heavy lifting. He will be what I cannot be and do what I cannot do. Thank God for this grace! It is indeed perfect in my weakness! Thank you all for coming and bringing this refreshment and refocus of my heart.
– Darby from Pine Bluff, AR
At the beginning of this conference God found me trying really hard to be the kind of wife, mom and friend He wanted me to be. If I’m honest, frustration and fear of failure caused me to react in ways I knew weren’t how God wanted me to respond. During one of the nights as I was confessing to God my sin, I heard Him say to me, “The root of this is insecurity and distrust and you have been carrying it for a long time.” He also told me He wants to heal me from that and walk as His daughter with no fear, no insecurity. I gave these hurts to God and am believing Him to do the work in my life.
– Jennifer from Crossville, TN
These words give me great hope and expectation for what’s ahead when we hit the road again in September. We are so thankful for all of you who are following our journey and praying for us along the way.
The Lee Family 