Thank You! {A Testimony of One Life Changed}

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15

Dear Lord in Heaven,  how can we thank you enough.  Oh Lord, we give You thanks and praise for Your wondrous works!  Thank you for sending Jesus to set the captives free.  Thank you that because of Your love, we can live in freedom.  Our lives truly have been changed.  It is with all praise, glory and honor due Your Holy Name, that we pray. Amen.

To all those who support Deeper Still, we give thanks! Thank you for giving.  Thank you for donating time and financial resources.  Thank you for praying.  Thank you for serving.  We love you!  Through your time and resources, you are changing lives!  The following was an email we received from one of our male participant from the last retreat in Knoxville, TN.  It is with his permission that I am sharing this today.  On behalf of this man and all others touched by this ministry (myself including!), we say THANK YOU!!!!

"I have purposely refrained from saying anything because I wanted to give myself time to see if all this was real or just an emotional weekend that faded away as the days rolled by.

I generally cringe whenever I hear someone say something "changed my life" because, let's face it, that's a pretty tall order.  I mean, really?  It actually changed your life?  

How pliable one must be, I thought; That could never happen to me, as my clay had hardened into an impenetrable shell long ago and every retreat, program or lesson had only left me more hopeless than before.  Truthfully, I was sure that's what our weekend was going to be like, but I was desperate for healing.  Real healing!

Praise God!  What a life changing, awesome weekend I had.  Yeah, I know! I said "life changing".  And I truly mean it.  

I had carried around shame, guilt, fear, anger, sadness and hopelessness for what seemed like an eternity, but Jesus reached into my heart and removed all that junk.  At the same time He replaced it with a peace I haven't felt in a long time, if ever.  Words can't describe the monumental shift that has taken place in me.

I honestly feel/know that God has forgiven me and is not holding a grudge or waiting to destroy me.  I think what really put the icing on the cake was at the end of the song played during the memorial on Sunday.  When the child asked God what her mother had done, and He replied, "I don't remember".  Man, that still brings tears to my eyes.   He doesn't remember!!!

I want to thank everyone involved with the Deeper Still team (those we saw and those we didn't), and my sisters and brother that walked this journey and shared your souls with me.  

I pray for y'all daily and hope that God continues to bless you richly.  

Deeper Still team:  I can't thank you enough for your humble, selfless service to us and the attention to detail that brought much needed closure and made the weekend one that I'll remember for the rest of my life.

My heart is full of love for all my brothers and sisters!" – Keith (a man whose life was changed because of your giving.)

If you would like to donate to Deeper Still, find out how you can get involved, or if you need to come to a retreat and experience for yourself what awaits you on the mountain, please go to www.godeeperstill.org

Prayer for Deeper Still Training {And Thank You!}

“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”  James 5:16b

Father, thank you for hearing and answering our prayers.  Thank you for your faithfulness.  Lord, we ask for the Deeper Still training this week to be full of your great power and produce wonderful results for your Kingdom purposes.  Set ablaze the hearts of those in attendance for your people’s freedom and healing.  Open our eyes.  Show us Your will.  Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Take us deeper and equip us to lead others to the deep with You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Erin Moore from Deeper Still of Central Illinois Chapter wrote this in an email to the Watchman on the Wall (WOW) prayer team after the October retreat in Illinois.  Her words convey the genuine gratitude we have for all of our prayer partners.  We are thankful for each and every one of you who pray for us!  We could not do this ministry without you.  As she says below, your involvement in this ministry by prayer is the most important “job” of all.  With all our hearts, we say thank you. 

And thank you Erin Moore for sharing with us today!

Dare I say that your "job" for the Deeper Still retreats is the most important one? I have had the privilege of serving onsite for 4 retreats and each time I realize that none of this could happen without the prayers of the saints. Through spiritual preparation (repentance, prayer, study of the Word, fellowship with the team), I can prepare as an onsite team member. However, when we arrive at the retreat site things change.

 The Holy Spirit is tangible amongst His people...from your prayers.

I can trust His still small voice completely...from your prayers. 

I can speak words to participants and be confident it's not from me but Him...from your prayers. 

I can tell a participant, "You can do this, there are 130 prayer warriors on their knees for you"...from your prayers. 

I can teach my segment and be confident in the Spirit...from your prayers.

We can do nothing apart from your prayers.

God does major heart surgery during the retreat. It is one step from heaven to witness a heart changed and renewed right in front of you. That is because of the sacrifice of time, energy, family, sleep that you give to us and your Lord over the weeks surrounding the retreat. I cannot wait for the day when you will be able to see what your prayers have accomplished for the kingdom of God. In the heavenlies when you can see with unveiled eyes the results of the prayers you lifted up for those the Lord called to heal for "such a time as this"!

Called By a New Name

“The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory.  You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name.”  Is 62:2

Father, Lord, will You give those who come to the Deeper Still retreats a new name.  Lord, that they would no longer be termed forsaken or desolate, but they would see that You delight in them and those around them would see Your  beloved as a crown of glory and a royal diadem in the hand of the Lord.  Amen.

Today’s devotional was written by Samuel Turnmire.  Thank you Samuel for contributing today…

God likes to make things new. The New Testament tells us that by following Christ we become a new creation.  We like new things too, like new hairstyles or clothes, but our Creator changes something much deeper than that. At times the difference is so great that a new name is given. In the gospel of John chapter 1, we see the beginning of Jesus’ ministry on earth and Jesus begins to call his disciples. When he encounters Simon, Christ tells him that He will call him “Cephas”, or as we know him, “Peter”.

Inside Peter, his heart was moved and called to follow Christ. But to come into his new name, Peter “the rock”, he would have to be watered by the words of Christ for the remainder of Christ’s time on earth. He would bask in the light of Jesus’ presence and become strong in faith through the impulsive actions of jumping out of a boat in the middle of the sea. Finally, he would be pruned by suffering the shame of denying the one he pledged to die for just hours prior; and to be restored by the master’s forgiveness at a lakeside fish fry.

In time, Simon became Peter. He would go on to lead thousands on the day of Pentecost, travel through Asia Minor, and finally find himself martyred in Rome. All of this Jesus saw when he called Simon and changed his name. Peter had no idea the growth that he would undergo. Peter’s words became the foundation of faith for the early church. In his death, he affirmed his faith and set an example for all of us to follow.

When the Creator of all things looks us in the eye and whispers to our hearts to come, if we choose Him, we will be changed.  Each of us is made new. Each of us gets a new name.

Lost to Found.

Sinner to Saint.

Enemy to Heir.

Wrecked to Redeemed.

Many times at the Deeper Still Retreats, the Lord gives someone a new name or redeems the name they were given.  It is beautiful to witness.  There is much in a name.  As we become the person God created us to be, we begin to walk in confidence of our new name just as Peter did.  He went from wimp to warrior in a matter of a moment with Jesus and then boldly proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ ushering in the preaching of the gospel which lasts until this day.  God has a new name for you as well.  There is no knowing all God has in store for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  I want to encourage you to ask God what your name is, then walk in your new name.  Daughter/Son of the King, as you do, He will do a mighty Kingdom work through you.   

If you are interested  in knowing more about ministering to the abortion-wounded or are interested in starting a Deeper Still Chapter in your area, our annual training is Nov 11 and 12 in Knoxville, TN.  Please go to www.godeeperstill.org for registration information.